Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07202 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
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3		-	LCO 1 of 6
	3	+	LCO No. 5871 1 of 7
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7202
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7202
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5871
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(PS)
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9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.
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 July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of 1
17		-	Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the 2
18		-	Police Officer Standards and Training Council, shall establish a project 3
19		-	to be known as the social work and law enforcement project to advance 4
20		-	the ethical and effective integration of social work services into law 5
21		-	enforcement units by preparing social workers, social work students 6
22		-	and law enforcement professionals to collaborate in the field of police 7
23		-	social work. The project shall be located at Southern Connecticut State 8
24		-	University. The objectives of the project shall be to: (1) Educate and train 9
25		-	the social work and law enforcement workforce to collaborate by using 10
26		-	a model that integrates police and social work, (2) increase community 11
27		-	wellness through training, research, education and policy advocacy 12
28		-	concerning the integration of police and social work, (3) strengthen the 13
29		-	engagement among social workers, law enforcement officers and 14
30		-	community members, and (4) promote dialogue concerning diversity, 15
31		-	disparities and systemic racism in criminal and juvenile justice settings. 16
32		-	For purposes of this section, "law enforcement unit" has the same 17
33		-	meaning as provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 18
34		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Emergency 19 Substitute Bill No. 7202
	23	+	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established a Law 1
	24	+	Enforcement Training Advisory Board to advise the Department of 2
	25	+	Emergency Services and Public Protection with respect to the use of any 3
	26	+	funds appropriated to the department for the purposes of the social 4
	27	+	work and law enforcement project established pursuant to section 2 of 5
	28	+	this act and the police training center established pursuant to section 3 6
	29	+	of this act. 7
	30	+	(b) The board shall consist of the following members: 8
	31	+	(1) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 9
	32	+	or the commissioner's designee; 10
	33	+	(2) The Chief State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's 11
	34	+	designee; 12
	35	+	(3) The chairperson of the Police Officer Standards Training Council, 13
	36	+	or the chairperson's designee; 14
	37	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
35	38
36	39
37		-	LCO 2 of 6
38	40
39		-	Services and Public Protection shall enter into a memorandum of 20
40		-	understanding with Southern Connecticut State University for the 21
41		-	purpose of establishing the social work and law enforcement project. 22
42		-	Such memorandum shall include, but need not be limited to, a 23
43		-	requirement that any use of funding for the project for a purpose other 24
44		-	than providing training or education to a police officer shall require the 25
45		-	commissioner's written authorization. 26
46		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of Emergency 27
47		-	Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Police Officer 28
48		-	Standards and Training Council, shall establish a police training center 29
49		-	to train and educate police officers in crime scene processing, the 30
50		-	collection and analysis of forensic evidence and criminal investigations. 31
51		-	The center shall be located at Central Connecticut State University. For 32
52		-	purposes of this section, "police officer" has the same meaning as 33
53		-	provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 34
54		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Emergency 35
55		-	Services and Public Protection shall enter into a memorandum of 36
56		-	understanding with Central Connecticut State University for the 37
57		-	purpose of establishing the police training center. Such memorandum 38
58		-	shall include, but need not be limited to, a requirement that any use of 39
59		-	funding for the center for a purpose other than providing training or 40
60		-	education to a police officer shall require the commissioner's written 41
61		-	authorization. 42
62		-	Sec. 3. Section 7-294h of the general statutes is repealed and the 43
63		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 44
64		-	On and after January 1, 2017: (1) Each police basic or field training 45
65		-	program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police 46
66		-	within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 47
67		-	shall provide a minimum of twenty-seven hours of training relative to 48
68		-	the handling of juvenile matters which includes, but is not limited to, 49
69		-	the following: (A) Techniques for handling incidents involving 50
70		-	juveniles; (B) information relative to the processing and disposition of 51 Substitute Bill No. 7202
	41	+	LCO No. 5871 2 of 7
	42	+
	43	+	(4) A representative of the Division of State Police within the 15
	44	+	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with 16
	45	+	experience in providing training related to the collection and analysis of 17
	46	+	forensic evidence, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of 18
	47	+	Emergency Services and Public Protection; and 19
	48	+	(5) A representative of an association of police chiefs in the state, who 20
	49	+	shall be appointed by the president of such association. 21
	50	+	(c) All members of the board shall be appointed on or before October 22
	51	+	1, 2025, and biennially thereafter, to serve for a term of two years. Any 23
	52	+	member may be reappointed, and any member may continue to serve 24
	53	+	until such member's successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy 25
	54	+	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 26
	55	+	(d) The members of the board shall select a chairperson of the board 27
	56	+	from among the members of the board. The chairperson shall be 28
	57	+	responsible for scheduling the meetings of the board. 29
	58	+	(e) The board shall be within the Department of Emergency Services 30
	59	+	and Public Protection. 31
	60	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of Emergency 32
	61	+	Services and Public Protection shall establish a project to be known as 33
	62	+	the social work and law enforcement project to advance the ethical and 34
	63	+	effective integration of social work services into law enforcement units 35
	64	+	by preparing social workers, social work students and law enforcement 36
	65	+	professionals to collaborate in the field of police social work. The project 37
	66	+	shall be located at Southern Connecticut State University. The objectives 38
	67	+	of the project shall be to: (1) Educate and train the social work and law 39
	68	+	enforcement workforce to collaborate by using a model that integrates 40
	69	+	police and social work, (2) increase community wellness through 41
	70	+	training, research, education and policy advocacy concerning the 42
	71	+	integration of police and social work, (3) strengthen the engagement 43
	72	+	among social workers, law enforcement officers and community 44
	73	+	members, and (4) promote dialogue concerning diversity, disparities 45
	74	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
71	75
72	76
73		-	LCO 3 of 6
74	77
75		-	juvenile matters; (C) applicable procedures in the prosecution of cases 52
76		-	involving juveniles; (D) information regarding resources of the juvenile 53
77		-	justice system in the state; (E) the use of graduated sanctions; (F) 54
78		-	techniques for handling trauma; (G) restorative justice practices; (H) 55
79		-	adolescent development; (I) risk-assessment and screening tools; (J) 56
80		-	emergency mobile psychiatric services; and (K) on and after January 1, 57
81		-	[2020] 2026, techniques for handling incidents, such as wandering, that 58
82		-	involve juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive 59
83		-	impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum 60
84		-	for such techniques [is] be made available [at no cost] to the division 61
85		-	from (i) institutions of higher education, health care professionals or 62
86		-	advocacy organizations that are concerned with juveniles and adults 63
87		-	with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal 64
88		-	learning disorder, or (ii) a collaboration of such institutions, 65
89		-	professionals or organizations; (2) each police basic or field training 66
90		-	program conducted or administered by the Police Officer Standards and 67
91		-	Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal 68
92		-	police department in the state shall provide a minimum of fourteen 69
93		-	hours of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as provided 70
94		-	in subdivision (1) of this section; and (3) each police review training 71
95		-	program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police 72
96		-	within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, by 73
97		-	the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under 74
98		-	section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall 75
99		-	provide a minimum of one hour of training relative to the handling of 76
100		-	juvenile matters as provided in subdivision (1) of this section. 77
101		-	Sec. 4. Section 7-294v of the general statutes is repealed and the 78
102		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 79
103		-	(a) Not later than July 1, [2023] 2026, the Police Officer Standards and 80
104		-	Training Council shall: 81
105		-	(1) [after] After consultation with persons with mental or physical 82
106		-	disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, 83
107		-	cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, and advocates on 84 Substitute Bill No. 7202
	78	+	LCO No. 5871 3 of 7
	79	+
	80	+	and systemic racism in criminal and juvenile justice settings. For 46
	81	+	purposes of this section, "law enforcement unit" has the same meaning 47
	82	+	as provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 48
	83	+	(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Emergency 49
	84	+	Services and Public Protection shall enter into a memorandum of 50
	85	+	understanding with Southern Connecticut State University for the 51
	86	+	purpose of establishing the social work and law enforcement project. 52
	87	+	Such memorandum shall include, but need not be limited to, a 53
	88	+	requirement that (1) the Department of Emergency Services and Public 54
	89	+	Protection fund the project exclusively for the purposes described in 55
	90	+	subsection (a) of this section, as determined by the commissioner, and 56
	91	+	(2) any use of the project for a purpose other than providing training or 57
	92	+	education to a police officer shall require the commissioner's written 58
	93	+	authorization. 59
	94	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The Department of Emergency 60
	95	+	Services and Public Protection shall establish the police training center 61
	96	+	to train and educate police officers in crime scene processing, the 62
	97	+	collection and analysis of forensic evidence and criminal investigations. 63
	98	+	The center shall be located at Central Connecticut State University. For 64
	99	+	purposes of this section, "police officer" has the same meaning as 65
	100	+	provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 66
	101	+	(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Emergency 67
	102	+	Services and Public Protection shall enter into a memorandum of 68
	103	+	understanding with Central Connecticut State University for the 69
	104	+	purpose of establishing the police training center. Such memorandum 70
	105	+	shall include, but need not be limited to, a requirement that (1) the 71
	106	+	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection fund the 72
	107	+	project exclusively for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this 73
	108	+	section, as determined by the commissioner, and (2) any use of the 74
