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Connecticut Senate Bill SB01543

Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01543 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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55 General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1543
66 January Session, 2025
77 LCO No. 6728
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1010 Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
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1919 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.
2020 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
2121 Assembly convened:
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2323 Section 1. Section 18-81pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
2424 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
2525 (a) As used in this section: 3
2626 (1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice 4
2727 registered nurse licensed under chapter 373; 5
2828 (2) "Alcohol and drug counselor" means an alcohol and drug 6
2929 counselor licensed or certified under chapter 376b; 7
3030 (3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Correction; 8
3131 (4) "Correctional institution" means a prison or jail under the 9
3232 jurisdiction of the commissioner; 10
3333 (5) "Dental professional" means a (A) dentist, (B) dental hygienist 11
3434 licensed under chapter 379a, or (C) dental assistant, as defined in section 12
3535 20-112a; 13
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4242 (6) "Dentist" means a dentist licensed under chapter 379; 14
4343 (7) "Department" means the Department of Correction; 15
4444 (8) "Discharge planner" means a (A) registered nurse licensed under 16
4545 chapter 378, (B) practical nurse licensed under chapter 378, (C) clinical 17
4646 social worker or master social worker licensed under chapter 383b, or 18
4747 (D) professional counselor licensed under chapter 383c; 19
4848 (9) "HIV test" means a test to determine human immunodeficiency 20
4949 virus infection or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus; 21
5050 [(10) "Inmate" means a person in the custody of the commissioner and 22
5151 confined in a correctional institution;] 23
5252 [(11)] (10) "Medical professional" means (A) a physician, (B) an 24
5353 advanced practice registered nurse, (C) a physician assistant, (D) a 25
5454 registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, or (E) a practical nurse 26
5555 licensed under chapter 378; 27
5656 [(12)] (11) "Mental health care provider" means (A) a physician who 28
5757 specializes in psychiatry, or (B) an advanced practice registered nurse 29
5858 who specializes in mental health; 30
5959 [(13)] (12) "Mental health therapist" means (A) a physician who 31
6060 specializes in psychiatry, (B) a psychologist licensed under chapter 383, 32
6161 (C) an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in mental 33
6262 health, (D) a clinical social worker or master social worker licensed 34
6363 under chapter 383b, or (E) a professional counselor licensed under 35
6464 chapter 383c; 36
6565 [(14)] (13) "Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter 370; 37
6666 [(15)] (14) "Physician assistant" means a physician assistant licensed 38
6767 under chapter 370; and 39
6868 [(16)] (15) "Psychotropic medication" means a medication that is used 40
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7575 to treat a mental health disorder that affects behavior, mood, thoughts 41
7676 or perception. 42
7777 (b) Not later than [January 1, 2023] October 1, 2025, the commissioner 43
7878 shall develop a plan for the provision of health care services, including, 44
7979 but not limited to, mental health care, substance use disorder and dental 45
8080 care services, to [inmates of correctional facilities] persons who are 46
8181 incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the department. Such plan shall 47
8282 [include, but not be limited to, guidelines for implementation of the 48
8383 following requirements] ensure, at a minimum, that: 49
8484 (1) (A) [A] There is a sufficient number of mental health therapists, as 50
8585 determined by the commissioner, [shall be placed] at each correctional 51
8686 institution to provide mental health care services to [inmates] persons 52
8787 who are incarcerated; 53
8888 (B) [A] There is a mental health therapist placed at a correctional 54
8989 institution [shall] to provide mental health care services to any [inmate] 55
9090 person who is incarcerated who requests such services or has been 56
9191 referred for such services by correctional staff only after the therapist 57
9292 makes an assessment of the [inmate's] person's need for such services 58
9393 and determines that the [inmate] person requires such services; 59
9494 (C) Each mental health therapist shall deliver such services in concert 60
9595 with the security needs of all [inmates] persons who are incarcerated 61
9696 and correctional staff and the overall operation of the correctional 62
9797 institution, as determined by the warden of the correctional institution; 63
9898 and 64
9999 (D) No mental health therapist who is providing mental health care 65
100100 services pursuant to this subdivision and licensed to prescribe 66
