OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
SB-123
AN ACT INCREASING THE PENALTY FOR THE INTENTIONAL
INJURY OF A POLICE ANIMAL OR DOG IN A VOLUNTEER
CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
Primary Analyst: PR 3/17/21
Contributing Analyst(s): ME
Reviewer: ME
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Judicial Dept. (Probation);
Correction, Dept.
GF - Potential
Cost
See Below See Below
Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential
Revenue Gain
See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
This bill increases the criminal penalty for intentionally injuring a
peace officer’s animal or a volunteer canine search and rescue team’s
dog while they are performing their duties under supervision. To the
extent that this change results in increased penalties, this provision
may result in a potential cost for incarceration or probation and a
potential revenue gain from fines assessed. On average, the marginal
cost to the state for incarcerating an offender for the year is $2,200
1
while the average marginal cost for supervision in the community is
less than $700
2
each year.
1
Inmate marginal cost is based on increased consumables (e.g. food, clothing, water,
sewage, living supplies, etc.) This does not include a change in staffing costs or
utility expenses because these would only be realized if a unit or facility opened.
2
Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and
only includes costs that increase with each additional participant. This does not
include a cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense 2021SB-00123-R000088-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
There have been 10 charges under the current law in the past 5 years
with no fine penalty assessed.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the number of violations.
is anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation
officers.