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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 426
February Session, 2024
LCO No. 2768
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING COURT OPERATIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 4a-60 of the 1
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 3
(1) The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the 4
contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination 5
against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, 6
religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender 7
identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic 8
violence, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, 9
including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such 10
contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work 11
involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or 12
of the state of Connecticut; and the contractor further agrees to take 13
affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related 14
qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when 15
employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, 16 Raised Bill No. 426
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marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or 17
expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, 18
intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, 19
but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that 20
such disability prevents performance of the work involved; 21
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 14-140 of the general statutes is 22
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 23
2024): 24
(b) If any person so arrested or summoned wilfully fails to appear for 25
any scheduled court appearance at the time and place assigned, or if any 26
person charged with an infraction involving the use of a motor vehicle, 27
or with a motor vehicle violation specified in section 51-164n, wilfully 28
fails to comply with remote events and deadlines set by the court for 29
infractions and violations specified in section 51-164n or fails to pay the 30
fine and any additional fee imposed or send in his plea of not guilty by 31
the answer date or wilfully fails to appear for any scheduled court 32
appearance which may be required, or if any person fails to pay any 33
surcharge imposed under section 13b-70, any fee imposed under section 34
51-56a or any cost imposed under section 54-143 or 54-143a, a report of 35
such failure shall be sent to the commissioner by the court having 36
jurisdiction. The provisions of this section shall be extended to any 37
nonresident owner or operator of a motor vehicle residing in any state, 38
the proper authorities of which agree with the commissioner to revoke, 39
until personal appearance to answer the charge against him, his motor 40
vehicle registration certificate or operator's license, upon his failure to 41
appear for any scheduled court appearance. Any infractions or 42
violations, for which a report of failure to appear has been sent to the 43
commissioner under this subsection, that have not otherwise been 44
disposed of shall be dismissed by operation of law seven years after 45
such report was sent. 46
Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 29-38c of the 2024 supplement to the 47
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 48
thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 49 Raised Bill No. 426
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(c) A risk protection order issued under subsection (a) of this section, 50
may issue only on an affidavit sworn to by the complainant establishing 51
the grounds for issuing the order. A risk warrant issued under 52
subsection (a) of this section may issue only on an affidavit sworn to by 53
the complainant before the judge, either in person or electronically with 54
simultaneous sight and sound, establishing the grounds for issuing the 55
warrant. Any such affidavit shall be part of the court file. In determining 56
whether there is probable cause for a risk protection order and warrant, 57
if applicable, under subsection (a) of this section, the judge shall 58
consider: (1) Recent threats or acts of violence by such person directed 59
toward other persons; (2) recent threats or acts of violence by such 60
person directed toward such person's self; and (3) recent acts of cruelty 61
to animals as provided in subsection (b) of section 53-247 by such 62
person. In evaluating whether such recent threats or acts of violence 63
constitute probable cause to believe that such person poses a risk of 64
imminent personal injury to such person's self or to others, the judge 65
may consider other factors including, but not limited to (A) the reckless 66
use, display or brandishing of a firearm or other deadly weapon by such 67
person, (B) a history of the use, attempted use or threatened use of 68
physical force by such person against other persons, (C) prior 69
involuntary confinement of such person in a hospital for persons with 70
psychiatric disabilities, and (D) the illegal use of controlled substances 71
or abuse of alcohol by such person. In the case of a complaint made 72
under subsection (a) of this section, if the judge is satisfied that the 73
grounds for the complaint exist or that there is probable cause to believe 74
that such grounds exist, such judge shall issue a risk protection order 75
and warrant, if applicable, naming or describing the person, and, in the 76
case of the issuance of a warrant, the place or thing to be searched. The 77
order and warrant, if applicable, shall be directed to any police officer 78
of a regularly organized police department or any state police officer. 79
The order and warrant, if applicable, shall state the grounds or probable 80
cause for issuance and, in the case of a warrant, the warrant shall 81
command the officer to search within a reasonable time the person, 82
place or thing named for any and all firearms and other deadly weapons 83
and ammunition. A copy of the order and warrant, if applicable, shall 84 Raised Bill No. 426
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be served upon the person named in the order not later than three days 85
prior to the hearing scheduled pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, 86
together with a notice informing the person that such person has the 87
right to a hearing under this section, the telephone number for the court 88
clerk who can inform the person of the date and time of such hearing 89
and the right to be represented by counsel at such hearing. 90
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 46b-3 of the general statutes is 91
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 92
passage): 93
(a) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 94
shall appoint such [domestic relations officers and other] family 95
relations personnel as [they deem] the Chief Court Administrator deems 96
necessary for the proper operation of the family relations sessions. The 97
salaries and duties of such officers shall be determined by the judges of 98
the Supreme Court in accordance with the compensation plan 99
established under section 51-12. For the purposes of any investigation 100
or pretrial conference the judge presiding at any family relations session 101
may employ the services of any probation officer, including those under 102
the direction of Adult Probation Services, physician, psychologist, 103
psychiatrist or family counselor. [Each person serving on July 1, 1978, in 104
the Court of Common Pleas appointed under the provisions of section 105
51-156c, revised to 1975, shall continue to serve in the Superior Court. In 106
no event shall the compensation of such person be affected solely as a 107
result of the transfer of jurisdiction provided in section 51-164s.] The 108
Chief Court Administrator may assign, reassign and modify the 109
assignments of such family relations personnel as [he] such 110
administrator deems necessary to be in the best interest of the 111
disposition of family relations matters. [Such family relations personnel 112
shall also be available to assist the courts of probate in cases involving 113
judicial consent to marriage of a minor.] 114
Sec. 5. Section 46b-123 of the general statutes is repealed and the 115
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 116 Raised Bill No. 426
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The [judges of the Superior Court, or in the discretion of the Chief 117
Court Administrator, a committee of said judges designated by the 118
Chief Court Administrator,] Chief Court Administrator shall appoint 119
such probation officers, probation aides, clerks, detention personnel, 120
clerical assistants and other personnel, including supervisory staff, as 121
[they deem] the Chief Court Administrator deems necessary for the 122
treatment and handling of juvenile matters within the venue districts 123
established under section 46b-142, as amended by this act. The Chief 124
Court Administrator may assign, reassign and modify the assignments 125
of such personnel and assign such duties within the Superior Court as 126
[he] the administrator deems necessary for the efficient operation of the 127
courts. [Any person serving in any such capacity in the Juvenile Court 128
on July 1, 1978, shall continue to serve in the Superior Court at the 129
compensation he was receiving in the Juvenile Court under the 130
compensation plan established pursuant to section 51-12, for the 131
remainder of any term to which he was appointed. In no event shall the 132
compensation of any such person be affected solely as a result of the 133
transfer of jurisdiction in section 51-164s.] Any [of such appointees] 134
appointee may be discharged by the [appointing authority] Chief Court 135
Administrator for cause and after hearing. The salaries of each of such 136
[officials] personnel shall be fixed by the judges of the Supreme Court, 137
subject to the provisions of section 51-12. 138
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 46b-142 of the general statutes is 139
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 140
passage): 141
(a) The Chief Court Administrator [, in consultation with the judges 142
of the Superior Court,] shall establish districts for the purpose of 143
establishing venue in juvenile matters. All petitions concerning 144
delinquent children shall be heard within the district where the 145
delinquency is alleged to have occurred or where the child resides, in 146
the discretion of the court. All other petitions shall be heard within the 147
district where the child or youth resided at the time of the filing of the 148
petition, but for the purposes of this section any child or youth born in 149
any hospital or institution where the mother is confined at the time of 150 Raised Bill No. 426
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birth shall be deemed to have residence in the district wherein such 151
child's or youth's mother was living at the time of her admission to such 152
hospital or institution. 153
Sec. 7. Section 46b-207 of the general statutes is repealed and the 154
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 155
The [court] Chief Court Administrator is authorized to establish and 156
maintain Support Enforcement Services and such offices thereof as [it 157
determines are] the administrator deems necessary for the proper 158
handling of the administrative details incident to proceedings under 159
sections 46b-231 and 46b-301 to 46b-425, inclusive, and may appoint 160
such personnel as necessary for the proper administration of the 161
nonjudicial functions of proceedings under sections 46b-231 and 46b-162
301 to 46b-425, inclusive. 163
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 47a-35a of the general statutes is 164
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 165
2024): 166
(a) When any appeal is taken by the defendant occupying a dwelling 167
unit [as defined in section 47a-1] in an action of summary process, [he 168
shall,] the defendant shall file a motion within the period allowed for 169
taking such appeal [, give] to determine the reasonableness and 170
payment of a bond with surety to the adverse party to guarantee 171
payment for all rents that may accrue during the pendency of such 172
appeal, or, where no lease had existed, for the reasonable value for such 173
use and occupancy that may so accrue; provided the court shall upon 174
motion by the defendant and after hearing thereon order the defendant 175
to deposit with the court payments for the reasonable fair rental value 176
of the use and occupancy of the premises during the pendency of such 177
appeal accruing from the date of such order. Such order shall permit the 178
payment of such amount in monthly installments, as it becomes due, 179
and compliance with such order shall be a substitute for any bond 180
required by this section. If all or a portion of the defendant's rent is being 181
paid to the plaintiff by a housing authority, municipality, state agency 182 Raised Bill No. 426
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or similar entity, this requirement shall be satisfied if the defendant 183
deposits with the court an amount equal to his portion of the rent. 184
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 47a-69 of the 2024 supplement to the 185
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 186
thereof (Effective from passage): 187
(a) The [judges of the Superior Court or an authorized committee 188
thereof] Chief Court Administrator may appoint such housing 189
mediators as [they deem] the administrator deems necessary for the 190
purpose of assisting the court in the prompt and efficient hearing of 191
housing matters within the limit of their appropriation therefor. [Such 192
