LCO No. 6728 1 of 16
General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1543
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6728
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 18-81pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
(a) As used in this section: 3
(1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice 4
registered nurse licensed under chapter 373; 5
(2) "Alcohol and drug counselor" means an alcohol and drug 6
counselor licensed or certified under chapter 376b; 7
(3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Correction; 8
(4) "Correctional institution" means a prison or jail under the 9
jurisdiction of the commissioner; 10
(5) "Dental professional" means a (A) dentist, (B) dental hygienist 11
licensed under chapter 379a, or (C) dental assistant, as defined in section 12
20-112a; 13
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 2 of 16
(6) "Dentist" means a dentist licensed under chapter 379; 14
(7) "Department" means the Department of Correction; 15
(8) "Discharge planner" means a (A) registered nurse licensed under 16
chapter 378, (B) practical nurse licensed under chapter 378, (C) clinical 17
social worker or master social worker licensed under chapter 383b, or 18
(D) professional counselor licensed under chapter 383c; 19
(9) "HIV test" means a test to determine human immunodeficiency 20
virus infection or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus; 21
[(10) "Inmate" means a person in the custody of the commissioner and 22
confined in a correctional institution;] 23
[(11)] (10) "Medical professional" means (A) a physician, (B) an 24
advanced practice registered nurse, (C) a physician assistant, (D) a 25
registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, or (E) a practical nurse 26
licensed under chapter 378; 27
[(12)] (11) "Mental health care provider" means (A) a physician who 28
specializes in psychiatry, or (B) an advanced practice registered nurse 29
who specializes in mental health; 30
[(13)] (12) "Mental health therapist" means (A) a physician who 31
specializes in psychiatry, (B) a psychologist licensed under chapter 383, 32
(C) an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in mental 33
health, (D) a clinical social worker or master social worker licensed 34
under chapter 383b, or (E) a professional counselor licensed under 35
chapter 383c; 36
[(14)] (13) "Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter 370; 37
[(15)] (14) "Physician assistant" means a physician assistant licensed 38
under chapter 370; and 39
[(16)] (15) "Psychotropic medication" means a medication that is used 40
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 3 of 16
to treat a mental health disorder that affects behavior, mood, thoughts 41
or perception. 42
(b) Not later than [January 1, 2023] October 1, 2025, the commissioner 43
shall develop a plan for the provision of health care services, including, 44
but not limited to, mental health care, substance use disorder and dental 45
care services, to [inmates of correctional facilities] persons who are 46
incarcerated under the jurisdiction of the department. Such plan shall 47
[include, but not be limited to, guidelines for implementation of the 48
following requirements] ensure, at a minimum, that: 49
(1) (A) [A] There is a sufficient number of mental health therapists, as 50
determined by the commissioner, [shall be placed] at each correctional 51
institution to provide mental health care services to [inmates] persons 52
who are incarcerated; 53
(B) [A] There is a mental health therapist placed at a correctional 54
institution [shall] to provide mental health care services to any [inmate] 55
person who is incarcerated who requests such services or has been 56
referred for such services by correctional staff only after the therapist 57
makes an assessment of the [inmate's] person's need for such services 58
and determines that the [inmate] person requires such services; 59
(C) Each mental health therapist shall deliver such services in concert 60
with the security needs of all [inmates] persons who are incarcerated 61
and correctional staff and the overall operation of the correctional 62
institution, as determined by the warden of the correctional institution; 63
and 64
(D) No mental health therapist who is providing mental health care 65
services pursuant to this subdivision and licensed to prescribe 66
medication shall prescribe a psychotropic medication to [an inmate] a 67
person who is incarcerated unless (i) the mental health therapist has 68
reviewed the mental health history and medical history of the [inmate] 69
person, including, but not limited to, the list of all medications the 70
[inmate] person is taking, (ii) the mental health therapist determines, 71
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 4 of 16
based on a review of such history, that the benefits of prescribing such 72
medication outweigh the risk of prescribing such medication, (iii) the 73
mental health therapist diagnoses the [inmate] person with a mental 74
health disorder, the [inmate] person has received a previous diagnosis 75
of a mental health disorder by a licensed mental health care provider 76
and such medication is used to treat such mental health disorder, or, in 77
an emergency situation, the mental health therapist makes an 78
assessment that the inmate's mental health is substantially impaired and 79
requires psychotropic medication to treat, (iv) the mental health 80
therapist approves the use of such medication by the [inmate] person as 81
part of the [inmate's] person's mental health treatment plan, and (v) the 82
