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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1375
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING HIGHWAY, PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST
SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-300 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 2
(a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic 3
control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines 4
upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, 5
in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway 6
including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity 7
of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in 8
accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic 9
Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; 10
and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, 11
particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk 12
facing vehicular traffic. 13
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals 14
bearing the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking 15
person symbolizing "Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't 16
Walk" are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated 17
by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other 18 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the 19
highway against a red or "Stop" signal and shall not cross at any place 20
not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting 21
across the highway or on any such crosswalk shall have the right-of-22
way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such 23
pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone. 24
(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any 25
crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any 26
unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by 27
police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall 28
grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so 29
grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within 30
such crosswalk. For the purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is 31
"crossing the roadway within such crosswalk" when the pedestrian (1) 32
is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the 33
entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the 34
roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, 35
or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any 36
part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited 37
to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, 38
stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at 39
the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching 40
from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which 41
has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of 42
this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross 43
the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield 44
the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such 45
sidewalk. 46
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the 47
immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection 48
(a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, 49
or a pedestrian being guided by a service animal, shall reduce speed or 50
stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No 51
person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or 52 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is 53
white in color or white, tipped with red. For the purposes of this 54
subsection, "service animal" has the same meaning as provided in 55
section 22-345. 56
(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after 57
October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be 58
required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control 59
signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time 60
for the safe crossing of pedestrians. 61
(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall 62
be fined not more than [five hundred] seven hundred fifty dollars. 63
(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section 64
or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per 65
se shall not apply. 66
Sec. 2. Section 14-230a of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 68
(a) On any divided limited access highway [which] that provides 69
more than two lanes for traffic proceeding in the same direction, no 70
operator of any motor vehicle with a commercial registration, motor 71
bus, vehicle with trailer or school bus shall drive in the extreme left lane 72
where the Office of the State Traffic Administration so designates, 73
except (1) on the direction of a police officer, or [except] (2) when access 74
to or egress from such highway is provided on the left, in which latter 75
case such operator shall drive in such left lane only for such period as is 76
reasonably necessary to enter or leave such highway safely. 77
(b) On any divided limited access highway that provides more than 78
two lanes for traffic proceeding in the same direction, no operator of a 79
motor vehicle, other than a motor vehicle subject to the provisions of 80
subsection (a) of this section, shall drive in the extreme left lane, except 81
(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle, (2) on the direction of 82
a police officer, (3) when access to or egress from such highway is 83 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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provided on the left, in which latter case such operator shall drive in 84
such left lane only for such period as is reasonably necessary to enter or 85
leave such highway safely, (4) if such motor vehicle is an emergency 86
vehicle operating pursuant to section 14-283, (5) if the operator is 87
engaged in the maintenance, repair or construction of such highway, or 88
(6) when traffic congestion makes driving in the extreme left lane 89
necessary. 90
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have 91
committed an infraction and shall be fined eighty-eight dollars. 92
Sec. 3. Section 14-289g of the general statutes is repealed and the 93
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 94
