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Urban introduces bills on new driver texting, Amistad, youth concussions, addict moms

The Day - 1/20/2017

Jan. 20--There's a bill that would suspend the license of new teenage drivers caught texting, a second that would require parents whose children are participating in contact sports to sign a form in which they say they understand the dangers of concussions, and a third that would get the state Department of Children and Families involved before the birth of children to opioid-addicted mothers to ensure their safety after they leave the hospital.

And then there's legislation that would reimburse the Connecticut creditors who were never paid by the now defunct Amistad America.

These are among a group of bills being introduced by state Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, in the current General Assembly session.

While Urban's previous calls to reimburse the creditors were not successful, she said this week that she now has eight state representatives and senators, including state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, the chairwoman of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, who have agreed to co-introduce the bill with her. It calls for taking a portion of any state money allocated to Discovering Amistad, the new group running the schooner, and giving it to Connecticut businesses, individuals and organizations who are owed an estimated $250,000. Overall, Amistad America had more than $2 million of debt.

The ship now receives about $300,000 a year in state aid.

Urban pointed out that the group of lawmakers who support the bill comprises both Republicans and Democrats. "I think I've really struck a chord with this. It's taken forever but if nothing, I am persistent," she said about the bill. "They see I'm not just talking about the Amistad itself but the importance of small business. This is a symbol. We as the state of Connecticut willfully stiffed small businesses."

She has said the creditors relied on the fact that the state was funding most of the ship's operations and the legislature had designated the Amistad as the state's official flagship when they decided to do business with Amistad America. In addition, she said, the state Department of Community and Economic Development did not monitor how Amistad America was spending $9 million in state funding.

Critics, though, say the creditors took a risk like any other business or individual who decides to do work for someone. In addition, they say, Discovering Amistad is an entirely new group that bought the ship out of receivership with state funds and has begun operating it again.

Following stories by The Day about how Amistad America had spent the $9 million in state funding and calls for an investigation by Urban, the state finally conducted an audit, seized the ship in the summer of 2014 and sold it to Discovering Amistad for $315,000. The state then provided $957,000 to Discovering Amistad so it could purchase and repair the ship. There was no money left from the sale to repay the creditors.

Urban, who is serving her 10th term and chairs the legislature's Children's Committee, said that suspending the license of texting teens "will let young drivers know this is serious. A lot of their parents now just pay the fine."

The suspension, the length of which has not yet been determined, would be in effect during the time in which new drivers have restrictions on them concerning the time of the day they can drive and who they can carry as passengers.

"Let's emphasize how important it is not to text and drive," she said. "I think it makes a big statement to them."

Urban said signing the informed consent form for young athletes involved in sports such as football, soccer and lacrosse would make their parents more aware of not just the dangers of concussions and what symptoms to look for but return-to-play protocols and associated issues.

"I don't want to tell people what to do with their kids but I want them to have the most education possible," she said.

As for opioid-addicted mothers, Urban said the proposed law would have hospitals report to DCF when they suspect a woman about to give birth is addicted to opioids.

"We send kids home now with safety plans that are not enforceable," she said, adding the number of children born to addicted mothers is skyrocketing.

Urban also is introducing a bill that would allow children who are sexual abuse victims to bring a therapy dog into court with them while testifying. She said the dog would help comfort victims who find it extremely difficult to testify against their assailant, who is often a friend or family member.

She said the plan has the support of judicial officials and it could be implemented without legislation. "But I want this to be the policy of the State of Connecticut," she said.

Another bill Urban is introducing would require mental health professionals to give potential patients a disclosure form that outlines their treatment philosophy, what services they will provide and how they will work with the patient. She said that currently there is a lot of confusion due to the different titles used in the field.

j.wojtas@theday.com

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