101101 medication shall prescribe a psychotropic medication to [an inmate] a 67
102102 person who is incarcerated unless (i) the mental health therapist has 68
103103 reviewed the mental health history and medical history of the [inmate] 69
104104 person, including, but not limited to, the list of all medications the 70
105105 [inmate] person is taking, (ii) the mental health therapist determines, 71
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112112 based on a review of such history, that the benefits of prescribing such 72
113113 medication outweigh the risk of prescribing such medication, (iii) the 73
114114 mental health therapist diagnoses the [inmate] person with a mental 74
115115 health disorder, the [inmate] person has received a previous diagnosis 75
116116 of a mental health disorder by a licensed mental health care provider 76
117117 and such medication is used to treat such mental health disorder, or, in 77
118118 an emergency situation, the mental health therapist makes an 78
119119 assessment that the inmate's mental health is substantially impaired and 79
120120 requires psychotropic medication to treat, (iv) the mental health 80
121121 therapist approves the use of such medication by the [inmate] person as 81
122122 part of the [inmate's] person's mental health treatment plan, and (v) the 82
123123 mental health therapist keeps a record of each psychotropic medication 83
124124 such provider prescribes to the [inmate] person and all other 84
125125 medications the [inmate] person is taking. 85
126126 (2) Each [inmate] person who is incarcerated shall receive an annual 86
127127 physical examination by a physician, physician assistant or advanced 87
128128 practice registered nurse when such examination is clinically indicated. 88
129129 Such examination may include, but not be limited to, a breast and 89
130130 gynecological examination or prostate examination, where appropriate, 90
131131 and the administration of any test the physician, physician assistant or 91
132132 advanced practice registered nurse deems appropriate. 92
133133 (3) Each [inmate] person who is incarcerated shall receive an initial 93
134134 health assessment from a medical professional not later than fourteen 94
135135 days after the [inmate's] person's initial intake into a correctional 95
136136 institution. 96
137137 (4) If a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered 97
138138 nurse recommends, based on the initial health assessment of [an inmate 98
139139 or] a person who is incarcerated or other person, that such [inmate or] 99
140140 person who is incarcerated or other person be placed in a medical or 100
141141 mental health housing unit, the department shall ensure that such 101
142142 [inmate or] person who is incarcerated or other person is placed in an 102
143143 appropriate medical or mental health housing unit unless there are 103
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150150 significant safety or security reasons for not making such placement. 104
151151 (5) A medical professional shall perform health assessments of 105
152152 [inmates] persons who are incarcerated in a location at the correctional 106
153153 institution that the warden of the correctional institution designates as 107
154154 appropriate for performing such an examination, provided the analysis 108
155155 of any sample collected from the [inmate] person who is incarcerated 109
156156 during a health assessment may be performed at a laboratory that is 110
157157 located outside of the correctional institution. 111
158158 (6) A discharge planner shall conduct an exit interview of each 112
159159 [inmate] person who is incarcerated who is being scheduled for 113
160160 discharge from a correctional institution prior to the date of discharge if 114
161161 such exit interview is clinically indicated, provided the lack of such exit 115
162162 interview shall not delay the scheduled discharge of [an inmate] a 116
163163 person who is incarcerated. Such exit interview shall include a 117
164164 discussion with the [inmate] person regarding a medical discharge plan 118
165165 for any continued medical care or treatment that is recommended by the 119
166166 physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse for 120
167167 the [inmate] person when the [inmate] person reenters the community. 121
168168 (7) A physician shall be on call on weekends, holidays and outside 122
169169 regular work hours to provide medical care to [inmates] persons who 123
170170 are incarcerated as necessary. 124
171171 (8) The commissioner shall ensure that each [inmate] person who is 125
172172 incarcerated has access to all vaccines licensed or authorized under an 126
173173 emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug 127
174174 Administration that are recommended by the National Centers for 128
175175 Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization 129
176176 Practices, subject to availability of such vaccines, unless there are 130
177177 substantial security concerns with providing access to such vaccines. 131
178178 Subject to availability, a physician, physician assistant or advanced 132
179179 practice registered nurse shall prescribe to [an inmate] a person who is 133
180180 incarcerated any such vaccine that (A) the [inmate] person requests, and 134