judges or such committee] The Chief Court Administrator shall appoint 193
not less than two such mediators for each of the judicial districts of 194
Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport and may designate one of them 195
in each judicial district as chief housing mediator. [Such judges or 196
committee] The Chief Court Administrator shall also appoint not less 197
than three such housing mediators for all other judicial districts. The 198
housing mediators for the judicial district of New Haven shall assist the 199
court in the hearing of housing matters in the judicial district of 200
Waterbury, the housing mediators for the judicial district of Hartford 201
shall assist the court in the hearing of housing matters in the judicial 202
district of New Britain and the housing mediators for the judicial district 203
of Bridgeport shall assist the court in the hearing of housing matters in 204
the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk. 205
Sec. 10. Section 51-27b of the general statutes is repealed and the 206
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 207
There shall be sufficient offices of the Superior Court for the efficient 208
operation of the court. The number and location of the offices shall be 209
designated by the Chief Court Administrator. [, after consultation with 210
the judges of the Superior Court.] 211
Sec. 11. Section 51-51v of the general statutes is repealed and the 212
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 213 Raised Bill No. 426
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(a) The [judges of the Superior Court, at their annual meeting in June,] 214
Chief Court Administrator shall appoint: (1) Chief clerks for the judicial 215
districts; (2) deputy chief clerks for those judicial districts designated by 216
[an authorized committee of the judges] the Chief Court Administrator; 217
(3) first assistant clerks for those judicial districts designated by [an 218
authorized committee of the judges] the Chief Court Administrator; (4) 219
clerks for the geographical areas; (5) a clerk for the Centralized 220
Infractions Bureau; and (6) clerks for housing matters, including a chief 221
clerk for housing matters. 222
(b) The [judges of the Superior Court or an authorized committee 223
thereof] Chief Court Administrator shall appoint, as [is deemed] the 224
administrator deems necessary for the efficient operation of the courts, 225
(1) assistant clerks for judicial districts and geographical areas, and (2) 226
deputy clerks for those geographical areas designated by the [judges of 227
the Superior Court or an authorized committee thereof] Chief Court 228
Administrator. 229
(c) A [judge holding a session] chief clerk for a judicial district of the 230
Superior Court or such clerk's designee may, if [he] such clerk deems it 231
necessary, appoint a temporary assistant clerk or clerks for the Superior 232
Court. A temporary assistant clerk shall hold office for such time as is 233
deemed necessary for the convenient conduct of the business of the 234
court in which [he] such clerk was appointed and may at any time be 235
discharged by the [order of the senior acting judge holding court in] 236
chief clerk of the judicial district for which [he] such clerk was 237
appointed. 238
(d) The [judges of the Superior Court or an authorized committee of 239
Superior Court judges] Chief Court Administrator may, in [their] the 240
administrator's discretion, appoint such administrative and clerical 241
personnel as the business of the court requires. 242
(e) The [judges or an authorized committee thereof] Chief Court 243
Administrator may fill any vacancy which may occur in the clerks' 244
offices. 245 Raised Bill No. 426
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(f) The Chief Court Administrator may assign, reassign or modify the 246
assignment of such clerical personnel as [he] the administrator deems 247
necessary for the efficient operation of the courts. 248
(g) Whenever the word "clerk" is used in the general statutes to mean 249
the clerk of the Superior Court, it shall, except with respect to 250
compensation, be construed to include any chief clerk, deputy chief 251
clerk, deputy clerk, assistant clerk of the court and the clerk of the 252
Centralized Infractions Bureau unless the context otherwise requires. 253
Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 51-60 of the general statutes is 254
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 255
passage): 256
(b) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 257
shall appoint official court reporters for the court as the [judges or an 258
authorized committee thereof] administrator determines the business of 259
the court requires. 260
Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 51-90c of the general statutes is 261
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 262
passage): 263
(a) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 264
shall appoint an attorney to act as State-Wide Bar Counsel, who shall 265
serve full-time, and such number of attorneys to act as assistant bar 266
counsel as are necessary. [, for a term of one year commencing July first.] 267
Any vacancy in the position of State-Wide Bar Counsel or assistant bar 268
counsel shall be filled by the [executive committee of the Superior Court 269
which shall appoint an attorney for the unexpired portion of the term] 270
Chief Court Administrator. Compensation of the State-Wide Bar 271
Counsel and assistant bar counsel shall be established by, and paid from 272
funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department. 273
Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 51-90d of the general statutes is 274
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 275
passage): 276 Raised Bill No. 426
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(a) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 277
shall appoint attorneys to serve as grievance counsel for grievance 278
panels and shall appoint one or more investigators. The investigators 279
shall be under the supervision of the State-Wide Bar Counsel and shall 280
serve the State-Wide Grievance Committee, the reviewing 281
subcommittees of the State-Wide Grievance Committee and the 282
grievance panels. [Grievance counsel and investigators shall serve for a 283
term of one year commencing July first. Any vacancy in the position of 284
grievance counsel or investigator shall be filled by the executive 285
committee of the Superior Court for the unexpired portion of the term.] 286
Compensation of the grievance counsel and investigator shall be 287
established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial 288
Department. [Such appointees may be placed on the Judicial 289
Department payroll or be paid on a contractual basis.] 290
Sec. 15. Section 51-164m of the general statutes is repealed and the 291
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 292
(a) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 293
shall establish and maintain a schedule of fines to be paid for the 294
violation of the sections of the general statutes deemed to be infractions. 295
The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator shall 296
establish and maintain a separate sliding scale of fines for speeding 297
infractions committed under section 14-219 with a minimum fine of fifty 298
dollars and the fine increasing in proportion to the severity of the 299
violation. The fines may be modified as the [judges of the Superior Court 300
deem] Chief Court Administrator deems advisable. 301
(b) The [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court Administrator 302
shall establish and maintain a schedule of fines to be paid for those 303
violations of section 14-219 specified in subsection (e) of said section, 304
with such fines increasing in proportion to the severity of the violation 305
and for violations under subsection (b) of section 51-164n. The fines may 306
be modified as the [judges of the Superior Court deem] Chief Court 307
Administrator deems advisable. 308 Raised Bill No. 426
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(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no fine 309
established in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this 310
section may be less than thirty-five dollars or more than ninety dollars. 311
(2) No fine established in accordance with the provisions of 312
subsection (a) of this section for a violation of any provision of title 14 313
deemed an infraction may be less than fifty dollars or more than ninety 314
dollars, except that fines established for parking tag violations may be 315
less than fifty dollars. 316
(d) No fine established in accordance with the provisions of 317
subsection (b) of this section may be in an amount in excess of the 318
maximum amount specified by statute for such violation. 319
(e) Any infraction for which a fine has not been established pursuant 320
to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall carry a fine of 321
thirty-five dollars or, if the infraction is for a violation of any provision 322
of title 14, fifty dollars, until such time as the [judges of the Superior 323
Court] Chief Court Administrator may establish a different fine for such 324
infraction. 325
(f) Any violation for which a fine has not been established pursuant 326
to subsection (b) of this section shall carry a fine of one hundred dollars 327
or the maximum fine specified by statute for such violation, whichever 328
is less. 329
Sec. 16. Subsection (d) of section 51-193c of the general statutes is 330
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 331
1, 2024): 332
(d) Any notice, order, judgment, decision, decree, memorandum, 333
ruling, opinion, mittimus, warrant and any form related to such 334
warrant, affidavit, finding or similar document that is issued by the 335
Superior Court or by a judge, judge trial referee or family support 336
magistrate thereof, by a magistrate appointed pursuant to section 51-337
193l or by a commissioner of the Superior Court approved by the Chief 338
Court Administrator to hear small claims pursuant to section 52-549d, 339 Raised Bill No. 426
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may be signed or verified by computer or facsimile transmission or by 340
employing other technology in accordance with procedures and 341
technical standards, if any, established by the Office of the Chief Court 342
Administrator, and such notice, order, judgment, decision, decree, 343
memorandum, ruling, opinion, mittimus, warrant and any form related 344
to such warrant, affidavit, finding or similar document shall have the 345
same validity and status as a paper document that was signed or 346
verified by the Superior Court or by a judge, judge trial referee or family 347
support magistrate thereof, by a magistrate appointed pursuant to 348
section 51-193l or by a commissioner of the Superior Court approved by 349
the Chief Court Administrator to hear small claims pursuant to section 350
52-549d. 351
Sec. 17. Section 51-237 of the general statutes is repealed and the 352
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 353
Each juror, duly chosen, drawn and summoned, who fails to appear 354
shall be subject to a civil penalty, the amount of which shall be 355
established by the [judges of the Superior Court] Chief Court 356
Administrator, but the court may excuse such juror from the payment 357
thereof. If a sufficient number of the jurors summoned do not appear, or 358
if for any cause there is not a sufficient number of jurors to make up the 359
panel, the court may order such number of persons who qualify for jury 360
service under section 51-217 to be summoned as may be necessary, as 361
talesmen, and any talesman so summoned who makes default of 362
appearance without sufficient cause shall be subject to a civil penalty, 363
the amount of which shall be established by the [judges of the Superior 364
Court] Chief Court Administrator. The provisions of this section shall 365
be enforced by the Attorney General within available appropriations. 366
Sec. 18. Subsection (a) of section 51-348 of the general statutes is 367
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 368
passage): 369
(a) The geographical areas of the Court of Common Pleas established 370
pursuant to section 51-156a, revised to 1975, shall be the geographical 371 Raised Bill No. 426
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areas of the Superior Court on July 1, 1978. The Chief Court 372
Administrator [, after consultation with the judges of the Superior 373
Court,] may alter the boundary of any geographical area to provide for 374
a new geographical area provided [that] each geographical area so 375
altered or so authorized shall remain solely within the boundary of a 376
single judicial district. 377
Sec. 19. Subsection (d) of section 54-33a of the general statutes is 378
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 379
1, 2024): 380
(d) A warrant may issue only on affidavit sworn to by the 381
complainant or complainants before the judge or judge trial referee, 382
either in person or electronically with simultaneous sight and sound, 383
and establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant, which affidavit 384
shall be part of the arrest file. If the judge or judge trial referee is satisfied 385
that grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to 386
believe that grounds for the application exist, the judge or judge trial 387
referee shall issue a warrant identifying the property and naming or 388
describing the person, place or thing to be searched or authorizing the 389
installation and use of a tracking device and identifying the person on 390
which or the property to, in or on which the tracking device is to be 391
installed. The warrant shall be directed to any police officer of a 392
regularly organized police department or any state police officer, to an 393
inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, to a conservation officer, 394
special conservation officer or patrolman acting pursuant to section 26-395
6 or to a sworn motor vehicle inspector acting under the authority of 396
section 14-8. Except for a warrant for the installation and use of a 397
tracking device, the warrant shall state the date and time of its issuance 398
and the grounds or probable cause for its issuance and shall command 399
the officer to search within a reasonable time the person, place or thing 400
named, for the property specified. A warrant for the installation and use 401
of a tracking device shall state the date and time of its issuance and the 402
grounds or probable cause for its issuance and shall command the 403
officer to complete the installation of the device within a specified 404
period not later than ten days after the date of its issuance and authorize 405 Raised Bill No. 426
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the installation and use of the tracking device, including the collection 406
of data through such tracking device, for a reasonable period of time not 407
to exceed thirty days from the date the tracking device is installed. Upon 408
request and a showing of good cause, a judge or judge trial referee may 409
authorize the use of the tracking device for an additional period of thirty 410
days. 411
Sec. 20. Section 54-63c of the general statutes is repealed and the 412
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 413
(a) Except in cases of arrest pursuant to a bench warrant of arrest in 414
which the court or a judge thereof has indicated that bail should be 415
denied or ordered that the officer or indifferent person making such 416
arrest shall, without undue delay, bring such person before the clerk or 417
assistant clerk of the superior court for the geographical area under 418
section 54-2a, when any person is arrested for a bailable offense, the 419
chief of police, or the chief's authorized designee, of the police 420
department having custody of the arrested person or any probation 421
officer serving a violation of probation warrant shall promptly advise 422
such person of the person's rights under section 54-1b, and of the 423
person's right to be interviewed concerning the terms and conditions of 424
release. Unless the arrested person waives or refuses such interview, the 425
police officer or probation officer shall promptly interview the arrested 426
person to obtain information relevant to the terms and conditions of the 427
person's release from custody, and shall seek independent verification 428
of such information where necessary. At the request of the arrested 429
person, the person's counsel may be present during the interview. No 430
statement made by the arrested person in response to any question 431
during the interview related to the terms and conditions of release shall 432
be admissible as evidence against the arrested person in any proceeding 433
arising from the incident for which the conditions of release were set. 434
After such a waiver, refusal or interview, the police officer or probation 435
officer shall promptly order release of the arrested person upon the 436
execution of a written promise to appear or the posting of such bond as 437
may be set by the police officer or probation officer, except that no 438
condition of release set by the court or a judge thereof may be modified 439 Raised Bill No. 426
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by such officers and no person shall be released upon the execution of a 440
written promise to appear or the posting of a bond without surety if the 441
person is charged with the commission of a family violence crime, as 442
defined in section 46b-38a, and in the commission of such crime the 443
person used or threatened the use of a firearm. 444
(b) If the person is charged with the commission of a family violence 445
crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, and the police officer does not 446
intend to impose nonfinancial conditions of release pursuant to this 447
subsection, the police officer shall, pursuant to the procedure set forth 448
in subsection (a) of this section, promptly order the release of such 449
person upon the execution of a written promise to appear or the posting 450
of such bond as may be set by the police officer. If such person is not so 451
released, the police officer shall make reasonable efforts to immediately 452
contact a bail commissioner or an intake, assessment and referral 453
specialist employed by the Judicial Branch to set the conditions of such 454
person's release pursuant to section 54-63d. If, after making such 455
reasonable efforts, the police officer is unable to contact a bail 456
commissioner or an intake, assessment and referral specialist or contacts 457
a bail commissioner or an intake, assessment and referral specialist but 458
such bail commissioner or intake, assessment and referral specialist is 459
unavailable to promptly perform such bail commissioner's or intake, 460
assessment and referral specialist's duties pursuant to section 54-63d, 461
the police officer shall, pursuant to the procedure set forth in subsection 462
(a) of this section, order the release of such person upon the execution 463
of a written promise to appear or the posting of such bond as may be set 464
by the police officer and may impose nonfinancial conditions of release 465
which may require that the arrested person do one or more of the 466
following: (1) Avoid all contact with the alleged victim of the crime, (2) 467
comply with specified restrictions on the person's travel, association or 468
place of abode that are directly related to the protection of the alleged 469
victim of the crime, or (3) not use or possess a dangerous weapon, 470
intoxicant or controlled substance. Any such nonfinancial conditions of 471
release shall be indicated on a form prescribed by the Judicial Branch 472
and sworn to by the police officer. Such form shall articulate (A) the 473 Raised Bill No. 426
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efforts that were made to contact a bail commissioner or an intake, 474
assessment and referral specialist, (B) the specific factual basis relied 475
upon by the police officer to impose the nonfinancial conditions of 476
release, and (C) if the arrested person was non-English-speaking, that 477
the services of a translation service or interpreter were used. A copy of 478
that portion of the form that indicates the nonfinancial conditions of 479
release shall immediately be provided to the arrested person. A copy of 480
the entire form shall be provided to counsel for the arrested person at 481
arraignment. Any nonfinancial conditions of release imposed pursuant 482
to this subsection shall remain in effect until the arrested person is 483
presented before the Superior Court pursuant to subsection (a) of 484
section 54-1g. On such date, the court shall conduct a hearing pursuant 485
to section 46b-38c at which the defendant is entitled to be heard with 486
respect to the issuance of a protective order. 487
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 14 and this chapter, the 488
police officer shall provide to the bail commissioner or the intake 489
assessment and referral specialist identifying information about the 490
victim of the crime or crimes with which the arrested person is charged, 491
including, but not limited to, the victim's name, address and phone 492
number, if available, for the purpose of carrying out such bail 493
commissioner's or intake assessment and referral specialist's duties. 494
[(c)] (d) When cash bail in excess of ten thousand dollars is received 495
for a detained person accused of a felony, where the underlying facts 496
and circumstances of the felony involve the use, attempted use or 497
threatened use of physical force against another person, the police 498
officer shall prepare a report that contains (1) the name, address and 499
taxpayer identification number of the accused person, (2) the name, 500
address and taxpayer identification number of each person offering the 501
cash bail, other than a person licensed as a professional bondsman 502
under chapter 533 or a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f, (3) the 503
amount of cash received, and (4) the date the cash was received. Not 504
later than fifteen days after receipt of such cash bail, the police officer 505
shall file the report with the Department of Revenue Services and mail 506
a copy of the report to the state's attorney for the judicial district in 507 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 17 of 49
which the alleged offense was committed and to each person offering 508
the cash bail. 509
[(d)] (e) No police officer or probation officer serving a violation of 510
probation warrant shall set the terms and conditions of a person's 511
release, set a bond for a person or release a person from custody under 512
this section unless the police officer or probation officer has first checked 513
the National Crime Information Center [(NCIC)] computerized index of 514
criminal justice information to determine if such person is listed in such 515
index. 516
[(e)] (f) If the arrested person has not posted bail, the police officer or 517
probation officer serving a violation of probation warrant shall 518
immediately notify a bail commissioner or an intake, assessment and 519
referral specialist. 520
[(f)] (g) The chief, acting chief, superintendent of police, the 521
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, any 522
captain or lieutenant of any local police department or the Division of 523
State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public 524
Protection or any person lawfully exercising the powers of any such 525
officer may take a written promise to appear or a bond with or without 526
surety from an arrested person as provided in subsection (a) of this 527
section, or as fixed by the court or any judge thereof, may administer 528
such oaths as are necessary in the taking of promises or bonds and shall 529
file any report required under subsection [(c)] (d) of this section. 530
Sec. 21. Subsection (b) of section 54-91c of the general statutes is 531
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 532
2024): 533
(b) Prior to the imposition of sentence upon any defendant who has 534
been found guilty of any crime or has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere 535
to any crime, and prior to the acceptance by the court of a plea of guilty 536
or nolo contendere made pursuant to a plea agreement with the state, 537
[wherein the defendant pleads to a lesser offense than the offense with 538
which such defendant was originally charged,] the court shall permit 539 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 18 of 49
any victim of the crime to appear before the court for the purpose of 540
making a statement for the record, which statement may include the 541
victim's opinion of any plea agreement. In lieu of such appearance, the 542
victim may submit a written statement or, if the victim of the crime is 543
deceased, the legal representative or a member of the immediate family 544
of such deceased victim may submit a statement of such deceased victim 545
to the state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant 546
state's attorney in charge of the case. Such state's attorney, assistant 547
state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney shall file the 548
statement with the sentencing court and the statement shall be made a 549
part of the record at the sentencing hearing. Any such statement, 550
whether oral or written, shall relate to the facts of the case, the 551
appropriateness of any penalty and the extent of any injuries, financial 552
losses and loss of earnings directly resulting from the crime for which 553
the defendant is being sentenced. The court shall inquire on the record 554
whether any victim is present for the purpose of making an oral 555
statement or has submitted a written statement. If no victim is present 556
and no such written statement has been submitted, the court shall 557
inquire on the record whether an attempt has been made to notify any 558
such victim as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this 559
section or, if the defendant was originally charged with a violation of 560
section 53a-167c for assaulting a peace officer, whether the peace officer 561
has been personally notified as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection 562
(c) of this section. After consideration of any such statements, the court 563
may refuse to accept, where appropriate, a negotiated plea or sentence, 564
and the court shall give the defendant an opportunity to enter a new 565
plea and to elect trial by jury or by the court. 566
Sec. 22. Section 54-201 of the general statutes is repealed and the 567
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 568
As used in sections 54-201 to 54-235, inclusive, as amended by this 569
act: 570
(1) "Victim" means a person who is injured or killed as provided in 571
section 54-209; 572 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 19 of 49
(2) "Personal injury" means (A) actual bodily harm or emotional harm 573
and includes pregnancy and any condition thereof, or (B) injury or death 574
to a service animal owned or kept by a person with a disability; 575
(3) "Dependent" means any relative of a deceased victim or a person 576
designated by a deceased victim in accordance with section 1-56r who 577
was wholly or partially dependent upon his income at the time of his 578
death or the child of a deceased victim and shall include the child of 579
such victim born after his death; 580
(4) "Relative" means a person's spouse, parent, grandparent, 581
stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, child, including a natural born 582
