Researcher: GM Page 1 5/18/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6840 (as amended by House “A”)*
AN ACT EXPANDING MEMBERSHIP OF THE POLICE OFFICER
STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL, REQUIRING GUIDELINES
REGARDING BODY -WORN RECORDING EQUIPMENT AND
REQUIRING A REPORT REGARDING CONDUCT THAT
UNDERMINES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SUMMARY
Beginning January 1, 2024, this bill increases the membership of the
Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) from 21 members
to 23 by adding two new members, one appointed by the Public Safety
and Security Committee chairs and one by the Senate and House
minority leaders. The appointees must be sworn police officers who are
not in command positions within their law enforcement units.
Under current law, the council consists of 21 members: 11 appointed
by the governor, six legislative appointments, and four serving ex-
officio (the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
(DESPP) commissioner and FBI special agent-in-charge for Connecticut,
or their designees, and the chief state’s attorney and Connecticut State
Police Academy’s commanding officer).
As under existing law, appointed members serve at the pleasure of
their appointing authority for a term coterminous with their appointing
authority (CGS § 4-1a). The law additionally deems a member to have
resigned from POST if he or she misses three consecutive meetings or
50% of the meetings held during any calendar year.
*House Amendment “A” removes (1) an exception for exigent
circumstances to state law’s general requirement that police officers use
body-worn recording equipment (i.e., body cameras) while interacting
with the public and (2) a requirement for DESPP and POST to submit a
report on police officer conduct that undermines public confidence in 2023HB-06840-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 2 5/18/23
law enforcement.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2024
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 23 Nay 2 (03/16/2023)