Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00901 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 03/16/2023

                             
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 901  
January Session, 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING A REGISTRY OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF 
FINANCIAL CRIMES AGAINST ELDERLY PERSONS.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) For purposes of this section 1 
and sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act, (1) "convicted" and "found not 2 
guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" have the same meanings 3 
as provided in section 54-280 of the general statutes, (2) "elderly 4 
person" means a person sixty years of age or older, (3) "financial crime 5 
against an elderly person" means a crime involving an elderly person 6 
as a victim prosecuted under subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of 7 
section 53a-123 or section 53a-125c, 53a-125d, 53a-125e, 53a-129b or 8 
53a-129c of the general statutes, provided the court makes a finding 9 
that, at the time the offense was committed, the victim was sixty years 10 
of age or older, and (4) "registrant" means a person required to register 11 
pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of this act. 12 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Department of 13 
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, not later than July 1, 14 
2024, establish and maintain a registry of all persons required to 15 
register under sections 3 and 4 of this act. The department shall, in 16 
cooperation with the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, the 17 
Department of Correction and the Psychiatric Security Review Board, 18 
develop appropriate forms for use by persons to report registration 19  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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information, including changes of address. Upon receipt of registration 20 
information, the department shall enter the information into the 21 
registry and notify the local police department or state police troop 22 
having jurisdiction where the registrant resides or plans to reside. 23 
(b) Upon receiving notification pursuant to section 3 of this act that 24 
a registrant has changed his or her address within the state, the 25 
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall enter 26 
the information into the registry and notify the local police 27 
departments or state police troops having jurisdiction where the 28 
registrant previously resided and the jurisdiction to which the 29 
registrant has relocated. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and 30 
Public Protection shall ensure that the name and residential address of 31 
each registrant is available through the Connecticut on-line law 32 
enforcement communications teleprocessing system. If a registrant 33 
reports a residence in another state, the department may notify the 34 
state police agency of that state or such other agency in that state that 35 
maintains registry information, if known. 36 
(c) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 37 
may suspend the registration of any person registered under sections 3 38 
and 4 of this act while such person is incarcerated, under civil 39 
commitment or residing outside this state. During the period that such 40 
registration is under suspension, the department may withdraw the 41 
registration information. Upon the release of the registrant from 42 
incarceration or civil commitment or resumption of residency in this 43 
state by the registrant, the department shall reinstate the registration 44 
and redistribute the registration information in accordance with 45 
subsection (b) of this section. Suspension of registration shall not affect 46 
the date of expiration of the registration obligation of the registrant 47 
under section 3 of this act. 48 
(d) Whenever the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 49 
Protection receives notice from a superior court pursuant to section 52-50 
11 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or a probate court 51 
pursuant to section 45a-99 of the general statutes, as amended by this 52  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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act, that such court has ordered the change of name of a person, and 53 
the department determines that such person is listed in the registry, 54 
the department shall revise such person's registration information 55 
accordingly. 56 
(e) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 57 
shall develop a protocol for the notification of other state agencies, the 58 
Judicial Department and the applicable local police department or state 59 
police troop whenever a person listed in the registry changes such 60 
person's name and notifies the commissioner of the new name 61 
pursuant to section 3 of this act or whenever the commissioner 62 
determines pursuant to subsection (d) of this section that a person 63 
listed in the registry has changed such person's name. 64 
(f) The information in the registry shall be a public record or file for 65 
the purposes of section 1-200 of the general statutes. 66 
(g) Not later than two business days after entering the information 67 
of a new offender in the registry, the Commissioner of Emergency 68 
Services and Public Protection shall send the registry information to 69 
the Commissioner of Public Health for inclusion in a searchable 70 
database established pursuant to section 19a-491c of the general 71 
statutes, as amended by this act, for persons seeking to hire individuals 72 
for positions assisting elderly persons. 73 
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) (1) Any person who has 74 
been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or 75 
defect of a financial crime against an elderly person and is released 76 
into the community on or after July 1, 2024, shall, within fourteen 77 
calendar days following such release or, if such person is in the 78 
custody of the Commissioner of Correction, at such time prior to 79 
release as the Commissioner of Correction shall direct, whether or not 80 
such person's place of residence is in this state, register in accordance 81 
