Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07204 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 11
	3	+	LCO No. 5926 1 of 13
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7204
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7204
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5926
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by
	14	+	(PS)
8	15
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING LIGHTS ON VEHICLES, PENALTIES FOR
13	20		VIOLATIONS OF CERTAIN STATUTES, STOPS AND SEARCHES, A
14	21		PHLEBOTOMY PROGRAM STUDY, INSPECTIONS OF CERTAIN
15		-	VEHICLES, TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDORS AND A PILOT PROGRAM
16		-	TO EQUIP POLICE VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN DEVICES.
	22	+	VEHICLES, TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDORS, A PILOT PROGRAM TO
	23	+	EQUIP POLICE VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN DEVICES AND POLICE
	24	+	REVIEW OF CERTAIN RECORDINGS.
17	25		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
18	26		Assembly convened:
19	27
20	28		Section 1. Section 14-96q of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
21	29		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 2
22	30		(a) A permit is required for the use of colored or flashing lights on all 3
23	31		motor vehicles or equipment specified in this section except: (1) Motor 4
24	32		vehicles not registered in this state used for transporting or escorting 5
25	33		any vehicle or load, or combinations thereof, which is either oversize or 6
26	34		overweight, or both, when operating under a permit issued by the 7
27	35		Commissioner of Transportation pursuant to section 14-270; [or] (2) 8
28	36		motor vehicles or equipment that are (A) equipped with lights in 9
29	37		accordance with this section, (B) owned or leased by the federal 10
30	38		government, the state of Connecticut, or any other state, commonwealth 11
31	39		or local municipality, and (C) registered to such governmental entity; or 12
	40	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+
	44	+	LCO No. 5926 2 of 13
	45	+
32	46		(3) wreckers registered pursuant to section 14-66 that are equipped with 13
33	47		lights in accordance with subsection (k) of this section. When used in 14
34	48		this section, the term "flashing" shall be considered to include the term 15
35		-	"revolving". 16 Substitute Bill No. 7204
36		-
37		-
38		-	LCO 2 of 11
39		-
	49	+	"revolving". 16
40	50		(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or such other person 17
41	51		specifically identified in this section, may issue permits for the use of 18
42	52		colored or flashing lights on vehicles in accordance with this section, at 19
43	53		the commissioner's or such person's discretion. Any person, firm or 20
44	54		corporation other than the state or any metropolitan district, town, city 21
45	55		or borough shall pay an annual permit fee of twenty dollars to the 22
46	56		commissioner for each such vehicle. Such fee shall apply only to permits 23
47	57		issued by the commissioner. 24
48	58		(c) A [flashing] blue light or lights, including flashing blue lights, may 25
49	59		be used on a motor vehicle operated by an active member of a volunteer 26
50	60		fire department or company or an active member of an organized civil 27
51	61		preparedness auxiliary fire company who has been issued a permit by 28
52	62		the chief executive officer of such department or company to use such a 29
53	63		[flashing] blue light or lights while on the way to or at the scene of a fire 30
54	64		or other emergency requiring such member's services. Such permit shall 31
55	65		be on a form provided by the commissioner and may be revoked by such 32
56	66		chief executive officer or such chief executive officer's successor. The 33
57	67		chief executive officer of each volunteer fire department or company or 34
58	68		organized civil preparedness auxiliary fire company shall keep on file, 35
59	69		on forms provided by the commissioner, the names and addresses of 36
60	70		members who have been authorized to use a [flashing] blue light or 37
61	71		lights as provided in this subsection. Such listing shall also designate the 38
62	72		registration number of the motor vehicle on which an authorized [a 39
63	73		flashing] blue light or lights are to be used. 40
64	74		(d) A flashing green or blue light or lights may be used on a motor 41
65	75		vehicle operated by an active member of a volunteer ambulance 42
66	76		association or company who has been issued a permit by the chief 43
67	77		executive officer of such association or company to use such a light or 44
	78	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+
	82	+	LCO No. 5926 3 of 13
	83	+
68	84		lights, while on the way to or at the scene of an emergency requiring 45
