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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1504
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6200
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SAFETY, THE PROSECUTION OF
CRIMES AND THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 14-283a of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 2
passage): 3
(b) (1) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 4
Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney, the Police 5
Officer Standards and Training Council, the Connecticut Police Chiefs 6
Association and the Connecticut Coalition of Police and Correctional 7
Officers, shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, a 8
uniform, state-wide policy for handling pursuits by police officers. Such 9
policy shall specify: (A) [The conditions under which] That a police 10
officer may engage in a pursuit [and discontinue a pursuit] when the 11
police officer believes that a suspect committed a felony, as defined in 12
section 53a-25, (B) the factors that may be considered in a police officer's 13
decision to engage in a pursuit, including, but not limited to, the 14
protection of the public, the known or suspected offense, the apparent 15
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need for immediate apprehension, risks to police officers, motorists and 16
the public and alternative measures to be employed by any such police 17
officer in order to apprehend any occupant of the fleeing motor vehicle 18
or to impede the movement of such motor vehicle, (C) the factors that 19
may be considered in a police officer's decision to discontinue a pursuit, 20
including, but not limited to, risks to the public and any pursuing police 21
officer, the protection of the public, the known or suspected offense, the 22
apparent need for immediate apprehension, vehicular and pedestrian 23
traffic conditions, speeds, volume and safety, weather conditions and 24
whether the suspect is identified and may be apprehended at a later 25
time or whether the suspect is unknown, (D) the coordination and 26
responsibility, including control over the pursuit, of supervisory 27
personnel and the police officer engaged in such pursuit, [(D)] (E) in the 28
case of a pursuit that may proceed and continue into another 29
municipality, (i) the requirement to notify and the procedures to be used 30
to notify the police department in such other municipality or, if there is 31
no organized police department in such other municipality, the officers 32
responsible for law enforcement in such other municipality, that there 33
is a pursuit in progress, and (ii) the coordination and responsibility of 34
supervisory personnel in each such municipality and the police officer 35
engaged in such pursuit, [(E)] (F) the type and amount of training in 36
pursuits, that each police officer shall undergo, which may include 37
training in vehicle simulators, if vehicle simulator training is 38
determined to be necessary, and [(F)] (G) that a police officer 39
immediately notify supervisory personnel or the officer in charge after 40
the police officer begins a pursuit. The chief of police or Commissioner 41
of Emergency Services and Public Protection, as the case may be, shall 42
inform each officer within such chief's or said commissioner's 43
department and each officer responsible for law enforcement in a 44
municipality in which there is no such department of the existence of 45
the policy of pursuit to be employed by any such officer and shall take 46
whatever measures that are necessary to assure that each such officer 47
understands the pursuit policy established. 48
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(2) Not later than January 1, [2021] 2027, and at least once during each 49
five-year period thereafter, the Commissioner of Emergency Services 50
and Public Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney, the 51
Police Officer Standards and Training Council, the Connecticut Police 52
Chiefs Association and the Connecticut Coalition of Police and 53
Correctional Officers, shall adopt regulations in accordance with the 54
provisions of chapter 54, to update such policy adopted pursuant to 55
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 56
Sec. 2. Section 29-38e of the general statutes is repealed and the 57
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 58
(a) There shall be within the Division of State Police, within the 59
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, a state-wide 60
firearms [trafficking] crimes and tracing task force for the effective 61
cooperative enforcement of the laws of this state concerning the 62
distribution and possession of firearms. 63
(b) The task force shall be comprised of municipal and state law 64
enforcement officers and may include federal law enforcement officers. 65
Such task force shall be authorized to conduct any investigation 66
authorized by this section at any place within the state as may be 67
deemed necessary. 68
(c) The task force may request and may receive from any federal, state 69
or local agency, cooperation and assistance in the performance of its 70
duties, including the temporary assignment of personnel which may be 71
necessary to carry out the performance of its functions. 72
(d) The task force may enter into mutual assistance and cooperation 73
agreements with other states pertaining to firearms law enforcement 74
matters extending across state boundaries, and may consult and 75
exchange information and personnel with agencies of other states with 76