with section 4 of this section. A registrant shall maintain such 82 
registration for five years from the initial date of registration. 83  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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(2) Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere from a 84 
person with respect to a financial crime against an elderly person, a 85 
court shall (A) inform the person that the entry of a finding of guilty 86 
after acceptance of the plea will subject the person to the registration 87 
requirements of this section, and (B) determine that the person fully 88 
understands the consequences of the plea. 89 
(3) If any person who is subject to registration under this section 90 
changes such person's name, such person shall notify the 91 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in writing 92 
of the new name. If any person who is subject to registration under this 93 
section changes such person's address, such person shall notify the 94 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in writing 95 
of the new address. During such period of registration, each registrant 96 
shall complete and return any forms mailed to such registrant to verify 97 
such registrant's residential address and shall submit to the retaking of 98 
a photographic image upon request of the Commissioner of 99 
Emergency Services and Public Protection. 100 
(b) Any person required to register under this section shall, not later 101 
than twenty calendar days after each anniversary date of such initial 102 
registration, until the date such registration requirement expires under 103 
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, personally appear at 104 
the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction 105 
where the registrant resides to verify and update, as appropriate, the 106 
contents of his or her registration. The local police department or state 107 
police troop, as the case may be, may defer such requirement to 108 
personally appear to a later date for good cause shown. Not later than 109 
thirty calendar days prior to such anniversary date, the Department of 110 
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall mail written notice of 111 
the personal appearance requirement of this subsection to the 112 
registrant and the local police department or state police troop having 113 
jurisdiction where the registrant resides. Not later than thirty calendar 114 
days after the anniversary date of each registrant, the local police 115 
department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the 116  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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registrant resides shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services 117 
and Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may 118 
prescribe, (1) whether the registrant complied with the personal 119 
appearance requirement of this subsection or whether such personal 120 
appearance requirement was deferred to a later date for good cause 121 
shown, and (2) if the personal appearance requirement was deferred to 122 
a later date for good cause shown, the later date established for such 123 
personal appearance and a description of the good cause shown. 124 
(c) Any person subject to registration under this section who 125 
violates any provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, except a 126 
violation consisting of failure to notify the Commissioner of 127 
Emergency Services and Public Protection of a change of name or 128 
address, shall be guilty of a class D felony. Any person who is subject 129 
to registration under this section who fails to notify the Commissioner 130 
of Emergency Services and Public Protection of a change of name or 131 
address not later than five business days after such change of name or 132 
address shall be guilty of a class D felony. 133 
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The registration information 134 
for each registrant required to register under section 3 of this act shall 135 
include: 136 
(1) The registrant's name, including any other name by which the 137 
offender has been legally known, and any aliases used by the 138 
registrant; 139 
(2) Identifying information, including, but not limited to, a physical 140 
description of the registrant; 141 
(3) The current residential address and electronic mail address of 142 
the registrant; 143 
(4) The date of conviction of the offense; 144 
(5) A description of the offense; and 145  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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(6) If the registrant was sentenced to a term of incarceration for such 146 
offense, a portion of which was not suspended, the date the registrant 147 
was released from such incarceration. 148 
(b) The registrant shall sign and date the registration. 149 
(c) At the time that the registrant appears for the purpose of 150 
registering, the Department of Emergency Services and Public 151 
Protection shall photograph the registrant and arrange for the 152 
fingerprinting of the registrant and include such photograph and a 153 
complete set of fingerprints in the registry. 154 
(d) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 155 
may require the registrant to provide documentation to verify the 156 
contents of the registration. 157 
Sec. 5. Section 19a-491c of the general statutes is repealed and the 158 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 159 
(a) As used in this section: 160 
(1) "Criminal history and patient abuse background search" or 161 
"background search" means (A) a review of the registry of nurse's 162 
aides maintained by the Department of Public Health pursuant to 163 
section 20-102bb, (B) checks of state and national criminal history 164 
records conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, (C) on and after 165 
July 1, 2024, a review of the registry established under section 2 of this 166 
act, and [(C)] (D) a review of any other registry specified by the 167 
Department of Public Health which the department deems necessary 168 
for the administration of a background search program. 169 
(2) "Direct access" means physical access to a patient or resident of a 170 
long-term care facility that affords an individual with the opportunity 171 