(a) No person under [eighteen] twenty-one years of age may (1) 95
operate a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, as defined in section 14-1, 96
or (2) be a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, unless such 97
operator or passenger is wearing protective headgear [of a type which] 98
that conforms to the minimum specifications established in 49 CFR 99
571.218, as amended from time to time. Any person who violates this 100
section shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined not less 101
than ninety dollars. 102
(b) As used in this section, the term "motorcycle" [shall] does not 103
include "autocycle". 104
Sec. 4. Section 14-296aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 105
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 106
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 107
following meanings: 108
(1) "Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless or digital 109
telephone capable of sending or receiving telephone communications 110
without an access line for service. 111
(2) "Using" or "use" means (A) holding a hand-held mobile telephone 112
to, or in the immediate proximity of, the user's ear, or (B) watching or 113 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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playing a video on a mobile electronic device that is in full view of the 114
operator in a normal driving position. 115
(3) "Hand-held mobile telephone" means a mobile telephone with 116
which a user engages in a call using at least one hand. 117
(4) "Hands-free accessory" means an attachment, add-on, built-in 118
feature, or addition to a mobile telephone, whether or not permanently 119
installed in a motor vehicle, that, when used, allows the vehicle operator 120
to maintain both hands on the steering wheel. 121
(5) "Hands-free mobile telephone" means a hand-held mobile 122
telephone that has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped 123
with an attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of 124
such hand-held mobile telephone, by which a user engages in a call 125
without the use of either hand, whether or not the use of either hand is 126
necessary to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 127
(6) "Engage in a call" means talking into or listening on a hand-held 128
mobile telephone, but does not include holding a hand-held mobile 129
telephone to activate, deactivate or initiate a function of such telephone. 130
(7) "Immediate proximity" means the distance that permits the 131
operator of a hand-held mobile telephone to hear telecommunications 132
transmitted over such hand-held mobile telephone, but does not require 133
physical contact with such operator's ear. 134
(8) "Mobile electronic device" means (A) any hand-held or other 135
portable electronic equipment capable of providing data 136
communication between two or more persons, including a text 137
messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant [,] or a 138
laptop computer, (B) any equipment that is capable of playing a video 139
game or a digital video disk, [or] (C) any equipment on which digital 140
photographs are taken or transmitted, (D) any installed screen, video 141
monitor or other means of providing a visual display, or (E) any 142
combination thereof. [, but] "Mobile electronic device" does not include 143
any audio equipment or any equipment installed in a motor vehicle for 144 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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the purpose of providing (i) navigation, (ii) emergency assistance to the 145
operator of such motor vehicle, or (iii) video entertainment to the 146
passengers in the rear seats of such motor vehicle that is not in full view 147
of the operator in a normal driving position. 148
(9) "Operating a motor vehicle" means operating a motor vehicle on 149
any highway, [as defined in section 14-1,] including being temporarily 150
stationary due to traffic, road conditions or a traffic control sign or 151
signal, but not including being parked on the side or shoulder of any 152
highway where such vehicle is safely able to remain stationary. 153
(10) "Highway", "commercial motor vehicle" and "authorized 154
emergency vehicle" have the same meanings as provided in section 14-155
1. 156
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and 157
subsections (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate a motor 158
vehicle upon a highway [, as defined in section 14-1,] while using a 159
hand-held mobile telephone to engage in a call or while using a mobile 160
electronic device. An operator of a motor vehicle who types, sends or 161
reads a text message with a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile 162
electronic device while operating a motor vehicle shall be in violation of 163
this section, except that if such operator is driving a commercial motor 164
vehicle, [as defined in section 14-1,] such operator shall be charged with 165
a violation of subsection (e) of this section. 166
(2) An operator of a motor vehicle who holds a hand-held mobile 167
telephone to, or in the immediate proximity of, his or her ear while 168
operating a motor vehicle is presumed to be engaging in a call within 169
the meaning of this section. The presumption established by this 170
subdivision is rebuttable by evidence tending to show that the operator 171
was not engaged in a call. 172
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as 173
authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of a hand-held mobile telephone or 174
a mobile electronic device, unless otherwise provided by law. 175 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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(4) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to: (A) The use 176
of a hand-held mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating 177
with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: An 178
emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health 179
clinic; an ambulance company; a fire department; or a police 180
department, [or] (B) any of the following persons while in the 181