69	85		such member's services. Such permit shall be on a form provided by the 46
70	86		commissioner and may be revoked by such chief executive officer or 47
71	87		such chief executive officer's successor. The chief executive officer of 48
72	88		each volunteer ambulance association or company shall keep on file, on 49
73		-	forms provided by the commissioner, the names and addresses of 50 Substitute Bill No. 7204
74		-
75		-
76		-	LCO 3 of 11
77		-
	89	+	forms provided by the commissioner, the names and addresses of 50
78	90		members who have been authorized to use a flashing green or blue light 51
79	91		or lights as provided in this subsection. Such listing shall also designate 52
80	92		the registration number of the motor vehicle on which the authorized 53
81	93		flashing green or blue light or lights are to be used. 54
82	94		(e) The commissioner may issue a permit for a [flashing] red light or 55
83	95		lights, including flashing red lights, which may be used on a motor 56
84	96		vehicle or equipment (1) used by paid fire chiefs and their deputies and 57
85	97		assistants, up to a total of five individuals per department, (2) used by 58
86	98		volunteer fire chiefs and their deputies and assistants, up to a total of 59
87	99		five individuals per department, (3) used by members of the fire police 60
88	100		on a stationary vehicle as a warning signal during traffic directing 61
89	101		operations at the scene of a fire or emergency, (4) used by chief executive 62
90	102		officers of emergency medical service organizations, as defined in 63
91	103		section 19a-175, the first or second deputies, or if there are no deputies, 64
92	104		the first or second assistants, of such an organization that is a municipal 65
93	105		or volunteer or licensed organization, (5) used by local fire marshals, (6) 66
94	106		used by directors of emergency management, or (7) used by a constable, 67
95	107		appointed pursuant to an ordinance authorized by section 9-185 or 68
96	108		elected pursuant to section 9-200, on a stationary vehicle as a warning 69
97	109		signal during traffic directing operations. 70
98	110		(f) The commissioner may issue a permit for a yellow or amber light 71
99	111		or lights, including a flashing yellow or amber light or lights, which may 72
100	112		be used on motor vehicles or equipment that are (1) specified in 73
101	113		subsection (e) of this section, (2) maintenance vehicles, or (3) vehicles 74
102	114		transporting or escorting any vehicle or load or combinations thereof, 75
103	115		which is or are either oversize or overweight, or both, and being 76
104	116		operated or traveling under a permit issued by the Commissioner of 77
	117	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	118	+
	119	+
	120	+
	121	+	LCO No. 5926 4 of 13
	122	+
105	123		Transportation pursuant to section 14-270. A yellow or amber light or 78
106	124		lights, including a flashing yellow or amber light or lights, may be used 79
107	125		without obtaining a permit from the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 80
108	126		[on wreckers registered pursuant to section 14-66,] on vehicles of 81
109	127		carriers in rural mail delivery service or on vehicles operated by 82
110	128		construction inspectors employed by the state of Connecticut, 83
111		-	authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation, used during the 84 Substitute Bill No. 7204
112		-
113		-
114		-	LCO 4 of 11
115		-
	129	+	authorized by the Commissioner of Transportation, used during the 84
116	130		performance of inspections on behalf of the state. The Commissioner of 85
117	131		Transportation shall maintain a list of such authorized construction 86
118	132		inspectors, including the name and address of each inspector and the 87
119	133		registration number for each vehicle on which the light or lights are to 88
120	134		be used. 89
121	135		(g) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue a permit for a 90
122	136		white light or lights, including a flashing white light or lights, which 91
123	137		may be used on a motor vehicle or equipment as specified in subdivision 92
124	138		(1), (2), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (e) of this section. A vehicle being 93
125	139		operated by a member of a volunteer fire department or company or a 94
126	140		volunteer emergency medical technician may use flashing white head 95
127	141		lamps, provided such member or emergency medical technician is on 96
128	142		the way to the scene of a fire or medical emergency and has received 97
129	143		written authorization from the chief law enforcement officer of the 98
130	144		municipality to use such head lamps. Such head lamps shall only be 99
131	145		used within the municipality granting such authorization or from a 100
