SB 1543 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.

SB 1543 requires Connecticut's Department of Correction to develop a plan by October 1, 2025, to improve healthcare for people incarcerated in state facilities. The bill mandates sufficient mental health therapists at each facility to provide services based on need, with strict protocols for prescribing psychotropic medications (requiring medical history review and risk-benefit assessment). It also requires annual physical exams by licensed medical professionals, initial health assessments within 14 days of intake, and placement in appropriate medical/mental health housing when clinically necessary. These provisions directly affect all people incarcerated in Connecticut correctional institutions.

Sub-Topics: Corrections

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → JUD Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update changes the terminology from 'inmates' to 'persons who are incarcerated' to align with modern language preferences. It adds a new definition for 'psychotropic medication' and clarifies the conditions under which mental health therapists can prescribe such medications to incarcerated individuals. The bill also updates the page count and bill type designation from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' following committee review.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on correctional facility healthcare services, but the language now uses more inclusive terminology for incarcerated individuals throughout the document.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'psychotropic medication' to clarify it refers to medications treating mental health disorders affecting behavior, mood, thoughts, or perception.

Added definition for 'Department' to mean the Department of Correction, clarifying jurisdictional authority.

REQUIREMENT

Modified language throughout the bill to replace 'inmate' with 'person who is incarcerated' for consistency and modern terminology.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill designation from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and updated page count from 16 to 15 pages following committee amendments.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

Joint Favorable

May 8, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE

Apr 8, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Mar 20, 2025

Senate · Referred to committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors