Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07150 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 9
	3	+	LCO No. 5660 1 of 8
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7150
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7150
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5660
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(PD)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
13	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	21		Assembly convened:
15	22
16		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective ~~October~~ 1, ~~2025~~) (a) For the purposes of this 1
	23	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) For the purposes of this 1
17	24		section and sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act: 2
18	25		(1) "Justice of the peace" means any person that holds the office of 3
19	26		justice of the peace pursuant to section 9-183b, 9-183c, 9-184 or 9-184c of 4
20	27		the general statutes, as amended by this act; 5
21	28		(2) "Official misconduct" means, in the performance of the duties of a 6
22	29		justice of the peace, (A) a justice of the peace's performance of an act 7
23	30		prohibited by the general statutes or failure to perform an act mandated 8
24	31		by the general statutes, or (B) a justice of the peace's performance of an 9
25	32		act in a manner found to be negligent, fraudulent, unlawful or against 10
26		-	the public interest, including any conduct prohibited by subsection (a) 11
27		-	of section 2 of this act; and 12
28		-	(3) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the State. 13
29		-	(b) To be qualified to hold the office of justice of the peace, a person 14
30		-	shall: 15
31		-	(1) Be appointed pursuant to section 9-183b, 9-183c, 9-184 or 9-184c of 16
32		-	the general statutes, as amended by this act; and 17 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	33	+	the public interest; and 11
	34	+	(3) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the State. 12
	35	+	(b) To be qualified to hold the office of justice of the peace, a person 13
	36	+	shall: 14
	37	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
33	38
34	39
35		-	LCO 2 of 9
36	40
37		-	(2) Pass the examination developed and administered by the 18
38		-	Secretary pursuant to subsection (c) of this section not later than (A) one 19
39		-	hundred twenty days after an appointment made after January 1, 2026, 20
40		-	or (B) May 1, 2026, if such appointment is made on or before January 1, 21
41		-	2026. 22
42		-	(c) The Secretary shall, not later than July 1, 2026, (1) publish on the 23
43		-	Internet web site of the Secretary of the State a manual concerning the 24
44		-	duties of a justice of the peace, and (2) administer a written examination 25
45		-	for persons seeking to hold the office of justice of the peace. 26
46		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) No justice of the peace shall 27
47		-	(1) perform any official action with intent to deceive or defraud any 28
48		-	person, (2) use the title of justice of the peace in an endorsement or 29
49		-	promotional statement for any product, third-party service, contest or 30
50		-	other offering, or (3) perform a marriage that the justice of the peace 31
51		-	knows or should have known is (A) unlawful under any provision of 32
52		-	the general statutes, or (B) fraudulent in violation of 8 USC 1325, as 33
53		-	amended from time to time. 34
54		-	(b) A justice of the peace shall be liable to any person for any damages 35
55		-	proximately caused to that person as a result of the justice of the peace's 36
56		-	official misconduct. 37
57		-	(c) An employer of an individual who holds the office of justice of the 38
58		-	peace shall be liable to any person for damages proximately caused to 39
59		-	that person resulting from the justice of the peace's official misconduct 40
60		-	if (1) such misconduct occurred in the course of business of such 41
61		-	employer, and (2) such employer directed, encouraged, consented to, 42
62		-	ratified or approved the justice of the peace's official misconduct, either 43
63		-	(A) in the particular transaction constituting official misconduct, or (B) 44
64		-	implicitly by such employer's previous actions in at least one similar 45
65		-	transaction constituting official misconduct. 46
66		-	(d) An employer of an individual who holds the office of justice of 47
67		-	the peace shall be liable to the justice of the peace for any damages (1) 48
68		-	recovered from the justice of the peace resulting from official 49 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	41	+	LCO No. 5660 2 of 8
	42	+
	43	+	(1) Be appointed pursuant to section 9-183b, 9-183c, 9-184 or 9-184c of 15
	44	+	the general statutes, as amended by this act; and 16
	45	+	(2) Pass a written examination developed and administered by the 17
	46	+	Secretary (A) not later than one hundred twenty days after an 18
	47	+	appointment made after January 1, 2026, or (B) not later than May 1, 19
	48	+	2026, if such appointment is made on or before January 1, 2026. 20
	49	+	(c) The Secretary shall (1) develop and publish on the Internet web 21