132	146		personal residence or place of employment, if located in an adjoining 101
133	147		municipality. Such authorization may be revoked for use of such head 102
134	148		lamps in violation of this subdivision. For the purposes of this 103
135	149		subsection, the term "flashing white lights" shall not include the 104
136	150		simultaneous flashing of head lamps. 105
137	151		(h) The commissioner may issue a permit for emergency vehicles, as 106
138	152		defined in subsection (a) of section 14-283, to use a blue, red, yellow, or 107
139	153		white light or lights, including a flashing light or lights or any 108
140	154		combination thereof. [, except as provided in subsection (k) of this 109
141	155		section.] 110
	156	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	157	+
	158	+
	159	+
	160	+	LCO No. 5926 5 of 13
	161	+
142	162		(i) The commissioner may issue a permit for ambulances, as defined 111
143	163		in section 19a-175, which may, in addition to the flashing light or lights 112
144	164		allowed in subsection (h) of this section, use flashing lights of other 113
145	165		colors specified by federal requirements for the manufacture of an 114
146	166		ambulance. If the commissioner issues a permit for any ambulance, such 115
147	167		permit shall be issued at the time of registration and upon each renewal 116
148		-	of such registration. 117 Substitute Bill No. 7204
149		-
150		-
151		-	LCO 5 of 11
152		-
	168	+	of such registration. 117
153	169		(j) A green, yellow or amber light or lights, including a flashing green, 118
154	170		yellow or amber light or lights or any combination thereof, may be used 119
155	171		on a maintenance vehicle owned and operated by the Department of 120
156	172		Transportation. 121
157	173		(k) [No person, other than a police officer or inspector of the 122
158	174		Department of Motor Vehicles operating a state or local police vehicle, 123
159	175		shall operate a motor vehicle displaying a steady blue or steady red 124
160	176		illuminated light or both steady blue and steady red illuminated lights 125
161	177		that are visible externally from the front of the vehicle] A yellow or 126
162	178		amber light or lights, including a flashing yellow or amber light or 127
163	179		lights, or any combination thereof, or a steady blue light or lights may 128
164	180		be used on a wrecker registered pursuant to section 14-66 while such 129
165	181		wrecker is stationary. 130
166	182		(l) Use of colored and flashing lights except as authorized by this 131
167	183		section shall be an infraction. 132
168	184		Sec. 2. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 14-99g of the general statutes 133
169	185		are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 134
170	186		October 1, 2025): 135
171	187		(f) Any person who violates any provision of subsections (b) to (e), 136
172	188		inclusive, of this section shall be [deemed to have committed an 137
173	189		infraction] subject to the penalties provided in subsection (b) of section 138
174	190		14-222 for each offense. Any person who violates any provision of 139
175	191		subsection (b) of this section shall remove such object or material which 140
176	192		obstructs [his] such person's clear and full view of the road and report 141
	193	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	194	+
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+	LCO No. 5926 6 of 13
	198	+
177	199		within sixty days to the police department which issued the [infractions 142
178	200		complaint] summons to present [his] such person's vehicle for 143
179	201		inspection and to demonstrate compliance with the provisions of this 144
180	202		section. If such person fails to report to such police department and is 145
181	203		cited for a subsequent violation of this section, [his] such person's 146
182	204		vehicle shall be impounded after notice and opportunity for hearing. 147
183	205		(g) Any person owning a vehicle having a window which has been 148
184		-	tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, shall 149 Substitute Bill No. 7204
185		-
186		-
187		-	LCO 6 of 11
188		-
	206	+	tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery, shall 149
189	207		present such vehicle to the Department of Motor Vehicles, by July 1, 150
190	208		[1996] 2026, to receive a sticker for any tinted or darkened window to 151
191	209		indicate such tinting or darkening is in compliance with this section. 152
192	210		Any person operating a motor vehicle, on or after July 1, [1996] 2026, in 153
193	211		violation of this subsection shall be [deemed to have committed an 154
194	212		infraction] subject to the penalties provided in subsection (b) of section 155
195	213		14-222. 156