mental health therapist keeps a record of each psychotropic medication 83
such provider prescribes to the [inmate] person and all other 84
medications the [inmate] person is taking. 85
(2) Each [inmate] person who is incarcerated shall receive an annual 86
physical examination by a physician, physician assistant or advanced 87
practice registered nurse when such examination is clinically indicated. 88
Such examination may include, but not be limited to, a breast and 89
gynecological examination or prostate examination, where appropriate, 90
and the administration of any test the physician, physician assistant or 91
advanced practice registered nurse deems appropriate. 92
(3) Each [inmate] person who is incarcerated shall receive an initial 93
health assessment from a medical professional not later than fourteen 94
days after the [inmate's] person's initial intake into a correctional 95
institution. 96
(4) If a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered 97
nurse recommends, based on the initial health assessment of [an inmate 98
or] a person who is incarcerated or other person, that such [inmate or] 99
person who is incarcerated or other person be placed in a medical or 100
mental health housing unit, the department shall ensure that such 101
[inmate or] person who is incarcerated or other person is placed in an 102
appropriate medical or mental health housing unit unless there are 103
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 5 of 16
significant safety or security reasons for not making such placement. 104
(5) A medical professional shall perform health assessments of 105
[inmates] persons who are incarcerated in a location at the correctional 106
institution that the warden of the correctional institution designates as 107
appropriate for performing such an examination, provided the analysis 108
of any sample collected from the [inmate] person who is incarcerated 109
during a health assessment may be performed at a laboratory that is 110
located outside of the correctional institution. 111
(6) A discharge planner shall conduct an exit interview of each 112
[inmate] person who is incarcerated who is being scheduled for 113
discharge from a correctional institution prior to the date of discharge if 114
such exit interview is clinically indicated, provided the lack of such exit 115
interview shall not delay the scheduled discharge of [an inmate] a 116
person who is incarcerated. Such exit interview shall include a 117
discussion with the [inmate] person regarding a medical discharge plan 118
for any continued medical care or treatment that is recommended by the 119
physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse for 120
the [inmate] person when the [inmate] person reenters the community. 121
(7) A physician shall be on call on weekends, holidays and outside 122
regular work hours to provide medical care to [inmates] persons who 123
are incarcerated as necessary. 124
(8) The commissioner shall ensure that each [inmate] person who is 125
incarcerated has access to all vaccines licensed or authorized under an 126
emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug 127
Administration that are recommended by the National Centers for 128
Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization 129
Practices, subject to availability of such vaccines, unless there are 130
substantial security concerns with providing access to such vaccines. 131
Subject to availability, a physician, physician assistant or advanced 132
practice registered nurse shall prescribe to [an inmate] a person who is 133
incarcerated any such vaccine that (A) the [inmate] person requests, and 134
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 6 of 16
(B) is recommended for such [inmate] person by said committee, as 135
determined by the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice 136
registered nurse, provided the prescribing of such vaccine does not 137
impose significant safety concerns. 138
(9) Except in exigent circumstances, a dental professional shall 139
perform a dental screening of each [inmate] person who is incarcerated 140
not later than one year after the [inmate] person initially enters a 141
correctional institution and at least once annually thereafter. At the time 142
the dental professional performs the dental screening of [an inmate] a 143
person who is incarcerated, the dental professional shall develop a 144
dental care plan for the [inmate] person. A dental professional shall 145
provide dental care in accordance with the [inmate's] person's dental 146
care plan throughout the [inmate's] person's time at the correctional 147
institution. The commissioner shall ensure, in consultation with a 148
dentist, that each correctional institution has a dental examination room 149
that is fully equipped with all of the dental equipment necessary to 150
perform a dental examination. 151
(10) A medical professional shall administer an HIV test to each 152
[inmate] person who is incarcerated who requests an HIV test, subject 153
to the availability of such test. Except in exigent circumstances and 154
subject to availability, a medical professional shall offer an HIV test to 155
each [inmate] person who is incarcerated where it is clinically indicated 156
(A) at the time such [inmate] person enters a correctional institution, or 157
(B) during an annual physical assessment. 158
(11) A medical professional shall interview each [inmate] person who 159
is incarcerated regarding [the inmate's] such person's drug and alcohol 160
use and mental health history at the time the [inmate] person initially 161
enters a correctional institution. If [an inmate] the person is exhibiting 162