	50	+	site of the Secretary of the State a manual concerning the duties of a 22
	51	+	justice of the peace, and (2) develop and administer a written 23
	52	+	examination for persons seeking to hold the office of justice of the peace. 24
	53	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) No justice of the peace shall 25
	54	+	(1) perform any official action with intent to deceive or defraud any 26
	55	+	person, (2) use the title of justice of the peace in an endorsement or 27
	56	+	promotional statement for any product, third-party service, contest or 28
	57	+	other offering, or (3) perform a marriage that the justice of the peace 29
	58	+	knows or should have known is fraudulent in violation of 8 USC 1325, 30
	59	+	as amended from time to time. 31
	60	+	(b) A justice of the peace shall be liable to any person for any damages 32
	61	+	proximately caused to that person as a result of the justice of the peace's 33
	62	+	official misconduct. 34
	63	+	(c) An employer of a justice of the peace shall be liable to any person 35
	64	+	for any damages proximately caused to that person as a result of the 36
	65	+	justice of the peace's official misconduct if such misconduct is related to 37
	66	+	the employer's business or if the employer directed, encouraged, 38
	67	+	consented to, ratified or approved the justice of the peace's official 39
	68	+	misconduct, either (1) in the particular transaction that constitutes 40
	69	+	official misconduct, or (2) implicitly by previous actions in at least one 41
	70	+	similar transaction that constitutes official misconduct. 42
	71	+	(d) An employer of a justice of the peace shall be liable to the justice 43
	72	+	of the peace for any damages (1) recovered from the justice of the peace 44
	73	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
69	74
70	75
71		-	LCO 3 of 9
72	76
73		-	misconduct that was coerced by threat of such employer, if such threat, 50
74		-	including, but not limited to, a threat of demotion or dismissal, was 51
75		-	made by such employer (A) in reference to a particular act of the justice 52
76		-	of the peace in the course of business of such employer, or (B) implicitly 53
77		-	by such employer's previous actions in at least one similar transaction, 54
78		-	or (2) caused to the justice of the peace by a demotion, dismissal or other 55
79		-	action by such employer resulting from the justice of the peace's refusal 56
80		-	to commit official misconduct in the course of such employer's business. 57
81		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) The Secretary shall 58
82		-	investigate any allegations of official misconduct by a justice of the 59
83		-	peace and issue a finding at the conclusion of any such investigation. 60
84		-	(b) When the Secretary determines that a justice of the peace has 61
85		-	engaged in official misconduct or otherwise violated any provision of 62
86		-	the general statutes in the performance of the duties of a justice of the 63
87		-	peace, the Secretary may (1) deliver a written warning or reprimand to 64
88		-	such justice of the peace, or (2) notwithstanding the provisions of any 65
89		-	special act, municipal charter or ordinance to the contrary, suspend or 66
90		-	revoke a justice of the peace's appointment. 67
91		-	(c) The voluntary or involuntary termination, revocation or lapse of 68
92		-	the appointment of a justice of the peace shall not interrupt or preclude 69
93		-	an investigation into any allegation of official misconduct against such 70
94		-	justice of the peace under this section. 71
95		-	(d) The Secretary may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 72
96		-	provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to carry out the purposes 73
97		-	of this section and sections 2 and 3, inclusive, of this act. 74
98		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the 75
99		-	provisions of section 9-183b, 9-183c or 9-184c of the general statutes, as 76
100		-	amended by this act, any vacancy in the office of a justice of the peace, 77
101		-	if such vacancy is created by the adoption of an ordinance or charter 78
102		-	amendment by a municipality that (1) increases the number of justices 79
103		-	of the peace in such municipality, and (2) is effective not less than 80
104		-	ninety-one days prior to the next quadrennial appointment of justices of 81 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	77	+	LCO No. 5660 3 of 8
	78	+
	79	+	as a result of official misconduct that was coerced by threat of such 45
	80	+	employer, if the threat, including, but not limited to, a threat of 46
	81	+	demotion or dismissal, was made in reference to a particular act or 47
	82	+	implicitly by the employer's previous actions in at least one similar 48
	83	+	transaction, and (2) caused to the justice of the peace by a demotion, 49
	84	+	dismissal or other action by such employer resulting from the justice of 50
	85	+	the peace's refusal to commit official misconduct. 51
	86	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) The Secretary shall 52
	87	+	investigate any allegations of official misconduct by a justice of the 53
	88	+	peace and shall issue a finding at the conclusion of any such 54