child, stepchild and adopted child, grandchild, brother, sister, half 583
brother or half sister or a parent of a person's spouse; 584
(5) "Crime" means any act which is a felony, as defined in section 53a-585
25, or misdemeanor, as defined in section 53a-26, and includes any crime 586
committed by a juvenile; and 587
(6) "Emotional harm" means a mental or emotional impairment that 588
[requires treatment through services and that] is directly attributable to 589
a threat of (A) physical injury, as defined in subdivision (3) of section 590
53a-3, or (B) death to the affected person. 591
Sec. 23. Section 54-203 of the general statutes is repealed and the 592
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 593
(a) There is established an Office of Victim Services within the Judicial 594
Department. 595
(b) The Office of Victim Services shall have the following powers and 596
duties: 597
(1) To direct each hospital, whether public or private, each university 598
or college health services center, whether public or private, and each 599
community health center, as defined in section 19a-490a, to prominently 600
display posters in a conspicuous location giving notice of the availability 601
of compensation and assistance to victims of crime or their dependents 602 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 20 of 49
pursuant to sections 54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, as amended by this act, 603
and to direct every law enforcement agency of the state to inform 604
victims of crime or their dependents of their rights pursuant to sections 605
54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, as amended by this act; 606
(2) To obtain from the office of the state's attorney, state police, local 607
police departments or any law enforcement agency such investigation 608
and data as will enable the Office of Victim Services to determine if in 609
fact the applicant was a victim of a crime or attempted crime and the 610
extent, if any, to which the victim or claimant was responsible for his 611
own injury, including, but not limited to, a request for information form 612
promulgated by the Office of Victim Services; 613
(3) To request from the Department of Correction, other units of the 614
Judicial Department and the Board of Pardons and Paroles such 615
information as will enable the Office of Victim Services to determine if 616
in fact a person who has requested notification pursuant to section 54-617
228 was a victim of a crime; 618
(4) To take or cause to be taken affidavits or depositions within or 619
without the state; 620
(5) To apply for, receive, allocate, disburse and account for grants of 621
funds made available by the United States, by the state, foundations, 622
corporations and other businesses, agencies or individuals to implement 623
a program for victim services which shall assist witnesses and victims 624
of crimes as the Office of Victim Services deems appropriate within the 625
resources available and to coordinate services to victims by state and 626
community-based agencies, with priority given to victims of violent 627
crimes, by (A) assigning such victim advocates as are necessary to 628
provide assistance; (B) administering victim service programs; and (C) 629
awarding grants or purchase of service contracts to private nonprofit 630
organizations or local units of government for the direct delivery of 631
services, except that the provision of training and technical assistance of 632
victim service providers and the development and implementation of 633
public education campaigns may be provided by private nonprofit or 634 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 21 of 49
for-profit organizations or local units of government. Such grants and 635
contracts shall be the predominant method by which the Office of 636
Victim Services shall develop, implement and operate direct service 637
programs and provide training and technical assistance to victim service 638
providers; 639
(6) To provide each person who applies for compensation pursuant 640
to section 54-204, within ten days of the date of receipt of such 641
application, with a written list of rights of victims of crime involving 642
personal injury and the programs available in this state to assist such 643
victims. The Office of Victim Services, the state or any agent, employee 644
or officer thereof shall not be liable for the failure to supply such list or 645
any alleged inadequacies of such list. Such list shall include, but not be 646
limited to: 647
(A) Subject to the provisions of sections 18-81e and 51-286e, the victim 648
shall have the right to be informed concerning the status of his or her 649
case and to be informed of the release from custody of the defendant; 650
(B) Subject to the provisions of section 54-91c, as amended by this act, 651
the victim shall have the right to present a statement of his or her losses, 652
injuries and wishes to the prosecutor and the court prior to the 653
acceptance by the court of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere made 654
pursuant to a plea agreement with the state wherein the defendant 655
pleads to a lesser offense than the offense with which the defendant was 656
originally charged; 657
(C) Subject to the provisions of section 54-91c, as amended by this act, 658
prior to the imposition of sentence upon the defendant, the victim shall 659
have the right to submit a statement to the prosecutor as to the extent of 660
any injuries, financial losses and loss of earnings directly resulting from 661
the crime. Upon receipt of the statement, the prosecutor shall file the 662
statement with the sentencing court and the statement shall be made a 663
part of the record and considered by the court at the sentencing hearing; 664
(D) Subject to the provisions of section 54-126a, the victim shall have 665
the right to appear before a panel of the Board of Pardons and Paroles 666 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 22 of 49
and make a statement as to whether the defendant should be released 667
on parole and any terms or conditions to be imposed upon any such 668
release; 669
(E) Subject to the provisions of section 54-36a, the victim shall have 670
the right to have any property the victim owns which was seized by 671
police in connection with an arrest to be returned; 672
(F) Subject to the provisions of sections 54-56e and 54-142c, the victim 673
shall have the right to be notified of the application by the defendant for 674
the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation and to obtain from 675
the court information as to whether the criminal prosecution in the case 676
has been dismissed; 677
(G) Subject to the provisions of section 54-85b, the victim cannot be 678
fired, harassed or otherwise retaliated against by an employer for 679
appearing under a subpoena as a witness in any criminal prosecution; 680
(H) Subject to the provisions of section 54-86g, the parent or legal 681
guardian of a child twelve years of age or younger who is a victim of 682
child abuse or sexual assault may request special procedural 683
considerations to be taken during the testimony of the child; 684
(I) Subject to the provisions of section 46b-15, the victim of assault by 685
a spouse or former spouse, family or household member has the right 686
to request the arrest of the offender, request a protective order and apply 687
for a restraining order; 688
(J) Subject to the provisions of sections 52-146k, 54-86e and 54-86f, the 689
victim of sexual assault or domestic violence can expect certain records 690
to remain confidential; and 691
(K) Subject to the provisions of section 53a-32, the victim and any 692
victim advocate assigned to assist the victim may receive notification 693
from a probation officer whenever the officer has notified a police officer 694
that the probation officer has probable cause to believe that the offender 695
has violated a condition of such offender's probation; 696 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 23 of 49
(7) Within available appropriations, to maintain a victim's assistance 697
center which shall (A) make available to victims information regarding 698
victim's rights and available services, (B) maintain a victims' notification 699
system pursuant to sections 54-227 to 54-230a, inclusive, and 54-235, and 700
(C) maintain a toll-free number for access to information regarding 701
victims' rights and available services; 702
(8) To provide a telephone helpline that shall provide information on 703
referrals for various services for victims of crime and their families; 704
(9) To provide staff services to a state advisory council. The council 705
shall consist of not more than [fifteen] twenty members to be appointed 706
by the Chief Justice and shall include the Chief Victim Compensation 707
Commissioner and members who represent victim populations, 708
including but not limited to, homicide survivors, family violence 709
victims, sexual assault victims, victims of gun violence, victims of drunk 710
drivers, and assault and robbery victims, and members who represent 711
the judicial branch and executive branch agencies involved with victims 712
of crime. The members shall serve for terms of four years. Any vacancy 713
in the membership shall be filled by the appointing authority for the 714
balance of the unexpired term. The members shall receive no 715
compensation for their services. The council shall meet at least four 716
times a year. The council shall recommend to the Office of Victim 717
Services program, legislative or other matters which would improve 718
services to victims of crime and develop and coordinate needs 719
assessments for both court-based and community-based victim services. 720
The Chief Justice shall appoint two members to serve as cochairpersons. 721
Not later than December fifteenth of each year, the council shall report 722
the results of its findings and activities to the Chief Court Administrator; 723
(10) To utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services of private 724
individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be 725
offered and needed; 726
(11) To recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies 727
and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government relative to 728 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 24 of 49
victims of crime; 729
(12) To provide support and assistance to state-wide victim services 730
coalitions and groups; 731
(13) To provide a training program for judges, prosecutors, police, 732
probation and parole personnel, bail commissioners, intake, assessment 733
and referral specialists, officers from the Department of Correction and 734
judicial marshals to inform them of victims' rights and available 735
services; 736
(14) To (A) maintain, within available appropriations, a sexual assault 737
forensic examiners program that will train and make available sexual 738
assault forensic examiners to adolescent and adult victims of sexual 739
assault who are patients at participating health care facilities. In order 740
to maintain such program, the Office of Victim Services may apply for, 741
receive, allocate, disburse and account for grants of funds made 742
available by the United States, the state, foundations, corporations and 743
other businesses, agencies or individuals; or (B) establish, within 744
available appropriations, a training program for health care 745
professionals on the care of and collection of evidence from adolescent 746
and adult victims of sexual assault; 747
(15) To provide victims of crime and the general public with 748
information detailing the process by which a victim may register to 749
receive notices of hearings of the Board of Pardons and Paroles; and 750
(16) To submit to the joint standing committee of the General 751
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to [victim services] the 752
judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on or 753
before January 15, 2000, and biennially thereafter a report of its activities 754
under sections 54-201 to 54-235, inclusive, as amended by this act. 755
Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 54-210 of the general statutes is 756
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 757
2024): 758 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 25 of 49
(a) The Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation 759
commissioner may order the payment of compensation under sections 760
54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, as amended by this act, for: (1) Expenses 761
actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or 762
death of the victim, provided coverage for the cost of medical care and 763
treatment of a crime victim who does not have medical insurance or 764
who has exhausted coverage under applicable health insurance policies 765
or Medicaid shall be ordered; (2) loss of earning power as a result of total 766
or partial incapacity of such victim; (3) pecuniary loss to the spouse or 767
dependents of the deceased victim, provided the family qualifies for 768
compensation as a result of murder or manslaughter of the victim; (4) 769
pecuniary loss to an injured victim or the relatives or dependents of an 770
injured victim or a deceased victim for attendance at court proceedings, 771
juvenile proceedings, Psychiatric Security Review Board hearings and 772
Board of Pardons and Parole hearings with respect to the criminal case 773
of the person or persons charged with committing the crime that 774
resulted in the injury or death of the victim; (5) loss of wages by any 775
parent or guardian of a deceased victim, provided the amount paid 776
under this subsection shall not exceed one week's net wage; and (6) any 777
other loss, except as set forth in section 54-211, as amended by this act, 778
resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim which the 779
Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the 780
case may be, determines to be reasonable. 781
Sec. 25. Section 54-211 of the general statutes is repealed and the 782
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 783
(a) (1) No order for the payment of compensation shall be made 784
under section 54-210, as amended by this act, unless (A) the application 785
has been made within [two] three years after the date of the personal 786
injury or death, (B) the personal injury or death was the result of an 787
incident or offense listed in section 54-209, and (C) such incident or 788
offense has been reported to the police, [within five days of its 789
occurrence or, if the incident or offense could not reasonably have been 790
reported within such period, within five days of the time when a report 791
could reasonably have been made,] except that a victim of a sexual 792 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 26 of 49
assault shall not be ineligible for the payment of compensation by 793
reason of failing to make a report pursuant to this subparagraph if such 794
victim presented himself or herself to a health care facility within one 795
hundred twenty hours of such sexual assault for examination and 796
collection of evidence of such sexual assault in accordance with the 797
provisions of section 19a-112a, or if such victim complied with 798
subsection (d) of section 54-209. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of 799
subdivision (1) of this subsection, any person who, before, on or after 800
October 1, 2005, fails to make application for compensation within [two] 801
three years after the date of the personal injury or death as a result of 802
physical, emotional or psychological injuries caused by such personal 803
injury or death may apply for a waiver of such time limitation. The 804
Office of Victim Services, upon a finding of such physical, emotional or 805
psychological injury, may grant such waiver. (3) Notwithstanding the 806
provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, any minor, including, 807
but not limited to, a minor who is a victim of conduct by another person 808
that constitutes a violation of section 53a-192a or a criminal violation of 809
18 USC Chapter 77, who, before, on or after October 1, 2005, fails to make 810
application for compensation within [two] three years after the date of 811
the personal injury or death through no fault of the minor, may apply 812
for a waiver of such time limitation. The Office of Victim Services, upon 813
a finding that such minor is not at fault, may grant such waiver. (4) 814
Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, a 815
person who is a dependent of a victim may make application for 816
payment of compensation not later than [two] three years from the date 817
that such person discovers or in the exercise of reasonable care should 818
have discovered that the person upon whom the applicant was 819
dependent was a victim. Such person shall file with such application a 820
statement signed under penalty of false statement setting forth the date 821
when such person discovered that the person upon whom the applicant 822
was dependent was a victim and the circumstances that prevented such 823
person discovering that the person upon whom the applicant was 824
dependent was a victim until more than [two] three years after the date 825
of the incident or offense. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that 826
a person who files such a statement and is otherwise eligible for 827 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 27 of 49
compensation pursuant to sections 54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, as 828
amended by this act, is entitled to compensation. (5) Any waiver denied 829
by the Office of Victim Services under this subsection may be reviewed 830
by a victim compensation commissioner, provided such request for 831
review is made by the applicant within thirty days from the mailing of 832
the notice of denial by the Office of Victim Services. If a victim 833
compensation commissioner grants such waiver, the commissioner 834
shall refer the application for compensation to the Office of Victim 835
Services for a determination pursuant to section 54-205. (6) 836
Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of this 837
subsection, the Office of Victim Services may, for good cause shown and 838
upon a finding of compelling equitable circumstances, waive the time 839
limitations of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 840
(b) No compensation shall be awarded if: (1) The offender is unjustly 841
enriched by the award, provided compensation awarded to a victim 842
which would benefit the offender in a minimal or inconsequential 843
manner shall not be considered unjust enrichment; (2) the victim 844
violated a penal law of this state, which violation caused or contributed 845
to [his] such victim's injuries or death. 846
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, no 847
compensation shall be awarded for losses sustained for crimes against 848
property or for noneconomic detriment such as pain and suffering. 849
(d) (1) [No compensation shall be in an amount in excess of fifteen 850
thousand dollars for personal injury except that:] (A) Compensation for 851
personal injury shall be in an amount not to exceed fifteen thousand 852
dollars; (B) compensation to or for the benefit of the dependents of a 853
homicide victim shall be in an amount not to exceed twenty-five 854
thousand dollars; [(B)] (C) the claims of the dependents of a deceased 855
victim, as provided in section 54-208, shall be considered derivative of 856
the claim of such victim and the total compensation paid for all claims 857
arising from the death of such victim shall not exceed a maximum of 858
twenty-five thousand dollars; and [(C)] (D) in cases of emotional harm 859
only, compensation for medical and mental health care and security 860 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 28 of 49
measures shall be in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars. 861
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 862
subsection, the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation 863
commissioner may award additional compensation in an amount not to 864
exceed five thousand dollars above the maximum amounts set forth in 865
said subdivision to a personal injury victim, who is a minor at the time 866
the application for compensation or restitution services is filed, when 867
such victim has additional medical needs or mental health counseling 868
needs. 869
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 870
subsection, the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation 871
commissioner may, for good cause shown and upon a finding of 872
compelling equitable circumstances, award compensation in an amount 873
in excess of the maximum amounts set forth in said subdivision. 874
(e) Orders for payment of compensation pursuant to sections 54-201 875
to 54-218, inclusive, as amended by this act, may be made only as to 876
injuries or death resulting from incidents or offenses arising on and after 877
January 1, 1979, except that orders for payment of compensation 878
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 54-209 may be made only as to 879
injuries or death resulting from incidents or offenses arising on and after 880
July 1, 1985. 881
(f) Compensation shall be awarded pursuant to sections 54-201 to 54-882
218, inclusive, as amended by this act, for personal injury or death 883
resulting from a crime which occurs (1) within this state, regardless of 884
the residency of the applicant; (2) outside this state but within the 885
territorial boundaries of the United States, provided the victim, at the 886
time of injury or death, was a resident of this state and the state in which 887
such crime occurred does not have a program for compensation of 888
victims for which such victim is eligible; (3) outside the territorial 889
boundaries of the United States, provided the victim was a resident of 890
this state at the time of injury or death, the crime would be considered a 891
crime within the State of Connecticut, and the country in which such 892 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 29 of 49
crime occurred does not have a program for compensation of victims for 893
which such victim is eligible; and (4) outside the territorial boundaries 894
of the United States, provided the applicant is a victim of international 895
terrorism, as defined in 18 USC 2331, as amended from time to time, and 896
was a resident of this state at the time of injury or death. 897
Sec. 26. Subsection (d) of section 1-84 of the 2024 supplement to the 898
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 899
thereof (Effective from passage): 900
(d) No public official or state employee or employee of such public 901
official or state employee shall agree to accept, or be a member or 902
employee of a partnership, association, professional corporation or sole 903
proprietorship which partnership, association, professional corporation 904
or sole proprietorship agrees to accept any employment, fee or other 905
thing of value, or portion thereof, for appearing, agreeing to appear, or 906
taking any other action on behalf of another person before the 907
Department of Banking, the Office of the Claims Commissioner, the 908
Health Systems Planning Unit of the Office of Health Strategy, the 909
Insurance Department, the Department of Consumer Protection, the 910
Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Insurance and Risk 911
Management Board, the Department of Energy and Environmental 912
Protection [, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Connecticut 913
Siting Council] or the Connecticut Real Estate Commission; provided 914
this shall not prohibit any such person from making inquiry for 915
information on behalf of another before any of said commissions or 916
commissioners if no fee or reward is given or promised in consequence 917
thereof. For the purpose of this subsection, partnerships, associations, 918
professional corporations or sole proprietorships refer only to such 919
partnerships, associations, professional corporations or sole 920
proprietorships which have been formed to carry on the business or 921
profession directly relating to the employment, appearing, agreeing to 922
appear or taking of action provided for in this subsection. Nothing in 923
this subsection shall prohibit any employment, appearing, agreeing to 924
appear or taking action before any municipal board, commission or 925
council. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as applying (1) to 926 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 30 of 49
the actions of any teaching or research professional employee of a public 927
institution of higher education if such actions are not in violation of any 928
other provision of this chapter, (2) to the actions of any other 929
professional employee of a public institution of higher education if such 930
actions are not compensated and are not in violation of any other 931
provision of this chapter, (3) to any member of a board or commission 932
who receives no compensation other than per diem payments or 933
reimbursement for actual or necessary expenses, or both, incurred in the 934
performance of the member's duties, or (4) to any member or director of 935
a quasi-public agency. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 936
subsection to the contrary, a legislator, an officer of the General 937
Assembly or part-time legislative employee may be or become a 938
member or employee of a firm, partnership, association or professional 939
corporation which represents clients for compensation before agencies 940
listed in this subsection, provided the legislator, officer of the General 941
Assembly or part-time legislative employee shall take no part in any 942
matter involving the agency listed in this subsection and shall not 943
receive compensation from any such matter. Receipt of a previously 944
established salary, not based on the current or anticipated business of 945
the firm, partnership, association or professional corporation involving 946
the agencies listed in this subsection, shall be permitted. 947
Sec. 27. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section: 948
(1) "Communication technology" means an electronic device or 949
process that: 950
(A) Allows a commissioner of the Superior Court and a remotely 951
located individual to communicate with each other simultaneously by 952
sight and sound; and 953
(B) When necessary and consistent with other applicable law, 954
facilitates communication between a commissioner of the Superior 955
Court and a remotely located individual who has a vision, hearing or 956
speech impairment. 957
(2) "Identity proofing" means a process or service by which a third 958 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 31 of 49
person provides a commissioner of the Superior Court with a means to 959
verify the identity of a remotely located individual by a review of 960
personal information from public or private data sources. 961
(3) "Outside the United States" means a location outside the 962
geographic boundaries of the United States, Puerto Rico, the United 963
States Virgin Islands and any territory, insular possession or other 964
location subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 965
(4) "Remotely located individual" means an individual who is not in 966
the physical presence of the commissioner of the Superior Court who 967
takes an acknowledgment under subsection (c) of this section. 968
(b) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a document 969
may be acknowledged by an individual who is not in the physical 970
presence of a commissioner of the Superior Court at the time of the 971
acknowledgment if the following requirements are met: 972
