Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

This bill establishes a new grant program to help municipalities and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pay for training police officers in impaired driving enforcement and drug recognition. The program allows these entities to receive funding either to reimburse costs for training already completed on or after July 1, 2026, or to pay for future training sessions. Additionally, the bill changes how certain cannabis taxes are distributed, directing five percent of tax revenue from fiscal years 2027 and 2028 onward into a dedicated account that will fund this training program. The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management will manage the grants and submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2028.

This bill allows certified police officers to carry firearms on school grounds at any time, regardless of whether they are performing official duties. It directly affects law enforcement officers certified under section 7-294d and modifies existing rules that previously restricted firearm possession on school property to only those actively performing official duties. The legislation creates an exception to the felony charge for unauthorized firearm possession on school grounds, which remains a class D felony for all other individuals. The change takes effect on October 1, 2026, and does not impose additional costs on state or municipal budgets.