Forget the budget, we have the state polka and state waltz, all in one bill. Don’t forget Gustave Whitehead!!!

 

Here’s some of the analysis of the bill the House is discussing right now. Yes, life is not complete without a state waltz AND a state polka. And Rep Larry Miller, R-Stratford, added an amendment ordering the governor to proclaim a certain date each year as “Powered Flight Day” to honor the Gustave Whitehead’s flights in Bridgeport before the Wright Brothers and to commemorate the Connecticut aviation and aerospace industry. Here’s the analysis:

“This bill requires each state department, board, authority, commission, office, institution, council, or other state agency to inform and communicate with its clients in a culturally competent way that recognizes the clients’ diversity.

The bill also requires the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee (PRI) to study the feasibility of creating a centralized state permitting office to issue all business permits. PRI must submit its findings and recommendations to the Commerce and Government Administration and Elections committees by January 1, 2014.

Additionally, the bill requires (1) the governor to proclaim the following months and day of each year to honor Americans of different ancestry and (2) suitable exercises to be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the governor designates:

1. March as Irish-American Month,

2. October as Italian-American Month,

3. November as Native American Month, and

4. June 24 as French Canadian-American Day.

It also establishes (1) the polka as the state dance; (2) the ballroom polka as the state polka; and (3) Beautiful Connecticut Waltz, composed by Joseph Leggo, as the second state song.

Lastly, the bill allows the economic and community development commissioner to designate a day, week, or month for celebrating ethnic, cultural, or heritage groups upon the application of such groups. In practice, such days, weeks, or months are proclaimed by the governor in his role as the chief executive.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except that the communication requirement is effective October 1, 2013.