Connecticut House Bill HB06929

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/15
• Refer: 2/26/15

Caption

An Act Establishing A Pilot Program In The City Of Bridgeport To Allow For The Service Of A Capias Mittimus Order By An Off-duty City Police Officer.

Impact

The proposed bill emphasizes the importance of combining local law enforcement resources with family support mechanisms, potentially improving the timeliness and effectiveness of support case processing in Bridgeport. Notably, it makes financial considerations clear, as it stipulates that police officers will receive fees equivalent to those provided to state marshals for similar services. While this legislation is limited in scope to Bridgeport, it lays the groundwork for potential state-wide implementation based on outcomes observed within the pilot.

Summary

House Bill 06929 introduces a pilot program specifically within the city of Bridgeport aiming to enable sworn members of the city’s police department to serve capias mittimus orders while off-duty. These orders, which arise from family support magistrate decisions in IV-D support cases, are typically served by state marshals. This initiative seeks to leverage police officers' availability outside their standard duties, thereby enhancing service efficiency for these legal documents.

Contention

As with many legislative proposals, there may be points of contention surrounding the practicality and oversight involved in using off-duty police officers for serving such orders. Concerns may arise regarding the appropriateness of blending law enforcement duties with family support initiatives and whether this might detract from their primary law enforcement responsibilities. Additionally, stakeholders will likely debate the potential impact on citizens’ perceptions of the police and a broader discussion around resource allocation in law enforcement contexts, particularly in relation to their roles in community support services.