performance of their official duties and within the scope of their 182
employment: A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 183
53a-3, a firefighter or an operator of an ambulance or authorized 184
emergency vehicle [, as defined in section 14-1,] or a member of the 185
armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, while 186
operating a military vehicle, [or] (C) the use of a hand-held radio by a 187
person with an amateur radio station license issued by the Federal 188
Communications Commission in emergency situations for emergency 189
purposes only, or (D) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone. 190
(c) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 191
electronic device, including those with hands-free accessories, or a 192
mobile electronic device, while operating a school bus that is carrying 193
passengers, except that this subsection shall not apply when such 194
person: (1) Places an emergency call to school officials; (2) uses a hand-195
held mobile telephone as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision 196
(4) of subsection (b) of this section; (3) uses a hand-held mobile 197
telephone or mobile electronic device in a manner similar to a two-way 198
radio to allow real-time communication with a school official, an 199
emergency response operator, a hospital, physician's office or health 200
clinic, an ambulance company, a fire department or a police department; 201
or (4) uses a mobile electronic device with a video display, provided 202
such device (A) is used as a global positioning system or to provide 203
navigation, (B) is securely attached inside the school bus near such 204
person, and (C) has been approved for such use by the Department of 205
Motor Vehicles. 206
(d) No person under eighteen years of age shall use any hand-held 207
mobile telephone, including one with a hands-free accessory, or a 208
mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public 209 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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highway, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of 210
subsection (b) of this section. 211
(e) No person shall use a hand-held mobile telephone or other 212
electronic device or type, read or send text or a text message with or 213
from a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a 214
commercial motor vehicle, [as defined in section 14-1,] except for the 215
purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an 216
emergency situation: An emergency response operator; a hospital; 217
physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company; a fire 218
department or a police department. 219
(f) Except as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this 220
section, no person shall engage in any activity not related to the actual 221
operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe 222
operation of such vehicle on any highway. [, as defined in section 14-1.] 223
(g) Any law enforcement officer who issues a summons for a 224
violation of this section shall record on such summons the specific 225
nature of any distracted driving behavior observed by such officer. 226
(h) Any person who violates this section shall be fined two hundred 227
dollars for a first violation, three hundred seventy-five dollars for a 228
second violation and six hundred twenty-five dollars for a third or 229
subsequent violation. 230
(i) An operator of a motor vehicle who commits a moving violation, 231
as defined in subsection (a) of section 14-111g, as amended by this act, 232
while engaged in any activity prohibited by this section shall be fined in 233
accordance with subsection (h) of this section, in addition to any penalty 234
or fine imposed for the moving violation. 235
(j) The state shall remit to a municipality twenty-five per cent of the 236
fine amount received for a violation of this section with respect to each 237
summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk of the Superior Court 238
or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other official of the Superior 239
Court designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on or before 240 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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the thirtieth day of January, April, July and October in each year, certify 241
to the Comptroller the amount due for the previous quarter under this 242
subsection to each municipality served by the office of the clerk or 243
official. 244
(k) A record of any violation of this section shall appear on the 245
driving history record or motor vehicle record, as defined in section 14-246
10, of any person who commits such violation, and the record of such 247
violation shall be available to any motor vehicle insurer in accordance 248
with the provisions of section 14-10. 249
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes of this 250
section: 251
(1) "Alcoholic beverage" has the same meaning as provided in section 252
30-1 of the general statutes; 253
(2) "Highway", "motor bus" and "recreational vehicle" have the same 254
meanings as provided in section 14-1 of the general statutes; 255
(3) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in section 14-256
212 of the general statutes; 257
(4) "Motor vehicle in livery service" has the same meaning as 258
provided in section 13b-101 of the general statutes; 259
(5) "Open alcoholic beverage container" means a bottle, a can or other 260
receptacle (A) that contains any amount of an alcoholic beverage, and 261
(B) (i) that is open or has a broken seal, or (ii) the contents of which are 262
partially removed; 263
(6) "Passenger" means any occupant of a motor vehicle other than the 264
operator; 265
(7) "Passenger area" means (A) the area designed to seat the operator 266
of, and any passenger in, a motor vehicle while such vehicle is being 267
operated on a highway, or (B) any area that is readily accessible to such 268
operator or passenger while such person is in such person's seated 269 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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position. "Passenger area" does not include (i) a locked container, such 270