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187187 (B) is recommended for such [inmate] person by said committee, as 135
188188 determined by the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice 136
189189 registered nurse, provided the prescribing of such vaccine does not 137
190190 impose significant safety concerns. 138
191191 (9) Except in exigent circumstances, a dental professional shall 139
192192 perform a dental screening of each [inmate] person who is incarcerated 140
193193 not later than one year after the [inmate] person initially enters a 141
194194 correctional institution and at least once annually thereafter. At the time 142
195195 the dental professional performs the dental screening of [an inmate] a 143
196196 person who is incarcerated, the dental professional shall develop a 144
197197 dental care plan for the [inmate] person. A dental professional shall 145
198198 provide dental care in accordance with the [inmate's] person's dental 146
199199 care plan throughout the [inmate's] person's time at the correctional 147
200200 institution. The commissioner shall ensure, in consultation with a 148
201201 dentist, that each correctional institution has a dental examination room 149
202202 that is fully equipped with all of the dental equipment necessary to 150
203203 perform a dental examination. 151
204204 (10) A medical professional shall administer an HIV test to each 152
205205 [inmate] person who is incarcerated who requests an HIV test, subject 153
206206 to the availability of such test. Except in exigent circumstances and 154
207207 subject to availability, a medical professional shall offer an HIV test to 155
208208 each [inmate] person who is incarcerated where it is clinically indicated 156
209209 (A) at the time such [inmate] person enters a correctional institution, or 157
210210 (B) during an annual physical assessment. 158
211211 (11) A medical professional shall interview each [inmate] person who 159
212212 is incarcerated regarding [the inmate's] such person's drug and alcohol 160
213213 use and mental health history at the time the [inmate] person initially 161
214214 enters a correctional institution. If [an inmate] the person is exhibiting 162
215215 symptoms of withdrawal from a drug or alcohol or mental distress at 163
216216 such time, a medical professional shall perform a physical and mental 164
217217 health assessment of the [inmate] person and communicate the results 165
218218 of such assessment to a physician, physician assistant or advanced 166
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225225 practice registered nurse, and a mental health care provider or mental 167
226226 health therapist, if applicable. Except in exigent circumstances, a drug 168
227227 and alcohol counselor shall perform an evaluation of the [inmate] 169
228228 person not later than five days after the [inmate] the person initially 170
229229 enters the correctional institution. (A) The correctional institution shall 171
230230 immediately transfer each [inmate] such person who is determined by a 172
231231 physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse to 173
232232 be experiencing withdrawal from a drug or alcohol to an appropriate 174
233233 area at such correctional institution for medical treatment of such 175
234234 withdrawal. A physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice 176
235235 registered nurse shall periodically evaluate each [inmate who] person 177
236236 who is incarcerated and exhibits signs of or discloses an addiction to a 178
237237 drug or alcohol or who experiences withdrawal from a drug or alcohol, 179
238238 at a frequency deemed appropriate by the physician, physician assistant 180
239239 or advanced practice registered nurse. (B) In the case of a person who is 181
240240 determined at the time of such person's intake into a correctional 182
241241 institution to be in need of mental health services, such person shall be 183
242242 immediately provided evidence-based mental health interventions 184
243243 delivered by an interdisciplinary team of mental health care providers 185
244244 and mental health therapists. Such person shall be periodically 186
245245 evaluated by a mental health care provider or mental health therapist 187
246246 and provided such services, as needed. 188
247247 (12) A physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice 189
248248 registered nurse with experience in substance use disorder diagnosis 190
249249 and treatment shall oversee the medical treatment of [an inmate] a 191
250250 person who is incarcerated experiencing withdrawal from a drug or 192
251251 alcohol at each correctional institution. A medical professional shall be 193
252252 present in the medical unit at each correctional facility at all times 194
253253 during the provision of medical treatment to such [inmate] person. 195
254254 (13) A drug and alcohol counselor shall offer appropriate substance 196
255255 use disorder counseling services, including, but not limited to, 197
256256 individual counseling sessions and group counseling sessions, to [an 198
257257 inmate who] a person who is incarcerated and exhibits signs of or 199
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264264 discloses an addiction to a drug or alcohol and encourage such [inmate] 200
265265 person to participate in at least one counselling session. At the time of 201