196	214		Sec. 3. Section 14-222a of the general statutes is repealed and the 157
197	215		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 158
198	216		Any person who, in consequence of the negligent operation of a 159
199	217		motor vehicle, causes the death of another person shall be [fined not 160
200	218		more than three thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more 161
201	219		than three years, or both] guilty of a class C felony for which three years 162
202	220		of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court. 163
203	221		Sec. 4. Section 14-223 of the general statutes is repealed and the 164
204	222		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 165
205	223		(a) Whenever the operator of any motor vehicle fails promptly to 166
206	224		bring [his] such operator's motor vehicle to a full stop upon the signal 167
207	225		of any officer in uniform or prominently displaying the officer's badge 168
208	226		of [his] office, or disobeys the direction of such officer with relation to 169
209	227		the operation of [his] such operator's motor vehicle, [he] such operator 170
210	228		shall be [deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined fifty 171
211	229		dollars] guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 172
	230	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	231	+
	232	+
	233	+
	234	+	LCO No. 5926 7 of 13
	235	+
212	236		(b) No person operating a motor vehicle, when signaled to stop by an 173
213	237		officer in a police vehicle using an audible signal device or flashing or 174
214	238		revolving lights, shall increase the speed of the motor vehicle in an 175
215	239		attempt to escape or elude such police officer. Any person who violates 176
216	240		this subsection shall be guilty of a class [A misdemeanor] D felony, 177
217	241		except that, if such violation causes the death or serious physical injury, 178
218	242		as defined in section 53a-3, of another person, such person shall be guilty 179
219	243		of a class C felony, and shall have such person's motor vehicle operator's 180
220		-	license suspended for one year for the first offense, except that the 181 Substitute Bill No. 7204
221		-
222		-
223		-	LCO 7 of 11
224		-
	244	+	license suspended for one year for the first offense, except that the 181
225	245		Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may, after a hearing, as provided for 182
226	246		in subsection (i) of section 14-111, and upon a showing of compelling 183
227	247		mitigating circumstances, reinstate such person's license before the 184
228	248		expiration of such one-year period. For any subsequent offense such 185
229	249		person shall be guilty of a class C felony, except that if any prior offense 186
230	250		by such person under this subsection caused, and such subsequent 187
231	251		offense causes, the death or serious physical injury, as defined in section 188
232	252		53a-3, of another person, such person shall be guilty of a class C felony 189
233	253		for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or 190
234	254		reduced by the court, and shall have such person's motor vehicle 191
235	255		operator's license suspended for not less than eighteen months nor more 192
236	256		than two years, except that said commissioner may, after a hearing, as 193
237	257		provided for in subsection (i) of section 14-111, and upon a showing of 194
238	258		compelling mitigating circumstances, reinstate such person's license 195
239	259		before such period. 196
240	260		Sec. 5. Subsections (f) and (g) of section 14-224 of the general statutes 197
241	261		are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 198
242	262		October 1, 2025): 199
243	263		(f) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) or 200
244	264		subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a class 201
245	265		B felony for which five years of the sentence imposed may not be 202
246	266		suspended or reduced by the court. 203
247	267		(g) (1) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (2) of 204
	268	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	269	+
	270	+
	271	+
	272	+	LCO No. 5926 8 of 13
	273	+
248	274		subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony for which 205
249	275		two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by 206
250	276		the court. 207
251	277		(2) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (3) of 208
252	278		subsection (b) of this section or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this 209
253	279		section shall be guilty of a (A) class A misdemeanor for a first offense, 210
254	280		and (B) class D felony for any subsequent offense. 211
255	281		(3) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (2) of 212
256		-	subsection (c) of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 213 Substitute Bill No. 7204
