State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, today joined a bipartisan majority of his Senate
colleagues and voted to approve comprehensive gun violence prevention
measures for the state to include new responsibilities for gun owners,
school security provisions, and improved access
to mental health services.
The bill approved by the Senate today is a direct result of the Dec. 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown that left 20
children and
six adults dead.
Its details are the byproduct of an extensive public
hearing process and protracted negotiations among legislative leaders of
both political parties.
“In one single day last fall
Connecticut instantly became the focus of a national outcry for common
sense efforts to prevent these episodes that have become all-too-common
and simply unacceptable in our culture,” Crisco said.
“Today’s legislative action includes a broad
range of initiatives calling for greater accountability for gun
ownership and a fortified effort to address shortcomings in delivering
behavioral health services.”
Crisco served on the
Mental Health Services Working Group of the Bipartisan Task Force on Gun
Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety. He said he was pleased to
see many of its recommendations included in the
bill that was approved today.
“The best aspect of the mental health
services portion of this bill requires the state Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to work with the state Department
of Education to provide training in mental health
first aid – that is to say, the ability to recognize warning signs for
behavioral health disorders so services can be made available,” Crisco said.
“We have an obligation to public school
students in Connecticut to identify and then address their needs as they
grow and develop and this provision for mental health first aid
training goes a long way in that regard.”
Crisco said that upon
passage, today’s bill immediately advances to the House of
Representatives for its consideration and debate.
Provisions of the bill
are said to have broad support in the House; Gov. Malloy
has already indicated he will sign the bill if the House approves it.
This post is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.
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