(1) The individual and the commissioner of the Superior Court can 973
communicate simultaneously, in real time, by sight and sound using 974
communication technology; and 975
(2) When performing a remote acknowledgment pursuant to the 976
provisions of this section, the commissioner of the Superior Court 977
reasonably identifies the individual at the time of the acknowledgment 978
by one or more of the following methods: 979
(A) Personal knowledge of the identity of the individual; 980
(B) The individual presents a government-issued identification 981
document or record that has not expired and includes the individual's 982
photograph, name and signature. An acceptable form of government-983
issued identification document or record includes, but is not limited to, 984
a driver's license, government-issued identification card or passport; 985
(C) Not less than two different types of identity proofing processes or 986
services by which a third person provides a means to verify the identity 987
of the individual through a review of public or private data sources; or 988 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 32 of 49
(D) Oath or affirmation by a credible witness who: 989
(i) Is in the physical presence of either the commissioner of the 990
Superior Court or the individual; or 991
(ii) Is able to communicate in real time with the commissioner of the 992
Superior Court and the individual by sight and sound through an 993
electronic device or process at the time of the acknowledgment, if the 994
credible witness has personal knowledge of the identity of the 995
individual and has been reasonably identified by the commissioner of 996
the Superior Court by a method provided in this section. 997
(c) When an individual who is physically located outside of the state 998
of Connecticut or outside the United States seeks a remote 999
acknowledgment pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the record 1000
being acknowledged shall: 1001
(1) Be intended for filing or presentation in a matter before a court, 1002
governmental entity, public official or other entity subject to the 1003
jurisdiction of the state of Connecticut; or 1004
(2) Otherwise not be prohibited by law of the state of Connecticut to 1005
be acknowledged outside the state. 1006
(d) Once the record acknowledged pursuant to subsection (b) of this 1007
section is signed by the individual in accordance with the procedures 1008
set forth in this section, the individual shall mail or otherwise cause to 1009
be delivered the signed original copy of the record to the commissioner 1010
of the Superior Court. 1011
(e) The date and time of an acknowledgment conducted pursuant to 1012
subsection (b) of this section shall be the date and time when the 1013
commissioner of the Superior Court witnessed the signature being 1014
performed by means of communication technology. 1015
(f) Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of a commissioner 1016
of the Superior Court to refuse to take an acknowledgment or require a 1017
commissioner of the Superior Court to take an acknowledgment: 1018 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 33 of 49
(1) With respect to an electronic record; 1019
(2) For an individual not in the physical presence of the commissioner 1020
of the Superior Court; or 1021
(3) Using a technology that the commissioner of the Superior Court 1022
has not selected. 1023
(g) No record shall be acknowledged remotely pursuant to subsection 1024
(b) of this section in (1) the making and execution of a will, codicil, trust 1025
or trust instrument, (2) the execution of health care instructions 1026
pursuant to section 19a-575a of the general statutes, (3) the execution of 1027
a designation of a standby guardian pursuant to section 45a-624 of the 1028
general statutes, (4) the execution of a designation of a person for 1029
decision-making and certain rights and obligations pursuant to section 1030
1-56r of the general statutes, (5) the execution of a living will, as defined 1031
in section 19a-570 of the general statutes, (6) the execution of a power of 1032
attorney, as defined in section 1-350a of the general statutes, (7) the 1033
execution of a self-proving affidavit for an appointment of a health care 1034
representative or for a living will under sections 1-56r and 19a-578 of the 1035
general statutes, (8) the execution of a mutual distribution agreement 1036
under section 45a-433 of the general statutes, (9) the execution of a 1037
disclaimer under section 45a-479 or 45a-583 of the general statutes, or 1038
(10) a real estate closing, as defined in section 51-88a of the general 1039
statutes. The performance of any such acknowledgment in connection 1040
with any of the acts described in this subsection shall be ineffective for 1041
any purpose and shall constitute a violation of section 51-88 of the 1042
general statutes. 1043
Sec. 28. Section 22-329a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 1044
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 1045
October 1, 2024): 1046
(a) Any animal control officer or regional animal control officer 1047
appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, as applicable, 1048
may take physical custody of any animal when such animal control 1049
officer has reasonable cause to believe that such animal is in imminent 1050 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 34 of 49
harm and is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 1051
22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251, 53-252 or 53a-73b, 1052
and, not later than ninety-six hours after taking physical custody, shall 1053
proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this section, except that if, in the 1054
opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the State Veterinarian, at any time 1055
after physical custody of such animal is taken, such animal is so injured 1056
or diseased that it should be euthanized immediately, such officer may 1057
have such animal humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. 1058
(b) Any animal control officer or regional animal control officer 1059
appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, as applicable, 1060
may take physical custody of any animal upon issuance of a warrant 1061
finding probable cause that such animal is neglected or is cruelly treated 1062
in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-1063
250, 53-251, 53-252 or 53a-73b, and shall thereupon proceed as provided 1064
in subsection (c) of this section except that if, in the opinion of a licensed 1065
veterinarian or the State Veterinarian, at any time after physical custody 1066
of such animal is taken, such animal is so injured or diseased that it 1067
should be euthanized immediately, such officer may have such animal 1068
humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. 1069
(c) Such officer shall file with the superior court which has venue over 1070
such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford 1071
at Hartford a verified petition plainly stating such facts of neglect or 1072
cruel treatment as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the 1073
court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with 1074
the provisions of this section. Upon the filing of such petition, the court 1075
shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner or owners or 1076
person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to 1077
appear in court at the time and place named. 1078
(d) If physical custody of an animal has been taken pursuant to 1079
subsection (a) or (b) of this section and it appears from the allegations of 1080
the petition filed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and other 1081
affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent 1082
thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition 1083 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 35 of 49
or the circumstances surrounding its care require that temporary care 1084
and custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court 1085
shall either (1) issue an order to show cause why the court should not 1086
vest in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency 1087
or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing 1088
on the petition, or (2) issue an order vesting in some suitable state, 1089
municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's 1090
temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition. A 1091
hearing on the order issued by the court pursuant to subdivision (1) or 1092
(2) of this subsection shall be held not later than fourteen days after the 1093
issuance of such order. The service of such order may be made by any 1094
officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or 1095
indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours 1096
prior to the date and time of such hearing. If the owner or owners or 1097
person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, 1098
notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication 1099
in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which such officer 1100
took physical custody of such animal not less than forty-eight hours 1101
prior to the date and time of such hearing. 1102
(e) If physical custody of an animal has not been taken pursuant to 1103
subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and such officer has reasonable cause 1104
to believe that an animal is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of 1105
section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 1106
53-252, such officer may file a petition with the superior court which has 1107
venue over such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district 1108
of Hartford at Hartford, plainly stating such facts of neglect or cruel 1109
treatment as to bring the animal within the jurisdiction of the court and 1110
praying for appropriate action by the court to ensure the welfare of the 1111
animal, including, but not limited to, physical removal and temporary 1112
care and custody of the animal, an order to compel the owner of any 1113
such animal to provide care in a manner that the court determines is 1114
necessary, authorization of an animal control officer or regional animal 1115
control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, 1116
as applicable, or a licensed veterinarian to provide care for the animal 1117 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 36 of 49
on site, vesting of ownership of the animal, the posting of a bond in 1118
accordance with subsection (f) of this section and the assessment of costs 1119
in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Upon the filing of such 1120
petition, the court shall cause a summons for an order to show cause to 1121
be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having responsibility 1122
for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and 1123
place named. If the owner or owners or person having responsibility for 1124
the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the 1125
hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a 1126
circulation in the town where the animal is located not less than forty-1127
eight hours prior to the date and time of the hearing. If it appears from 1128
the allegations of the petition filed pursuant to this subsection and other 1129
affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent 1130
thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition 1131
or the circumstances surrounding its care require the immediate 1132
removal of the animal from the owner or owners or person having 1133
responsibility for the care of the animal to safeguard its welfare, the 1134
court shall issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal or 1135
other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care 1136
and custody pending a hearing on the petition which hearing shall be 1137
held not later than ten days after the issuance of such order for such 1138
temporary care and custody. The service of such order may be made by 1139
any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or 1140
indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours 1141
prior to the date and time of such hearing. 1142
(f) If the court issues an order vesting the animal's temporary care 1143
and custody in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private 1144
agency or person, the owner or owners shall either relinquish 1145
ownership of the animal or post a cash bond with the agency or person 1146
in whom the animal's temporary care and custody was vested or with 1147
such agency's counsel of record in the case. The cash bond shall be in the 1148
amount of one thousand dollars for each animal placed in the temporary 1149
care or custody of such agency or person and shall secure payment for 1150
the reasonable expenses of the agency or person having temporary care 1151 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 37 of 49
and custody of the animal in caring and providing for such animal until 1152
the court makes a finding as to the animal's disposition under subsection 1153
(g) of this section. The requirement that a bond be posted may be waived 1154
if such owner provides satisfactory evidence that such owner is indigent 1155
and unable to pay for such bond. 1156
(g) (1) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is neglected or 1157
cruelly treated, it shall vest ownership of the animal in any state, 1158
municipal or other public or private agency which is permitted by law 1159
to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found 1160
to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility by the court. 1161
(2) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or 1162
diseased that it should be humanely euthanized, the court may order 1163
that such animal be humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. 1164
