Linares Named to Key Legislative Committees

January 7, 2013

State Sen. Art Linares has been named Ranking Member of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Banks Committee and Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Children. Linares will also serve on the Commerce and Education Committees. The 2013 legislative session begins Wednesday, January 9.

Linares, 24, is State Senator for the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. He is a co-founder of Greenskies, a Middletown-based commercial solar energy company.

Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney of Fairfield said Linares’ business background will serve him well on the Banking and Commerce Committees.

“The policies that are crafted by these committees can create a more business friendly Connecticut,” Sen. McKinney said. “Sen-elect Linares brings private sector experience to these committees and his input will be invaluable. Art is a tireless worker, and I am confident he will hit the ground running.”

“Job growth has got to be our priority at the State Capitol,” Linares said. “These committee assignments will enable me to focus on policies which will help create jobs while concentrating on issues impacting young people. I can’t wait to get to work up in Hartford on behalf of the taxpayers.”

Linares graduated from the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa in Florida, where he majored in entrepreneurship, developing his own company as he earned a college degree.

  • The Banks Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to banks, the supervision of the sale of securities, and all legislation dealing with secured and unsecured lending.
  • The Commerce Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Development Authority and Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
  • The Select Committee on Children may take up any bill concerning children.
  • The Education Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Education; local and regional boards of education and the substantive law of collective bargaining covering teachers and professional employees of such boards; the Commission on the Arts; and libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations.