Legislature to tackle post-Sandy Hook issues

State Rep. Robert Godfrey State Rep. Robert Godfrey Photo: Jason Rearick, The Stamford Advocate Buy photo Photo: Jason Rearick, The Stamford Advocate Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Legislature to tackle post-Sandy Hook issues 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The 2014 legislative session won't feature the kind of hot-button issues such as last year's gun-control restrictions that became nationwide news after the Newtown school massacre.

But lawmakers will revisit the issue of access to documents and the right-to-privacy for witnesses and families of victims that also emerged from the shootings.

Leading lawmakers want to reopen public access to investigations that were the result of a last-day lobbying efforts by Newtown families and cooperative legislative leaders last year to create new exemptions on keeping homicide details from public disclosure.

And the toughest public policy issue that emerged from the December 2012 school massacre -- enhanced mental health services for troubled state residents -- remains a major, though elusive, goal for the short, 13-week legislative session that starts Thursday.

The traditional first-Wednesday-after-the-first-Monday opening was delayed Wednesday because of the snow, ice and rain storm that dumped as much as a foot of precipitation across the state.

So Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will offer his budget adjustments for the fiscal year that starts July 1 on Thursday at noon.

Then, 28 legislative committees will have less than two months to meet staggered deadlines on drafting bills, holding hearings and voting on hundreds of bills to send to the House and Senate for final action before the May 7 adjournment.

Malloy and House and Senate leaders don't plan on further expansions of the state's prohibitions on assault weapons, which last year banned military-style rifles such as the Bushmaster XM-15 used by Adam Lanza to kill 20 first-graders and six adults in Sandy Hook Elementary School; or the new limit on ammunition magazines.

But for veteran Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, and Sen. Anthony Musto, D-Trumbull, revisiting last year's changes to the state's Freedom of Information Act statutes is important.

On the final day of the Legislature last June, the House and Senate approved major revisions that bar public access to photographs of homicide scenes, and will seal until at least May the recordings of first responders at major crime scenes, including the Newtown school shooting.

"Generally I am in opposition to any major changes in public-access laws," Godfrey, a deputy House speaker who is on both the Judiciary Committee and Government Administration & Elections Committee, said this week.

A task force studying the issue last month issued controversial recommendations that would expand on last year's secrecy provisions, including a new five-year prison penalty for people who violate the law by disclosing details of crimes. It would also create a new secrecy exemption to keep private the currently public 911 recordings.

"We got a lot of requests to institute exemptions of the state Freedom of Information Act, but I am generally against restricting public information," said Musto, who is co-chairman of the reform-minded Government Administration & Elections Committee. "For the most part, I think we'll be trying to make sure our access to public records will not be restricted."

While the even-numbered-years' budget-adjustment session restricts lawmakers from personal bills and legislation without fiscal implications, other legislative leaders have personal goals.

Sen. Gayle S. Slossberg, D-Milford, co-chairman of the Human Services Committee, wants to encourage affordable housing and wants to assure the continuity of early childhood education as children move from pre-K into kindergarten.

Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, agrees. "We want to continue toward the goal of universal pre-K," he said in a phone interview.

Williams, who controls the 22-14 Senate majority along with Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said the recent spike in electric rates has to be addressed.

"We need more transparency from electric suppliers," Williams said. "We have to help people navigate the world of private electric power suppliers."

Sharkey said the 13 weeks will fly by, so he has told committee chairmen to speed up their usual process and have details of proposed legislation available for the public to review prior to the hearing process.

"I've asked them to assure that as much as we can, have actual language drafted for the public hearings," Sharkey said. "It's always kind of bothered me."

Sharkey wants to help local governments increase efficiency and foster regional cooperation. He expects initiatives in transportation and has proposed a statewide port authority to supervise major waterfront developments in Bridgeport, New Haven and New London.

Sharkey says the huge issue of statewide property tax reform remains a major challenge. The projected $506-million surplus in the budget that runs through June 30 could give lawmakers some flexibility.

"We've tightened our belts and created a lean government," Sharkey said. "Now is the time to figure out what kind of tax system would be less vulnerable to the ups and downs. Now is the best time for us to look at an efficient revenue stream that is not subject to the ups and downs of the national economy."

Godfrey, who has diabetes, said he hopes to get Connecticut to join a national movement helping health departments gather data and respond to the condition in new ways.

He also wants to tackle the potential health risk of so-called e-cigarettes, which emit a nicotine vapor without traditional smoke.

"It's unregulated," Godfrey said. "An 8-year-old can buy an e-cigarette. Most are from China, where they are banned. They contain recycled plastic and lead components."