266266 [an inmate's] discharge of a person who is incarcerated from the 202
267267 correctional institution, a discharge planner may refer [an inmate] any 203
268268 such person who has exhibited signs of or disclosed an addiction to a 204
269269 drug or alcohol while [an inmate] incarcerated at such correctional 205
270270 institution to a substance use disorder treatment program in the 206
271271 community that is deemed appropriate for the [inmate] person by such 207
272272 discharge planner. 208
273273 (14) The York Correctional Institution shall provide each [inmate who 209
274274 is] pregnant woman who is incarcerated and drug or alcohol-210
275275 dependent, with information regarding the dangers of undergoing 211
276276 withdrawal from the drug or alcohol without medical treatment, the 212
277277 importance of receiving medical treatment during the second trimester 213
278278 of pregnancy for withdrawal from the drug or alcohol and the effects of 214
279279 neonatal abstinence syndrome on a newborn. 215
280280 (15) The York Correctional Institution shall provide each [inmate who 216
281281 is] pregnant woman who is incarcerated prenatal visits at a frequency 217
282282 determined by an obstetrician to be consistent with community 218
283283 standards for prenatal visits. 219
284284 (16) The department shall issue a request for information to which a 220
285285 school of medicine may apply for purposes of providing practical 221
286286 training at correctional institutions as part of a medical residency 222
287287 program, through which residents participating in such program may 223
288288 provide health care services to [inmates] persons who are incarcerated. 224
289289 (c) Not later than [February 1, 2023] October 1, 2025, the 225
290290 commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 226
291291 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 227
292292 cognizance of matters relating to public health and the judiciary 228
293293 regarding the plan developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, 229
294294 recommendations for any legislation necessary to implement such plan 230
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301301 and the department's timeline for implementation of such plan, 231
302302 provided the commissioner implements the provisions of subparagraph 232
303303 (B) of subdivision (11) of subsection (b) of this section not later than 233
304304 January 1, 2026. 234
305305 Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 235
306306 Correction shall provide palatable and nutritious meals to each person 236
307307 in the custody of the commissioner. Under no circumstances shall the 237
308308 commissioner permit such persons to be fed nutraloaf as a form of 238
309309 discipline or any other punitive diet. 239
310310 (b) For purposes of this section, "nutraloaf" means a mixture of foods 240
311311 blended together and baked into a solid loaf and "punitive diet" means 241
312312 a diet that is used for punishment purposes. 242
313313 Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) The Commissioner of 243
314314 Correction shall ensure that each person in the custody of the 244
315315 commissioner is provided with a form enabling such person to 245
316316 authorize another person to access such person's medical records that 246
317317 are otherwise subject to nondisclosure under the federal Health 247
318318 Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, P.L. 104-191, as 248
319319 amended from time to time. 249
320320 Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than one year after the 250
321321 effective date of this section, the Commissioner of Correction, in 251
322322 consultation with the Correction Ombuds appointed pursuant to section 252
323323 18-81jj of the general statutes, shall publish on the Internet web site 253
324324 operated by the Department of Correction, the report commissioned by 254
325325 the department in 2017 under contract with an institute concerned with 255
326326 criminal justice, for the purpose of identifying and examining the most 256
327327 extreme cases of medical malpractice and neglect experienced by 257
328328 persons in the custody of the commissioner. Such published report shall 258
329329 include all addenda and have personal identifying information 259
330330 redacted. 260
331331 (b) The commissioner shall notify any living person, or if deceased, 261
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338338 the next-of-kin of such person whose case is identified in the report 262
339339 described pursuant to subsection (a) of this section of the publication of 263
340340 such report. As part of such notification, the department shall include 264
341341 all documentation concerning such person's case, including, but not 265
342342 limited to, the entire medical file, security division investigation reports, 266
343343 morbidity and mortality reports, documentation from the utilization 267
344344 review committee and electronic mail related to the case. 268
345345 (c) Not later than one year after the effective date of this section, the 269
346346 Commissioner of Correction, in consultation with the Correction 270
347347 Ombuds, shall report on actions taken to fulfill the requirements of this 271
