Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
Source: Bristol Press (CT)
Copyright: 2002, The Bristol Press
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1643
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/569
Author: Christopher Hoffman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

STATE LAWMAKERS GET SET TO APPROACH SOME CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS NEXT SESSION

HARTFORD -- Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll were on the agenda Friday at the 
legislature's Judiciary Committee.

The committee, meeting before the start of the session, proposed bills to 
allow gay marriage, extend certain rights to same sex couples and increase 
the statute of limitations for sexual assault of children.

Lawmakers also agreed to consider legislation making it legal to possess 
marijuana for medical purposes, and requiring record stores to post their 
policies on selling adult-themed CDs to minors.

The committee's action virtually assures that the bills will at least get a 
public hearing during the legislative session that kicks off Feb. 6.

Two committee members, Deputy Speaker of the House Wade A. Hyslop Jr., 
D-New London, and state Sen. John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, said they opposed 
the bills pertaining to same-sex couples, but would vote to consider them 
out of respect for their colleagues.

Kissel noted that the committee held an informational hearing on granting 
legal rights to gays last year that attracted dozens of impassioned 
speakers from both sides of the issue. He added that this year is the 
legislature's short session and implied that lawmakers might not have time 
for such a lengthy debate.

"People have very strong opinions one way or another on this particular 
issue," Kissel said.

But the co-chairman of the committee, State Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, D- East 
Haven, said he believes the hearing showed that people are ready to accept 
the idea of legal rights for same-sex couples.

"I think most people have calmed down a lot about this issue," Lawlor said. 
"I think people know this issue better."

Lawlor said that California recently passed with little fanfare legislation 
that gave some rights to same-sex couples.

The veteran lawmaker predicted the gay marriage proposal would fail, but 
gave the bill granting some rights to same-sex couples an excellent chance 
of passing.

There are 588 state statutes that apply to married couples, and the 
legislature needs to sort out which should also apply to gay couples, 
Lawlor said. Some obvious choices are laws dealing with inheritance, 
hospital visitation and the partners of state employees bound by state 
ethics rules, Lawlor said.

On the marijuana proposal, Lawlor said that state doctors have long been 
allowed to prescribe cannabis for certain conditions, such as glaucoma. 
Pharmacies, however, may not distribute the drug, he said.

The proposal would allow doctors to issue a note that a patient could 
present if police try to arrest them for possession of the drug, Lawlor said.

One proposal is making a comeback after failing to win passage last year. A 
bill to increase the statute of limitations for having sex with children 
died last year after lawmakers couldn't agree on whether to apply it 
retroactively.

The 26 bills the committee proposed for consideration also included a 
measure that would allow the courts to require a divorcing spouse to help 
pay college costs of his or her children.

It's a provision allowed in many states, but not in Connecticut.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager