HARTFORD — Heading to the finish line — tonight's late-night legislative deadline for the 2005 regular session — Gov. M. Jodi Rell has signed 90 bills into law and vetoed two pieces of legislation.
The approvals range from the emotional issues of a new civil union law for same-sex couples and mandatory coverage for breast-cancer screening, to the amusing "Frog Race" raffle in Windham.
Rell's vetoes include a controversial bill aimed at reducing the racial disparity in state prisons by equalizing the amount of crack or powder cocaine a suspect could possess before facing a mandatory five-year penalty for dealing.
It would have raised the amount of crack that triggers the dealing penalty from half a gram to an ounce — 28 grams.
Rell offered lawmakers a compromise setting half an ounce of either type of cocaine as the tripwire for the harsher dealing charge. A deal could be finalized during the race to the finish late tonight.
Dozens more bills will cross Rell's desk over the next few weeks after the General Assembly deals with a flurry of issues that will end at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Rell has approved legislation that would ban wireless communications from prisons; require drivers to provide booster seats for young kids who are too big for baby seats; and has designated the Stratford-built F4U-Corsair World War II era fighter plane as the state aircraft.
Most of the bills take effect either July 1 or Oct. 1.
Other legislation she has signed include:
? new regulations for chronic disease care in hospitals.
? a new law on the way funeral directors handle unclaimed remains.
? a realignment of the state Board of Pardons.
? a law forcing young drivers to undergo additional training.
? a change in the liability of ski-area operators.
? new money to help save the Groton submarine base.
? increased prizes for bingo games.
? a new law allowing brewpubs to sell beer for customers to take home.
? toughened penalties for caretakers who abuse the disabled.
Ken Dixon, who covers the Capitol, can be reached at (860) 549-4670.