(3) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or 1165
cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner or 1166
owners or person having responsibility for its care or, if such owner or 1167
owners or person is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for such 1168
animal, it may vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or 1169
other public or private agency or person found to be suitable or worthy 1170
of such responsibility. 1171
(4) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (1) or (2) of this 1172
subsection less than thirty days after the issuance of an order of 1173
temporary care and custody and the owner of the animal has posted a 1174
bond, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return 1175
the balance of such bond, if any, to the owner. The amount of the bond 1176
to be returned to the owner shall be calculated at the rate of [fifteen] 1177
twenty dollars per day per animal or [twenty-five] thirty dollars per day 1178
per animal if the animal is a horse or other large livestock for the number 1179
of days less than thirty that such agency or person has not had 1180
temporary care and custody of the animal less any veterinary costs and 1181
expenses incurred for the welfare of the animal. 1182
(5) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (3) of this 1183 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 38 of 49
subsection after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody 1184
and the owner of the animal has posted a bond, the agency or person 1185
with whom the bond was posted shall return such bond to such owner. 1186
(h) If the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, 1187
the expenses incurred by the state or a municipality in providing proper 1188
food, shelter and care to an animal it has taken custody of under 1189
subsection (a) or (b) of this section and the expenses incurred by any 1190
state, municipal or other public or private agency or person in providing 1191
temporary care and custody pursuant to an order vesting temporary 1192
care and custody, calculated at the rate of twenty dollars per day per 1193
animal or thirty dollars per day per animal if the animal is a horse or 1194
other large livestock until the date ownership is vested pursuant to 1195
subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section shall be paid by the 1196
owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the 1197
animal. In addition, all veterinary costs and expenses incurred for the 1198
welfare of the animal shall be paid by the owner or owners or person 1199
having responsibility for the animal. 1200
(i) If the court vests ownership of the animal in the Commissioner of 1201
Agriculture or a municipality, the commissioner or the municipality 1202
may conduct or participate in a public auction of the animal under such 1203
conditions the commissioner or the municipality deems necessary or the 1204
commissioner or the municipality may consign the animal to an auction 1205
or sell the animal through an open advertised bid process whereby bid 1206
price and demonstration of sufficient knowledge and ability to care for 1207
such animal are factors for the commissioner's or municipality's 1208
consideration. All moneys collected from the sale of animals sold by the 1209
Commissioner of Agriculture through such open advertised bid process 1210
shall be deposited in the animal abuse cost recovery account established 1211
in subsection (j) of this section. All moneys collected from the sale of 1212
animals sold by a municipality through such open advertised bid 1213
process shall be deposited by the town treasurer or other fiscal officer in 1214
the town's general fund. The commissioner or the municipality may also 1215
vest ownership of any such animal in an individual or a public or private 1216
nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization. Any record 1217 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 39 of 49
containing the name, address or other personally identifying 1218
information of the new owner of such animal shall be exempt from 1219
disclosure under state law, provided such information may be disclosed 1220
pursuant to the issuance of a lawful subpoena. 1221
(j) There is established a separate, nonlapsing account within the 1222
General Fund, to be known as the "animal abuse cost recovery account". 1223
All moneys collected from sales at public auction of animals seized by 1224
the Department of Agriculture pursuant to this section shall be 1225
deposited into the account. Deposits of moneys may be made into the 1226
account from public or private sources, including, but not limited to, the 1227
federal government or municipal governments. 1228
(k) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any 1229
moneys received by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to 1230
subsection (j) of this section shall be deposited in the General Fund and 1231
credited to the animal abuse cost recovery account. The account shall be 1232
available to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the purpose of the 1233
housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department, until 1234
final disposition of such animal. Additionally, the account may be used 1235
for the purpose of providing reimbursement to any municipality for the 1236
costs of providing temporary care to such animal if such temporary care 1237
exceeded thirty days in duration and such costs exceeded the amount of 1238
any surety bond or cash bond posted pursuant to subsection (f) of this 1239
section provided the total annual reimbursement to municipalities from 1240
said account for such purpose shall not exceed twenty-five thousand 1241
dollars. Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from 1242
obtaining or using funds from sources other than the account for the 1243
housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department 1244
pursuant to this section. 1245
Sec. 29. Section 22-358 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1246
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 1247
(a) Any owner or [the agent of any owner of any domestic animal or 1248
poultry, or the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer, 1249 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 40 of 49
any municipal animal control officer, any regional animal control officer 1250
or any police officer or state policeman, may kill any dog which he 1251
observes pursuing or worrying any such domestic animal or poultry] 1252
keeper of any animal or poultry, or an agent of such owner or keeper, 1253
or any animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-1254
331 or 22-331a, or any police officer, including a state police officer, may 1255
kill any dog while the dog is in the act of biting, attacking, pursuing or 1256
worrying any such animal or poultry of the owner or keeper. Any 1257
owner, keeper, animal control officer or police officer who kills such dog 1258
shall make complaint concerning the circumstances of the attack to any 1259
animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 1260
22-331a of the town where such attack occurred. The animal control 1261
officer to whom such complaint is made shall investigate the 1262
circumstances of the attack set forth in the complaint. 1263
(b) Any person who is [bitten, or who shows visible evidence of 1264
attack] protecting himself or herself or another person or animal from 1265
physical harm while being bitten or attacked by a dog, cat or other 1266
animal when such person is not upon the premises of the owner or 1267
keeper of such dog, cat or other animal may kill such dog, cat or other 1268
animal during such attack. [Such person shall make complaint 1269
concerning the circumstances of the attack to the Chief Animal Control 1270
Officer, any animal control officer or the municipal animal control 1271
officer or regional animal control officer of the town wherein such dog, 1272
cat or other animal is owned or kept. Any such officer to whom such 1273
complaint is made shall immediately make an investigation of such 1274
complaint.] Any person who kills such animal shall make complaint 1275
concerning the circumstances of the attack to any animal control officer 1276
appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a of the town 1277
where such attack occurred. The animal control officer to whom such 1278
complaint is made shall investigate the circumstances of the attack set 1279
forth in the complaint. 1280
[(c) The commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal 1281
control officer, any municipal animal control officer or any regional 1282
animal control officer may make any order concerning the restraint or 1283 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 41 of 49
disposal of any biting dog, cat or other animal as the commissioner or 1284
such officer deems necessary. Notice of any such order shall be given to 1285
the person bitten by such dog, cat or other animal within twenty-four 1286
hours. The owner of such animal shall pay all fees as set forth in section 1287
22-333. Any owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal who fails 1288
to comply with such order shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor. If 1289
an owner or keeper fails to comply with a restraining order made 1290
pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any 1291
animal control officer, any municipal animal control officer or any 1292
regional animal control officer may seize the dog, cat or other animal to 1293
ensure such compliance and the owner or keeper shall be responsible 1294
for any expenses resulting from such seizure. Any person aggrieved by 1295
an order of any municipal animal control officer, the Chief Animal 1296
Control Officer, any animal control officer or any regional animal 1297
control officer may request a hearing before the commissioner within 1298
fourteen days of the issuance of such order. Any order issued pursuant 1299
to this section that requires the restraint of an animal shall be effective 1300
upon its issuance and shall remain in effect during any appeal of such 1301
order to the commissioner. After such hearing, the commissioner may 1302
affirm, modify or revoke such order as the commissioner deems proper. 1303
Any dog owned by a police agency of the state or any of its political 1304
subdivisions is exempt from the provisions of this subsection when such 1305
dog is under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned 1306
police officer, is currently vaccinated and is subject to routine veterinary 1307
care. Any guide dog owned or in the custody and control of a blind 1308
person or a person with a mobility impairment is exempt from the 1309
provisions of this subsection when such guide dog is under the direct 1310
supervision, care and control of such person, is currently vaccinated and 1311
is subject to routine veterinary care.] 1312
(c) In the interest of public health and safety, if after investigation, 1313
any animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 1314
or 22-331a in the municipality or region in which an alleged dog, cat or 1315
other animal bite or attack occurs determines that a person has in fact 1316
been bitten or attacked by a dog, cat or other animal, such animal control 1317 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 42 of 49
officer may make any order concerning the restraint or disposal of such 1318
biting or attacking dog, cat or other animal as is necessary to protect 1319
public health and safety. In determining the type of order to be issued 1320
or conditions of restraint to be imposed, the animal control officer shall 1321
consider factors that include, but need not be limited to: (1) The ability 1322
of the owner or keeper of the animal, if any, to control the animal; (2) 1323
the severity of injury inflicted on a person by the biting or attacking 1324
animal; (3) the viciousness of the bite or attack; (4) any history of past 1325
bites or attacks by the animal; (5) whether the bite or attack occurred at 1326
a location that is off of the property of the owner or keeper of the animal; 1327
(6) whether the biting or attacking animal was provoked; and (7) 1328
whether the biting or attacking animal was protecting its owner or 1329
keeper from physical harm. 1330
(d) Any dog, while [actually] biting, attacking, worrying or pursuing 1331
deer, may be killed by [the Chief Animal Control Officer or an animal 1332
control officer] any animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 1333
22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, or by a conservation officer or special 1334
conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and 1335
Environmental Protection, or by any police officer, [or state policeman] 1336
including a state police officer. The owner or keeper of any dog found 1337
biting, attacking, worrying or pursuing a deer shall be guilty of a class 1338
D misdemeanor. 1339
(e) Any person who kills any dog, cat or other animal in accordance 1340
with the provisions of this section shall not be held criminally or civilly 1341
liable therefor. 1342
(f) Repealed by P.A. 19-197, S. 1. 1343
(g) Repealed by P.A. 05-175, S. 24. 1344
(h) The following shall apply to any order issued pursuant to this 1345
section: 1346
(1) In the interest of public health and safety, and the health and 1347
safety of animals, whenever an order issued pursuant to this section 1348 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 43 of 49
requires the restraint of an animal, the order shall be effective upon its 1349
issuance and shall remain in effect during any appeal of such order; 1350
(2) In the interest of public health and safety, and the health and 1351
safety of animals, whenever an order issued pursuant to this section 1352
requires the disposal of an animal, the issuing officer shall take physical 1353
