Journal of the Senate 06/03/2021
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JOURNAL OF THE SENATE Thursday, June 3, 2021 The Senate was called to order at 4:37 p.m., President in the Chair. The prayer was offered by Acting Chaplain, Kathy Zabel of Burlington, Connecticut The following is the prayer: In these difficult times, may our leaders find in their hearts the guidance and wisdom to do what is best for the people of Connecticut. PLEDGE Senator Haskell of the 26th led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. REPORT The following report was received, read by the Clerk and referred to the Committee indicated: Report – Auditors of Public Accounts – Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Fiscal Years ended June 30, 2017, 2018, and 2019. (Pursuant to Section 2-90 of the Connecticut General Statutes.) Date received: June 2, 2021. Referred to the Committee on Transportation. BUSINESS FROM THE HOUSE FAVORABLE REPORTS OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES HOUSE BILLS The following favorable reports of the Joint Standing Committees were received from the House, read the second time and tabled for the calendar. APPROPRIATIONS. Substitute for H.B. No. 6496 (RAISED) (File Nos. 230 and 783) "AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN SOIL-RELATED INITIATIVES." (As amended by House Amendment Schedule "A"). - 1123 - JOURNAL OF THE SENATE [Thursday, APPROPRIATIONS. Substitute for H.B. No. 6559 (RAISED) (File Nos. 244 and 784) "AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD." (As amended by House Amendment Schedule "A"). BANKING. Substitute for H.B. No. 6372 (RAISED) (File Nos. 51 and 781) "AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM EXECUTION CERTAIN FUNDS IN A JUDGMENT DEBTOR'S ACCOUNT." (As amended by House Amendment Schedule "A"). FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING. Substitute for H.B. No. 5027 (COMM) (File Nos. 66 and 780) "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNT, ESTABLISHING TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF CERTAIN ELIGIBLE COSTS, DIRECTING THE TREASURER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING MARKETABLE SECURITIES AND ESTABLISHING A FINANCIAL LITERACY TRUST FUND." (As amended by House Amendment Schedule "A"). LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. Substitute for H.B. No. 6381 (RAISED) (File Nos. 27 and 782) "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE REGARDING THE STATE WORKFORCE AND RETIRING EMPLOYEES." (As amended by House Amendment Schedule "A"). BUSINESS FROM THE HOUSE FAVORABLE REPORT OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE DISAGREEING ACTION The following favorable report was received from the House, read the second time and tabled for the calendar. JUDICIARY. Substitute for S.B. No. 925 (RAISED) (File Nos. 216 and 637) "AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPORT, SALE AND POSSESSION OF AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, LIONS, LEOPARDS, BLACK RHINOCEROS, WHITE RHINOCEROS AND GIRAFFES." (As amended by Senate Amendment Schedule "B" and House Amendment Schedule "A"). BUSINESS ON THE CALENDAR FAVORABLE REPORT OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION ADOPTED The following favorable report was taken from the table, read the third time, the report of the Committee accepted and the resolution passed. GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS. Substitute for H.J. No. 58 (COMM) (File No. 96) "RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING." Senator Flexer of the 29th explained the resolution and moved adoption. Remarking was Senator Sampson of the 16th. Senator Sampson of the 16th offered Senate Amendment Schedule “A” (LCO 9848), moved adoption and requested that the vote be taken by roll call. - 1124 - June 3, 2021] JOURNAL OF THE SENATE Remarking were Senators Flexer of the 29th, Champagne of the 35th, Cicarella of the 34th, Formica of the 20th, Flexer of the 29th, Anwar of the 3rd, and Sampson of the 16th. The chair ordered the vote be taken by roll call. The following is the result of the vote at 6:08 p.m.: Total Number Voting ........................................................................... 35 Necessary for Adoption ....................................................................... 18 Those voting Yea ................................................................................ 12 Those voting Nay ................................................................................ 23 Those absent and not voting ................................................................ 