	109	+	project for a purpose other than providing training or education to a 75
	110	+	police officer shall require the commissioner's written authorization. 76
	111	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
108	112
109	113
110		-	LCO 4 of 6
111	114
112		-	behalf of such persons, including, but not limited to, institutions of 85
113		-	higher education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations 86
114		-	that are concerned with persons with autism spectrum disorder, 87
115		-	cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, develop a 88
116		-	training curriculum for police officers regarding interactions with 89
117		-	persons who have mental illness or mental or physical disabilities. [,] 90
118		-	Such training curriculum shall include, but need not be limited to, the 91
119		-	following topics: (A) The nature of mental illness and mental or physical 92
120		-	disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, 93
121		-	cognitive impairment and nonverbal learning disorder; (B) how to 94
122		-	identify persons with mental illness or mental or physical disabilities; 95
123		-	and (C) strategies and techniques for handling incidents that involve 96
124		-	persons with mental illness or mental or physical disabilities, including, 97
125		-	but not limited to, crisis intervention strategies and deescalation 98
126		-	techniques; and 99
127		-	(2) [after] After consultation with persons who are deaf, hard of 100
128		-	hearing or deafblind and advocates on behalf of such persons, develop 101
129		-	a training curriculum for police officers regarding interactions with 102
130		-	persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. [On and after July 103
131		-	1, 2024, the training curriculum shall include crisis intervention 104
132		-	strategies for police officers to use when interacting with individuals 105
133		-	with mental illness in crisis.] 106
134		-	(b) On and after October 1, [2023] 2026, each police basic or review 107
135		-	training program conducted or administered by the Police Officer 108
136		-	Standards and Training Council, the Division of State Police within the 109
137		-	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a municipal 110
138		-	police department shall include the training curriculum developed 111
139		-	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 112
140		-	Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, "basic 113
141		-	training", "police officer" and "review training" have the same meanings 114
142		-	as provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 115
143		-	(b) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall conduct 116 Substitute Bill No. 7202
	115	+	LCO No. 5871 4 of 7
	116	+
	117	+	Sec. 4. Section 7-294h of the general statutes is repealed and the 77
	118	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 78
	119	+	On and after January 1, 2017: (1) Each police basic or field training 79
	120	+	program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police 80
	121	+	within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 81
	122	+	shall provide a minimum of twenty-seven hours of training relative to 82
	123	+	the handling of juvenile matters which includes, but is not limited to, 83
	124	+	the following: (A) Techniques for handling incidents involving 84
	125	+	juveniles; (B) information relative to the processing and disposition of 85
	126	+	juvenile matters; (C) applicable procedures in the prosecution of cases 86
	127	+	involving juveniles; (D) information regarding resources of the juvenile 87
	128	+	justice system in the state; (E) the use of graduated sanctions; (F) 88
	129	+	techniques for handling trauma; (G) restorative justice practices; (H) 89
	130	+	adolescent development; (I) risk-assessment and screening tools; (J) 90
	131	+	emergency mobile psychiatric services; and (K) on and after January 1, 91
	132	+	[2020] 2026, techniques for handling incidents, such as wandering, that 92
	133	+	involve juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive 93
	134	+	impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum 94
	135	+	for such techniques [is] be made available [at no cost] to the division 95
	136	+	from (i) institutions of higher education, health care professionals or 96
	137	+	advocacy organizations that are concerned with juveniles and adults 97
	138	+	with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal 98
	139	+	learning disorder, or (ii) a collaboration of such institutions, 99
	140	+	professionals or organizations; (2) each police basic or field training 100
	141	+	program conducted or administered by the Police Officer Standards and 101
	142	+	Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal 102
	143	+	police department in the state shall provide a minimum of fourteen 103
	144	+	hours of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as provided 104
	145	+	in subdivision (1) of this section; and (3) each police review training 105
	146	+	program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police 106
	147	+	within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, by 107
	148	+	the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under 108
	149	+	section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall 109
	150	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
144	151
145	152
146		-	LCO 5 of 6
147	153
148		-	a study of the training programs that police officers are required to 117
149		-	complete pursuant to chapter 104 of the general statutes. Such study 118
150		-	shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) 119
151		-	mandatory basic training programs, (2) mandatory review training 120
152		-	programs, and (3) how to improve, update and streamline such 121
153		-	mandatory training programs. 122
154		-	(c) Not later than January 1, 2026, the council shall submit a report, in 123
155		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 124
156		-	on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to 125
157		-	the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 126
158		-	cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. 127
159		-	Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2025) The sum of one million one hundred 128
160		-	thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency 129