	89	+	investigation. 55
	90	+	(b) When the Secretary determines that a justice of the peace has 56
	91	+	engaged in official misconduct or otherwise violated any provision of 57
	92	+	the general statutes in the performance of the duties of a justice of the 58
	93	+	peace, the Secretary may (1) deliver a written warning or reprimand to 59
	94	+	such justice of the peace, or (2) notwithstanding the provisions of any 60
	95	+	special act, municipal charter or ordinance to the contrary, suspend or 61
	96	+	revoke a justice of the peace's appointment. 62
	97	+	(c) The termination, whether voluntary or involuntary, revocation or 63
	98	+	lapse of an appointment as a justice of the peace shall not interrupt or 64
	99	+	preclude an investigation into any allegation of official misconduct 65
	100	+	against a justice of the peace under this section. 66
	101	+	(d) The Secretary may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 67
	102	+	provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to carry out the purposes 68
	103	+	of sections 1 to 3, inclusive, of this act. 69
	104	+	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the 70
	105	+	provisions of section 9-183b, 9-183c or 9-184c of the general statutes, as 71
	106	+	amended by this act, any vacancy in the office of a justice of the peace, 72
	107	+	if such vacancy is created by the adoption of an ordinance or charter 73
	108	+	amendment by a municipality that (1) increases the number of justices 74
	109	+	of the peace in such municipality, and (2) is effective not less than 75
	110	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
105	111
106	112
107		-	LCO 4 of 9
108	113
109		-	the peace in the municipality, may be filled by appointment prior to the 82
110		-	next quadrennial appointment by the town committee of any major 83
111		-	party according to the provisions of this section. 84
112		-	(b) (1) (A) The town clerk shall select one-third of the total number of 85
113		-	justices of the peace to fill vacancies that are created by the adoption of 86
114		-	such ordinance or charter amendment. 87
115		-	(B) The political parties that are major political parties, as defined in 88
116		-	subparagraph (B) of subdivision (5) of section 9-372 of the general 89
117		-	statutes, shall be entitled to nominate an equal number of the total 90
118		-	number of justices of the peace to fill the remaining vacancies created by 91
119		-	the adoption of such ordinance, except in any town where the number 92
120		-	of justices of the peace to be nominated under this section is not divisible 93
121		-	by the number of political parties entitled to nominate justices of the 94
122		-	peace under this section, the registrars of voters shall determine by lot 95
123		-	which of said parties may nominate one more justice of the peace than 96
124		-	may be nominated by the other party or parties. Such nomination by 97
125		-	such parties shall qualify a nominee to serve as a justice of the peace. 98
126		-	(2) (A) In the event that a political party that is a major party, as 99
127		-	defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (5) of section 9-372 of the 100
128		-	general statutes, but is not a major party, as defined in subparagraph (B) 101
129		-	of said subdivision, is entitled to nominate an individual or individuals 102
130		-	to serve as a justice of the peace to fill any such vacancy, such party shall 103
131		-	be entitled to nominate twenty per cent of the total number of justices of 104
132		-	the peace to fill such vacancies, provided such percentage shall be 105
133		-	rounded down to the nearest whole number. Such nomination by such 106
134		-	parties shall qualify a nominee to serve as a justice of the peace. 107
135		-	(B) The town clerk shall select one-third of the total number of justices 108
136		-	of the peace to fill vacancies that are created by the adoption of such 109
137		-	ordinance or charter amendment less the number of justices of the peace 110
138		-	selected under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision to fill such 111
139		-	vacancies. 112
140		-	(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-183b, 9-183c or 9-184c 113 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	114	+	LCO No. 5660 4 of 8
	115	+
	116	+	ninety-one days prior to the next quadrennial appointment of justices of 76
	117	+	the peace in the municipality, may be filled by appointment prior to the 77
	118	+	next quadrennial appointment by the town committee of any major 78
	119	+	party using the procedures prescribed by section 9-183b or 9-183c of the 79
	120	+	general statutes, or by the town clerk of such municipality using the 80
	121	+	procedure prescribed by section 9-184c of the general statutes, as 81
	122	+	amended by this act, as applicable to such vacancy. 82
	123	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-183b, 9-183c or 9-184c 83
	124	+	of the general statutes, as amended by this act, any person appointed to 84
	125	+	fill a vacancy in an office of the justice of the peace pursuant to 85
	126	+	subsection (a) of this section shall serve until the next quadrennial 86