to commit abuse or neglect against or misappropriate the property of a 172 
patient or resident. 173 
(3) "Disqualifying offense" means a conviction of (A) any crime 174  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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described in 42 USC 1320a-7(a)(1), (2), (3) or (4), (B) a substantiated 175 
finding of neglect, abuse or misappropriation of property by a state or 176 
federal agency pursuant to an investigation conducted in accordance 177 
with 42 USC 1395i-3(g)(1)(C) or 42 USC 1396r(g)(1)(C), or (C) a 178 
conviction of a financial crime against an elderly person as defined in 179 
section 1 of this act or any crime described in section 53a-59a, 53a-60b, 180 
53a-60c, 53a-61a, 53a-321, 53a-322 or 53a-323. 181 
(4) "Long-term care facility" means any facility, agency or provider 182 
that is a nursing home, as defined in section 19a-521, a residential care 183 
home, as defined in section 19a-521, a home health care agency, 184 
hospice agency or home health aide agency, as defined in section 19a-185 
490, an assisted living services agency, as defined in section 19a-490, an 186 
intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 187 
as defined in 42 USC 1396d(d), except any such facility operated by a 188 
Department of Developmental Serv ices' program subject to 189 
background checks pursuant to section 17a-227a, a chronic disease 190 
hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, or an agency providing hospice 191 
care which is licensed to provide such care by the Department of 192 
Public Health or certified to provide such care pursuant to 42 USC 193 
1395x. 194 
(b) The Department of Public Health shall create and implement a 195 
criminal history and patient abuse background search program, within 196 
available appropriations, in order to facilitate the performance, 197 
processing and analysis of the criminal history and patient abuse 198 
background search of individuals who have direct access. 199 
(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each 200 
long-term care facility, prior to extending an offer of employment to, or 201 
entering into a contract for, the provision of long-term care services 202 
with any individual who will have direct access, or prior to allowing 203 
any individual to begin volunteering at such long-term care facility 204 
when the long-term care facility reasonably expects such volunteer will 205 
regularly perform duties that are substantially similar to those of an 206 
employee with direct access, shall require that such individual submit 207  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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to a background search. The Department of Public Health shall 208 
prescribe the manner by which (A) long-term care facilities perform 209 
the review of (i) the registry of nurse's aides maintained by the 210 
department pursuant to section 20-102bb, and (ii) any other registry 211 
specified by the department, including requiring long-term care 212 
facilities to report the results of such review to the department, and (B) 213 
individuals submit to state and national criminal history records 214 
checks, including requiring the Department of Emergency Services and 215 
Public Protection to report the results of such checks to the Department 216 
of Public Health. 217 
(2) No long-term care facility shall be required to comply with the 218 
provisions of this subsection if (A) the individual provides evidence to 219 
the long-term care facility that such individual submitted to a 220 
background search conducted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 221 
subsection not more than three years immediately preceding the date 222 
such individual applies for employment, seeks to enter into a contract 223 
or begins volunteering with the long-term care facility and that the 224 
prior background search confirmed that the individual did not have a 225 
disqualifying offense, or (B) the commissioner determines the need to 226 
temporarily suspend the requirements of this subsection in the event 227 
of an emergency or significant disruption. The commissioner shall 228 
inform the long-term care facility when the commissioner has 229 
suspended the requirements of this subsection pursuant to 230 
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision and when such suspension is 231 
rescinded. 232 
(d) (1) The Department of Public Health shall review all reports 233 
provided to the department pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. If 234 
any such report contains evidence indicating that an individual has a 235 
disqualifying offense, the department shall provide notice to the 236 
individual and the long-term care facility indicating the disqualifying 237 
offense and providing the individual with the opportunity to file a 238 
request for a waiver pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of this 239 
subsection. 240  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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(2) An individual may file a written request for a waiver with the 241 
department not later than thirty days after the date the department 242 
mails notice to the individual pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 243 
subsection. The department shall mail a written determination 244 
indicating whether the department shall grant a waiver pursuant to 245 
subdivision (3) of this subsection not later than fifteen business days 246 
after the department receives the written request from the individual, 247 
except that said time period shall not apply to any request for a waiver 248 
in which an individual challenges the accuracy of the information 249 
obtained from the background search. 250 
(3) The department may grant a waiver from the provisions of 251 
subsection (e) of this section to an individual who identifies mitigating 252 
circumstances surrounding the disqualifying offense, including (A) 253 
inaccuracy in the information obtained from the background search, 254 
(B) lack of a relationship between the disqualifying offense and the 255 
position for which the individual has applied, (C) evidence that the 256 
individual has pursued or achieved rehabilitation with regard to the 257 