348348 section to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 272
349349 cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Correction, in 273
350350 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 274
351351 Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 275
352352 section 4-148 of the general statutes concerning time limitations to file a 276
353353 claim against the state and any other provision of the general statutes, a 277
354354 person shall have one year after the date of notification pursuant to 278
355355 subsection (b) of section 4 of this act to pursue a claim based on 279
356356 information contained in the report described in subsection (a) of section 280
357357 4 of this act. Upon filing of any such claim with the Office of the Claims 281
358358 Commissioner, established pursuant to section 4-142 of the general 282
359359 statutes, permission to sue the state shall be deemed granted for such 283
360360 claim. Any such action shall be limited to medical malpractice or 284
361361 negligence claims only and any such action shall be deemed a suit 285
362362 otherwise authorized by law in accordance with subsection (a) of section 286
363363 4-142 of the general statutes. 287
364364 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes concerning 288
365365 any statute of limitations to bring an action in negligence or malpractice, 289
366366 a claimant for whom permission to sue is deemed granted under 290
367367 subsection (a) of this section for a particular claim may bring an action 291
368368 on such claim in the Superior Court not later than one year after the date 292
369369 of notification pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4 of this act. 293
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376376 Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) Upon publication of the report pursuant 294
377377 to subsection (a) of section 4 of this act, the Commissioner of Correction 295
378378 shall forward all documentation described in subsection (b) of said 296
379379 section for each case in such published report to the Commissioner of 297
380380 Public Health. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-13e of the 298
381381 general statutes, not later than one hundred eighty days after receipt of 299
382382 such documentation, the Commissioner of Public Health shall open an 300
383383 investigation into each such case. Such cases shall be investigated by 301
384384 independent medical examiners or peer-to-peer review specialists to 302
385385 investigate such cases. Not later than three hundred sixty-five days after 303
386386 receipt of such documentation, the Commissioner of Public Health shall 304
387387 identify what, if any, disciplinary action is to be taken against medical 305
388388 practitioners determined to have committed a violation subject to 306
389389 disciplinary action under chapter 370 of the general statutes. 307
390390 Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) The Office of the Correction Ombuds, 308
391391 established pursuant to section 18-81qq of the general statutes, in 309
392392 consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall publish on 310
393393 said offices' Internet web sites a database that contains all cases filed 311
394394 against the Department of Correction defended by the division of the 312
395395 Office of the Attorney General concerning public safety during the 313
396396 period from January 1, 2000, to the effective date of this section. Said 314
397397 offices shall conduct and publish the results of targeted audits of such 315
398398 cases that were brought as medical neglect cases during the period from 316
399399 January 1, 2019, to the effective date of this section. 317
400400 Sec. 8. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative 318
401401 Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Correction, shall 319
402402 study the feasibility of relocating the New Haven Correctional Center 320
403403 on Whalley Avenue and the Bridgeport Correctional Center, to locations 321
404404 that would create fewer impacts on neighborhoods. Such study shall 322
405405 include (1) an assessment of the practicality and potential impacts of 323
406406 each proposed relocation, and (2) a listing of potential sites for each 324
407407 proposed relocation, including a comparison of any advantages or 325
408408 disadvantages each proposed site may have when compared to the 326
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415415 current site for each such facility. Not later than February 1, 2026, the 327
416416 Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit such study, in 328
417417 accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 329
418418 to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 330
419419 cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Correction. 331
420420 Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 332
421421 Correction shall ensure that each correctional facility under the 333
422422 commissioner's jurisdiction is staffed at a level to ensure the safety of 334
423423 the staff who work at each such facility, visitors and contractors who 335
424424 enter each such facility and persons who are incarcerated at each such 336
425425 facility. 337
426426 (b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall develop 338
