House Republican Press Release

January 8, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

STATE REPRESENTATIVE GIEGLER RECEIVES LEGISLATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Local Legislator To Fill Leadership Role on Key Committee

As the General Assembly’s 2007 Session convened this week, State House Republican Leader Lawrence Cafero, (R-Norwalk), has appointed State Representative Janice Giegler, (R-Danbury, New Fairfield) to serve on four Legislative Committees; Joint Committee on Judiciary, Public Health, Internship and Executive and Legislative Nominations. She will serve as Ranking Member of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.

All executive and legislative nominations, such as the appointment of state agency leaders that require action of either or both chambers, must first be approved by the Executive and Legislative Nominations committee. The minority caucuses of the State Senate and House of Representatives each appoint a Ranking Member to legislative committees. Ranking Members serve as the Caucus’ leader on issues before their respective committees.

“We can expect it to be a very busy year for this committee,” said Rep. Giegler. “We will be the first legislators to review and meet with each of the candidates recommended by Governor Rell to head state agencies. These individuals ultimately have a major impact on how state services are delivered and we must ensure that they are up to the challenges before them.” 

Rep. Giegler is beginning her third term on both the Judiciary Committee and Public Health Committee.  The Judiciary Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to courts, judicial procedures, criminal law, probate courts, probation, parole, estates, wills, adoption, divorce, bankruptcy, law libraries, deeds, mortgages, conveyancing, preservation of land records and other public documents, claims against the state and all matters relating to the Judicial Department, the Department of Correction and to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

The Public Health Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Public Health; the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Mental Retardation; the Office of Health Care Access; and all other matters relating to health, including emergency medical services, all licensing boards within the Department of Public Health, nursing homes, pure food and drugs, and controlled substances, including the treatment of substance abuse.

"Many of the more high profile bills that come before the Legislature originate in the Judiciary and Public Health Committees and I am very pleased to have been reappointed to serve as a member,” said Rep. Giegler. “It provides an opportunity to not only become familiar with such legislation during the early stages but to also offer changes for their improvement at that time.”

            The Internship Committee oversees the Legislature’s Internship program and selects interns, who are assigned to legislative leaders, committee chairs, ranking members and individual legislators.