Researcher: GM Page 1 4/3/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6863
AN ACT CONCERNING POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
§§ 1 & 15 — LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION PROMOTION
CAMPAIGN
Appropriates $500,000 to DESPP for a statewide campaign promoting the law
enforcement profession
§ 2 — POLICE CADET/EXPLORER PROGRAM COOR DINATOR
Requires DESPP to (1) employ a full-time program coordinator to supervise police cadet
and explorer programs and (2) allocate $5,000 each fiscal year to every municipal police
department that operates or plans to operate these programs
§ 3 — POLICE BASIC TRAINING REIMBURSEMEN T GRANTS
Requires DESPP to reimburse municipal police departments for the cost of police officer
basic training through an annual grant program
§ 4 — STUDY ON SUBSTITUTING COLLEGE COURSES FOR POLICE
BASIC TRAINING
Requires POST to study whether college-level criminal justice courses can be substituted
for its police basic training courses
§ 5 — LAWFUL PERMANE NT RESIDENT NONCITIZENS AS POLICE
OFFICERS
Prohibits denying someone certification or employment as a police officer solely because he
or she is a lawful permanent resident noncitizen
§ 6 — POLICE SALARY INCREASE GRANTS
Requires DESPP, starting FY 24, to provide annual grants to the top 10 most populous
municipalities to increase their police officers’ salaries
§§ 7-9 — TUITION WAIVERS FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Provides tuition waivers for the state’s public colleges and universities to police officers
employed for at least two years and any dependent child of an officer employed at least five
years
§ 10 — LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR PO LICE OFFICERS
Requires OHE to create an annual grant program to give up to $5,000 a year, for up to 10
years, to police officers who have been employed for at least 10 years to reimburse their
federal or state educational loans 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 2 4/3/23
§ 11 — STUDIES ON DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLANS AND
RETIREMENT MEDICAL B ENEFITS
Requires the State Retirement Commission to study (1) deferred retirement option plans
towards developing one for police officers and (2) existing retirement medical benefits
provided to police officers and their spouses
§ 12 — STATE POLICE OFFICER RETIREES RETURNING TO SERVICE
Directs the governor to enter negotiations to amend the state police officers collective
bargaining agreement to establish conditions for retired officers to return to service
§ 13 — MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER RETIREES RETURNING TO
SERVICE
Generally, requires collective bargaining agreements between municipalities and
municipal police officers to allow retired, POST-certified officers to return to part- or full-
time employment
§ 14 — VOLUNTEER POLICE AUXILIARY TASK FORCE
Creates an 11-member task force to (1) study the volunteer police auxiliary force and (2)
make recommendations for improving and maximizing the force
BACKGROUND
§§ 1 & 15 — LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION P ROMOTION
CAMPAIGN
Appropriates $500,000 to DESPP for a statewide campaign promoting the law
enforcement profession
The bill requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection (DESPP) commissioner, by January 1, 2024, to develop a
statewide campaign to promote the law enforcement profession that
uses a variety of media, including social media. In developing the
campaign, the commissioner may consult with the Connecticut Police
Chiefs Association and any other entities he deems appropriate.
The bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for FY 24 to
DESPP for the campaign.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 2 — POLICE CADET/EXPLORER PROGRAM COOR DINATOR
Requires DESPP to (1) employ a full-time program coordinator to supervise police cadet
and explorer programs and (2) allocate $5,000 each fiscal year to every municipal police
department that operates or plans to operate these programs
The bill requires DESPP to employ a full-time program coordinator
to coordinate and oversee police cadet and explorer programs, 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 3 4/3/23
implement state standards and a best practices guide for them, and
encourage creating and expanding the programs throughout the state.
Starting with FY 24, the department must annually allocate $5,000 to
each municipal police department that operates, or plans to operate, a
cadet or explorer program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 3 — POLICE BASIC TRAINING REIMBURSEMEN T GRANTS
Requires DESPP to reimburse municipal police departments for the cost of police officer
basic training through an annual grant program
The bill requires DESPP to create a grant program for reimbursing
municipal police departments for the cost of police officer basic training.
The department must (1) set the grant application process and forms
and (2) post a description of the program that includes the eligibility
criteria and application process. The posting must be in a conspicuous
place on DESPP’s website by October 1, 2023. Grants must be provided
annually starting FY 24.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 4 — STUDY ON SUBST ITUTING COLLEGE COUR SES FOR
POLICE BASIC TRAINING
Requires POST to study whether college-level criminal justice courses can be substituted
for its police basic training courses
The bill requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Council
(POST) to examine the criminal justice courses offered by colleges and
universities in Connecticut and determine (1) if the courses equal those
required as part of a police officer’s minimum basic law enforcement
training at the Connecticut Police Academy and (2) under what
conditions a police trainee would not need to complete an academy
course because he or she had already completed an equivalent college-
level course. (The bill does not establish a date by which this must be
done.)
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 4 4/3/23
§ 5 — LAWFUL PERMANE NT RESIDENT NONCITIZENS AS POLICE
OFFICERS
Prohibits denying someone certification or employment as a police officer solely because he
or she is a lawful permanent resident noncitizen
The bill prohibits POST from denying police officer certification and
law enforcement units from denying someone employment as a police
officer solely because he or she is a lawful permanent resident
noncitizen. (See BACKGROUND for the bill’s definition of “law
enforcement units” and “police officer.”)
