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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 421
February Session, 2024
LCO No. 2733
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
Introduced by:
(PS)
AN ACT CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2024) Not later than January 1, 2025, the 1
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 2
develop a state-wide campaign to promote the law enforcement 3
profession. In developing such campaign, the commissioner may 4
consult with the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and any other 5
entities the commissioner deems appropriate. The commissioner shall 6
use a variety of media, including social media, as part of such campaign. 7
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) The Department of Emergency 8
Services and Public Protection shall employ a full-time cadet or explorer 9
program coordinator, who shall coordinate and oversee police cadet or 10
explorer programs, implement state standards and a best practices 11
guide for such programs and encourage establishment and expansion 12
of such programs throughout the state. 13
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 14 Bill No. 421
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thereafter, the department shall allocate five thousand dollars to each 15
municipal police department that operates, or plans to operate in the 16
following fiscal year, a cadet or explorer program. 17
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 18
2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Emergency 19
Services and Public Protection shall establish a grant program to 20
reimburse municipal police departments for the cost of basic training of 21
police officers. Not later than October 1, 2024, the department shall post 22
in a conspicuous place on the department's Internet web site a 23
description of the grant program, including, but not limited to, 24
eligibility criteria and the application process for the program. A 25
municipal police department shall apply for such grants on such forms 26
and in such manner as determined by the department. 27
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) For the purposes of this section, 28
"academy" and "basic training" have the same meanings as provided in 29
section 7-294a of the general statutes. The Police Officer Standards and 30
Training Council shall examine criminal justice courses offered by 31
colleges and universities in the state, and determine (1) whether any 32
such courses are equivalent to courses required as part of basic training 33
at the academy, and (2) under what conditions an individual attending 34
the academy for basic training need not complete a course at the 35
academy because the individual completed an equivalent course at a 36
college or university in the state. Not later than January 1, 2025, the 37
council shall submit a report of its examination and determination, in 38
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 39
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 40
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. 41
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 7-294d of the general statutes is 42
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 43
2024): 44
(b) (1) No person may be employed as a police officer by any law 45
enforcement unit for a period exceeding one year unless such person 46 Bill No. 421
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has been certified under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section 47
or has been granted an extension by the council. No person may serve 48
as a police officer during any period when such person's certification 49
has been cancelled or revoked pursuant to the provisions of subsection 50
(c) of this section. In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the 51
council may establish other qualifications for the employment of police 52
officers and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. No 53
law enforcement unit shall deny employment as a police officer to a 54
prospective employee, and the council shall not deny certification under 55
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to an individual, solely on 56
the basis of such prospective employee's or such individual's status as a 57
noncitizen of the United States, provided such prospective employee or 58
such individual is lawfully admitted for permanent residence of the 59
United States under federal law and regulations. 60
(2) The certification of any police officer who is not employed by a 61
law enforcement unit for a period of time in excess of two years, unless 62
such officer is on leave of absence, shall be considered lapsed. Upon 63
reemployment as a police officer, such officer shall apply for 64
recertification in a manner provided by the council, provided such 65
recertification process requires the police officer to submit to a urinalysis 66
drug test that screens for controlled substances, including, but not 67
limited to, anabolic steroids, and receive a result indicating no presence 68
of any controlled substance not prescribed for the officer. The council 69
shall certify any applicant who presents evidence of satisfactory 70
completion of a program or course of instruction in another state or, if 71
the applicant is a veteran or a member of the armed forces or the 72
National Guard, as part of training during service in the armed forces, 73
that is equivalent in content and quality to that required in this state, 74
provided such applicant passes an examination or evaluation as 75
required by the council. For the purposes of this [section] subdivision, 76
"veteran" and "armed forces" have the same meanings as provided in 77
section 27-103. 78
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 79 Bill No. 421
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2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Emergency 80
Services and Public Protection shall provide a grant to each of the top 81
ten most populous municipalities in the state in order to increase the 82
salaries of police officers serving such municipalities. A municipality 83
receiving such a grant shall not use the grant for any purpose other than 84
increasing the salaries of such officers. 85
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2025, 86
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the 87
Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall jointly submit a 88
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 89
statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 90
having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such 91
report shall include recommendations for a schedule of bonuses to be 92
awarded to individuals upon entering service as a police officer, as 93
defined in section 7-294a of the general statutes, and to be awarded to 94
such officers based on years of service, in order to encourage individuals 95
to begin and continue careers as police officers. The department and 96
council may consult with chiefs of municipal police departments and 97
any other individuals or entities in developing such recommendations. 98
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, 99
the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Board of Trustees of The 100
University of Connecticut and the Police Officer Standards and Training 101
Council shall jointly develop a career pathway to assist police officers in 102
obtaining higher education degrees. Such pathway shall include a 103
schedule of credits that officers may receive at each constituent unit of 104
higher education, as defined in section 10a-1 of the general statutes, for 105
the training such officers received in order to be certified, and maintain 106
their certification, as police officers pursuant to section 7-294d of the 107
general statutes, as amended by this act. Such boards and council shall 108
promote such pathway in order to encourage police officers to earn 109
higher education degrees. 110
(b) Not later than January 1, 2025, the Board of Regents for Higher 111
Education, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut and 112 Bill No. 421
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the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall jointly submit a 113
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 114
statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 115
having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such 116
report shall include the pathway and schedule developed pursuant to 117
subsection (a) of this section and a description of plans to promote such 118
pathway. 119
Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 10a-77 of the general statutes is 120
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 121
2024): 122
(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 123
the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child 124
of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to 125
be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 126
such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 127
for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 128
such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 129
provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in 130
section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in 131
section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in 132
time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 133
service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such 134
institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is 135
accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the 136
state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular 137
registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 138
of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 139
this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 140
enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 141
all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State 142
Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 143
academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical 144
college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active 145 Bill No. 421
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member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has 146
been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's 147
designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled 148
or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time 149
basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 150
dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 151
supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 152
section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 153
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 154
the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child 155
or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of 156
this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was 157
killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 158
10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of 159
the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who 160
was killed in action while performing active military duty with the 161
armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and 162
who was a resident of this state, (10) for a police officer, as defined in 163
section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for 164
not less than two years, and (11) for any dependent child of a police 165
officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an 166
officer in the state for not less than five years. If any person who receives 167
a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also 168
receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver 169
shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. 170
Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision 171
(5) of this subsection shall be given the same status as students not 172
receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional 173
community-technical colleges. Notwithstanding the provisions of 174
section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" 175
includes domicile for less than one year. 176
Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the 2024 supplement to the 177
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 178
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 179 Bill No. 421
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(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 180
undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State 181
University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the 182
armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or 183
to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after 184
January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such 185
institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted 186
for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 187
subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-188
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 189
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 190
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 191
which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and 192
is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 193
admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 194
years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such 195
institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting 196
program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are 197
enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 198
residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 199
course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 200
available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 201
any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled 202
in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination 203
with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) 204
for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard 205
who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 206
General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) 207
is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time 208
or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 209
program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 210
in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 211
firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 212
company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 213
section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 214 Bill No. 421
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who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 215
victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 216
resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 217
intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 218
[and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 219
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 220
active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 221
after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a 222
police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as 223
such an officer in the state for not less than two years, and (11) for any 224
dependent child of a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has 225
been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years. 226
If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the 227
provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement 228
from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 229
educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 230
Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the 231
same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 232
courses at Connecticut state universities. Notwithstanding the 233
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 234
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 235
Sec. 11. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the 2024 supplement to 236
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 237
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 238
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 239
any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 240
Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 241
forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 242
been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 243
1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 244
of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 245
accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 246
of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-247 Bill No. 421
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103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 248
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 249
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 250
which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is 251
domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 252
to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age 253