257		-
258		-
259		-	LCO 8 of 11
260		-
	282	+	subsection (c) of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 213
261	283		Sec. 6. Section 53a-57 of the general statutes is repealed and the 214
262	284		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 215
263	285		(a) A person is guilty of misconduct with a motor vehicle when, with 216
264	286		criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle, [he] such person 217
265	287		causes the death of another person. 218
266	288		(b) Misconduct with a motor vehicle is a class [D felony] C felony for 219
267	289		which (1) five years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or 220
268	290		reduced by the court, or (2) if such person causes the death of a police 221
269	291		officer, as defined in section 7-294a, ten years of the sentence imposed 222
270	292		may not be suspended or reduced by the court. 223
271	293		Sec. 7. Section 54-33p of the general statutes is repealed and the 224
272	294		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 225
273	295		[(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the existence 226
274	296		of any of the following circumstances shall not constitute in part or in 227
275	297		whole probable cause or reasonable suspicion and shall not be used as 228
276	298		a basis to support any stop or search of a person or motor vehicle: 229
277	299		(1) The odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis; 230
278	300		(2) The possession of or the suspicion of possession of cannabis 231
279	301		without evidence that the quantity of cannabis is or suspected to be in 232
	302	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	303	+
	304	+
	305	+
	306	+	LCO No. 5926 9 of 13
	307	+
280	308		excess of five ounces of cannabis plant material, as defined in section 233
281	309		21a-279a, or an equivalent amount of cannabis products or a 234
282	310		combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in 235
283	311		subsection (i) of section 21a-279a; or 236
284	312		(3) The presence of cash or currency in proximity to cannabis without 237
285	313		evidence that such cash or currency exceeds five hundred dollars. 238
286	314		(b) Any evidence discovered as a result of any stop or search 239
287	315		conducted in violation of this section shall not be admissible in evidence 240
288	316		in any trial, hearing or other proceeding in a court of this state. 241
289		-	(c)] A law enforcement official may conduct a test for impairment 242 Substitute Bill No. 7204
290		-
291		-
292		-	LCO 9 of 11
293		-
	317	+	(c)] A law enforcement official may conduct a test for impairment 242
294	318		based on the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis if such official 243
295	319		reasonably suspects the operator of violating section 14-227a, 14-227m 244
296	320		or 14-227n. 245
297	321		[(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a probation 246
298	322		officer supervising a probationer who, as a condition of probation, is 247
299	323		prohibited from using or possessing cannabis.] 248
300	324		Sec. 8. (Effective from passage) The Commissioners of Emergency 249
301	325		Services and Public Protection and Transportation shall jointly conduct 250
302	326		a study on the feasibility of implementing a permanent state-wide law 251
303	327		enforcement phlebotomy program to combat impaired driving. Such 252
304	328		study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of (1) 253
305	329		best practices for making phlebotomy training available to police 254
306	330		officers, (2) phlebotomy programs and procedures utilized by law 255
307	331		enforcement units in other states, and (3) best practices for providing 256
308	332		educational materials to and answering questions from police officers 257
309	333		regarding phlebotomy training and police liability. Not later than 258
310	334		January 1, 2026, the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public 259
311	335		Protection and Transportation shall submit a report, in accordance with 260
312	336		the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the results of 261
313	337		the study and any recommendations for legislation to the joint standing 262
314	338		committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 263
	339	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	340	+
	341	+
	342	+
	343	+	LCO No. 5926 10 of 13
	344	+
315	345		relating to public safety and security and transportation. 264
316	346		Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) For purposes of this section, 265
317	347		"law enforcement unit" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-266
318	348		294a of the general statutes. Not later than July 1, 2026, and annually 267
319	349		thereafter, the Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the 268
320	350		Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, shall conduct 269
321	351		safety inspections of vehicles used by law enforcement units in the state 270
322	352		for the purpose of ensuring the safety and functionality of such vehicles. 271
323	353		The department shall randomly select law enforcement units for such 272
324	354		inspections. Upon the completion of each such inspection, the 273
325	355		department shall provide a report on the results of the inspection to the 274
326		-	law enforcement unit whose vehicles were inspected. 275 Substitute Bill No. 7204
327		-
328		-
329		-	LCO 10 of 11
330		-
	356	+	law enforcement unit whose vehicles were inspected. 275
331	357		Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For purposes of this 276
332	358		subsection, "highway" has the same meaning as provided in section 14-277
333	359		1 of the general statutes. The Commissioner of Transportation, in 278
334	360		consultation with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 279
335	361		Protection, shall establish a traffic safety corridor program to (1) 280
336	362		designate portions of a highway that have high rates of motor vehicle 281
337	363		accidents as traffic safety corridors, and (2) coordinate motor vehicle 282
338	364		enforcement in such traffic safety corridors. 283
339	365		(b) The Superior Court shall impose an additional fee equivalent to 284
340	366		one hundred per cent of the fine established or imposed for the violation 285
341	367		of the provisions of section 14-213, 14-213b, 14-214, 14-215, 14-216, 14-286
342	368		218a, 14-219, 14-220, 14-221, 14-222, 14-222a, as amended by this act, 14-287
343	369		223, as amended by this act, 14-224, as amended by this act, 14-225, 14-288
344	370		227a, 14-227m, 14-227n, 14-230, 14-230a, 14-231, 14-232, 14-233, 14-235, 289
345	371		14-236, 14-237, 14-238, 14-238a, 14-239, 14-240, 14-240a, 14-241, 14-242, 290
346	372		14-243, 14-244, 14-245, 14-246a, 14-247, 14-247a, 14-248a, 14-249, 14-250, 291
347	373		14-250a, 14-257, 14-261, 14-266, 14-271, 14-273, 14-279, 14-281a, 292
348	374		subsection (e) or (h) of section 14-283, section 14-289a, 14-289b or 14-293
349	375		296aa of the general statutes for any such violation committed in a traffic 294
350	376		safety corridor. 295
	377	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	378	+
	379	+
	380	+
	381	+	LCO No. 5926 11 of 13
	382	+
351	383		(c) The Department of Transportation shall post a sign at the 296
352	384		beginning of each traffic safety corridor that shall read as follows: 297
353	385		"TRAFFIC SAFETY CORRIDOR FINES DOUBLED ", and at the end of 298
354	386		such corridor that shall read as follows: "END TRAFFIC SAFETY 299
355	387		CORRIDOR". 300
356	388		(d) The Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency 301
357	389		Services and Public Protection shall enhance the division's law 302
358	390		enforcement efforts in each traffic safety corridor. 303
359	391		Sec. 11. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the 304
360	392		Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish 305
361	393		a one-year pilot program to allow three municipal police departments 306
362		-	to install a device on such departments' police vehicles that permits a 307 Substitute Bill No. 7204
363		-
364		-
365		-	LCO 11 of 11
366		-
	394	+	to install a device on such departments' police vehicles that permits a 307
367	395		police officer to launch a global positioning system onto another vehicle. 308
368	396		The department may provide financial assistance in the form of grants-309
369	397		in-aid to implement such program. 310
370	398		(b) Each police department that participates in the program shall 311
371	399		submit a report regarding the utilization of such devices to the 312
372	400		Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Not later than 313
373	401		January 1, 2027, the department shall submit a report, in accordance 314
374	402		with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 315
375	403		standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 316
376	404		matters relating to public safety and the judiciary. Such report shall 317
377	405		include a summary of the results of the pilot program and any 318
378	406		recommendations concerning the future utilization of such devices. 319
	407	+	Sec. 12. Subsection (f) of section 29-6d of the general statutes is 320
	408	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 321
	409	+	1, 2025): 322
	410	+	(f) (1) If a police officer is giving a formal statement [about the use of 323
	411	+	force] regarding an incident or if a police officer is the subject of a 324
	412	+	disciplinary investigation in which a recording from body-worn 325
