Researcher: DC Page 1 5/5/23
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6873 (as amended by House “A”)*
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.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Council
(POST), by December 31, 2023, to develop and promulgate a model
policy that has guidelines on required seat belt use in municipal police
vehicles and standardized procedures for municipal police officers to
ensure that anyone being transported in their vehicles is secured by a
seat belt. By April 1, 2024, each municipal law enforcement unit must
adopt and maintain a written policy that meets or exceeds these model
policy standards.
Under the bill, starting on that same date, if a municipal law
enforcement unit’s chief law enforcement officer finds, through existing
POST-developed procedures, that a municipal police officer’s actions
violate the adopted seat belt policy and the violation undermines public
confidence in the municipal law enforcement unit, then the chief law
enforcement officer must report the violation to POST, which must then
do a de novo review (a new, independent review) of the matter.
Whenever POST believes there is a reasonable basis for suspending,
canceling, or revoking a municipal officer’s certification because of the
reported violation, the council must give the officer notice and an
adequate opportunity for a hearing before he or she is disciplined. The
hearing must be done following the Uniform Administrative Procedure
Act. If POST finds by clear and convincing evidence that a violation of
the bill has occurred, it may suspend, revoke, or cancel the officer’s
certificate. 2023HB-06873-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 2 5/5/23
*House Amendment “A” (1) delays the applicability of the seat belt
policy requirements from January 1 to April 1, 2024, and (2) requires
each municipal law enforcement unit to adopt and maintain a written
policy by that same date.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2023
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/31/2023)