or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, 254
provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or 255
(B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the 256
course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible 257
for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which 258
such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such 259
course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any active member 260
of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been 261
certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee 262
as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or 263
accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time 264
basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for 265
any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, 266
or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined 267
in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 268
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 269
the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent 270
child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 271
resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 272
who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 273
Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (8) for 274
any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 275
of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 276
duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 277
11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (9) for a police officer, as 278
defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an officer in 279
the state for not less than two years, and (10) for any dependent child of 280
a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as 281
such an officer in the state for not less than five years. If any person who 282 Bill No. 421
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receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this 283
subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, 284
such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational 285
reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National Guard 286
described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be given the same 287
status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses 288
at The University of Connecticut. Notwithstanding the provisions of 289
section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" 290
includes domicile for less than one year. 291
Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the fiscal year ending 292
June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Office of Higher 293
Education, in collaboration with the Department of Emergency Services 294
and Public Protection, shall administer a police officer loan 295
reimbursement grant program for individuals who have been employed 296
as a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a of the general statutes, in 297
the state for not less than ten years. 298
(b) Any individual who satisfies the eligibility requirements 299
prescribed by the office may receive an annual grant for reimbursement 300
of federal or state educational loans (1) in an amount up to ten per cent 301
of such individual's federal or state educational loans but not exceeding 302
five thousand dollars in any year, and (2) for a period not to exceed ten 303
years. Such individual shall only be reimbursed for loan payments made 304
while such person is employed as a police officer in the state. 305
(c) Individuals may apply to the Office of Higher Education for grants 306
under this section at such time and in such manner as the executive 307
director of the Office of Higher Education prescribes. 308
(d) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section 309
shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for 310
expenditure during the next fiscal year. 311
(e) The Office of Higher Education may accept gifts, grants and 312
donations, from any source, public or private, for the police officer loan 313 Bill No. 421
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reimbursement grant program. 314
Sec. 13. Section 12-81 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 315
is amended by adding subdivision (83) as follows (Effective October 1, 316
2024, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 317
2024): 318
(NEW) (83) Property to the amount of ten thousand dollars belonging 319
to, or held in trust for, any resident of this state who is a police officer, 320
as defined in section 7-294a, and resides in a distressed municipality, as 321
defined in section 32-9p. 322
Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) The Connecticut Housing 323
Finance Authority shall enhance assistance available to police officers 324
who seek to purchase a house as such officer's principal residence in the 325
community served by such officer. Such assistance shall prioritize first-326
time homebuyers and include mortgage assistance, down payment 327
assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies. The terms of any 328
mortgage assistance shall allow the mortgagee to realize a reasonable 329
portion of the equity gain upon sale of the mortgaged property. 330
Sec. 15. (Effective from passage) The State Retirement Commission shall 331
(1) study deferred retirement option plans and make recommendations 332
for development of such a plan that (A) is administered by the state, and 333
(B) permits any police officer, as defined in section 7-294a of the general 334
statutes, in the state to participate in the plan, and (2) study the types 335
and levels of retirement medical benefits provided to such officers and 336
the spouses of such officers in the state and make recommendations 337
regarding the provision of such benefits. The commission may consult 338
with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 339
municipal police departments and any other entities the commission 340
deems appropriate. Not later than January 1, 2025, the commission shall 341
report the results of such studies and any recommendations, in 342
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 343
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 344
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. 345 Bill No. 421
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Sec. 16. (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2024, the 346
Governor shall enter into negotiations with the employee organization 347
that is the representative of state police officers to seek amendments to 348
any collective bargaining agreement to establish conditions under 349
which a state police officer who retired from service as such an officer 350
may return to such service and (1) resume earning credit toward 351
retirement benefits, in the same manner as such officer earned such 352
credit prior to such officer's retirement, and (2) be eligible for earning 353
the same benefits as such officer was eligible for prior to such officer's 354
retirement. 355
Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Each collective bargaining 356
agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2024, or amended on or after 357
July 1, 2024, between a municipality and an employee organization that 358
is the representative of police officers in the municipality shall permit 359
police officers who retire and remain certified by the Police Officer 360
Standards and Training Council pursuant to section 7-294d of the 361
general statutes, as amended by this act, to return to part-time or full-362
time employment as a police officer with the municipality while 363
collecting such officer's pension, to the maximum extent permissible 364
under state and federal law and regulations. 365
Sec. 18. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to 366
study the volunteer police auxiliary force authorized under section 29-367
22 of the general statutes and make recommendations for improving the 368
organization of such auxiliary force and maximizing the services that 369
may be provided by auxiliary state police and municipal police officers. 370
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 371
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 372
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 373
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 374
Representatives; 375 Bill No. 421
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(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; 376
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 377
Representatives; 378
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 379