	127	+	appointment of justices of the peace in the municipality. 87
	128	+	(c) If a vacancy in an office of the justice of the peace has been filled 88
	129	+	by appointment by a town committee, the chairperson or secretary of 89
	130	+	such town committee shall file with the town clerk a certificate of each 90
	131	+	such appointment, and the town clerk shall record the certificate with 91
	132	+	the records of the town meeting. The town clerk shall notify the 92
	133	+	secretary of any such appointment. 93
	134	+	Sec. 5. Section 9-184c of the general statutes is repealed and the 94
	135	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 95
	136	+	(a) In 1994, 1996, and quadrennially thereafter, the town clerk of each 96
	137	+	town shall appoint as justice of the peace a number of electors of the 97
	138	+	town who are not members of major parties, as defined in section 9-372, 98
	139	+	which shall not exceed (1) where no justices of the peace are selected 99
	140	+	under section 9-183c, one-third of the total number of justices of the 100
	141	+	peace in the town, or (2) where justices of the peace are selected under 101
	142	+	section 9-183c, one-third of the total number of justices of the peace in 102
	143	+	the town less the number of justices of the peace in the town selected 103
	144	+	under section 9-183c. Such percentage shall be rounded up to the nearest 104
	145	+	whole number of justices of the peace. Any such appointment shall be 105
	146	+	made upon written application submitted on or after August first and 106
	147	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
141	148
142	149
143		-	LCO 5 of 9
144	150
145		-	of the general statutes, as amended by this act, any person appointed to 114
146		-	fill a vacancy in the office of a justice of the peace pursuant to subsection 115
147		-	(b) of this section shall serve until the next quadrennial appointment of 116
148		-	justices of the peace in the municipality. 117
149		-	(d) If a vacancy in the office of a justice of the peace has been filled by 118
150		-	appointment by a town committee, the chairperson or secretary of such 119
151		-	town committee shall file with the town clerk a certificate of each such 120
152		-	appointment, and the town clerk shall record the certificate with the 121
153		-	records of the town meeting. The town clerk shall notify the secretary of 122
154		-	any such appointment. 123
155		-	Sec. 5. Section 9-184c of the general statutes is repealed and the 124
156		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 125
157		-	(a) In 1994, 1996, and quadrennially thereafter, the town clerk of each 126
158		-	town shall appoint as justice of the peace a number of electors of the 127
159		-	town who are not members of major parties, as defined in section 9-372, 128
160		-	which shall not exceed (1) where no justices of the peace are selected 129
161		-	under section 9-183c, one-third of the total number of justices of the 130
162		-	peace in the town, or (2) where justices of the peace are selected under 131
163		-	section 9-183c, one-third of the total number of justices of the peace in 132
164		-	the town less the number of justices of the peace in the town selected 133
165		-	under section 9-183c. Such percentage shall be rounded up to the nearest 134
166		-	whole number of justices of the peace. Any such appointment shall be 135
167		-	made upon written application submitted on or after August first and 136
168		-	on or before November first, in such year. No person who has 137
169		-	enrollment privileges in the town in a political party which selected 138
170		-	justices of the peace under section 9-183b or under section 9-183c within 139
171		-	the period beginning three months before said August first and ending 140
172		-	on the date the person is to be appointed under this section, shall be 141
173		-	eligible for such appointment. Not later than August 1, 1996, and 142
174		-	quadrennially thereafter, the town clerk shall send a written notice to 143
175		-	each incumbent justice of the peace appointed under this section. Such 144
176		-	notice shall inform such justices of the peace of the procedures set forth 145
177		-	in this section concerning the reappointment of such justices of the 146 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	151	+	LCO No. 5660 5 of 8
	152	+
	153	+	on or before November first, in such year. No person who has 107
	154	+	enrollment privileges in the town in a political party which selected 108
	155	+	justices of the peace under section 9-183b or under section 9-183c within 109
	156	+	the period beginning three months before said August first and ending 110
	157	+	on the date the person is to be appointed under this section, shall be 111
	158	+	eligible for such appointment. Not later than August 1, 1996, and 112
	159	+	quadrennially thereafter, the town clerk shall send a written notice to 113
	160	+	each incumbent justice of the peace appointed under this section. Such 114
	161	+	notice shall inform such justices of the peace of the procedures set forth 115
	162	+	in this section concerning the reappointment of such justices of the 116
	163	+	peace. 117
	164	+	(b) If, on November first in such year, the number of applications for 118