as a locked glove compartment or console, (ii) the trunk, or (iii) in a 271
motor vehicle that is not equipped with a trunk, the area behind the last 272
upright seat or any area not normally occupied by the operator or a 273
passenger; and 274
(8) "Taxicab" has the same meaning as described in section 13b-95 of 275
the general statutes. 276
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no person shall 277
consume or possess an open alcoholic beverage container within the 278
passenger area of a motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is on any 279
highway in this state. 280
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to: 281
(1) A passenger in a motor vehicle designed, maintained and primarily 282
used for the transportation of passengers for hire, including, but not 283
limited to, a taxicab, motor bus or motor vehicle in livery service, or (2) 284
a passenger in the living quarters of a recreational vehicle. 285
(d) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) of this 286
section shall have committed an infraction. 287
Sec. 6. Section 14-286d of the general statutes is repealed and the 288
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 289
(a) For the purposes of this section and section 14-286e, "bicycle" 290
means any vehicle propelled by the person riding the same by foot or 291
hand power. 292
(b) No child [fifteen] seventeen years of age or under shall operate a 293
bicycle, electric bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard or electric 294
foot scooter or wear roller skates or in-line skates on the traveled portion 295
of any highway, at a skateboarding park or any park unless such child 296
is wearing properly fitted and fastened protective headgear which 297
conforms to the minimum specifications established by the American 298
National Standards Institute, the United States Consumer Product 299 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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Safety Commission, the American Society for Testing and Materials or 300
the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for Protective Headgear for 301
Use in Bicycling, as amended from time to time. Failure to comply with 302
this section shall not be a violation or an offense. Failure to wear 303
protective headgear as required by this subsection shall not be 304
considered to be contributory negligence on the part of the parent or the 305
child nor shall such failure be admissible in any civil action. 306
(c) A law enforcement officer may issue a verbal warning to the 307
parent or guardian of a child that such child has failed to comply with 308
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. 309
(d) A person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of renting 310
bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters shall provide 311
protective headgear conforming to the minimum specifications 312
established by the American National Standards Institute, the United 313
States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Society for 314
Testing and Materials or the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for 315
Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, as amended from time to time, 316
to any person [under sixteen] seventeen years of age or under who will 317
operate the bicycle, electric bicycle or electric foot scooter if such person 318
does not have protective headgear in his or her possession. A fee may 319
be charged for the protective headgear rental. Violation of any of the 320
provisions of this subsection shall be an infraction. 321
(e) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall post on the 322
Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site information 323
concerning the dangers of riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric 324
foot scooters, skateboarding, roller skating and in-line skating without 325
protective headgear and promoting the use of protective headgear while 326
riding bicycles, electric bicycles or electric foot scooters, skateboarding, 327
roller skating and in-line skating. 328
Sec. 7. Section 13b-10 of the general statutes is repealed and the 329
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 330
(a) The commissioner may, subject to the provisions of chapter 67, 331 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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employ such agents, assistants and employees as [he] the commissioner 332
deems necessary to carry out [his] the commissioner's duties and 333
responsibilities. [He] The commissioner may retain and employ other 334
consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering 335
legal, financial, technical or other assistance and advice. 336
(b) The commissioner shall assign employees to support the adoption 337
and implementation of Complete Streets standards or policies, as 338
described in section 11206 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 339
P. L. 117-58, as amended from time to time, throughout the state. Such 340
support shall include administering grants and providing incentives to 341
municipalities in order to finalize a project or prioritization plan that 342
incorporates Complete Streets standards or policies. 343
Sec. 8. (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section, 344
"intelligent speed assistance device" means a device designed to be 345
installed within a motor vehicle to actively monitor and limit the speed 346
at which a motor vehicle is capable of traveling based on the applicable 347
speed limit where such motor vehicle is being operated. 348
(b) The Vision Zero Council, established under section 13b-23b of the 349
general statutes, and the Chief State's Attorney shall jointly study and 350
make recommendations concerning the feasibility of leveraging 351
intelligent speed assistance devices to address speeding and reckless 352
driving in the state. The Vision Zero Council and Chief State's Attorney 353
may partner with an institution of higher education or national 354
transportation research entity to perform such study. Such study shall, 355
at a minimum, (1) examine whether sufficient evidence exists to show 356
