Politics & Government
Farmington Senators to Serve on Gun Violence and School Safety Task Force
Legislative leaders appoint members of task force to address gun violence, enhance school safety, and increase mental health care.
Farmington State Sen. Beth Bye and State Sen. Terry Gerratana, both of whom represent Farmington, have been appointed to the Connecticut State Legislature's Bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence and Child Safety.
According to a news release, the task force "will explore ways to make Connecticut a safer place for families and children in the wake of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown."
Sen. Gerratana, who represents a portion of Farmington as well as New Britain and Berlin is majority whip and co-chairman of the Public Health Committee. Gerratana will serve on the Mental Health Subcommittee of the bipartisan task force.
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“Closing the gaps in mental health coverage is, in my opinion, one of the most important issues to tackle this legislative session,” Gerratana said in a statement. “We need to create a statewide network of pediatricians and other professionals who will be able to refer children who need help to those who can provide it. Early action on mental health issues will keep our children safe and healthy. I am honored to receive the opportunity to work on developing such an important piece of legislation.”
Sen. Bye, who is senate chairman of the Higher Education Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee, will serve on the School Security Subcommittee.
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"We have to help ensure that what happened in Newtown doesn’t happen again anywhere in America. I've already put forth several legislative proposals regarding gun safety and mental health, and I look forward to using my knowledge of early education to make informed and significant proposals regarding school safety," Bye said in a prepared statement. "Part of school safety is having sufficient support for students with behavioral or mental health needs."
In a blog post on Patch last week, Bye outlined many of the her legislative priorities regarding gun safety, including restricting the "the sale and possession of any rifle, shotgun or pistol magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds; expanding the definition of an 'assault weapon' under current state law; instituting a 50-percent sales tax on the sale of ammunition and firearms magazines; and several other ammunition-related restrictions."
According to a news release, the bipartisan task force will hold a public hearing focusing on school safety on Jan. 25 at 9:30 a.m., a gun safety hearing on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m., and a hearing on mental health issues Jan. 29 at 10 a.m., all in room 2C at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. A fourth public hearing will be held by the task force at Newtown High School on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.
Task force subcommittee members include the following:
Gun Violence:
Sen. Martin Looney, Co-chair
Rep. Craig Miner, Co-chair
Rep. Gerald Fox III
Rep. Stephen Dargan
Rep. Bob Godfrey
Rep. Toni Walker
Rep. Rosa Rebimbas
Rep. Janice Giegler
Rep. Dan Carter
Sen. Eric Coleman
Sen. John Fonfara
Sen. Joan Hartley
Sen. John Kissel
Sen. Scott Frantz
Sen. Tony Guglielmo
Sen. Kevin Witkos
School Safety:
Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, Co-chair
Sen. Toni Boucher, Co-chair
Rep. Roberta Willis
Rep. Patricia Widlitz
Rep. Diana Urban
Rep. Tim Ackert
Rep. Tim LeGeyt
Rep. Whit Betts
Rep. Mitch Bolinsky
Sen. Dante Bartolomeo
Sen. Andrea Stillman
Sen. Beth Bye
Sen. Andrew Maynard
Sen. Art Linares
Sen. Mike McLachlan
Sen. Kevin Witkos
Mental Health:
Sen. Toni Harp, Co-chair
Rep. Terrie Wood, Co-chair
Rep. Susan Johnson
Rep. Cathy Abercrombie
Rep. Robert Megna
Rep. Betsy Ritter
Rep. Prasad Srinivasan
Rep. DebraLee Hovey
Sen. Terry Gerratana
Sen. Gayle Slossberg
Sen. Joe Crisco
Sen. Rob Kane
Sen. Kevin Kelly
Sen. Joe Markley
Sen. Jason Welch
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