Researcher: DC Page 1 3/13/24
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 138
AN ACT CONCERNING THE WAIVER OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL
HISTORY RECORDS CHECK FEES FOR AN INDIGENT PERSON
SEEKING A PARDON.
SUMMARY
This bill waives certain fingerprinting and criminal history record
search and preregistration fees for indigent individuals requesting them
for their pardon applications. It applies to the following fees:
1. the convenience fee for fingerprinting of up to $30 charged by
independent contractors operating under an agreement with the
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
(DESPP),
2. any processing or distribution fees charged for a criminal history
report, and
3. any fee for electronically preregistering with the Connecticut
criminal history request system.
Existing law already allows DESPP to waive the $75 fee for a criminal
history report for indigent individuals requesting it for their pardon
application.
Under the bill, an individual seeking these fingerprinting or
background check services for their pardon application may apply for a
fee waiver due to indigency on a DESPP-prescribed form. If the
commissioner approves the waiver, the entity providing the service
(e.g., independent contractor, state police, or municipal police
department) must waive the fee. The bill requires the DESPP
commissioner to reimburse independent contractors for any waivers he
approves for their convenience fees and authorizes him to reimburse 2024SB-00138-R000012-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 2 3/13/24
municipal police departments for their waived fees if they request it.
The bill requires the DESPP commissioner to post the fee waiver
forms described above on the State Police Bureau of Identification’s
website and give them to each location where a municipal police
department provides fingerprinting services. These locations must
prominently display the forms, together with other materials and
documents needed for pardon applications.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2024
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 24 Nay 0 (03/01/2024)