House Party Ban, Grandparent Notification Among New Legislation Now In Effect

By Susan Haigh

Associated Press

HARTFORD — A ban on house parties, protections for reporters, and notification rights for grandparents whose grandchildren are removed by state child welfare officers are among the new laws that took effect October 1.

More than 100 new laws or portions of laws kicked in. Most were passed in this year’s legislative session, which ended in May.

The house party law makes it a crime for someone to knowingly allow a minor to possess alcohol on their private property. The legislation closes a loophole that has allowed parents to hold house parties with alcohol for their teens and friends.

Adults could also get in trouble for not stopping a minor from possessing alcohol. First offense under the new law is an infraction. Subsequent offenses carry up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both.

The same law also makes it illegal for a minor to possess alcohol anywhere, rather than only in public places.

Also starting last Sunday, a new law requires the Department of Children and Families to notify a child’s grandparents if the agency removes that child from parental custody.

Lawmakers who supported the legislation said the law will help keep families together.

“Families in these unfortunate and delicate situations need every opportunity to get through difficult times with as much as assistance as available, and grandparents are more often than not only too willing to help out as much as they can,” said Senator Toni Harp, D-New Haven.

Under the new law, the DCF commissioner must use her best efforts to identify and notify a child’s grandparents no later than 15 days after a court removes the child from a parent’s custody for abuse or neglect. The law also allows grandparents to give the commissioner their contact information so they can be notified.

According to DCF, about 2,500 children are removed from parental custody each year in Connecticut.

Other new laws that took effect on October 1:

éProhibit the government, with some exceptions, from issuing subpoenas compelling members of the Connecticut news media to testify about, produce, or disclose information from a confidential source and information that can identify a confidential source.

éRequire new cars for sale or lease beginning with the 2009 model year to have labels explaining the level of greenhouse gas emissions. The law requires the Department of Environmental Protection commissioner to establish the labeling program, which would be funded by a $5 fee added to the state registration fee.

éRequire sellers of homes with wells for drinking water to notify prospective buyers of water test results for volatile organic compounds.

éProhibit certain health insurance policies from denying coverage for medical services if a policyholder has an elevated blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more.

éRequire homemaker-companion agencies to register each year with the Department of Consumer Protection. New employees must undergo comprehensive background checks and answer questions in writing about their criminal convictions or certain disciplinary actions taken against them.

éProhibit using the Internet or email to solicit someone by pretending to be an online Internet business without the business’s permission. The practice is known as phishing.