1999 NEWS RELEASES AND SPEECHES

December 17, 1999

TULISANO MAKES APPEARANCE ON "WAYS TO JUSTICE"

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) will be a guest on the second of a series of one-hour television
programs called "Ways to Justice", designed to explore various ways in which the justice system impacts everyday life.

Tulisano said the program is produced by the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and co-sponsored by the
Connecticut Bar Association and the Connecticut Judicial Branch. The programs are modeled on the "Socratic Dialogue"
roundtable discussion programs developed by the late CBS television producer Fred Friendly at Columbia University and
aired on National Public Television.

The program topic of the program in which Tulisano participates is employment law.

"Ways to Justice" will be distributed to all Connecticut Community Access stations in the state.

December 9, 1999

REP. TULISANO CALLS FOR FUNDING OF THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS
FOR FIREFIGHTERS

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) said today that the recent tragedy in Worcester, where six
firefighters lost their lives, has reminded us of the risks taken daily by those who guard against loss of life and property by
engaging in firefighter service.

"As a result of this reminder," Tulisano said. "I will introduce legislation, to fund grants to fire companies for the purpose
of purchasing thermal imaging cameras, which allow firefighters to navigate through smoke filled rooms to locate victims."

Tulisano said that he was first advised of the need for such devices when his local volunteer fire department sought his aid
in obtaining funding for the cameras for their department.

"Who knows, if such devices were available in Worcester, perhaps this loss of lives could have been averted, but we do
know that lives can be saved in the future," Tulisano said. "Just as the state provided firefighters in the 70s with the
wherewithal to obtain the 'jaws of life', it is time for us to help today to obtain potential lifesaving equipment for the
future."

September 22, 1999

TULISANO ANNOUNCES STATE FUNDING FOR PARKS

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-29h District) today announced that on the agenda for the State Bonding
Commission Friday, there will be an authorization to the Town of Rocky Hill for granting aid for park improvements in
the sum of $125,000.00.

Tulisano said that "working with Legislative Leaders during the waning days of the Session, I was able to obtain the to
support our efforts to provide funding to Rocky Hill, which will enable it to enhance Maxwell Park.

"This year", Tulisano said, "we became aware of the fact that the Town of Rocky Hill wished to add features to the Park
currently being developed in the West end of Town, and which was not part of the original plans. It became apparent,
Tulisano said, that the most cost effective way to accomplish these changes would be to ask the donating Developer,
Richard Vicino, to make these changes as he completed his assigned project. With Ins, the Park will go on line with all
improvements as originally proposed by the Developer, and together with those extras subsequently requested by the
Town".

"Upon final approval by the State, the funding will be used to install irrigation and utilities to the two fields, develop an
emergency access road, install perimeter fencing and gates, and extend the sidewalk."

September 16, 1999

TULISANO TO BE RECOGNIZED BY STATE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOC.

The Connecticut State Firefighters Association is recognizing State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-29th district)
for his efforts to pass legislation in support of firefighters, in particular a proposal he wrote allowing volunteer firefighters
to receive tax breaks for their service to their communities.

The firefighters association will hold its 116th annual convention Saturday in Derby, where members will make a
presentation to Tulisano.

John J. McAuliffe, legislative chairman of the firefighters association, said the group wants to thank Tulisano for all he has
done over the years for fire service, and especially for this year's tax abatement bill.

"Rep. Tulisano initiated legislation to provide $1,000 in tax abatements for volunteer firefighters," said McAuliffe. "When
the original bill was unsuccessful, he initiated an amendment to another bill which resulted in passage of Public Act 99-
272."

Tulisano's legislation is an effort to ease the burden of volunteers' property tax bills, to not only show appreciation for
volunteer firefighters' tremendous sacrifice of time and risk to protect their communities, but also to encourage more
citizens to become involved in their communities through volunteer fire service. The tax abatements are also available to
emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics and ambulance drivers.

The convention will be held at Derby High School, 8 Nutmeg Ave. at 11 a.m.

September 7, 1999

TULISANO, AREA LAWMAKERS CALL FOR GOVERNOR TO KEEP DMV IN
WETHERSFIELD

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-29th district) has appealed to Governor John G. Rowland to reconsider his
proposal to move the state Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters from the greater Hartford area to Waterbury.

Tulisano, joined by State Representative Paul Doyle (D-28th district) and State Senator Biagio "Billy" Ciotto (D-9th
district), wrote a letter to the governor citing several concerns they asked the governor to take into account before forcing
the DMV to move from Wethersfield.

The new daily commute for a DMV employee would be 60 miles round trip -- an unfair burden upon employees in terms
of additional costs and time. This would mark a change in conditions of employment that employees had not planned
upon, Tulisano said.

One major drawback for parents of young children would be required to spend less time with them, because they will be
required to leave earlier and return later from work.

"The governor's proposal not only increases the childcare cost of individuals, but also damages family relationships,"
Tulisano said.

He said that, although it may not be intended, this plan may force some employees to resign, because their family
situations would make such a commute impossible. Even if that wasn't the intent, Tulisano said he feels encouraging
forced resignations violates the spirit of fair employment principles and will increase unemployment in the greater Hartford
area.