1 On the roll call vote Senate Amendment Schedule “A” (LCO 9848) was rejected. The following is the roll call vote: N 1 JOHN W. FONFARA N 19 CATHERINE A. OSTEN N 2 DOUGLAS MCCRORY Y 20 PAUL M. FORMICA N 3 SAUD ANWAR Y 21 KEVIN C. KELLY N 4 STEVE CASSANO N 22 MARILYN MOORE N 5 DEREK SLAP A 23 DENNIS BRADLEY N 6 RICK LOPES N 24 JULIE KUSHNER Y 7 JOHN A. KISSEL N 25 BOB DUFF Y 8 KEVIN D. WITKOS N 26 WILL HASKELL N 9 MATTHEW L. LESSER N 27 PATRICIA BILLIE MILLER N 10 GARY WINFIELD Y 28 TONY HWANG N 11 MARTIN M. LOONEY N 29 MAE FLEXER N 12 CHRISTINE COHEN Y 30 CRAIG MINER N 13 MARY ABRAMS Y 31 HENRI MARTIN N 14 JAMES MARONEY Y 32 ERIC C. BERTHEL N 15 JOAN V. HARTLEY N 33 NORMAN NEEDLEMAN Y 16 ROB SAMPSON Y 34 PAUL CICARELLA N 17 JORGE CABRERA Y 35 DAN CHAMPAGNE Y 18 HEATHER S. SOMERS N 36 ALEX KASSER The following is the Amendment. Strike everything after the resolving clause and substitute the following in lieu thereof: "Section 1. That the following be proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the State, which, when approved and adopted in the manner provided by the Constitution, shall, to all intents and purposes, become a part thereof: Section 7 of article sixth of the Constitution is amended to read as follows: Sec. 7. The general assembly may provide by law for voting in the choice of any officer to be elected or upon any question to be voted on at an election by qualified voters of the state who [are unable to] will not appear at the polling place on the day of election [because of absence from the city or town of which they are inhabitants or because of sickness or physical disability or because the tenets of their religion forbid secular activity] and whose signatures on the materials used to vote can be verified. RESOLVED: That the foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution be continued to the next session of the General Assembly elected at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, and published with the laws passed at the present session, or be presented to the electors at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, whichever the case may be, according to article sixth of the amendments to the Constitution. The designation of said proposed amendment to be used on the ballots at such election shall be "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended - 1125 - JOURNAL OF THE SENATE [Thursday, to remove restrictions concerning absentee ballots and to permit a person to vote without appearing at a polling place on the day of an election if such person's signature on the materials used to vote can be verified?"" Senator Sampson of the 16th offered Senate Amendment Schedule “B” (LCO 9908), moved adoption and requested that the vote be taken by roll call. Remarking were Senators Flexer of the 29th, Champagne of the 35th, and Cicarella of the 34th The chair ordered the vote be taken by roll call. The following is the result of the vote at 6:32 p.m.: Total Number Voting ........................................................................... 35 Necessary for Adoption ....................................................................... 18 Those voting Yea ................................................................................ 12 Those voting Nay ................................................................................ 23 Those absent and not voting ................................................................ 1 On the roll call vote Senate Amendment Schedule “B” (LCO 9908) was rejected. The following is the roll call vote: N 1 JOHN W. FONFARA N 19 CATHERINE A. OSTEN N 2 DOUGLAS MCCRORY Y 20 PAUL M. FORMICA N 3 SAUD ANWAR Y 21 KEVIN C. KELLY N 4 STEVE CASSANO N 22 MARILYN MOORE N 5 DEREK SLAP A 23 DENNIS BRADLEY N 6 RICK LOPES N 24 JULIE KUSHNER Y 7 JOHN A. KISSEL N 25 BOB DUFF Y 8 KEVIN D. WITKOS N 26 WILL HASKELL N 9 MATTHEW L. LESSER N 27 PATRICIA BILLIE MILLER N 10 GARY WINFIELD Y 28 TONY HWANG N 11 MARTIN M. LOONEY N 29 MAE FLEXER N 12 CHRISTINE COHEN Y 30 CRAIG MINER N 13 MARY ABRAMS Y 31 HENRI MARTIN N 14 JAMES MARONEY Y 32 ERIC C. BERTHEL N 15 JOAN V. HARTLEY N 33 NORMAN NEEDLEMAN Y 16 ROB SAMPSON Y 34 PAUL CICARELLA N 17 JORGE CABRERA Y 35 DAN CHAMPAGNE Y 18 HEATHER S. SOMERS N 36 ALEX KASSER The following is the Amendment. After the last section, add the following and renumber sections and internal references accordingly: "That the following be proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the State, which, when approved and adopted in the manner provided by the Constitution, shall, to all intents and purposes, become a part thereof: Article sixth of the Constitution is amended by adding section 12 as follows: Sec. 12. Neither the Secretary of the State nor any registrar of voters, town clerk or any individual appointed thereby may mail an unsolicited application for an absentee ballots to any person. - 1126 - June 3, 2021] JOURNAL OF THE SENATE RESOLVED: That the foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution be continued to the next session of the General Assembly elected at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, and published with the laws passed at the present session, or be presented to the electors at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, whichever the case may be, according to article sixth of the amendments to the Constitution. The designation of said proposed amendment to be used on the ballots at such election shall be "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to prohibit the unsolicited mailing of absentee ballot applications by state and local election officials?"" Senator Sampson of the 16th offered Senate Amendment Schedule “C” (LCO 9888), moved adoption and requested that the vote be taken by roll call.