	413	+	recording equipment or a dashboard camera is being considered as part 326
	414	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	415	+
	416	+
	417	+
	418	+	LCO No. 5926 12 of 13
	419	+
	420	+	of a review of an incident, the officer shall have the right to review (A) 327
	421	+	such recording in the presence of the officer's attorney or labor 328
	422	+	representative, and (B) recordings from other body-worn recording 329
	423	+	equipment capturing the officer's image or voice during the incident. 330
	424	+	Not later than forty-eight hours following an officer's review of a 331
	425	+	recording under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or if the officer 332
	426	+	does not review the recording, not later than ninety-six hours following 333
	427	+	the initiation of such disciplinary investigation, whichever is earlier, 334
	428	+	such recording shall be disclosed, upon request, to the public, subject to 335
	429	+	the provisions of subsection (g) of this section. Public disclosure may be 336
	430	+	delayed if the officer, due to a medical or physical response or an acute 337
	431	+	psychological stress response to the incident, is not reasonably able to 338
	432	+	review a recording under this subdivision, but in no event shall 339
	433	+	disclosure be delayed more than one hundred forty-four hours 340
	434	+	following the recorded event. 341
	435	+	(2) If a request is made for public disclosure of a recording from body-342
	436	+	worn recording equipment or a dashboard camera of an incident about 343
	437	+	which (A) a police officer has not been asked to give a formal statement 344
	438	+	about the [alleged use of force] incident, or (B) a disciplinary 345
	439	+	investigation has not been initiated, any police officer whose image or 346
	440	+	voice is captured on the recording shall have the right to review such 347
	441	+	recording in the presence of the officer's attorney or labor 348
	442	+	representative. Not later than forty-eight hours following an officer's 349
	443	+	review of a recording under this subdivision, or if the officer does not 350
	444	+	review the recording, not later than ninety-six hours following the 351
	445	+	request for disclosure, whichever is earlier, such recording shall be 352
	446	+	disclosed to the public, subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of this 353
	447	+	section. Public disclosure may be delayed if the officer, due to a medical 354
	448	+	or physical response or an acute psychological stress response to the 355
	449	+	incident, is not reasonably able to review a recording under this 356
	450	+	subdivision, but in no event shall disclosure be delayed more than one 357
	451	+	hundred forty-four hours following the recorded event. 358
	452	+	Raised Bill No. 7204
	453	+
	454	+
	455	+
	456	+	LCO No. 5926 13 of 13
	457	+
379	458		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
380	459		sections:
381	460
382	461		Section 1 October 1, 2025 14-96q
383	462		Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 14-99g(f) and (g)
384	463		Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 14-222a
385	464		Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 14-223
386	465		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 14-224(f) and (g)
387	466		Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 53a-57
388	467		Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 54-33p
389	468		Sec. 8 from passage New section
390	469		Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 New section
391	470		Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 New section
392	471		Sec. 11 from passage New section
	472	+	Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 29-6d(f)
393	473
394		-	PS Joint Favorable Subst.
	474	+	Statement of Purpose:
	475	+	To (1) permit certain first responders to use steady blue or red lights and
	476	+	wreckers to use steady blue lights when stationary, (2) modify penalties
	477	+	for violations of certain statutes relating to motor vehicles, (3) eliminate
	478	+	certain statutory provisions relating to cannabis and stops and searches,
	479	+	(4) study the feasibility of a permanent law enforcement phlebotomy
	480	+	program, (5) require safety inspections of vehicles used by law
	481	+	enforcement units, (6) establish a traffic safety corridor program, (7)
	482	+	establish a program to equip police vehicles with a device that is capable
	483	+	of launching a global positioning system onto another vehicle, and (8)
	484	+	modify statutory provisions concerning police officer review of certain
	485	+	recordings by substituting references to "use of force" with "incident".
	486	+
	487	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	488	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	489	+	underlined.]
395	490