	165	+	justice of the peace filed with the town clerk under subsection (a) of this 119
	166	+	section exceeds the number of justices of the peace allowed under this 120
	167	+	section, (1) each such applicant who is an incumbent justice of the peace 121
	168	+	appointed under this section shall be reappointed if there are sufficient 122
	169	+	openings and (2) the town clerk shall, on or before the fifteenth business 123
	170	+	day of November, select the remaining applicants to be appointed as 124
	171	+	justices of the peace by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the 125
	172	+	public and held on five days' public notice. At such lottery the town 126
	173	+	clerk shall determine the order of all such remaining applications for the 127
	174	+	purpose of filling future vacancies under subsection (d) of this section. 128
	175	+	If a town clerk receives a number of applications that is less than the 129
	176	+	number of justices of the peace that he is authorized to appoint under 130
	177	+	this section in any year, he shall not appoint any additional justices of 131
	178	+	the peace, except as prescribed by subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 132
	179	+	(c) Justices of the peace appointed in 1994 [,] shall serve a term of two 133
	180	+	years beginning on the first Monday in 1995, and justices of the peace 134
	181	+	appointed in 1996 and thereafter shall serve a term of four years 135
	182	+	beginning on the first Monday in January in the succeeding year. 136
	183	+	(d) Any vacancy in the office of any such justice of the peace shall be 137
	184	+	filled by appointment by the town clerk of an elector qualifying under 138
	185	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
178	186
179	187
180		-	LCO 6 of 9
181	188
182		-	peace. 147
183		-	(b) If, on November first in such year, the number of applications for 148
184		-	justice of the peace filed with the town clerk under subsection (a) of this 149
185		-	section exceeds the number of justices of the peace allowed under this 150
186		-	section, (1) each such applicant who is an incumbent justice of the peace 151
187		-	appointed under this section shall be reappointed if there are sufficient 152
188		-	openings, and (2) the town clerk shall, on or before the fifteenth business 153
189		-	day of November, select the remaining applicants to be appointed as 154
190		-	justices of the peace by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the 155
191		-	public and held on five days' public notice. At such lottery the town 156
192		-	clerk shall determine the order of all such remaining applications for the 157
193		-	purpose of filling future vacancies under subsection (d) of this section. 158
194		-	If a town clerk receives a number of applications that is less than the 159
195		-	number of justices of the peace that he is authorized to appoint under 160
196		-	this section in any year, he shall not appoint any additional justices of 161
197		-	the peace, except as prescribed by subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 162
198		-	(c) Justices of the peace appointed in 1994 [,] shall serve a term of two 163
199		-	years beginning on the first Monday in 1995, and justices of the peace 164
200		-	appointed in 1996 and thereafter shall serve a term of four years 165
201		-	beginning on the first Monday in January in the succeeding year. 166
202		-	(d) Any vacancy in the office of any such justice of the peace shall be 167
203		-	filled by appointment by the town clerk of an elector qualifying under 168
204		-	subsection (a) of this section in the order determined in the lottery held 169
205		-	under [said] subsection (b) of this section. If no such lottery is held, or 170
206		-	the number of vacancies exceeds the number of remaining applicants 171
207		-	determined in the lottery held under subsection (b) of this section, the 172
208		-	vacancy shall [not] be filled pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. 173
209		-	(e) If the number of vacancies exceeds the number of remaining 174
210		-	applicants determined in the lottery held under subsection (b) of this 175
211		-	section or if no such lottery was held, the town clerk shall make public 176
212		-	the number of vacancies and the procedure for appointing new justices 177
213		-	of the peace under this subsection. Any such appointment shall be made 178 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	189	+	LCO No. 5660 6 of 8
	190	+
	191	+	subsection (a) of this section in the order determined in the lottery held 139
	192	+	under [said] subsection (b) of this section. If no such lottery is held, or 140
	193	+	the number of vacancies exceeds the number of remaining applicants 141
	194	+	determined in the lottery held under subsection (b) of this section, the 142
	195	+	vacancy shall [not] be filled pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. 143
	196	+	(e) If the number of vacancies exceeds the number of remaining 144
	197	+	applicants determined in the lottery held under subsection (b) of this 145
	198	+	section or if no such lottery was held, the town clerk shall make public 146