disqualifying offense, or (D) that substantial time has elapsed since 258 
committing the disqualifying offense. The department and its 259 
employees shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal, that might 260 
otherwise be incurred or imposed, for good faith conduct in granting 261 
waivers pursuant to this subdivision. 262 
(4) After completing a review pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 263 
subsection, the department shall notify in writing the long-term care 264 
facility to which the individual has applied for employment or with 265 
which the individual seeks to enter into a contract or volunteer (A) of 266 
any disqualifying offense and any information the individual provided 267 
to the department regarding mitigating circumstances surrounding 268 
such offense, or of the lack of a disqualifying offense, and (B) whether 269 
the department granted a waiver pursuant to subdivision (3) of this 270 
subsection. 271 
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 46a-80, no long-term 272 
care facility shall employ an individual required to submit to a 273  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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background search, contract with any such individual to provide long-274 
term care services or allow such individual to volunteer if the long-275 
term care facility receives notice from the department that the 276 
individual has a disqualifying offense in the individual's background 277 
search and the department has not granted a waiver pursuant to 278 
subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section. A long-term care 279 
facility may, but is not obligated to, employ, enter into a contract with 280 
or allow to volunteer an individual who was granted a waiver 281 
pursuant to said subdivision (3). 282 
(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, a 283 
long-term care facility shall not employ, enter into a contract with or 284 
allow to volunteer any individual required to submit to a background 285 
search until the long-term care facility receives notice from the 286 
Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection 287 
(d) of this section. 288 
(2) A long-term care facility may employ, enter into a contract with 289 
or allow to volunteer an individual required to submit to a background 290 
search on a conditional basis before the long-term care facility receives 291 
notice from the department that such individual does not have a 292 
disqualifying offense, provided: (A) The employment or contractual or 293 
volunteer period on a conditional basis shall last not more than sixty 294 
days, except the sixty-day time period may be extended by the 295 
department to allow for the filing and consideration of written request 296 
for a waiver of a disqualifying offense filed by an individual pursuant 297 
to subsection (d) of this section, (B) the long-term care facility has 298 
begun the review required under subsection (c) of this section and the 299 
individual has submitted to checks pursuant to subsection (c) of this 300 
section, (C) the individual is subject to direct, on-site supervision 301 
during the course of such conditional employment or contractual or 302 
volunteer period, and (D) the individual, in a signed statement (i) 303 
affirms that the individual has not committed a disqualifying offense, 304 
and (ii) acknowledges that a disqualifying offense reported in the 305 
background search required by subsection (c) of this section shall 306  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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constitute good cause for termination and a long-term care facility may 307 
terminate the individual if a disqualifying offense is reported in said 308 
background search. 309 
(g) [Records] Except as provided in subsection (i) of this section, 310 
records and information with respect to any individual that are 311 
obtained by the department pursuant to this section shall not be 312 
subject to disclosure under section 1-210. 313 
(h) On and after July 1, 2024, the Department of Public Health shall 314 
include in the background search program the names, last-known 315 
addresses and information on the offenses of persons who have 316 
registered with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 317 
Protection pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of this act. 318 
(i) On and after August 1, 2024, the Department of Public Health 319 
shall include on the department's Internet web site a link to the 320 
background search program that allows the public to search the 321 
program by name of a person. The listing will show such person's last-322 
known address, convictions or other disciplinary actions taken and a 323 
general description of offenses committed by the person.  324 
[(h)] (j) The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with 325 
the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this 326 
section. The department may implement policies and procedures 327 
consistent with the provisions of this section while in the process of 328 
adopting such policies and procedures as regulation, provided notice 329 
of intention to adopt regulations is [printed in the Connecticut Law 330 
Journal] posted on the eRegulations System not later than twenty days 331 
after the date of implementation. Such policies and procedures shall be 332 
valid until the time final regulations are effective. 333 
Sec. 6. Section 45a-99 of the general statutes is repealed and the 334 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 335 
(a) The courts of probate shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the 336 
Superior Court, as provided in section 52-11, as amended by this act, to 337  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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grant a change of name, except a change of name granted in 338 
accordance with subsection (a) of section 46b-63, except that no court 339 
of probate may issue an order or otherwise allow for the change of 340 
name of a person who is required to register with the Commissioner of 341 
Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual offender, [or] as 342 
an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon or 343 
as an offender convicted of committing a financial crime against an 344 
