Gov Rell Signs 44 Bills, Including Organ Donation Legislation

HARTFORD (AP) — Gov M. Jodi Rell signed 44 bills into law on June 24, including legislation providing in-state tuition rates for active-duty military members and expanded access to organ donation programs.

The General Assembly passed 307 bills during its regular session, which ended June 8. Those bills have been slowly reaching Gov Rell’s desk for her signature in recent weeks.

Gov Rell signed one bill that requires state officials to come up with a plan by January 1, 2006, to cut the state sales tax by no more than 3 percent for new, low-emission vehicles. Another bill only allows cosmetic contact lenses — nonprescription lenses with colors or patterns — to be sold by licensed opticians in registered establishments.

The military tuition bill will allow active-duty military personnel stationed in Connecticut to attend state public universities at in-state rates. The legislation is part of an effort to make the state more military friendly, especially since the Pentagon has recommended closing the US Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

Currently, military personnel can have access to in-state rates by establishing a domicile, which in turn establishes residency. That process can take up to a year.

Gov Rell signed another bill that requires state agencies to enter into an agreement with an organ and tissue donor group and then provide access to the list of Connecticut drivers and state identity cardholders who are willing to be donors.

“We already ask people seeking driver’s licenses whether they would be willing to donate, and by adding people seeking state ID cards to the list we can further expand the list of potential donors,” Gov Rell said.

She also signed a bill that will require anyone who owns, operates or manages a food establishment to be tested on their knowledge of food allergies in addition to safe food handling techniques. Another bill she signed will establish tougher criminal penalties for operating a boat on state waters when an operator’s certificate has been revoked or suspended.

Also, starting October 1, there will be a new criminal penalty for refusing to stop certain vessels for a law enforcement officer.

Another bill signed by Gov Rell, effective January 1, 2006, requires a retailer that uses an electronic system to record, monitor, and limit the amount of returns made by a consumer to inform their customers that such a system is being used. The legislation also requires retailers that use such systems to notify consumers before terminating a person’s ability to return goods.