reference to firearms law enforcement problems of mutual concern. 77
(e) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 78
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may appoint [a commanding officer and such other] such personnel as 79
the commissioner deems necessary for the duties of the task force, 80
within available appropriations. 81
(f) The task force shall: (1) Review the problem of illegal trafficking in 82
firearms and its effects, including its effects on the public, and 83
implement solutions to address the problem; (2) identify persons 84
illegally trafficking in firearms and focus resources to prosecute such 85
persons; (3) track firearms which were sold or distributed illegally and 86
implement solutions to remove such firearms from persons illegally in 87
possession of them; [and] (4) coordinate its activities with other law 88
enforcement agencies within and without the state; and (5) not later than 89
February 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, report in accordance with the 90
provisions of section 11-4a to the Governor and the joint standing 91
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 92
relating to the judiciary and public safety on: (A) The number of 93
individuals identified and arrested pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 94
subsection; (B) the number of firearms seized as a result of the task 95
force's efforts pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection; (C) any 96
other activities of the task force during the preceding calendar year; and 97
(D) any resources that the task force needs to continue to operate in 98
accordance with the provisions of this section. 99
Sec. 3. Section 29-31 of the general statutes is repealed and the 100
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 101
No sale of any firearm shall be made except in the room, store or place 102
described in the permit for the sale of firearms, and such permit or a 103
copy of such permit certified by the authority issuing the same shall be 104
exposed to view within the room, store or place where firearms are sold 105
or offered or exposed for sale. No sale or delivery of any firearm shall 106
be made unless the purchaser or person to whom the same is to be 107
delivered is personally known to the vendor of such firearm or the 108
person making delivery thereof or unless the person making such 109
purchase or to whom delivery thereof is to be made provides evidence 110
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of his or her identity. The vendor of any firearm shall keep a record of 111
each firearm sold in a book kept for that purpose, which record shall be 112
in such form as is prescribed by 27 CFR 478.125. The vendor of any 113
firearm shall make such record available for inspection upon the request 114
of any sworn member of an organized local police department or the 115
Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services 116
and Public Protection or any investigator assigned to the state-wide 117
firearms [trafficking] crimes and tracing task force established under 118
section 29-38e, as amended by this act, or any investigator employed by 119
a federal law enforcement agency for official purposes related to such 120
member's or investigator's employment. 121
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 29-38f of the general statutes is 122
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 123
passage): 124
(a) There shall be a State-Wide Firearms [Trafficking] Crimes and 125
Tracing Task Force Policy Board within the Division of State Police, 126
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, for 127
administrative purposes only, consisting of the Commissioner of 128
Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Chief State's Attorney, 129
the agent in Connecticut in charge of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, 130
Tobacco and Firearms, the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs 131
Association and five chiefs of police designated by said association, each 132
to serve for a term of one year, provided one such chief of police shall 133
be from a municipality with a population of one hundred thousand or 134
more. 135
Sec. 5. Section 54-64a of the general statutes is repealed and the 136
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 137
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection and 138
subsection (b) or (c) of this section, when any arrested person is 139
presented before the Superior Court, said court shall, in bailable 140
offenses, promptly order the release of such person upon the first of the 141
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following conditions of release found sufficient to reasonably ensure the 142
appearance of the arrested person in court: (A) Upon execution of a 143
written promise to appear without special conditions, (B) upon 144
execution of a written promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions, 145
(C) upon execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than 146
necessary, or (D) upon execution of a bond with surety in no greater 147
amount than necessary, but in no event shall a judge prohibit a bond 148
from being posted by surety. In addition to or in conjunction with any 149
of the conditions enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of 150
this subdivision the court may, when it has reason to believe that the 151
person is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and 152
appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to 153
participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The 154
