Agenda is full for legislative session

Hartford - Education reforms, Sunday alcohol sales, storm response, death penalty abolishment and a higher minimum wage are a few of the major legislative proposals expected to emerge once the General Assembly convenes this week for its shorter, even-year session.

The heavy task of crafting a biennial budget was accomplished last year by the state's Democratic-majority legislature and its Democratic Governor, Dannel P. Malloy, who got most of what he wanted from lawmakers.

Their final product eliminated a $3.5 billion deficit through a mix of spending cuts, labor concessions and the largest tax increase in Connecticut since the introduction of the state income tax.

Malloy will open the new session at noon on Wednesday with his State of the State address. As 2012 is an off-budget year, only committees are allowed to raise bills this year that do not relate to fiscal matters.

The governor will use the address to unveil details of his own legislative agenda and mid-course corrections for the budget's second year. So far he has ruled out raising more taxes, but new fees are a possibility.

Democrats hold firm majorities in both legislative chambers: 99 to 52 in the House and 22 to 14 in the Senate. The session is scheduled to adjourn at 12:01 a.m. May 10.

Some bills to look for:

• Education: Gov. Malloy promised to make education his priority for this year's session. He plans to unveil a package of reform initiatives during his Wednesday address. The governor previewed a few elements of his plan last week, such as $12 million for expanding access to early childhood education and improved training at the state's vocational-technical high schools.

The governor has expressed a desire to change the teacher tenure system in public schools and help narrow the notorious academic achievement gap in the state between socioeconomic groups.

"We are all anxiously awaiting the governor's package, as well as what the legislative committee and the task forces have been working on," said state Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford.

• Sunday sales: Malloy is pushing to eliminate Connecticut's ban on Sunday alcohol sales. His legislation also would extend the deadline for Monday through Saturday alcohol sales by an hour, to 10 p.m., and allow restaurants and bars to stay open and serve drinks until 2 a.m. during the week. Currently, those establishments must close by 1 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Both Democrats and Republicans have speculated that the governor's strong stance for repeal could be enough to overcome the influential package store lobby. Many package store owners are afraid that Sunday sales would hurt their business by compelling them to stay open seven days a week to compete with large grocers for beer sales. Only package stores in Connecticut are allowed to sell wine and spirits.

• Storm response: Legislators are bringing forward a bill to improve Connecticut's preparedness and response in regards to natural disasters such as Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm. The legislation will likely draw on the 82 recommendations of a state panel that examined both storms. Malloy recently came out with a package of storm response ideas, including financial penalties for Connecticut Light & Power if the utility is too slow restoring power.

• Death penalty: Opponents of the death penalty are drumming up support again for a repeal bill. They nearly had the votes last year, but state Sens. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, and Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, changed their minds after emotion-filled meetings with Dr. William Petit, the lone survivor of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion.

Now that the second killer, Joshua Komisarjevsky, has been convicted and sentenced to die, repeal advocates have renewed hope for a ban on future execution sentencings.

• Minimum wage: Democrats are proposing a two-step increase in the state minimum wage over 18 months. The minimum wage, now $8.25 an hour, would rise to $9 on July 1 and to $9.75 on July 1, 2013. Their proposal would then automatically peg future increases to inflation by following the Consumer Price Index. The last increase was Jan. 1, 2010.

Proponents say it is getting harder for the 106,000 Connecticut residents who earn minimum wages to raise a family or even support themselves. But business groups and some Republicans maintain that such a large increase would burden Connecticut's small businesses and deter hiring at a time when the unemployment rate is stuck above 8 percent.

• State Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, and State Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, are working on legislation to grant the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments greater authority over transit and water supplies.

The bills would give the council the responsibilities of the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority Representative Advisory Board and put the council in charge of approving the South East Area Transit yearly budget.

The council is made up of officials from 20 towns. Council members say the legislation would strengthen town involvement in SEAT and the water authority. However, the proposals have met resistance from some SEAT and water authority officials.

• Democrats' jobs package: Democratic lawmakers are proposing legislation to enact a "five-point jobs plan" to build on the economic growth initiatives passed during the legislature's October special session. Their plan would expand eligibility to an estimated 2,600 additional firms for $180 million in state-funded loans and grants through Connecticut's new Small Business Express Program.

The proposal calls for new incentives for businesses to hire post-9/11 combat veterans; the creation of a "Connecticut Treasures" tourism program to promote attractions such as the Mystic Aquarium; a "Connecticut Made" marketing campaign, and banning employment agencies and websites from advertising job openings that specifically exclude the unemployed.

• Red-light cameras: The Transportation Committee is expected to once again raise legislation that would allow red-light enforcement cameras in cities with a population 60,000 or higher if the local government wants them. Traffic law violators could be cited for $124 fines.

j.reindl@theday.com