Residency Bill Dies In Committee

HARTFORD (AP) — Pressed up against a tight deadline, Connecticut lawmakers have failed to vote on a bill that would essentially lower the penalty for people who intentionally lie about where they live to get their children into a different school system.

Members of the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee did not vote on the proposal before their 5 pm Monday deadline, due to time constraints and a packed agenda.

The bill would have created a misdemeanor offense for misrepresenting home town for purposes of school enrollment.

The measure came nearly a year after a Bridgeport woman was arrested and charged with felony larceny for illegally enrolling her child in a Norwalk public school.

Supporters had said the bill would help protect parents from potential felony charges. Opponents argued the penalty should not be lowered because misrepresentation constitutes municipal fraud.