results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal 155
proceeding concerning such person. 156
(2) If the arrested person is charged with no offense other than a 157
misdemeanor, the court shall not impose financial conditions of release 158
on the person unless (A) the person is charged with a family violence 159
crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, or (B) the person requests such 160
financial conditions, or (C) the court makes a finding on the record that 161
there is a likely risk that (i) the arrested person will fail to appear in 162
court, as required, or (ii) the arrested person will obstruct or attempt to 163
obstruct justice, or threaten, injure or intimidate or attempt to threaten, 164
injure or intimidate a prospective witness or juror, or (iii) the arrested 165
person will engage in conduct that threatens the safety of himself or 166
herself or another person. In making a finding described in this 167
subsection, the court may consider past criminal history, including any 168
prior record of failing to appear as required in court that resulted in any 169
conviction for a violation of section 53a-172 or any conviction during the 170
previous ten years for a violation of section 53a-173 and any other 171
pending criminal cases of the person charged with a misdemeanor. 172
(3) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will 173
reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court, 174
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consider the following factors: (A) The nature and circumstances of the 175
offense, (B) such person's record of previous convictions, (C) such 176
person's past record of appearance in court, (D) such person's family 177
ties, (E) such person's employment record, (F) such person's financial 178
resources, character and mental condition, (G) such person's community 179
ties, and (H) in the case of a violation of section 53a-222a when the 180
condition of release was issued for a family violence crime, as defined 181
in section 46b-38a, the heightened risk posed to victims of family 182
violence by violations of conditions of release. 183
(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any 184
arrested person charged with the commission of a class A felony, a class 185
B felony, except a violation of section 53a-86 or 53a-122, a class C felony, 186
except a violation of section 53a-87, 53a-152 or 53a-153, or a class D 187
felony under sections 53a-60 to 53a-60c, inclusive, section 53a-72a, 53a-188
95, 53a-103, 53a-103a, 53a-114, 53a-136 or 53a-216, or a family violence 189
crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, is presented before the Superior 190
Court, said court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the release 191
of such person upon the first of the following conditions of release found 192
sufficient to reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in 193
court and that the safety of any other person will not be endangered: (A) 194
Upon such person's execution of a written promise to appear without 195
special conditions, (B) upon such person's execution of a written 196
promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions, (C) upon such person's 197
execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary, 198
or (D) upon such person's execution of a bond with surety in no greater 199
amount than necessary, but in no event shall a judge prohibit a bond 200
from being posted by surety. In addition to or in conjunction with any 201
of the conditions enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of 202
this subdivision, the court may, when it has reason to believe that the 203
person is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and 204
appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to 205
participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The 206
results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal 207
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proceeding concerning such person. 208
(2) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will 209
reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and 210
that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, consider the 211
following factors: (A) The nature and circumstances of the offense, (B) 212
such person's record of previous convictions, (C) such person's past 213
record of appearance in court after being admitted to bail, (D) such 214
person's family ties, (E) such person's employment record, (F) such 215
person's financial resources, character and mental condition, (G) such 216
person's community ties, (H) the number and seriousness of charges 217
pending against the arrested person, (I) the weight of the evidence 218
against the arrested person, (J) the arrested person's history of violence, 219
(K) whether the arrested person has previously been convicted of 220
similar offenses while released on bond, (L) the likelihood based upon 221
the expressed intention of the arrested person that such person will 222
commit another crime while released, and (M) the heightened risk 223
posed to victims of family violence by violations of conditions of release 224
and court orders of protection. 225
(3) When imposing conditions of release under this subsection, the 226
court shall state for the record any factors under subdivision (2) of this 227
subsection that it considered and the findings that it made as to the 228
danger, if any, that the arrested person might pose to the safety of any 229
other person upon the arrested person's release that caused the court to 230