(7) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 380
or the commissioner's designee; and 381
(8) Two persons appointed by the Governor. 382
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 383
(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 384
of the General Assembly. 385
(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 386
than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 387
be filled by the appointing authority. 388
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 389
tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 390
among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 391
the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 392
days after the effective date of this section. 393
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 394
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 395
and security shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 396
(g) Not later than January 1, 2025, the task force shall submit a report 397
on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 398
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 399
safety and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 400
of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 401
submits such report or January 1, 2025, whichever is later. 402
Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For purposes of this section, 403 Bill No. 421
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"law enforcement unit" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-404
294a of the general statutes. 405
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Department of 406
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall develop a pilot program 407
to provide law enforcement units with unmanned aerial vehicles to 408
respond to requests for service, assist such units in assessing the dangers 409
and needs at the scene where service is requested prior to the arrival of 410
a police officer and enhance the safety of police officers and the services 411
such units provide to the public. In identifying units for participation in 412
the pilot program, the department shall give priority to units that would 413
most benefit from such program, including those with reduced staffing 414
levels. 415
(c) Not later than October 1, 2024, the department shall (1) develop 416
eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for 417
participation in the pilot program, (2) develop application forms and 418
deadlines, (3) post in a conspicuous location on the department's 419
Internet web site a description of the pilot program that includes, but is 420
not limited to, such criteria, forms and deadlines, and (4) notify law 421
enforcement units of the opportunity to apply for participation in such 422
program. 423
(d) (1) Not later than January 1, 2026, each law enforcement unit 424
participating in the pilot program pursuant to subsection (b) of this 425
section shall submit a report to the department describing the unit's use 426
of unmanned aerial devices, their impact on the unit's ability to provide 427
services to the public and any recommendations for the continuation of 428
or improvements to such pilot program. 429
(2) Not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall submit a report, 430
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 431
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 432
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report 433
shall include (A) information on the law enforcement units that applied 434
for participation in the pilot program, which units were chosen for 435 Bill No. 421
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participation and the reasons for choosing such units, (B) a summary of 436
the reports submitted by units pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 437
subsection and an analysis of the results of the pilot program, and (C) 438
recommendations regarding the continuation or expansion of the pilot 439
program, funding needs and any necessary legislation. 440
Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For purposes of this section, 441
"law enforcement unit" and "police officer" have the same meanings as 442
provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 443
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Department of 444
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available 445
appropriations, administer a pilot program to enhance programs and 446
initiatives that address the mental health needs of police officers at one 447
or more law enforcement units with more than three hundred police 448
officers. Such pilot program may include, but need not be limited to, the 449
development or enhancement of peer-to-peer support programs, 450
programs that train officers to help themselves and fellow officers deal 451
with mental health issues associated with their jobs, programs that 452
employ a psychologist or other mental health professionals within the 453
unit to assist officers with their mental health needs, employee 454
assistance programs and any other programs and resources that may 455
address the mental health needs of police officers. 456
(c) Not later than October 1, 2024, the department shall (1) develop 457
eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such pilot 458
program, (2) develop application forms and deadlines, (3) post in a 459
conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description 460
of the pilot program that includes, but is not limited to, such criteria, 461
forms and deadlines, and (4) notify each law enforcement unit with 462
more than three hundred police officers of the opportunity to apply for 463
participation in such program. 464
(d) (1) Not later than January 1, 2026, each law enforcement unit 465
participating in the pilot program shall submit a report to the 466
department describing the programs, services and resources provided 467 Bill No. 421
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pursuant to the pilot program and evaluating the impact of such 468
programs, services and resources on the mental health of the police 469
officers employed by such unit. In evaluating such impact, each unit 470
shall provide a recommendation as to whether such programs, services 471
or resources should be continued and whether any modifications could 472
improve the impact of such programs, services or resources on the 473
mental health of police officers. 474
(2) Not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall submit a report, 475
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 476
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 477
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report 478
shall include (A) information on the number of applications for the pilot 479
program that were received and the law enforcement units chosen for 480
participation, (B) an analysis of the programs, services and resources 481
provided by units and their effectiveness in addressing the mental 482
health needs of officers, (C) a list of programs, services and resources 483
identified as best practices that could be implemented by units across 484
the state to address the mental health needs of officers, and (D) 485
recommendations regarding the pilot program under this section, 486
funding for specific programs, services and resources to address the 487
mental health needs of police officers and any necessary legislation. 488
Sec. 21. (Effective July 1, 2024) The sum of five hundred thousand 489
dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and 490
Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 491
30, 2025, for the state-wide campaign developed pursuant to section 1 492
of this act. 493
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 New section Bill No. 421
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Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 7-294d(b)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 7 from passage New section
Sec. 8 from passage New section
Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 10a-77(d)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2024 10a-99(d)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 10a-105(e)
Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 13 October 1, 2024, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on or
after October 1, 2024
12-81(83)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 15 from passage New section
Sec. 16 from passage New section
Sec. 17 from passage New section
Sec. 18 from passage New section
Sec. 19 from passage New section
Sec. 20 from passage New section
Sec. 21 July 1, 2024 New section
PS Joint Favorable