Connecticut Senate Bill SB00719

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/19
• Refer: 1/29/19

Caption

An Act Appropriating Funds To The Drug Recognition Expert Program.

Impact

The bill proposes funding from the Special Transportation Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. By ensuring that police officers are qualified to identify drug impairment, the legislation is expected to improve the overall efficiency of law enforcement and public safety on the roads. This is particularly significant as drug-impaired driving poses substantial risks not only to the impaired drivers but also to other road users.

Summary

SB00719 is an act that aims to appropriate funds to support the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program in Connecticut. The bill was introduced by Senator Osten during the January session of 2019 and refers to the need for adequate funding to ensure that a sufficient number of state and municipal police officers are trained to recognize drivers who are impaired by drugs. This initiative is vital to enhancing road safety and curbing drug-related driving offenses.

Contention

Although the text of the bill does not detail specific points of contention, discussions around drug recognition and law enforcement training programs often involve topics such as the allocation of state funds, the effectiveness of such training in reducing drug-impaired driving incidents, and the broader implications for law enforcement. Stakeholders may debate the merit and necessity of the funding, particularly in the context of competing public safety priorities and budget constraints.