impose the specific conditions of release that it imposed. 231
(c) (1) When any arrested person charged with the commission of a 232
serious firearm offense, as defined in section 53a-3, is (A) a serious 233
firearm offender, (B) has two previous convictions for a violation of 234
section 29-36, 29-36a, 53-202, 53-202a, 53-202b, 53-202c, 53-202w, 53-235
202aa, 53-206i, 53a-54a, 53a-54b, 53a-54c, 53a-54d, 53a-55, 53a-55a, 53a-236
56, 53a-56a, 53a-59, 53a-60, 53a-60a, 53a-134, 53a-212, 53a-216, 53a-217, 237
53a-217b or 53a-217c, (C) a previous conviction for a violation of section 238
29-35, in addition to a prior conviction for a violation of section 29-36, 239
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29-36a, 53-202, 53-202a, 53-202b, 53-202c, 53-202w, 53-202aa, 53-206i, 240
53a-54a, 53a-54b, 53a-54c, 53a-54d, 53a-55, 53a-55a, 53a-56, 53a-56a, 53a-241
59, 53a-60, 53a-60a, 53a-134, 53a-212, 53a-216, 53a-217, 53a-217b or 53a-242
217c, or (D) two or more convictions during the five-year period 243
immediately prior to the current arrest for a violation of section 21a-277, 244
21a-278, 53a-122 or 53a-123, is presented before the Superior Court, the 245
court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the release of such 246
person after establishing a bond amount found sufficient to reasonably 247
ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court, and that the safety 248
of any other person will not be endangered and upon such person's 249
execution of a bond with or without surety in no greater amount than 250
necessary. The prosecutorial official shall petition for the arrested 251
person to deposit at least thirty per cent of the bond amount directly 252
with the court, and there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the 253
safety of other persons will be endangered without the granting of such 254
petition. Additionally, the court may, when it has reason to believe that 255
the person is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and 256
appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to 257
participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The 258
results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal 259
proceeding concerning such person. 260
(2) When any arrested person charged with the commission of a 261
serious firearm offense, as defined in section 53a-3, other than a person 262
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, is presented before the 263
Superior Court, the court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the 264
release of such person upon the first of the following conditions of 265
release found sufficient to reasonably ensure the appearance of the 266
arrested person in court and that the safety of any other person will not 267
be endangered: (A) Upon such person's execution of a written promise 268
to appear without special conditions, (B) upon such person's execution 269
of a written promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions, (C) upon 270
such person's execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount 271
than necessary, or (D) upon such person's execution of a bond with 272
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surety in no greater amount than necessary, but in no event shall a judge 273
prohibit a bond from being posted by surety. The prosecutorial official 274
may petition the court to deem such person a serious risk to the safety 275
of another person or persons. The prosecutorial official may present any 276
information developed by federal, state and local law enforcement 277
agencies in the course of a criminal investigation or enforcement action, 278
including, but not limited to, social media posts, pictures or videos 279
threatening violence, claiming responsibility for violence or suggesting 280
possession of a firearm. If the court finds that the arrested person poses 281
a serious risk to the safety of another person or persons, the arrested 282
person may only be released pursuant to subparagraph (C) or (D) of this 283
subdivision and the arrested person shall be required to deposit at least 284
thirty per cent of any bond amount directly with the court. Additionally, 285
the court may, when it has reason to believe that the person is drug-286
dependent and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the 287
person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to participate in a program 288
of periodic drug testing and treatment. The results of any such drug test 289
shall not be admissible in any criminal proceeding concerning such 290
person. 291
(3) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will 292
reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and 293
that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, consider the 294
following factors: (A) The nature and circumstances of the offense, (B) 295
such person's record of previous convictions, (C) such person's past 296
record of appearances in court after being admitted to bail, (D) such 297
person's family ties, (E) such person's employment record, (F) such 298
person's financial resources, character and mental condition, (G) such 299
person's community ties, (H) the number and seriousness of charges 300
pending against the arrested person, (I) the weight of the evidence 301
against the arrested person, (J) the arrested person's history of violence, 302
(K) whether the arrested person has previously been convicted of 303
similar offenses while released on bond, and (L) the likelihood based 304
upon the expressed intention of the arrested person that such person 305
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will commit another crime while released. 306