427427 and actively employ a program for the recruitment and retention of 339
428428 correctional officers. 340
429429 (c) Not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the 341
430430 commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 342
431431 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the 343
432432 General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 344
433433 Department of Correction on efforts to comply with subsections (a) and 345
434434 (b) of this section, including any shortcomings in such compliance. Such 346
435435 report may include recommendations for additional resources needed 347
436436 to achieve such compliance. 348
437437 Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) The Commissioner of 349
438438 Correction shall ensure that persons who are incarcerated have access 350
439439 to and engage in productive programming, including, but not limited 351
440440 to, employment opportunities, education courses and vocational 352
441441 training. Such programming shall be available for incarcerated persons 353
442442 to access during out-of-cell time. Access to such programming shall be 354
443443 prioritized for those incarcerated persons who are not sentenced to a 355
444444 term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release. 356
445445 Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of 357
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452452 Correction shall develop a protocol for full documentation of any 358
453453 assault by a person who is incarcerated on custodial staff. On and after 359
454454 October 1, 2025, each such assault shall be documented in accordance 360
455455 with such protocol. 361
456456 Sec. 12. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, 362
457457 the Commissioner of Correction shall (1) purchase at least two body 363
458458 scanner machines, and install at least one at the York Correctional 364
459459 Institution and at least one at the John R. Manson Youth Institution, 365
460460 Cheshire, and (2) establish a pilot program and directives that prioritize 366
461461 using such machines to inspect persons who are incarcerated in said 367
462462 institutions in lieu of correctional personnel conducting strip searches 368
463463 or cavity searches when such searches are typically performed, 369
464464 according to the existing directives. As part of such pilot program, the 370
465465 commissioner shall train correctional personnel in the use of such 371
466466 machines and collect data concerning such use. 372
467467 (b) Not later than February 15, 2027, the Commissioner of Correction 373
468468 shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 374
469469 of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General 375
470470 Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and 376
471471 government oversight. Such report shall include, but need not be 377
472472 limited to, (1) the total number of body scans performed by the body 378
473473 scanning machines during the 2026 calendar year based upon the reason 379
474474 for the scan, by month, (2) the number of strip or cavity searches 380
475475 conducted during the 2026 calendar year, by month, (3) the total number 381
476476 of such body scans that discovered contraband material, by month, (4) 382
477477 the types and material of contraband discovered during such period, 383
478478 differentiated by the type of search or scan performed, (5) the use of any 384
479479 additional screening subsequent to the implementation of the body 385
480480 scanner machines, including a strip search, placement on a dry cell 386
481481 watch, urinalysis or medical assessment to confirm contraband was not 387
482482 present, and (6) any recommendations for legislative changes based 388
483483 upon the results of such pilot program. 389
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490490 Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) Not later than February 15, 2026, the 390
491491 Commissioner of Correction shall submit a report, in accordance with 391
492492 the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 392
493493 standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 393
494494 matters relating to the judiciary and government oversight. Such report 394
495495 shall include an evaluation of current directives and procedures for strip 395
496496 searches and cavity searches in correctional institutions in the state 396
497497 compared to other states in the northeastern region and federal policies, 397
498498 based on the type of institution, and highlight any differences in such 398
499499 directives and procedures. 399
500500 Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes described in 400
501501 subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 401
502502 power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 402
503503 in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 403
504504 aggregate five hundred thousand dollars. 404
505505 (b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 405
506506 stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 406
507507 of Correction for the purpose of purchasing two body scanning 407
508508 machines, installing such machines and training corrections staff on 408
509509 their use in accordance with the provisions of section 12 of this act. 409