	199	+	the number of vacancies and the procedure for appointing new justices 147
	200	+	of the peace under this subsection. Any such appointment shall be made 148
	201	+	upon written application submitted not more than thirty days following 149
	202	+	such public notice. No person who has enrollment privileges in the town 150
	203	+	in a political party that selected justices of the peace under section 9-151
	204	+	183b or 9-183c within the period beginning three months before the 152
	205	+	public notice under this subsection and ending on the date the person is 153
	206	+	to be appointed under this subsection, shall be eligible for such 154
	207	+	appointment. If the number of applications for justice of the peace filed 155
	208	+	with the town clerk under this subsection exceeds the number of 156
	209	+	vacancies, the town clerk shall, not less than ten and not more than 157
	210	+	fifteen days following the close of such applications, select the 158
	211	+	remaining applicants to be appointed as justices of the peace by lottery 159
	212	+	in a ceremony which shall be open to the public and held with five days' 160
	213	+	public notice. At such lottery, the town clerk shall determine the order 161
	214	+	of all such remaining applications for the purpose of filling future 162
	215	+	vacancies under subsection (d) of this section. If a town clerk receives a 163
	216	+	number of applications under this subsection that is less than the 164
	217	+	number of justices of the peace that he is authorized to appoint under 165
	218	+	this section in any year, the town clerk shall not appoint any additional 166
	219	+	justices of the peace. 167
	220	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 168
	221	+	working group to examine and make recommendations on (1) the 169
	222	+	methods of determining the number of justice of the peace positions in 170
	223	+	each municipality and state-wide; (2) the feasibility of permitting 171
	224	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
214	225
215	226
216		-	LCO 7 of 9
217	227
218		-	upon written application submitted not more than thirty days following 179
219		-	such public notice. No person who has enrollment privileges in the town 180
220		-	in a political party that selected justices of the peace under section 9-181
221		-	183b or 9-183c within the period beginning three months before the 182
222		-	public notice under this subsection and ending on the date the person is 183
223		-	to be appointed under this subsection shall be eligible for such 184
224		-	appointment. If the number of applications for justice of the peace filed 185
225		-	with the town clerk under this subsection exceeds the number of 186
226		-	vacancies, the town clerk shall, not less than ten and not more than 187
227		-	fifteen days following the close of such applications, select the 188
228		-	remaining applicants to be appointed as justices of the peace by lottery 189
229		-	in a ceremony which shall be open to the public and held within not less 190
230		-	than five days after the giving of public notice by the town clerk. At such 191
231		-	lottery, the town clerk shall determine the order of all such remaining 192
232		-	applications for the purpose of filling future vacancies under subsection 193
233		-	(d) of this section. If a town clerk receives a number of applications 194
234		-	under this subsection that is less than the number of justices of the peace 195
235		-	that the town clerk is authorized to appoint under this section in any 196
236		-	year, the town clerk shall not appoint any additional justices of the 197
237		-	peace. 198
238		-	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 199
239		-	working group to examine and make recommendations on (1) the 200
240		-	methods of determining the number of justice of the peace positions in 201
241		-	each municipality and state wide; (2) the portability of a justice of the 202
242		-	peace appointment in one municipality to other municipalities; (3) the 203
243		-	process by which justices of the peace are selected; (4) potential training, 204
244		-	minimum qualifications, application processes and background check 205
245		-	requirements for justices of the peace; (5) oversight of justices of the 206
246		-	peace, including the potential for levying fines; (6) potential legal 207
247		-	consequences for misrepresenting a person's status as a justice of the 208
248		-	peace; and (7) issues related to reporting human trafficking, forced 209
249		-	marriage and marriage fraud. 210
250		-	(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 211 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	228	+	LCO No. 5660 7 of 8
	229	+
	230	+	justices of the peace to serve in more than one municipality; (3) the 172
	231	+	process by which justices of the peace are selected; (4) potential training, 173
	232	+	minimum qualifications, application processes and background check 174
	233	+	requirements for justices of the peace; (5) oversight of justices of the 175
	234	+	peace, including the potential for levying fines; (6) potential legal 176
	235	+	consequences for misrepresenting a person's status as a justice of the 177