(4) When imposing conditions of release under this subsection, the 307
court shall state for the record any factors under subdivision (3) of this 308
subsection that it considered and the findings that it made as to the 309
danger, if any, that the arrested person might pose to the safety of any 310
other person upon the arrested person's release that caused the court to 311
impose the specific conditions of release that the court imposed. 312
(d) If the court determines that a nonfinancial condition of release 313
should be imposed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of 314
subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the court shall order the pretrial 315
release of the person subject to the least restrictive condition or 316
combination of conditions that the court determines will reasonably 317
ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and, with respect 318
to the release of the person pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this 319
section, that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, 320
which conditions may include an order that the arrested person do one 321
or more of the following: (1) Remain under the supervision of a 322
designated person or organization; (2) comply with specified 323
restrictions on such person's travel, association or place of abode; (3) not 324
engage in specified activities, including the use or possession of a 325
dangerous weapon, an intoxicant or a controlled substance; (4) provide 326
sureties of the peace pursuant to section 54-56f under supervision of a 327
designated bail commissioner or intake, assessment and referral 328
specialist employed by the Judicial Branch; (5) avoid all contact with an 329
alleged victim of the crime and with a potential witness who may testify 330
concerning the offense; (6) maintain employment or, if unemployed, 331
actively seek employment; (7) maintain or commence an educational 332
program; (8) be subject to electronic monitoring; or (9) satisfy any other 333
condition that is reasonably necessary to ensure the appearance of the 334
person in court and that the safety of any other person will not be 335
endangered. The court shall state on the record its reasons for imposing 336
any such nonfinancial condition. 337
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(e) Any arrested person released upon execution of a bond, with or 338
without surety, in an amount equal to or greater than five hundred 339
thousand dollars, shall be subject to electronic monitoring. 340
[(e)] (f) If the arrested person is not released, the court shall order him 341
committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction until he is 342
released or discharged in due course of law. 343
[(f)] (g) The court may require that the person subject to electronic 344
monitoring pursuant to subsection (d) or (e) of this section pay directly 345
to the electronic monitoring service provider a fee for the cost of such 346
electronic monitoring services. If the court finds that the person subject 347
to electronic monitoring is indigent and unable to pay the costs of 348
electronic monitoring services, the court shall waive such costs. Any 349
contract entered into by the Judicial Branch and the electronic 350
monitoring service provider shall include a provision stating that the 351
total cost for electronic monitoring services shall not exceed five dollars 352
per day. Such amount shall be indexed annually to reflect the rate of 353
inflation. 354
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 54-125a of the general statutes is 355
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 356
1, 2025): 357
(b) (1) No person convicted of any of the following offenses, which 358
was committed on or after July 1, 1981, shall be eligible for parole under 359
subsection (a) of this section: (A) Capital felony, as provided under the 360
provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, (B) murder 361
with special circumstances, as provided under the provisions of section 362
53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, (C) felony murder, as 363
provided in section 53a-54c, (D) arson murder, as provided in section 364
53a-54d, (E) murder, as provided in section 53a-54a, or (F) aggravated 365
sexual assault in the first degree, as provided in section 53a-70a. (2) A 366
person convicted of (A) a violation of section 21a-277, 21a-278, 21a-278a, 367
53-21, 53a-90a, 53a-99, 53a-100aa, [or] 53a-102, 53a-192a, 53a-196, 53a-368
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196a, 53a-196b, 53a-196c, 53a-196d, 53a-196e, 53a-196f, 53a-196g, 53a-369
196h, 53a-196i or 53a-196j, or (B) [an] any other offense, other than an 370
offense specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, where the 371
underlying facts and circumstances of the offense involve the use, 372
attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another 373
person, shall be ineligible for parole under subsection (a) of this section 374
until such person has served not less than eighty-five per cent of the 375
definite sentence imposed.376
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 14-283a(b)
Sec. 2 from passage 29-38e
Sec. 3 from passage 29-31
Sec. 4 from passage 29-38f(a)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 54-64a
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 54-125a(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To adopt measures concerning public safety, prosecution of crimes and
protection of victims.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]