State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi named to serve on bi-partisan prison task force

Recent assaults and increased violence in state prisons has raised concerns about workplace safety for officers, nurses and other Department of Corrections employees, and State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (R-Somers) has been tapped to be a part of a new task force created to identify solutions to the problem.

Rep. Bacchiochi was recently named to the bi-partisan prison safety task force. The panel will examine the link between inmate assaults on correction officers and population levels in prisons. The task force will draw up short and long term legislative solutions to the problem.

“As a representative of a district that is home to a substantial prison presence, I am eager to serve on the task force and work toward safety improvements for the staff and for the general public at our prisons,” said Rep. Bacchiochi. “Whether we are discussing the increased use of protective gear, or whether we currently have the proper the staffing levels, these are critical matters that need and deserve our attention.”

The prison safety task force is expected to issue its findings in December along with a suggested course of action of for the 2009 legislative session.

State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (R-Somers) represents Somers, Stafford and Union in the General Assembly.

Rep. Penny Bacchiochi: Sales tax-free week is a great opportunity to save

State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (R-Somers) reminds her constituents that “sales tax-free week” will run this year from Sunday, Aug. 17, through Saturday, Aug. 23.

Primarily viewed as a help to families preparing to send their children back to school, clothing and footwear items under $300 will be exempt from the state’s six percent sales tax. Rep. Bacchiochi has consistently supported and advocated for legislation that establishes a one-week exemption from the state sales tax, which was first enacted in 2000.

Examples of clothing exempted during the sales tax-free holiday are jeans, dresses, blouses, shirts, shoes, sneakers, scarves, gloves, and belts. Non-apparel items, such as jewelry, wallets, and luggage are not included in the exemption.

“Sales tax-free week is a good way to make it more affordable for parents to make their back-to-school purchases,” said Rep. Bacchiochi. “With prices climbing higher and higher across the board in many cases, I encourage my constituents to make the most of the sales tax-free week opportunity.”

Connecticut House Republicans first introduced the concept in August 1999 – modeled after a successful New York program – as a way of providing additional relief to Connecticut families while boosting the state’s economic competitiveness among neighboring states.

State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (R-Somers) represents Somers, Stafford and Union in the General Assembly.