If the DMV does vacate the building, it would become an eyesore in Historic Old Wethersfield and a nuisance and
detriment to the neighborhood. Any transfer of the property to the town would defeat the purpose of removing the
building from state government property, since the town would defer the burden of the cost of improvements to the state.

In the letter, the legislators said they are "prepared to take all steps available in order to preserve these individual jobs,
the accessibility of the current office and the integrity of this neighborhood."

September 1, 1999

TULISANO ANNOUNCES STATE WILL INSTALL TRAFFIC LIGHT AT
DANGEROUS INTERSECTION

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) said that following a couple of years of complaints after
numerous accidents at the intersection of Gilbert Avenue and West Street in Rocky Hill, the state has agreed to go out to
bid for the installation of a traffic light.

The bid will go out next week and the project is scheduled for April 2000. Tulisano said the action is due to residents
who took the time to let officials know that the intersection poses a danger. He said the Rocky Hill Town Council was
able to work with the DOT to finally get the traffic signal installed. A study at the location showed that from 1994 to
1997, eight accidents, including five rear-end accidents, occurred at the intersection.

"Public safety is the highest concern," Tulisano said. "I am happy to report that the DOT has notified me to say the bid
for the project will go ahead on Sept. 8. I thank the citizens, the town council and the DOT for their work to make this
intersection safer."

TULISANO ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION REFORM

Says bill raises standards for teachers and students

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) said a bill recently passed in the General Assembly will revamp
Connecticut's bilingual education system to help non-English speaking Connecticut schoolchildren leave school equipped
to compete on an equal basis in higher education and today's job market.

"Many children end up in bilingual programs for years, and are not well prepared to become contributing members of the
community," Tulisano said. "Currently, children from non-English speaking homes tend to be placed in bilingual programs
unless their parents exempt them. This bill will require schools to explain options available to parents or guardians and
allow them to make an informed choice."

The bill limits children to three years in a bilingual program and requires that those making insufficient progress be
provided with support services to help them reach a new state mastery standard. Those not ready to be mainstreamed
when they leave the program will be eligible for English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction or other transitional
assistance. More than 50 percent of the instruction must be in English by the end of a child's first year in a bilingual
program, and the use of English must continue to increase.

"I believe that the original purpose of bilingual education, to help kids learn while they assimilate into a new language and
culture, is important. I believe this new legislation will improve on this process," Tulisano said.

"An essential requirement of this bill is a four-year process of raising standards for bilingual teachers. By this summer,
prospective teachers must show they are competent in both English and the language they wish to teach in order to be
certified," Tulisano said. "And standards will continue to be raised each year until the year 2003, when every bilingual
teacher in elementary school must be certified in both bilingual education and elementary education, and secondary-level
teachers must be certified in bilingual education and their academic subject.

"Bilingual education and its merits and its failures has been a national debate for years. These

changes represent the first major overhaul of the Connecticut bilingual education law since it was enacted over 20 years
ago," Tulisano said. "This bill has been a long time in coming, and I am pleased that we will move forward quickly to
ensure that standards are improved right away."

Local school districts with at least 20 students who are dominant in the same foreign language must provide bilingual
education according to current state law.

July 15, 1999

REP. TULISANO SAYS CT RESIDENTS PROTECTED

DESPITE REJECTON OF HMO REFORMS BY GOP CONGRESS

State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) wants to assure residents that despite this week's rejection by
the Republican-controlled Congress in Washington of proposed HMO reforms, managed health care reforms adopted
by the General Assembly over the past three years remain in effect in Connecticut.

"I was extremely disappointed to see Congress take the position that insurance companies should have the final say on
important medical decisions, such as how long a patient stays in the hospital and what treatments are necessary," Rep.
Tulisano said. "Fortunately here in Connecticut the Legislature has been ahead of the curve and managed health care
standards adopted over the past few years remain in effect."

In 1997, Connecticut's Legislature passed a landmark managed care reform bill which created an independent appeal
process for patients to pursue when their managed care plan denied coverage. Other highlights of this landmark bill
include:

A minimum 48-hour hospital coverage for breast cancer surgery;

A consumer report card rating of managed care plans;

Automatic emergency room coverage.

Under reforms adopted this year in Connecticut, health insurers will be required to cover screenings for prostate cancer,
up to 60 days of treatments for Lyme disease, and provide the same level of coverage for mental health as they do for
physical conditions. In addition, pharmacists and physicians are now barred from selling personal medical information
without a patient's consent and a new state office is being established to answer questions on managed care plans.

As of several years ago, Connecticut also passed a bill banning "drive-through deliveries", the practice of pushing new
mothers out of the hospital less that 48 hours after they had given birth. The Legislature also passed a law that allows
women to use their ob/gyn as their primary physician.

"I find it very disturbing that some of these basic reforms such as establishing that doctor should have the final say on
what treatments are medically necessary were rejected by our Congress," Rep. Tulisano said. "I'm proud however that
Connecticut has led the way in improving the quality and access to health care for its residents."