State Senators Toni Boucher (R-26) and Tony Hwang (R-28) today hailed the Connecticut legislature’s passage of a bill that will create the nation’s strongest hate crime law.

In a strong, bipartisan stand against hate crimes, legislators acted in solidarity with the Anti-Defamation League. House Bill 5743, An Act Concerning Hate Crimes, passed both the state House of Representative and Senate and heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Sen. Boucher said that despite the tolerance found in most of Connecticut, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that 94 hate-related incidents happened in Connecticut in 2015 and incidents have continued in 2016 and 2017.

“There have been unfortunate examples of antisemitism in my district over the years that were deeply disturbing and cast a dark shadow over a caring and tolerant community,” Sen. Boucher said.  “This bill will send a strong message that these despicable acts will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted as the serious crimes they are.”

Sen. Hwang hailed the cooperation that lead to the bill’s passage. The bill adds crimes based on a person’s gender to the list of hate crimes.

“The bipartisan cooperation on this bill means that when the specter of hate rears its ugly head in our communities, all of us will rise up against it,” Sen. Hwang said. “Intolerance and actions of hate can never be tolerated or ignored; this bill reflects the commitment and resolve of CT residents to loudly say that hate is never acceptable under any circumstance. When someone becomes the target of a crime because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability, the very fabric and soul of our community is torn.”

Steve Ginsburg, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League – Connecticut Region expressed the organization’s gratitude for the General Assembly’s action.

“On behalf of ADL leadership and supporters in Connecticut and across our nation, I wish to express profound gratitude to the Connecticut legislature,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “ADL drafted the first ever model hate crimes statute and now welcomes HB 5743 which, with overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses, will set an example for how – when unified – we can protect minorities, ensure our freedoms and strengthen democracy,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “Our state already had relatively strong hate crimes protections, but today our leaders made clear that when incidents of bias and hate are on the rise, good enough isn’t good enough. Protecting community centers, including gender as a protected category and enhancing penalties makes all Connecticut residents and their communities safer and sets a proud example for our children. ADL w will keep pushing until all 50 states have hate crimes laws (#50statesagainsthate), and we look forward to being a part of our state’s new Hate Crimes Advisory Council.”

Among other provisions, Connecticut’s proposal would:

• Increase penalties, making it a felony (instead of a misdemeanor) for committing a hate crime against a group of persons (instead of a specific individual).
• Increase the penalty to a Class C felony (from a Class D felony) for making a bomb threat or other threat of violence against a house of worship, religious community center or other religious institution—or any day care facility—if the threat is made with the intent to terrorize another person or to cause the evacuation of the building or grounds. This puts the penalty for such bomb threats on par with threats made against schools.
• Increase the penalty for desecrating any house of worship or any religious cemetery from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony if there is more than $10,000 in damage, or a Class D felony if there is less than $10,000 in damage.
• Establish a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 for individuals convicted of hate crimes, and require such fines to be deposited into a fund for anti-hate crime education initiatives.

Senator Boucher represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

Senator Hwang represents the communities of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston, and Westport.

State Senator Tony Hwang called the passage of his Aging Committee bill, Senate Bill 579, a win for consumers, particularly our senior population that are impacted by reverse mortgage financing of their residential property.  The bill creates counseling requirements financial institutions must follow during the reverse mortgage process to ensure compliance and disclosure of consequences and implication of protecting one of their biggest financial assets.

“Often, senior citizens would apply for a reverse mortgage thinking it would provide financial stability during their retirement years,” Sen. Hwang said. “However, they would not fully comprehend the tax implications of the mortgage payout, or the rights, if any, that a non-borrowing spouse has upon their death. The financial institutions certainly weren’t volunteering to educate their clients. It’s a case of ‘buyer beware’ at its worst.”

Sen. Hwang said the bill requires reverse mortgage lenders to inform prospective applicants that counseling is required and provide them with a list of at least five independent housing counseling agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The lenders also must receive signed certifications from the applicant or his or her authorized representative that counseling was received and that the loan origination or the counseling was done in person.

“Requiring counseling and additional recordkeeping provides more protection for consumers, particularly our seniors, who might fall victim to predatory lenders,” he said. “This is absolutely the right thing to do.”

The bill was sent to the state House of Representatives for approval and signature by the Governor. If approved, the requirements become law on October 1, 2017.

Sen. Hwang represents the communities of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston, and Westport.

Sen. Tony Hwang (center, kneeling) on June 5 welcomed students and teachers from North Stratfield Elementary School to the State Capitol.  The students toured the historic State Senate Chamber and discussed the legislative process with Sen. Hwang.  Sen. Hwang discussed his duties as State Senator and commended the students and educators on their interest in their state government.  He urged them to find small ways to “be kind” to others and make a positive difference for people in their neighborhoods and communities. On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com and www.fairfieldschools.org/schools/ns/ . Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport .

Sen. Tony Hwang on June 3 said he was inspired after meeting with Aiti Rai at the State Capitol.

Rai was a Nepalese refugee for the first 15 years of her life.  Her family escaped from political persecution.

Rai will be a Trinity College undergraduate this fall. She has been serving as a State Capitol intern in the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2017 legislative session.

“After hearing Aiti’s story, I know the ‘American Dream’ is alive and well,” said Hwang, who was born in Taiwan.  “Imagine your life in a hut made of bamboo and thatch. Imagine living without electricity, running water, plumbing or a refrigerator.  Imagine enduring such hardship for political, educational and economic freedom.  That was Aiti’s life when she lived in a refugee camp.”

Rai told Hwang how she dreamed of a better life, and in the United States, she had the chance to expand her dreams.

She earned her high school diploma, becoming the salutatorian at Hartford Public High School’s Law and Government Academy.

In 2015, Rai realized the dream of American citizenship.

“I wish Aiti nothing but the best,” Hwang said.  “I was born in Taiwan to parents that had escaped Communist China as teens and lived under martial law in Taiwan.  In coming to the United States, my family has lived and realized the American Dream.  I urged Aiti to continue to dream, work hard and seize opportunities.  There is nothing she cannot accomplish.”

*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport .

On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com

The 2017 legislative session has seen a number of important bills, and I am happy to say two of the most important measures impacting women’s health care received unanimous approval. In particular, I am pleased to say the bill Melissa Thompson worked so hard to pass now goes for the Governor’s signature. She is an inspiration for us all.

Hartford – Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) joined fellow Senate Republicans to unveil a revised two-year state budget proposal that he said demonstrates the leadership needed to restore Connecticut taxpayers faith in government and revive the state’s economy.

The Republican Senate proposal rejects the labor savings deal negotiated by Governor Dannel P. Malloy and state employee union leaders that extends the collective bargaining agreement with an additional five-year extension into 2027 that includes a no layoff provision.

“This alternative budget shows that Senate Republicans have a vision for changing the way we do business at the state capitol,” Sen. Hwang said. “It reinforces the urgency of our present economic situation and the need for shared sacrifice to resolve problems that have been years in the making. We didn’t get here overnight and it will take time for us to restore the public’s faith in our government. Businesses like GE and possibly Aetna and taxpayers with the financial means are leaving Connecticut because they don’t see a future in our state. Now it is critical for us to show we can build a better and a more sustainable future.”

Sen. Hwang said the Republican proposal provides an alternative to the Governor’s deal with the state employee unions that would lock the state into specified benefits, including wage increases ranging from 9% – 11% over five  years.  Instead, Senate Republicans identified two alternative labor savings plan options to accompany their two-year budget proposal:

Option A: A savings plan achieved by re-negotiating a more comprehensive concession deal with the state employees unions.

Option B: A savings plan achieved through legislative leadership and statutory policies if the state employee unions choose to not come back to the negotiation table.

“Contrary to what some commercials and emotional rhetorics have claimed, Senate Republicans do not see state employees as the enemy. We recognize the important role they play in providing vital services to state residents and we want them to be part of this process,” Sen. Hwang said. “However, when the health and pension benefits of state employees are compared to the private sector, they are more than the state can afford. We absolutely need greater parity with private sector workers; we need to demonstrate a commitment to shared sacrifices.”

The governor’s proposed labor deal with the state employee unions is estimated to save $1.5 billion over two years, but only $186 million, or 12%, of those savings come from concessions that fall outside of the control of the legislature and that need approval from state employee unions and the governor to pass. According to an analysis compiled by the Senate Republicans utilizing data from the Office of Fiscal Analysis, $1.3 billion of the governor’s proposal could be achieved through statutory changes alone without locking the state into the SEBAC contract for another five years.

Sen. Hwang said any budget approved by the legislature needs to make structural changes that creates sustainability and provides taxpayers with more transparency about how state tax dollars are spent.

“State budgets must reflect the values and fiscal responsibilities found in so many Connecticut households. You can’t spend money you don’t have,” Sen. Hwang said. “We have to respect taxpayers and show that we value every dollar we spend. We also must act with the urgency that the state’s fiscal crisis demands.

Both of the labor savings options proposed by Senate Republicans will balance the Republican’s “Confident Connecticut” budget proposal, which includes:

•        Does not include new taxes
•        Increases Education Cost Sharing funding by $170 million in the first two years and implements a new funding formula
•        Protects all towns and cities from cuts to statutory municipal grants in year one, either holding municipalities harmless or increasing    funds
•        Maintains tax-exempt status for hospitals to protect them from a new local hospital tax
•        Preserves core government services by restoring funding for social services and programs that benefit people most in need
•        Prioritizes transportation needs and stabilizes funding without tolls
•        Lowers taxes for retirees and helps seniors age in place
•        Enhances funding for state parks and tourism
•        Streamlines government
•        Provides for structural changes

More details about the proposed labor savings options available in the attached presentation.

Full details on the complete Senate Republican “Confident Connecticut” fiscal years 2018/2019 budget proposal available here:http://ctsenaterepublicans.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SRO_BudgetSummary_May2017.pdf.

Sen. Hwang represents the communities of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston, and Westport.

Bill reforming 8-30g affordable housing passes House, moves to Senate

HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) said that many months of negotiating a bipartisan proposal paid off this week when legislation reforming Connecticut’s affordable housing system passed the House of Representatives and headed to the Senate.

The bill, HB 6880 as amended was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday night by a vote of 116-33.

Co-Chair of the General Assembly Housing Committee, Sen. Hwang praised the bill’s vote in the House and said he looks forward to voting on it in the Senate.

“I thank my colleagues in the House of Representative for their successful passage of statutory reform that will motivate our state and municipalities toward greater access and inventory of workforce and affordable housing for Connecticut residents,” Sen. Hwang said.  We move one step closer toward our goal to increase housing opportunities for everyone in Connecticut and encourage a diverse and dynamic residential community that will foster economic, educational, and cultural growth.  Another objective met will allow more local zoning and planning input in developing affordable & workforce housing projects that are compatible with community character and zoning statutes.  I also want to extend my gratitude to all stakeholders for their passion and participation in making this important housing reform possible.”

The bill makes several critical reforms to restore the ability of many communities throughout Connecticut to make comprehensive zoning and planning decisions.

Sen. Hwang said the 8-30g law has become an emotional issue for many communities because of the broad latitude it gives developers to build under the auspices of increasing affordable housing inventory. Developers can place dense, multi-family projects into single-family neighborhoods, or take land set aside for office buildings and make it into residential properties with set aside percentages far below median income housing. These sometimes controversial development projects often change the town’s character and disrupts neighborhoods.

Under the current 8-30g law, a local zoning board can reject such a plan only if the project represents a threat to public health and safety that outweighs the need for affordable housing. Often, projects rejected by local planning and zoning boards are approved on appeal to the Land Use Litigation Docket, a branch of the state Superior Court.

“This bill updates the nearly 30-year-old 8-30g language so that it addresses the need for affordable housing in our state, while providing more fairness to local communities that are often at the mercy of developers whose projects conflict with the wishes of the town zoning bodies and neighborhoods,” Sen. Hwang said.

The provisions of the bill are:

• Lowers minimum number of Housing Unit Equivalent (HUE) points smaller municipalities must  obtain to qualify for a moratorium from 75 points to 50 points
• Encourages the development of family units and senior units tied to family housing, and family units located in incentive housing zones
• Makes income-restricted units in an Incentive Housing Zone (IHZ) development eligible for points toward a moratorium.
• Changes the definition of Median Income applicable to IHZ’s to conform to 8.30g’s definition (the lesser of state median income and the area median income as determined by HUD).
• Establish a 2nd moratorium for municipalities with at least 20,000 dwelling units after qualifying for 1st reprieve.
• Requires towns to adopt strategic plans to state on how they will increase the amount of affordable units within their community.
• Contains a five year sunset provision

Sen. Hwang said he looks forward to the Senate approving the bill so it can be signed into law by the Governor.

Senator Tony Hwang represents the communities of Fairfield, Easton and Newtown along with portions of Westport, Weston.