161		-	Services and Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year 130
162		-	ending June 30, 2026, for the purpose of establishing the social work and 131
163		-	law enforcement project pursuant to section 1 of this act. 132
164		-	Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2025) The sum of one million one hundred 133
165		-	thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency 134
166		-	Services and Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year 135
167		-	ending June 30, 2026, for the purpose of establishing the police training 136
168		-	center pursuant to section 2 of this act. 137
	154	+	LCO No. 5871 5 of 7
	155	+
	156	+	provide a minimum of one hour of training relative to the handling of 110
	157	+	juvenile matters as provided in subdivision (1) of this section. 111
	158	+	Sec. 5. Section 7-294v of the general statutes is repealed and the 112
	159	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 113
	160	+	(a) Not later than July 1, [2023] 2026, the Police Officer Standards and 114
	161	+	Training Council shall: 115
	162	+	(1) [after] After consultation with persons with mental or physical 116
	163	+	disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, 117
	164	+	cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, and advocates on 118
	165	+	behalf of such persons, including, but not limited to, institutions of 119
	166	+	higher education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations 120
	167	+	that are concerned with persons with autism spectrum disorder, 121
	168	+	cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, develop a 122
	169	+	training curriculum for police officers regarding interactions with 123
	170	+	persons who have mental illness or mental or physical disabilities. [,] 124
	171	+	Such training curriculum shall include, but need not be limited to, the 125
	172	+	following topics: (A) The nature of mental illness and mental or physical 126
	173	+	disabilities, including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, 127
	174	+	cognitive impairment and nonverbal learning disorder; (B) how to 128
	175	+	identify persons with mental illness or mental or physical disabilities; 129
	176	+	and (C) strategies and techniques for handling incidents that involve 130
	177	+	persons with mental illness or mental or physical disabilities, including, 131
	178	+	but not limited to, crisis intervention strategies and deescalation 132
	179	+	techniques; and 133
	180	+	(2) [after] After consultation with persons who are deaf, hard of 134
	181	+	hearing or deafblind and advocates on behalf of such persons, develop 135
	182	+	a training curriculum for police officers regarding interactions with 136
	183	+	persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind. [On and after July 137
	184	+	1, 2024, the training curriculum shall include crisis intervention 138
	185	+	strategies for police officers to use when interacting with individuals 139
	186	+	with mental illness in crisis.] 140
	187	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
	188	+
	189	+
	190	+
	191	+	LCO No. 5871 6 of 7
	192	+
	193	+	(b) On and after October 1, [2023] 2026, each police basic or review 141
	194	+	training program conducted or administered by the Police Officer 142
	195	+	Standards and Training Council, the Division of State Police within the 143
	196	+	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a municipal 144
	197	+	police department shall include the training curriculum developed 145
	198	+	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 146
	199	+	Sec. 6. (Effective July 1, 2025) The sum of one million one hundred 147
	200	+	thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency 148
	201	+	Services and Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year 149
	202	+	ending June 30, 2026, for the purpose of establishing the social work and 150
	203	+	law enforcement project pursuant to section 2 of this act. 151
	204	+	Sec. 7. (Effective July 1, 2025) The sum of one million one hundred 152
	205	+	thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency 153
	206	+	Services and Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year 154
	207	+	ending June 30, 2026, for the purpose of establishing the police training 155
	208	+	center pursuant to section 3 of this act. 156
169	209		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
170	210		sections:
171	211
172	212		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
173	213		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
174		-	Sec. 3 ~~January~~ 1, ~~2026 7-294h~~
175		-	Sec. 4 January 1, 2026 7-~~294v~~
176		-	Sec. 5 ~~from passage New section~~
	214	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
	215	+	Sec. 4 January 1, 2026 7-294h
	216	+	Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 7-294v
177	217		Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 New section
178	218		Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 New section
179		-	Substitute Bill No. 7202
	219	+
	220	+	Statement of Purpose:
	221	+	To (1) establish a Law Enforcement Training Advisory Board, (2)
	222	+	establish and fund the social work and law enforcement project at
	223	+	Southern Connecticut State University and the police training center at
	224	+	Central Connecticut State University, (3) eliminate a requirement that
	225	+	curriculum for police officer training concerning techniques for
	226	+	handling incidents that involve persons with autism spectrum disorder,
	227	+	cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder be made available
	228	+	Raised Bill No. 7202
180	229
181	230
182		-	LCO 6 of 6
183	231
184		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
185		-	In Section 2(a), "establish the police training center" was changed to
186		-	"establish a police training center" for consistency with standard
187		-	drafting conventions.
	232	+	LCO No. 5871 7 of 7
188	233
189		-	PS Joint Favorable Subst.
	234	+	at no cost, and (4) establish requirements for curriculum for police
	235	+	officer training concerning interactions with persons who have mental
	236	+	or physical disabilities.
	237	+
	238	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	239	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	240	+	underlined.]
190	241