custody and retain possession of the animal subject to the order during 1354
any appeal of such order; 1355
(3) Not later than twenty-four hours after the issuance of any order 1356
issued pursuant to this section, a copy of the order shall be delivered to 1357
the person bitten or attacked, or to the owner or keeper of an animal 1358
which has been bitten or attacked. An order issued pursuant to this 1359
section shall include the date, time and place where the prehearing 1360
meeting shall occur. The order shall also include a statement informing 1361
the owner or keeper of the biting or attacking animal of their right to 1362
pursue an appeal of the order following the prehearing meeting; 1363
(4) Not later than thirty days after the date of issuing an order 1364
pursuant to this section, the municipality in which the attack occurred 1365
shall schedule and hold a prehearing meeting with the owner or keeper 1366
of the animal subject to the order and the person who was bitten or 1367
attacked, or the owner or keeper of an animal which has been bitten or 1368
attacked, to determine if the order is in dispute. At such meeting the 1369
owner or keeper of the animal subject to the order and their legal 1370
counsel, if any, the animal control officer issuing the order and the 1371
animal control officer's appointing authority, or their designee, may 1372
stipulate to an alternate order; 1373
(5) A statement of the prehearing meeting, including only the names 1374
of the attending parties, the date of the prehearing meeting and whether 1375
the order was modified, shall be provided by the municipality to the 1376
owner or keeper of the animal subject to the order, and the victim or the 1377
owner or keeper of an animal which has been bitten or attacked, not 1378
later than ten days after the date of the prehearing meeting. All 1379
settlement discussions that occurred during the prehearing meeting 1380 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 44 of 49
shall be confidential and protected from disclosure under state law; 1381
(6) After the prehearing meeting is concluded, any person aggrieved 1382
by any order issued under the provisions of this section may appeal to 1383
the superior court of the judicial district in which such municipality is 1384
located, provided such appeal is made not later than fifteen days after 1385
the date on which the prehearing meeting is concluded; 1386
(7) The owner or keeper of any animal subject to an order issued 1387
pursuant to this section shall pay all fees as set forth in section 22-333. If 1388
an owner or keeper of an animal subject to an order issued pursuant to 1389
this section fails to comply with the order, any animal control officer 1390
appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a may seize the 1391
animal prior to or during the pendency of the prehearing meeting or 1392
appeal and until completion of the appeal of such order to ensure such 1393
compliance and the owner shall be responsible for any expenses 1394
resulting from such seizure; 1395
(8) Once the order becomes a final order, and after all appeals are 1396
exhausted, the order is enforceable on a state-wide basis and any animal 1397
control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a 1398
shall have the authority to enforce the final order; and 1399
(9) Any owner or keeper of an animal subject to an order issued 1400
pursuant to this subsection who fails to comply with such order shall be 1401
guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 1402
(h) A person who sustains damage [by a dog] or physical injury to 1403
such person's poultry, ratite, domestic rabbit, [companion] animal or 1404
livestock as defined in section 22-278, by a biting or attacking dog shall 1405
make complaint concerning circumstances of the bite or attack by such 1406
dog on any such animal or livestock to the [Chief Animal Control 1407
Officer, any animal control officer or the municipal animal control 1408
officer or regional animal control officer of the town in which such dog 1409
is owned or kept] animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 1410
22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a of the town in which the bite or attack 1411
occurred. An officer to whom such complaint is made shall immediately 1412 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 45 of 49
investigate such complaint. [If such officer finds that the complainant's 1413
animal has been bitten or attacked by a dog when the attacked animal 1414
was not on the premises of the owner or keeper of the attacking dog and 1415
provided the complainant's animal was under the control of the 1416
complainant or on the complainant's property, such officer, the 1417
commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control 1418
officer may make any order concerning the restraint or disposal of such 1419
attacking dog as the commissioner or such officer deems necessary. An 1420
owner or keeper of such dog who fails to comply with such order shall 1421
be guilty of a class D misdemeanor. If the owner or keeper of such dog 1422
fails to comply with an order made pursuant to this subsection, the 1423
Chief Animal Control Officer or any animal control officer, municipal 1424
animal control officer or regional animal control officer may seize the 1425
dog to ensure such compliance, and the owner or keeper of such dog 1426
shall be responsible for any expenses resulting from such seizure. A 1427
person aggrieved by an order of the Chief Animal Control Officer or any 1428
animal control officer, municipal animal control officer or regional 1429
animal control officer made pursuant to this subsection may request a 1430
hearing before the commissioner not later than fourteen days after the 1431
issuance of such order. After such hearing, the commissioner may 1432
affirm, modify or revoke such order as the commissioner deems proper. 1433
A dog owned by a police agency of the state or any of its political 1434
subdivisions is exempt from the provisions of this section when such 1435
dog is under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned 1436
police officer, has been vaccinated annually and is subject to routine 1437
veterinary care.] In the interest of public health and safety, if after 1438
investigation, any animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 1439
22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a in the municipality or region in which an 1440
alleged dog bite or attack occurs determines that an animal has in fact 1441
been bitten or attacked by a dog, such animal control officer may make 1442
any order concerning the restraint or disposal of such biting or attacking 1443
dog as is necessary to protect public health and safety and the health 1444
and safety of animals. In determining the type of order to be issued or 1445
conditions of restraint to be imposed, the animal control officer shall 1446
consider factors that include, but need not be limited to: (1) The ability 1447 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 46 of 49
of the owner or keeper to control the dog; (2) the severity of injury 1448
inflicted on a person by the biting or attacking dog; (3) the viciousness 1449
of the bite or attack; (4) any history of past bites or attacks by the dog; 1450
(5) whether the bite or attack occurred at a location that is off of the 1451
property of the owner or keeper of the biting or attacking dog, provided 1452
the animal attacked was under the control of animal's owner or keeper, 1453
or the animal attacked was on property of the owner or keeper; (6) 1454
whether the biting or attacking dog was provoked; and (7) whether the 1455
biting or attacking dog was protecting its owner or keeper from physical 1456
harm. 1457
(i) Any dog or other animal owned by the United States military, a 1458
law enforcement agency of the United States or a law enforcement 1459
agency of this state or any of its political subdivisions shall be exempt 1460
from the provisions of this section when such dog or other animal is 1461
owned by or in the custody and control of such agency and under the 1462
direct supervision, care and control of an assigned handler, is currently 1463
vaccinated for rabies and is subject to routine veterinary care. Any 1464
service animal owned by or in the custody and control of a person with 1465
a disability shall be exempt from the provisions of this section when 1466
such service animal is under the direct supervision, care and control of 1467
such person, is currently vaccinated for rabies and is subject to routine 1468
veterinary care. 1469
Sec. 30. Subsection (c) of section 52-380a of the general statutes is 1470
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1471
1, 2024): 1472
(c) A judgment lien on real property may be foreclosed or redeemed 1473
in the same manner as mortgages on the same property. In the case of a 1474
consumer judgment, the complaint shall indicate whether, pursuant to 1475
an installment payment order under subsection (b) of section 52-356d, 1476
the court has entered a stay of execution and, if such a stay was entered, 1477
shall allege any default on an installment payment order which is a 1478
precondition to foreclosure. In addition, the judgment creditor shall give 1479
notice to the judgment debtor of the Ezequiel Santiago Foreclosure 1480 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 47 of 49
Mediation Program, established pursuant to section 49-31m, by 1481
attaching to the front of the writ, summons and complaint that is served 1482
on the judgment debtor: (1) A copy of the notice of foreclosure 1483
mediation, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes, (2) 1484
a copy of the foreclosure mediation certificate form described in 1485
subsection (c) of section 49-3ll, in such form as the Chief Court 1486
Administrator prescribes, and (3) a blank appearance form, in such form 1487
as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes. If the judgment debtor 1488
elects to participate in, and the court orders the case assigned to, said 1489
foreclosure mediation program, the judgment debtor shall be entitled to 1490
the rights and shall assume the obligations of a mortgagor under 1491
sections 49-31k to 49-31o, inclusive, and a judgment creditor shall be 1492
entitled to the rights and shall assume the obligations of a mortgagee 1493
under sections 49-31k to 49-31o, inclusive. No action to foreclose a 1494
judgment lien filed pursuant to this section may be commenced unless 1495
an execution may issue pursuant to section 52-356a. The judgment lien 1496
shall expire twenty years after the judgment was rendered, except any 1497
judgment lien recorded with respect to a small claims action shall expire 1498
ten years after the judgment was rendered, unless the party claiming the 1499
lien commences an action to foreclose it within that period of time and 1500
records a notice of lis pendens in evidence thereof on the land records 1501
of the town in which the real property is located. 1502
Sec. 31. Section 51-274 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 1503
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1504
1, 2024): 1505
All special acts or provisions thereof inconsistent with this chapter 1506
and with sections 1-1a, 2-5, 2-40, 2-61, 5-164, 5-189, 7-80, 8-12, 9-63, 9-258, 1507
9-368, 12-154, 14-141, 14-142, 18-65, 18-73, 19a-220, 21a-96, 29-13, 29-362, 1508
30-105, 30-107, 30-111, 35-22, 46b-120, 46b-133, 46b-560, 47a-23, 47a-28, 1509
47a-35, 47a-37, 49-61, 49-62, 51-6a, 51-9, 51-15, 51-27, 51-30, 51-33, 51-34, 1510
51-36, 51-48, 51-49, 51-50, 51-51, 51-52, [51-59,] 51-72, 51-73, 51-95, 51-1511
183b, 51-183d, 51-183f, 51-183g, 51-215a, 51-229, 51-232, 51-237, as 1512
amended by this act, and 51-241, subsection (a) of section 51-243 and 1513
sections 51-247, 51-347, 52-45a, 52-45b, 52-46, 52-97, 52-112, 52-139, 52-1514 Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 48 of 49
193, 52-194, 52-196, 52-209, 52-212, 52-215, 52-226, 52-240, 52-257, 52-258, 1515
52-261, 52-263, 52-268, 52-270, 52-278i, 52-293, 52-297, 52-298, 52-324, 52-1516
351, 52-397, 52-425, 52-427, 52-428, 52-521, 53-308, 53-328, 54-2a, 54-56f, 1517
54-66, 54-72, 54-74, 54-82g, 54-82j, 54-82k, 54-95a, 54-96a, 54-96b, 54-97, 1518
54-108, 54-154, 54-166 and 54-169 to 54-174, inclusive, are repealed. 1519
Sec. 32. Sections 51-59 and 51-185 of the general statutes are repealed. 1520
(Effective July 1, 2024). 1521
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2024 4a-60(a)(1)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 14-140(b)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2024 29-38c(c)
Sec. 4 from passage 46b-3(a)
Sec. 5 from passage 46b-123
Sec. 6 from passage 46b-142(a)
Sec. 7 from passage 46b-207
Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 47a-35a(a)
Sec. 9 from passage 47a-69(a)
Sec. 10 from passage 51-27b
Sec. 11 from passage 51-51v
Sec. 12 from passage 51-60(b)
Sec. 13 from passage 51-90c(a)
Sec. 14 from passage 51-90d(a)
Sec. 15 from passage 51-164m
Sec. 16 October 1, 2024 51-193c(d)
Sec. 17 from passage 51-237
Sec. 18 from passage 51-348(a)
Sec. 19 October 1, 2024 54-33a(d)
Sec. 20 July 1, 2024 54-63c
Sec. 21 July 1, 2024 54-91c(b)
Sec. 22 July 1, 2024 54-201
Sec. 23 July 1, 2024 54-203
Sec. 24 July 1, 2024 54-210(a)
Sec. 25 July 1, 2024 54-211
Sec. 26 from passage 1-84(d)
Sec. 27 October 1, 2024 New section
Sec. 28 October 1, 2024 22-329a Raised Bill No. 426
LCO No. 2768 49 of 49
Sec. 29 October 1, 2024 22-358
Sec. 30 October 1, 2024 52-380a(c)
Sec. 31 July 1, 2024 51-274
Sec. 32 July 1, 2024 Repealer section
Statement of Purpose:
To make various changes to statutes relating to: (1) The duties of the
Chief Court Administrator, (2) certain court processes and procedures,
(3) duties undertaken by attorneys, and (4) entities operating under the
auspices of the Judicial Branch.
[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.]