Gov. Dannel P. Malloy stepped up efforts Monday to promote bail and juvenile justice reforms that the administration is struggling to pass in special session, while House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, warned that Malloy still needs to win over House members.
Justice
Stories about the justice system in Connecticut: Law enforcement, courts, prisons and offenders, immigration, juvenile justice, and public corruption.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Like Senate, House defers vote on Malloy’s ‘Second Chance 2.0’
House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, postponed a vote Friday on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to reform the bail and juvenile-justice systems, underscoring the administration’s difficulties in finding sufficient votes for the governor’s signature criminal-justice bill.
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Justice, Money, Politics, Transportation
Measure strips $1B in bonded projects off of CT’s credit card
The Senate voted late Thursday rebalance Connecticut’s credit card in the face of shrinking tax revenues, canceling or delaying about $1 billion in financing for a wide array of projects and programs, and to authorize $380 for municipal school construction, down significantly from recent years.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Senate postpones vote on Malloy’s ‘Second Chance 2.0’
The Senate postponed a plan to adopt Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s signature proposal to reform the bail and juvenile-justice systems after a tense day of negotiations Thursday over revisions aimed at bolstering Democratic support and blunting Republican opposition in an election year. The House now will make the first attempt at passing the bill.
Posted inEducation, Health, Justice, Money, Politics
A handshake, then a vote on Connecticut’s next budget
Updated at 11:10 p.m.
The Senate adopted a $19.76 billion budget Thursday that would eliminate a nearly $1 billion deficit and significantly reduce larger shortfalls after the November state elections.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
Looney says budget deal, ‘Second Chance’ are on for Thursday
The leader of the Connecticut Senate said Wednesday night he has the votes to pass Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s criminal justice reforms and last week’s budget deal when the Senate returns Thursday in special session. The House of Representatives has yet to schedule a vote.
Posted inEducation, Health, Justice, Money, Politics, Transportation
Nonpartisan analysts: Tentative CT budget wipes away lots of red ink
The tentative plan to close a $1 billion hole in Connecticut’s finances starting July 1 also would wipe away more than 40 percent of the red ink threatening state government after the November elections, nonpartisan fiscal analysts reported Tuesday evening.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
CT Judicial Branch begins serving another 113 layoff notices
The state Judicial Branch announced Thursday it had begun serving another 113 layoff notices to employees, bringing total notices served to 239.
Posted inEducation, Justice
Juvenile justice reform in CT: 5 things to know
A tidal wave of change is headed for the state’s juvenile justice system. Here are 5 things to know about the coming changes.
Posted inEducation, Health, Justice, Money, Politics
Democrats, governor strike budget deal, aim for Wednesday vote
Updated at 1 a.m. Wednesday
Democratic legislators ended a tense day of negotiations Tuesday by announcing a deal on a new state budget that the General Assembly will race to adopt Wednesday before the constitutional adjournment deadline of midnight.
Posted inJustice
House passes bill increasing oversight over claims commissioner
The House of Representatives voted 85 to 63 Tuesday for final passage of a bill restricting wrongful incarceration awards and requiring legislative review of any award in excess of $20,000 from the office of the claims commissioner, which made a controversial $16.8 million award to four former gang members in January.
Posted inEducation, Justice
To sever school-to-prison pipeline, bill would keep troubled kids in school
A bill that aims to sever the school-to-prison pipeline by keeping children in school or providing a quality alternative education program when they get into trouble awaits action in the Senate.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
CT judiciary says Malloy’s budget means another 600 layoffs
Connecticut’s Judicial Branch warned late Monday that Gov. Dannel. P. Malloy’s latest budget proposal would force the branch to increase layoffs by at least 600, losing one-fifth of all staff.
Posted inJustice
Domestic violence bill wins final passage in Senate
The Connecticut Senate voted 23 to 13 Monday for final passage of a bill proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that will require gun owners to surrender their firearms within 24 hours of being served with a temporary restraining order in domestic violence cases.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
Advocates argue budget threatens CT’s right-to-know agency
Both the state Freedom of Information Commission and the state’s leading right-to-know advocacy group warned Friday that a proposed 20 percent budget cut for the commission — and the possible transfer of its public information officer into Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office — could greatly weaken state government transparency.