510510 (c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 410
511511 of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 411
512512 provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 412
513513 bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 413
514514 section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 414
515515 from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 415
516516 accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 416
517517 time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 417
518518 exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 418
519519 in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 419
520520 Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 420
521521 authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 421
522522 Raised Bill No. 1543
523523
524524
525525
526526 LCO No. 6728 15 of 16
527527
528528 there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 422
529529 by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 423
530530 and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 424
531531 discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 425
532532 be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 426
533533 of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 427
534534 interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 428
535535 part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 429
536536 appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 430
537537 principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 431
538538 such principal and interest as the same become due. 432
539539 Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) On or before January 1, 2026, 433
540540 and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Correction shall submit a 434
541541 report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 435
542542 statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 436
543543 having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and government 437
544544 oversight, concerning the conduct of strip and cavity searches in such 438
545545 facilities. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The 439
546546 number of strip searches and cavity searches of persons who are 440
547547 incarcerated that have occurred during the prior calendar year, broken 441
548548 out by correctional facility, (2) whether there have been any lawsuits 442
549549 filed concerning such strip searches or cavity searches during the year 443
550550 immediately preceding such report and, if so, the status or outcome of 444
551551 such lawsuits, and (3) a copy of the current policy concerning the 445
552552 conduct of such searches, including any training requirements for 446
553553 correctional officers concerning the conduct of such searches. 447
554554 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
555555 sections:
556556
557557 Section 1 from passage 18-81pp
558558 Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 New section
559559 Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 New section
560560 Sec. 4 from passage New section
561561 Sec. 5 from passage New section
562562 Raised Bill No. 1543
563563
564564
565565
566566 LCO No. 6728 16 of 16
567567
568568 Sec. 6 from passage New section
569569 Sec. 7 from passage New section
570570 Sec. 8 from passage New section
571571 Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 New section
572572 Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 New section
573573 Sec. 11 from passage New section
574574 Sec. 12 from passage New section
575575 Sec. 13 from passage New section
576576 Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 New section
577577 Sec. 15 from passage New section
578578
579579 Statement of Purpose:
580580 To (1) require that persons who are incarcerated be immediately
581581 provided evidence-based mental health interventions upon initial
582582 assessment and intake, (2) require that persons who are incarcerated be
583583 fed palatable and nutritious meals and not be served nutraloaf as
584584 punishment, (3) ensure that persons who are incarcerated are provided
585585 a form to authorize another person to access their medical records, (4)
586586 cause the publication of the Criminal Justice Institute's report
587587 concerning cases of medical neglect in Connecticut's correctional
588588 facilities and provide that claimants in such cases be granted permission
589589 to sue the state, (5) adopt measures to increase access to data concerning
590590 cases involving medical neglect by the Department of Correction, (6)
591591 require a study of relocating the New Haven Correctional Center on
592592 Whalley Avenue and the Bridgeport Correctional Center, (7) employ
593593 measures to increase staffing at correctional facilities, (8) increase
594594 productive time for out-of-cell time for persons who are incarcerated,
595595 (9) ensure incidents of violence against correctional officers are fully
596596 documented, and (10) establish a pilot program for body scans in lieu of
597597 body and cavity searches and bonding for such program.
598598
599599 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
600600 that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
601601 underlined.]
602602