This bill establishes a new fund to provide a one-time $100,000 death benefit to the surviving families of correction officers and investigators from specific state agencies who are killed in the line of duty. The fund is financed through available appropriations and interest earnings, with payments distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible survivors including spouses, dependent children, and other family members listed on beneficiary forms. The bill also defines key terms such as "killed in the line of duty" and "dependent child," and requires the Comptroller to submit annual reports on fund expenditures and balances to relevant legislative committees. Additionally, the legislation repeals an existing tax provision related to income derived from the death benefit.
This bill establishes a new crime called digital forgery, which applies to anyone who creates and shares fake images or audio recordings of people with the intent to cause financial harm. The law defines a digitally forged likeness as content that looks or sounds real but was created using computer systems without the person's consent. It makes this a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the act was part of a larger scheme, but it exempts law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The bill also protects online platforms from liability unless they knew the content was being created or shared illegally.
This bill updates the definition of "retired police officer" to clarify who can be hired for armed security work in Connecticut public schools. It specifically disqualifies individuals who are prohibited from being hired by law enforcement units due to past misconduct, such as dismissal for malfeasance or resignation during an investigation. To qualify, retired officers must have served with local, state, federal, or out-of-state police agencies, retired in good standing, and meet federal standards for qualified retired law enforcement officers. The law also requires these officers to complete annual firearms training and exempts them from certain licensing requirements.
This bill requires the Department of Correction and other state facilities that detain offenders to adopt and follow national standards for preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse. It mandates specific policies including zero tolerance for abuse, enhanced privacy protections for transgender individuals, improved surveillance coverage, and specialized training for staff and volunteers. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements, mandates investigations within 30 days of abuse reports, and requires regular compliance certifications to be submitted to state oversight committees.
This bill restricts the disclosure of residential addresses for a wide range of public officials and employees under the state Freedom of Information Act. It directly affects judges, law enforcement officers, firefighters, elected officials, and other government workers who are at risk for safety concerns. The law requires agencies to redact these individuals' home addresses from public records upon request, while still allowing their business addresses to be disclosed. Officials must submit a written request and provide their work address to trigger this protection, which takes effect 90 days before elections for certain local election officials. The changes become effective on October 1, 2026.
This bill allows any individual to voluntarily turn in firearms they own to a police department or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. While existing laws already permit the surrender of assault weapons with advance arrangements, this measure clarifies that all other firearms can be relinquished at any time without prior scheduling. The legislation also updates related statutes to ensure consistency in how these voluntary turn-ins are processed and to maintain existing rules about transferring assault weapons to licensed dealers or through inheritance.
This bill establishes new requirements and oversight for justices of the peace in Connecticut, affecting those appointed to the position and the Secretary of the State. It mandates that newly appointed justices complete a training manual within 30 days and prohibits them from performing fraudulent marriages or using their title for commercial endorsements. The Secretary of the State gains authority to investigate misconduct and can issue warnings, reprimands, or revoke appointments for negligence, fraud, or unlawful actions. Additionally, the bill creates a process for filling vacancies in municipalities that increase the number of justices, allowing political parties to nominate candidates for these positions.
This bill updates Connecticut's trespass laws to specifically include school grounds, parking lots, athletic fields, and school buildings as protected areas. It creates three levels of criminal trespass offenses for unauthorized entry onto school property, ranging from first-degree criminal trespass for those who ignore direct orders to leave to third-degree for entering posted or fenced school areas. Additionally, it establishes simple trespass as a minor infraction for unauthorized entry onto school premises without intent to harm property. The changes apply to all individuals who enter or remain on school property without permission and take effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill updates Connecticut law to ensure crime victims have a formal opportunity to address the court before a defendant is sentenced or charges are dismissed. It allows victims, their families, or legal representatives to submit oral or written statements regarding the impact of the crime and their views on penalties. Prosecutors must notify victims of sentencing hearings if they wish to make a statement, and for cases involving peace officer assaults, the officer must be personally notified. Additionally, the bill requires prosecutors to provide victims with written details of proposed plea agreements, including potential prison terms and eligibility for sentence reductions or parole. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill updates Connecticut's criminal penalties for intentionally damaging critical infrastructure and public safety systems. It directly affects individuals who damage utilities, transportation systems, communication networks, emergency services, or state-owned safety equipment. The law creates two new felony and misdemeanor offenses that apply when someone damages these systems with intent to cause harm or create a risk of service interruption, regardless of whether the damage causes actual disruption. Key provisions include increasing penalties for damaging electronic monitoring equipment, fire alarm systems, emergency dispatch systems, and fire suppression equipment, while also raising the monetary threshold for criminal mischief to $1,500 for state property and $250 for municipal property. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026.
