Gov. M. Jodi Rell wants to do some cleaning of the law books and get rid of some obsolete rules and regulations.
Here's just a sample of the rather lengthy list of laws Rell's considering for repeal:
Standard ink for public records
Apparently, letting the wrong ink touch a record or registry is a big problem, since it made the law books. Want to know more? The law is posted here.
The Obsolete Law Abolishers
The governor wants to get rid of the Law Revision Commission, which was supposed to do what she is trying to do now - review Connecticut law and recommend appropriate revisions to antiquated, unconstitutional and inequitable laws.
She also wants to get rid of members of the Law Revision Commission, duties of the Law Revision Commission and public and private assistance for the commission.
Innovation and productivity
Commission on innovation and productivity - apparently, they were not being productive. Read more here.
Local
Facebook - 1980 Style
Secretary of State should transmit “Pocket Manual” and list of members-elect to members-elect – we’re guessing that’s the Legislature’s Facebook – maybe they should just post their info on the actual Facebook - with or without the status updates.
Special Treatment for Female Prisoners
Law required police matrons in certain cities – who knew? The police matron was supposed to be at least 18 and take charge of all women arrested and held by the police of her city or town. There is also a law for separate station for female prisoners.
One Lake, Two Lakes
The Commissioner of Transportation and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall list the names of the bodies of water in the state
Contractors - Subcontractors
Disqualification of potential contractors and subcontractors, which participate in Department of Administrative Services requests for proposals process – if you are part of the process, you cannot get a contract.
Hiring of state employees by contractors and subcontractors - if you work for the state, no one can hire you to do work for the state
Grand Juror
Rell wants to abolish the office of grand juror abolished law. Does that reinstate the grand juror?
Transportation for Crippled Children
Another law on the chopping block is transportation of crippled children and children with defective eyesight (from their houses to places where medical, surgical or other treatment is to be given them)
Mailman Taxi
DOT may authorize mail carriers to carry passengers – if there are no buses in your area, the mailman – or woman - could act as your taxi. Read more here.
Can You Hear The Train Now?
Railroad engineers to have copies of law concerning audible signals. If a train operator did not have a printed copy of the signals, he or she could not drive train.
If It Happened On Sunday, It Didn't
"No person receiving consideration for a contract made on a Sunday may defend action upon the contract on the ground that it was made on a Sunday - No person who has received a valuable consideration for a contract, express or implied, made on a Sunday prior to June 9, 1976, may defend any action upon the contract on the ground that it was made on a Sunday, until he has restored the consideration"
Encouragement of Sheep Industry
Did you know that state law gave special powers to the keepers of the sheep?
Trustees are tasked with "supervising and establish(ing) distribution of demonstration flocks of sheep throughout the state."
It doesn’t end there. These folks were to "conduct experiments and investigations as seem to them most conducive to the encouragement of the sheep industry throughout the state."
Guarding Cattle
Each railroad company shall construct suitable cattle guards and fences at all railroad crossings of passways or highways to prevent cattle from passing upon its railroad, except when the Commissioner of Transportation deems it unnecessary. Read more here.
Hospitals Treating VD
If a hospital that gets cash from the General Assembly has facilities reasonably suitable for the treatment of venereal diseases, it cannot refuse to admit for treatment any patient suffering from any such disease.
Awards to Breeders of Winning Race Horses
Isn't winning enough? Does the state need to provide awards too?
Things That Make You Say Yuck
The fish scrap and fertilizer law protects New London Harbor from things that stink.
"No fertilizer, fish scrap or similar offensive substance shall be loaded upon or unloaded from any vessel in New London Harbor between June first and October first or at any other time without a written permit obtained from the director of health of the city of New London." Read more here.
Folks in the Stonington area apparently made a stink about noxious matters dealing with fish.
Here’s what the "Manufacture and treatment of oil and garbage; processing of fish for animal consumption" says:
"No person or corporation shall, within the town of Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme or Stonington, or in any waters adjacent thereto, engage in the business of manufacturing from fish or garbage any oil, guano, fertilizer or phosphate, or in the business of rendering or treating garbage or other filthy or noxious matter, or in the town of Stonington, engage in the business of processing of fish for animal consumption."
Businesses in operation before May 1, 1909 are exempt. Read more here.
