Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will propose legislation that he said will improve the state’s ability to help residents who have been impacted by a natural disaster or other emergency.
Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Deputy Commissioner William Shea held a news conference on Monday at noon in East Haven to introduce the Connecticut Coordinated Assistance and Recovery Endowment (CT CARE) Fund for victims of disasters and other emergencies.
The bill will be part of the governor's package of legislative proposals to be unveiled on Feb. 6.
The plan includes establishing several separate accounts restricted to each emergency, as well as an endowment for operations and sustainability, to provide an infrastructure to receive private donations in response to an emergency or disaster and disseminate the funds in accordance with the intent of the donors.
“This fund will be a great way to formalize the way Connecticut has always responded to hardship – by neighbor helping neighbor,” Lt. Governor Wyman said in a statement. “That is how we have gotten through each of the disasters we have faced recently, and CT CARE will ensure that people have a direct, reliable way to show their generosity and goodwill.”
The Executive Board consists of seven gubernatorial appointments from the nonprofit, corporate, and accounting community, a representative of the nonprofit community, five Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security REPT Chairs that are appointed by municipal leaders, the Office of Policy and Management Secretary, and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Deputy Commissioner.
After the news conference, officials said they will visit an area of Old Saybrook that was heavily damaged by Storm Sandy, where they will discuss the governor’s disaster relief legislation with Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna and other local officials.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a federal Sandy aid package on Monday and Sen. Richard Blumenthal will be in Bridgeport on Monday morning, touring Marina Village, an area hit hard by superstorm Sandy.
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