Katherine Revello

2 weeks ago | insideinvestigator.org | Katherine Revello

We’re nearing the end of another legislative session, and, once again, whether a number of recurring pending bills will pass (or not) is an open question. Chief among these is SB 1226, which would effectively cut the University of Connecticut (UConn) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system off from public scrutiny. It’s the third consecutive year a version of the bill, which creates a near blanket exemption for records at public universities, has appeared in some form.

3 weeks ago | insideinvestigator.org | Katherine Revello

A decision made by the Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) finding that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) could not deny a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request because of an injunction against the filer’s husband has been dismissed. The move is part of an agreement Jean Farricielli made with DEEP as part of ongoing litigation. The FOIC recently dismissed a complaint filed by Farricielli, a Hamden resident who owns property near the Tire Pond remediation site.

3 weeks ago | insideinvestigator.org | Katherine Revello

A late session bill that legislators will reduce energy costs by 40 percent over two years is headed to the Energy and Technology (ENT) Committee for further action. The Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee voted to approve the bill, which would create an independent, quasi-public agency to regulate electricity, to the Senate floor. It is expected to be referred to the ENT committee, which is the committee of cognizance, for further action. SB 1560, a committee bill worked on by Sen.

3 weeks ago | insideinvestigator.org | Katherine Revello

Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) officials quoted Adam Orson over $40,000 for records responsive to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. That amount is based on a fee of up to 25 cents for copying over 16,000 pages of records. But that fee does not apply to electronic records. FOIA in Connecticut allows state agencies to charge a maximum of 25 cents per page fee for copying records.

3 weeks ago | insideinvestigator.org | Katherine Revello

The legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee voted to advance a bill that would replenish a firefighters’ cancer relief fund by assessing a monthly five-cent fee on phone lines. Several Republicans likened the fee to a public benefits charge for telecommunications bills. The fee would cost five cents per month and apply to each line provided by local telephone service, commercial mobile radio service, and voice over Internet protocol services.