MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gwendolyn Samuel Tel: 203-443-3203 Email: gwen@ctparentsunion.

org June 28, 2013

VICTORY FOR CT PARENTS! GOVERNOR MALLOY SIGNS LAW TO STOP FELONY ARREST OF PARENTS FOR SCHOOL RESIDENCY/ZIP-CODE LAW VIOLATONS
WHAT: A HUGE civil rights victory for Connecticut parents. Connecticut first state to legally stop the felony arrest of parents seeking safe and high quality schools for their children! With the Connecticut Parents Union leading the charge, parents across the state of Connecticut and across the country applaud the efforts of Deputy Majority Whip Bruce Morris which led the House of Representatives last month in passing House Bill 6677, which stops the felony arrest of parents that enroll their children in schools outside of their zip-code. This was clearly a bi-partisan effort with almost unanimous approval. The legislation was passed on consent in the Senate and signed into law Monday, June 24, 2013 by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/act/pa/pdf/2013PA-00211-R00HB-06677-PA.pdf Morris said school districts have recourse in civil court for seeking reimbursement for misrepresentation of a student's home district. "Under this legislation, people who enroll children illegally in another district won't be charged as criminals, tying up the criminal court system. Instead, the issue will be dealt with by the individual school districts, which are best equipped for deciding how an out-of-town enrollment should be handled. Residency issues will be treated as civil matters." Note: On July 24, 2013, the Connecticut Parents Union will be in Federal Court to hear oral arguments addressing unconstitutional zip-code laws related to Marie Menard, a Stratford CT grandmother who was arrested for "educational theft" for stealing a free public education for her three grandchildren. Note: She is a home owner & taxpayer in the town she was arrested. Press conference will be held.