LCO No. 5455 1 of 2
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6873
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 5455
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT REQUIRING THE POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND
TRAINING COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND PROMULGATE A MODEL
POLICY REQUIRING THE USE OF A SEAT SAFETY BELT FOR ANY
PERSON WHO IS BEING TRANSPORTED IN A MUNICIPAL POLICE
VEHICLE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than December 1
31, 2023, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established 2
under section 7-294b of the general statutes shall develop and 3
promulgate a model policy that provides guidelines on (1) the required 4
use of a seat safety belt by any person who is being transported in a 5
municipal police vehicle, and (2) standardized procedures to be utilized 6
by a municipal police officer to ensure that any person who is being 7
transported in a municipal police vehicle is secure in such vehicle 8
through the use of a seat safety belt. 9
(b) On and after January 1, 2024, if the chief law enforcement officer 10
of a municipal law enforcement unit finds, through procedures 11
developed pursuant to subsection (g) of section 7-294d of the general 12
statutes, that a municipal police officer has engaged in conduct that 13 Raised Bill No. 6873
LCO No. 5455 2 of 2
constitutes a violation of the policy established pursuant to subsection 14
(a) of this section and that such violation undermines public confidence 15
in the municipal law enforcement unit, the chief law enforcement officer 16
shall report such violation to the Police Officer Standards and Training 17
Council. Said council shall thereafter conduct a de novo review of the 18
matter. Whenever the council believes there is a reasonable basis for 19
suspension, cancellation or revocation of the certification of a municipal 20
police officer due to the reported violation, the council shall give notice 21
and an adequate opportunity for a hearing to such officer prior to such 22
suspension, cancellation or revocation. Such hearing shall be conducted 23
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes. 24
If the council finds by clear and convincing evidence that a violation of 25
this section has occurred, the council may suspend, revoke or cancel the 26
certificate of the certificate holder in accordance with the provisions of 27
section 7-294d of the general statutes. 28
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section
Statement of Purpose:
To require the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to develop
and promulgate a model policy requiring the use of a seat safety belt for
any person who is being transported in a municipal police vehicle and
create a process for addressing an alleged violation of such policy.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]