that the use of intelligent speed assistance devices changes driving 357
behavior and improves road safety, (2) consider the different types and 358
availability of such devices, (3) estimate the costs associated with the 359
installation and maintenance of such devices to the motor vehicle 360
operator and the state, (4) examine whether such devices work 361
accurately and reliably in unsupervised environments and whether 362
such devices are capable of producing evidence showing such device 363
has not been bypassed, circumvented or tampered with, and (5) if 364 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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recommending the use of such devices in the state, (A) identify if the 365
installation of such device would be in lieu of, or in addition to, a 366
prescribed penalty or suspension of a motor vehicle operator's license 367
and if such installation would be mandatory or discretionary, (B) 368
identify the types and number of traffic violations that would require or 369
permit the installation of such devices, (C) discuss if any such 370
requirement to install an intelligent speed assistance device should 371
apply differently to motor vehicle operators based upon the age or 372
driving history of the operator, and (D) discuss necessary components 373
of a regulatory framework that would be necessary to ensure the proper 374
and accurate use of such devices. 375
(c) Not later than January 15, 2026, the Vision Zero Council and the 376
Chief State's Attorney shall submit their findings and any 377
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the joint 378
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 379
matters relating to transportation, in accordance with the provisions of 380
section 11-4a of the general statutes. 381
Sec. 9. Section 14-111g of the general statutes is repealed and the 382
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 383
(a) (1) For the purposes of this [subsection] section, "moving 384
violation" means any violation of subsection (c) of section 14-36 or 385
section 14-36g, 14-212d, 14-218a, 14-219, 14-222, 14-223, 14-230 to 14-249, 386
inclusive, 14-279, 14-283, 14-289b, 14-296aa, as amended by this act, 14-387
299, 14-300, as amended by this act, 14-301, 14-302 or 14-303, and 388
"suspension violation" means a violation of section 14-222a, 14-224, 14-389
227a, 14-227m or 14-227n, or section 53a-56b, 53a-57 or 53a-60d. [The] 390
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the 391
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require any motor vehicle 392
operator who is twenty-four years of age or less, who has been convicted 393
of a moving violation or a suspension violation, or both, committed on 394
two or more occasions to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 395
program. [The] 396 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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(3) Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the 397
commissioner may require any motor vehicle operator over twenty-four 398
years of age, who has been convicted of a moving violation or a 399
suspension violation or a combination of said violations, committed on 400
three or more occasions to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 401
program. 402
(4) The commissioner shall require (A) any motor vehicle operator 403
convicted of traveling more than seventy-five miles per hour, (B) any 404
person operating a commercial motor vehicle convicted of traveling 405
more than sixty-five miles per hour in a highway work zone, as defined 406
in section 14-212d, [or] and (C) any [person] motor vehicle operator 407
convicted of a violation of section 14-222 or subdivision (1) of subsection 408
(c) of section 14-224, to attend a motor vehicle operator's retraining 409
program. 410
(5) The commissioner shall notify such operator, in writing, of such 411
requirement. A fee of not more than eighty-five dollars shall be charged 412
for the retraining program. The commissioner, after notice and 413
opportunity for hearing, may suspend the motor vehicle operator's 414
license of any such operator who fails to attend or successfully complete 415
the program until the operator successfully completes the program. The 416
hearing shall be limited to any claim of impossibility of the operator to 417
attend the retraining program, or to a determination of mistake or 418
misidentification. 419
(b) (1) The retraining program shall be taught by a designee of the 420
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by an instructor approved by the 421
commissioner and shall [(1)] (A) review principles of motor vehicle 422
operation, [(2)] (B) develop alternative attitudes for those attitudes 423
contributing to aggressive driving behavior, and [(3)] (C) emphasize the 424
need to practice safe driving behavior. 425
(2) The retraining program shall be offered by the Department of 426
Motor Vehicles or by any other organization certified by the 427
commissioner to conduct such program in person in a congregate 428 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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setting, through distance learning or through a combination of both in-429
person and distance learning, provided such distance learning has 430
interactive components such as mandatory interactions, participation or 431
testing. Any drivers' school, as defined in section 14-68, that meets the 432
licensure requirements of part IV of this chapter shall be eligible to seek 433
certification to offer the motor vehicle operator's retraining program. 434
The commissioner shall determine the number of program providers 435
necessary to serve the needs of the public. 436
(3) Each organization or drivers' school seeking certification or 437
recertification to conduct such retraining program shall submit an 438
application to the department in such form as the commissioner shall 439
require and an application fee of three hundred fifty dollars. Each such 440
applicant shall: 441
(A) Be registered to do business in this state and continuously 442
maintain good standing with the office of the Secretary of the State; 443
(B) [file] File and continuously maintain a surety bond in the amount 444