elderly person as defined in section 1 of this act unless such person 345 
complies with the requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of 346 
this section. 347 
(b) (1) Any person who is required to register with the 348 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual 349 
offender, [or] as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a 350 
deadly weapon or as an offender convicted of committing a financial 351 
crime against an elderly person who files an application with the Court 352 
of Probate for a change of name shall (A) prior to filing such 353 
application, notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 354 
Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may prescribe, 355 
that the person intends to file an application for a change of name, 356 
indicating the change of name sought, and (B) include with such 357 
application a sworn statement that such change of name is not being 358 
sought for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a 359 
criminal conviction, including, but not limited to, a criminal conviction 360 
that requires such person to register as a sexual offender, [or] as an 361 
offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon or as 362 
an offender convicted of committing a financial crime against an 363 
elderly person. 364 
(2) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 365 
shall have standing to challenge such person's application for a change 366 
of name in the court of probate where such change of name is sought. 367 
The commissioner shall challenge the change of name through the 368 
Attorney General. The court of probate may deny such person's 369 
application for a change of name if the court finds, by a preponderance 370  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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of the evidence, that the person is applying for such change of name 371 
for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal 372 
conviction. 373 
(c) Whenever the court, pursuant to this section, orders a change of 374 
name of a person, the court shall notify the Commissioner of 375 
Emergency Services and Public Protection of the issuance of such order 376 
if the court finds that such person is listed in the registry established 377 
and maintained pursuant to section 54-257, [or] in the registry 378 
established and maintained pursuant to section 54-280 or, on and after 379 
July 1, 2024, in the registry established and maintained pursuant to 380 
section 2 of this act. 381 
Sec. 7. Section 52-11 of the general statutes is repealed and the 382 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 383 
(a) The superior court in each judicial district shall have jurisdiction 384 
of complaints praying for a change of name, brought by any person 385 
residing in the judicial district, and may change the name of the 386 
complainant, who shall thereafter be known by the name prescribed by 387 
said court in its decree, except that no superior court may issue an 388 
order or otherwise allow for the change of name of a person who is 389 
required to register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 390 
Public Protection as a sexual offender, [or] as an offender convicted of 391 
committing a crime with a deadly weapon or as an offender convicted 392 
of committing a financial crime against an elderly person as defined in 393 
section 1 of this act unless such person complies with the requirements 394 
of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. 395 
(b) (1) Any person who is required to register with the 396 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual 397 
offender, [or] as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a 398 
deadly weapon or as an offender convicted of committing a financial 399 
crime against an elderly person who files an application with the 400 
[Superior Court] superior court for a change of name shall (A) prior to 401 
filing such application, notify the Commissioner of Emergency 402  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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Services and Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may 403 
prescribe, that the person intends to file an application for a change of 404 
name, indicating the change of name sought, and (B) include with such 405 
application a sworn statement that such change of name is not being 406 
sought for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a 407 
criminal conviction, including, but not limited to, a criminal conviction 408 
that requires such person to register as a sexual offender, [or] as an 409 
offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon or as 410 
an offender convicted of committing a financial crime against an 411 
elderly person. 412 
(2) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 413 
shall have standing to challenge such person's application for a change 414 
of name in the superior court where such change of name is sought. 415 
The commissioner shall challenge the change of name through the 416 
Attorney General. The superior court may deny such person's 417 
application for a change of name if the court finds, by a preponderance 418 
of the evidence, that the person is applying for such change of name 419 
for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal 420 
conviction. 421 
(c) Whenever the court, pursuant to this section, orders a change of 422 
name of a person, the clerk of the court shall notify the Commissioner 423 
of Emergency Services and Public Protection of the issuance of such 424 
order if the clerk finds that such person is listed in the registry 425 
established and maintained pursuant to section 54-257, [or] in the 426 
registry established and maintained pursuant to section 54-280 or, on 427 
and after July 1, 2024, in the registry established and maintained 428 
pursuant to section 2 of this act. 429 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 from passage New section 
Sec. 2 from passage New section 
Sec. 3 from passage New section  Substitute Bill No. 901 
 
 
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Sec. 4 from passage New section 
Sec. 5 from passage 19a-491c 
Sec. 6 from passage 45a-99 
Sec. 7 from passage 52-11 
 
AGE Joint Favorable Subst.