The bill also makes a technical change.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 6 — POLICE SALARY INCREASE GRANTS
Requires DESPP, starting FY 24, to provide annual grants to the top 10 most populous
municipalities to increase their police officers’ salaries
The bill requires DESPP to create a grant program for increasing
police officer salaries in the top 10 most populous municipalities. Grants
must be provided annually starting FY 24. The bill prohibits recipients
from using the grant for any purpose other than increasing their police
officers’ salaries.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§§ 7-9 — TUITION WAIVERS FOR POLICE OFFI CERS AND
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Provides tuition waivers for the state’s public colleges and universities to police officers
employed for at least two years and any dependent child of an officer employed at least five
years
The bill requires UConn, the Connecticut State University System,
and the regional community-technical colleges to waive tuition for (1) a
police officer who has at least two years of service as an officer in
Connecticut and (2) any dependent child of a police officer who has at
least five years of service as an officer in the state. (See BACKGROUND
for the bill’s definition of “police officer.”)
Currently, the schools must waive tuition for nine other categories of
students (e.g., surviving children of people who died while serving in 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 5 4/3/23
active duty in the armed forces).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 10 — LOAN REIMBURS EMENT PROGRAM FOR PO LICE
OFFICERS
Requires OHE to create an annual grant program to give up to $5,000 a year, for up to 10
years, to police officers who have been employed for at least 10 years to reimburse their
federal or state educational loans
The bill requires the Office of Higher Education (OHE), in
collaboration with DESPP, to create a loan reimbursement program for
individuals employed as police officers in Connecticut for at least 10
years. (See BACKGROUND for the bill’s definition of “police officer.”)
Under the program, eligible officers may receive an annual grant to
help reimburse their federal or state educational loan payments for up
to 10 years. The grant may be for up to 10% of their loans, but no more
than $5,000 in any year, and only to reimburse loan payments made
while the person is employed as a police officer.
Under the bill, the OHE executive director may set the program
application process and forms. The office may accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any source, public or private, for the program. Grants
must be awarded annually starting FY 24. The bill prohibits
unexpended funds from lapsing at the end of a fiscal year and instead
requires that they be available for the next fiscal year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
§ 11 — STUDIES ON DEFERRED RETIREMENT OP TION PLANS
AND RETIREMENT MEDIC AL BENEFITS
Requires the State Retirement Commission to study (1) deferred retirement option plans
towards developing one for police officers and (2) existing retirement medical benefits
provided to police officers and their spouses
The bill requires the State Retirement Commission to study:
1. deferred retirement option plans, and make recommendations
for developing a state-administered plan open to any police
officer in Connecticut; and 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 6 4/3/23
2. the types and levels of retirement medical benefits provided to
police officers and their spouses in the state and make
recommendations on providing the benefits.
As part of its studies, the commission may consult with DESPP,
municipal police departments, and any other entities it deems
appropriate. The commission must report its findings and
recommendations to the Public Safety and Security Committee by
January 1, 2024.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 12 — STATE POLICE OFF ICER RETIREES RETURN ING TO
SERVICE
Directs the governor to enter negotiations to amend the state police officers collective
bargaining agreement to establish conditions for retired officers to return to service
By October 1, 2023, the bill requires the governor to start negotiating
with the state police officers union to seek amendments to their
collective bargaining agreement that would establish conditions under
which a retired state police officer may return to service and (1) resume
earning credit toward retirement benefits, in the same way as the retired
officer earned credit before retirement, and (2) be eligible for earning his
or her preretirement benefits.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
§ 13 — MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER RETIREES RETURNING TO
SERVICE
Generally, requires collective bargaining agreements between municipalities and
municipal police officers to allow retired, POST-certified officers to return to part- or full-
time employment
The bill requires each collective bargaining agreement entered into or
amended on or after July 1, 2024, between a municipality and a union
that represents the municipality’s police officers to allow officers who
retire and remain POST-certified to return to part- or full-time
employment as a police officer with the municipality while collecting
his or her pension, to the maximum extent allowed under state and
federal law. 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 7 4/3/23
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
§ 14 — VOLUNTEER POL ICE AUXILIARY TASK FORCE
Creates an 11-member task force to (1) study the volunteer police auxiliary force and (2)
make recommendations for improving and maximizing the force
The bill creates an 11-member task force to study the volunteer police
auxiliary force and recommend ways to improve the force’s
organization and maximize the services that auxiliary state police and
municipal police officers may provide.
The task force members must be appointed within 30 days after the
bill passes. The members and their appointees are as follows:
• two appointments each by the House speaker, Senate president
pro tempore, and the governor;
• one appointment each by the House and Senate majority and
minority leaders; and
• the DESPP commissioner, or his designee.
The bill allows legislative appointees to be General Assembly
members. The House speaker and Senate president pro tempore must
select the task force’s chairpersons from the members. The chairpersons
must schedule the first task force meeting within 60 days after the bill
passes and the Public Safety and Security Committee administrative
staff must serve as the task force’s administrative staff.
The bill requires the task force to report its findings and
recommendations to the Public Safety and Security Committee by
January 1, 2024. The task force terminates on that date or when it
submits the report, whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
Definitions (§§ 5 & 7-10)
By law and under sections 5 and 7-10 of the bill, “police officers” are
sworn members of an organized local police department or the State 2023HB-06863-R000372-BA.DOCX
Researcher: GM Page 8 4/3/23
Police; appointed constables who perform criminal law enforcement
duties; special police officers appointed under law (e.g., public
assistance fraud investigators); or any members of a law enforcement
unit who perform police duties (CGS § 7-294a(9)). A “law enforcement
unit” is any state or municipal agency or department (or tribal agency
or department created and governed under a memorandum of
agreement) whose primary functions include enforcing criminal or
traffic laws; preserving public order; protecting life and property; or
preventing, detecting, or investigating crime (CGS § 7-294a(8)).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 22 Nay 3 (03/16/2023)