	236	+	peace; and (7) issues related to reporting human trafficking, forced 178
	237	+	marriage and marriage fraud. 179
	238	+	(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 180
	239	+	(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 181
	240	+	one of whom is a justice of the peace and one of whom is a representative 182
	241	+	of a professional organization for justices of the peace; 183
	242	+	(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who 184
	243	+	are town clerks; 185
	244	+	(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 186
	245	+	Representatives, who is a town party chairperson; 187
	246	+	(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a 188
	247	+	justice of the peace and not a member of a major political party; 189
	248	+	(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 190
	249	+	Representatives, one of whom is a town party chairperson and one of 191
	250	+	whom is a town clerk; 192
	251	+	(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom 193
	252	+	is a justice of the peace and one of whom is a town clerk; and 194
	253	+	(7) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee. 195
	254	+	(c) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 196
	255	+	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 197
	256	+	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 198
	257	+	Raised Bill No. 7150
251	258
252	259
253		-	LCO 8 of 9
254	260
255		-	(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 212
256		-	one of whom is a justice of the peace and one of whom is a representative 213
257		-	of a professional organization for justices of the peace; 214
258		-	(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who 215
259		-	are town clerks; 216
260		-	(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 217
261		-	Representatives, who is a town party chairperson; 218
262		-	(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who is a 219
263		-	justice of the peace and not a member of a major political party; 220
264		-	(5) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of 221
265		-	Representatives, one of whom is a town party chairperson and one of 222
266		-	whom is a town clerk; 223
267		-	(6) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom 224
268		-	is a justice of the peace and one of whom is a town clerk; and 225
269		-	(7) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee. 226
270		-	(c) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 227
271		-	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 228
272		-	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 229
273		-	(d) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be the 230
274		-	chairperson of the working group and shall schedule the first meeting 231
275		-	of the working group, which shall be held not later than sixty days after 232
276		-	the effective date of this section. 233
277		-	(e) Not later than January 1, 2026, the working group shall submit a 234
278		-	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 235
279		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 236
280		-	relating to government administration and elections, in accordance with 237
281		-	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and to the 238
282		-	Secretary of the State. The working group shall terminate upon the 239
283		-	submission of such report. 240 Substitute Bill No. 7150
	261	+	LCO No. 5660 8 of 8
284	262
285		-
286		-	LCO 9 of 9
287		-
	263	+	(d) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be the 199
	264	+	chairperson of the working group and shall schedule the first meeting 200
	265	+	of the working group, which shall be held not later than sixty days after 201
	266	+	the effective date of this section. 202
	267	+	(e) Not later than January 1, 2026, the working group shall submit a 203
	268	+	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 204
	269	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 205
	270	+	relating to government administration and elections, in accordance with 206
	271	+	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and to the 207
	272	+	Secretary of the State. The working group shall terminate upon the 208
	273	+	submission of such report. 209
288	274		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
289	275		sections:
290	276
291		-	Section 1 ~~October~~ 1, ~~2025~~ New section
	277	+	Section 1 January 1, 2026 New section
292	278		Sec. 2 January 1, 2026 New section
293	279		Sec. 3 January 1, 2026 New section
294	280		Sec. 4 from passage New section
295	281		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 9-184c
296	282		Sec. 6 from passage New section
297	283
298		-	PD Joint Favorable Subst.
	284	+	Statement of Purpose:
	285	+	To (1) require written examinations of persons selected to hold the office
	286	+	of justice of the peace, (2) prohibit misconduct by justices of the peace,
	287	+	and (3) specify that a newly created office of justice of the peace may be
	288	+	filled by appointment prior to the next regular election.
	289	+
	290	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	291	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	292	+	underlined.]
299	293