of fifty thousand dollars. Such bond shall be conditioned upon 445
compliance with the provisions of any state or federal law or regulation 446
concerning the conduct of an operator retraining program and provided 447
as indemnity for any loss or expense sustained by either the state or any 448
person by reason of any acts or omissions of the program provider. Such 449
bond shall be executed in the name of the State of Connecticut for the 450
benefit of any aggrieved party, but the penalty of the bond shall not be 451
invoked except upon order of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles after 452
a hearing held before the commissioner in accordance with the 453
provisions of chapter 54; 454
(C) [have] Have a permanent place of business in this state where all 455
operator retraining program records shall be maintained and accessible 456
to the commissioner during normal business hours; 457
(D) [submit] Submit for approval by the commissioner a detailed 458
curriculum and lesson plan, including any changes to such curriculum 459
and lesson plan, which shall be used in each operator retraining class; 460 Substitute Bill No. 1375
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and 461
(E) [electronically] Electronically transmit information concerning 462
enrollment and class completion to the commissioner at such times and 463
in such form as the commissioner shall prescribe. 464
(4) Prior to the certification of an applicant, the commissioner shall 465
investigate the applicant's character, driving history and criminal 466
history. If the applicant is a business entity, such investigation shall 467
include the principals and officers of such entity. The applicant shall 468
submit to the commissioner any information pertaining to current or 469
past criminal or civil actions. The certification of a program provider by 470
the commissioner shall not be transferable and shall be valid for a two-471
year period. Recertification of a provider shall be at the discretion of the 472
commissioner and in such form and manner determined by the 473
commissioner. 474
(c) Any person who is required to attend an operator retraining 475
program shall have such requirement and the completion date of such 476
requirement posted on such person's driving history record maintained 477
by the commissioner. The date of class completion shall remain on such 478
person's driving history record until such person has attained thirty-six 479
consecutive months without any additional moving violations or 480
suspension violations specified in subsection (a) of this section being 481
posted to such person's driving history record. Until the completion of 482
such thirty-six consecutive months, the Commissioner of Motor 483
Vehicles shall suspend such person's operator's license or operating 484
privilege for: (1) Thirty days upon a first conviction for any specified 485
moving violation or suspension violation; (2) sixty days upon a second 486
conviction of any specified moving violation or suspension violation; 487
and (3) ninety days for a third or subsequent conviction of a specified 488
moving violation or suspension violation. 489
(d) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with 490
chapter 54, to implement the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this 491
section. 492 Substitute Bill No. 1375
LCO 17 of 18
Sec. 10. Subsection (e) of section 22a-202 of the general statutes is 493
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 494
2025): 495
(e) (1) As a part of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric 496
Automobile Purchase Rebate program, the Commissioner of Energy 497
and Environmental Protection shall also establish and administer a 498
program to provide rebates or vouchers to residents of the state who 499
purchase an electric bicycle. The commissioner, in consultation with the 500
advisory board, shall establish and revise, as necessary, maximum 501
income eligibility for such rebates or vouchers. Any such rebate or 502
voucher amount shall be in an amount not less than five hundred 503
dollars. The rebate or voucher program shall be designed to maximize 504
the air quality benefits associated with the deployment of electric 505
bicycles and prioritize providing vouchers to (A) residents of 506
environmental justice communities, (B) residents having household 507
incomes at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, 508
[and] (C) residents who participate in state and federal assistance 509
programs, including, but not limited to, the state-administered federal 510
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state-administered federal 511
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [,] or a federal Head 512
Start program, [established pursuant to section 10-16] or who receive 513
assistance provided by Operation Fuel, Incorporated, and (D) residents 514
with physical disabilities. 515
(2) On and after July 1, 2022, and until June 30, 2027, inclusive, an 516
electric bicycle that is eligible for a rebate or voucher under the program 517
shall have a base manufacturer's suggested retail price of not more than 518
three thousand dollars. The provisions of this subdivision shall not 519
apply to an adaptive electric bicycle to be used by a resident with a 520
physical disability. 521
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 14-300 Substitute Bill No. 1375
LCO 18 of 18
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 14-230a
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 14-289g
Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 14-296aa
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 14-286d
Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 13b-10
Sec. 8 from passage New section
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 14-111g
Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 22a-202(e)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 4(a)(8), clause designators were added for clarity and "that is
not in full view of the operator in a normal driving position" was
inserted after "rear seats of such motor vehicle" for consistency with the
changes being made in Section 4(a)(2).
TRA Joint Favorable Subst.