The clock is ticking down in Hartford. <\/p>\n
Connecticut lawmakers are scrambling to pass hundreds of bills before Wednesday night\u2019s deadline. <\/p>\n
Here is a look at what is still alive \u2013 and what\u2019s on life support.<\/p>\n
\u201cA LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS\u201d<\/p>\n
In the final days of the legislative session, anything can happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cA bill\u2019s going to go up on the board and you are going to see any individual in that chamber that might object, which causes a little bit of chaos,\u201d said Connecticut House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford).<\/p>\n
Although Candelora\u2019s party is vastly outnumbered, Republicans have unusual leverage in the last week. They can essentially \u201crun out the clock\u201d since the General Assembly allows unlimited debate on legislation.<\/p>\n
DEAD: \u201cJUST CAUSE\u201d EVICTIONS<\/p>\n
Time has already run out for some bills, according to legislative leaders. <\/p>\n
That includes \u201cJust Cause\u201d evictions legislation<\/a>, which would require landlords to renew tenants\u2019 lease in most cases. It\u2019s designed to prevent large developers from forcing out tenants simply to raise rents.<\/p>\n \u201cAll these people care about is money. They don\u2019t see people; they just see money,\u201d Nick Bailey, of New London, told lawmakers in February. \u201cThese disgusting companies that come in and buy everything. Why is that permitted?\u201d<\/p>\n Despite support from Gov. Ned Lamont, Democratic leaders said the vote margin is too narrow with so little time left.<\/p>\n The \u201cJust Cause\u201d bill has failed several years in a row after fierce pushback from property owners.<\/p>\n UNLIKELY TO PASS: \u201cGOLDEN GIRLS BILL\u201d<\/p>\n Also unlikely to pass is the \u201cGolden Girls Bill.\u201d Like the hit television show, homeowners could rent up to three bedrooms out of their homes without local approval. <\/p>\n House Speaker Matt Ritter said it needs an age restriction, but there may not be time to change the legislation and get it through both chambers in time.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you have to go to 55 [years old] to make it a \u2018Golden Girls Bill.\u2019 Really, what it is now is party central for college towns,\u201d Ritter told reporters. \u201cCan I rent to four kids at Fairfield U and have them hang out at the beach? Yeah. And it overrides local zoning.\u201d <\/p>\n Republicans also oppose the current language.<\/p>\n \u201cIf people want to bring strangers into their home and rent rooms in order to try to save some money, to me it\u2019s a bit disturbing,\u201c Candelora said. \u201cIt fails to recognize the fundamental problem I hear from my constituents is, they can\u2019t afford to pay taxes anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n UNLIKELY TO PASS: EXPANDED EARLY PAROLE <\/p>\n On Tuesday afternoon, House members briefly debated whether to expand early parole eligibility. But leaders said the bill does not have enough support to pass.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was significant concern among members that we talked to about any offenders who perhaps had a sexual crime \u2026 and whether those should not be considered,\u201d Rojas said.<\/p>\n Around 400 offenders who committed crimes before they turned 26 could apply, but most would still have to serve 60% of their sentence. \u201cThere seems to be sort of this boogeyman fear out there that it just means people are just going to be let out right after they\u2019ve committed some sort of heinous crime, and that’s not the case,\u201d said state Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport), co-chair of the Legislature\u2019s Judiciary Committee.<\/p>\n Rojas suggested the bill could receive more support next year if the expansion was phased-in.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps beginning with 22- and 23-year-olds and then moving up to 24 over a period of time,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n IN LIMBO: PET STORE BANS<\/p>\n A bill letting Stamford and other communities outlaw pet stores is in legislative limbo.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s Board of Representatives approved the ban<\/a> in November, but Mayor Caroline Simmons vetoed it<\/a> because it appears to run afoul of state law. <\/p>\n \u201cWe had over 170 emails, and that\u2019s a lot,\u201d said Board of Representatives President Nina Sherwood. \u201cIf we get five or six on an issue, we tend to like take a look and say, \u2018Oh my god, people are really interested in this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The Connecticut House debated the proposal on Monday night, but lawmakers are divided over letting existing pet stores remain open. Currently, only about 14 stores still exist statewide.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a divide amongst the chamber,\u201d Ritter said. \u201cThere\u2019s no agreement, so what were we supposed to do?\u201d<\/p>\n LIKELY TO PASS: BAN ON GLOCK HANDGUN SALES<\/p>\n Lawmakers aren\u2019t just saying “no.” Many bills are making it through in the last two days.<\/p>\n Lamont\u2019s proposed ban on \u201cconvertible pistols\u201d<\/a> is set to get final approval on Tuesday night following a lengthy debate. The aim is to get deadly \u201cGlock switches\u201d \u2013 a cheap piece of plastic that can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon \u2013 off the streets.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can order it off internet,\u201d said recently retired FBI Special Agent-In-Charge John DeVito. \u201cPrint it in your backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n Owners could keep their existing handguns \u2013 and sell them.<\/p>\n The National Rifle Association is challenging a similar law in California<\/a>. New York and several other states are considering bans of Glock sales, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal is pushing for more money for the ATF in Congress<\/a>.<\/p>\n LIKELY TO PASS: PENALTIES FOR PASSING SCHOOL BUSES<\/p>\n Lawmakers are green-lighting tougher penalties for passing a school bus. Drivers would lose their license for a third offense, but only if a police officer pulls them over. An automated school bus camera ticket would not count.<\/p>\n