symptoms of withdrawal from a drug or alcohol or mental distress at 163
such time, a medical professional shall perform a physical and mental 164
health assessment of the [inmate] person and communicate the results 165
of such assessment to a physician, physician assistant or advanced 166
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 7 of 16
practice registered nurse, and a mental health care provider or mental 167
health therapist, if applicable. Except in exigent circumstances, a drug 168
and alcohol counselor shall perform an evaluation of the [inmate] 169
person not later than five days after the [inmate] the person initially 170
enters the correctional institution. (A) The correctional institution shall 171
immediately transfer each [inmate] such person who is determined by a 172
physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse to 173
be experiencing withdrawal from a drug or alcohol to an appropriate 174
area at such correctional institution for medical treatment of such 175
withdrawal. A physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice 176
registered nurse shall periodically evaluate each [inmate who] person 177
who is incarcerated and exhibits signs of or discloses an addiction to a 178
drug or alcohol or who experiences withdrawal from a drug or alcohol, 179
at a frequency deemed appropriate by the physician, physician assistant 180
or advanced practice registered nurse. (B) In the case of a person who is 181
determined at the time of such person's intake into a correctional 182
institution to be in need of mental health services, such person shall be 183
immediately provided evidence-based mental health interventions 184
delivered by an interdisciplinary team of mental health care providers 185
and mental health therapists. Such person shall be periodically 186
evaluated by a mental health care provider or mental health therapist 187
and provided such services, as needed. 188
(12) A physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice 189
registered nurse with experience in substance use disorder diagnosis 190
and treatment shall oversee the medical treatment of [an inmate] a 191
person who is incarcerated experiencing withdrawal from a drug or 192
alcohol at each correctional institution. A medical professional shall be 193
present in the medical unit at each correctional facility at all times 194
during the provision of medical treatment to such [inmate] person. 195
(13) A drug and alcohol counselor shall offer appropriate substance 196
use disorder counseling services, including, but not limited to, 197
individual counseling sessions and group counseling sessions, to [an 198
inmate who] a person who is incarcerated and exhibits signs of or 199
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 8 of 16
discloses an addiction to a drug or alcohol and encourage such [inmate] 200
person to participate in at least one counselling session. At the time of 201
[an inmate's] discharge of a person who is incarcerated from the 202
correctional institution, a discharge planner may refer [an inmate] any 203
such person who has exhibited signs of or disclosed an addiction to a 204
drug or alcohol while [an inmate] incarcerated at such correctional 205
institution to a substance use disorder treatment program in the 206
community that is deemed appropriate for the [inmate] person by such 207
discharge planner. 208
(14) The York Correctional Institution shall provide each [inmate who 209
is] pregnant woman who is incarcerated and drug or alcohol-210
dependent, with information regarding the dangers of undergoing 211
withdrawal from the drug or alcohol without medical treatment, the 212
importance of receiving medical treatment during the second trimester 213
of pregnancy for withdrawal from the drug or alcohol and the effects of 214
neonatal abstinence syndrome on a newborn. 215
(15) The York Correctional Institution shall provide each [inmate who 216
is] pregnant woman who is incarcerated prenatal visits at a frequency 217
determined by an obstetrician to be consistent with community 218
standards for prenatal visits. 219
(16) The department shall issue a request for information to which a 220
school of medicine may apply for purposes of providing practical 221
training at correctional institutions as part of a medical residency 222
program, through which residents participating in such program may 223
provide health care services to [inmates] persons who are incarcerated. 224
(c) Not later than [February 1, 2023] October 1, 2025, the 225
commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 226
11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 227
cognizance of matters relating to public health and the judiciary 228
regarding the plan developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, 229
recommendations for any legislation necessary to implement such plan 230
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 9 of 16
and the department's timeline for implementation of such plan, 231
provided the commissioner implements the provisions of subparagraph 232
(B) of subdivision (11) of subsection (b) of this section not later than 233
January 1, 2026. 234
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 235
Correction shall provide palatable and nutritious meals to each person 236
in the custody of the commissioner. Under no circumstances shall the 237
commissioner permit such persons to be fed nutraloaf as a form of 238
discipline or any other punitive diet. 239
(b) For purposes of this section, "nutraloaf" means a mixture of foods 240
blended together and baked into a solid loaf and "punitive diet" means 241
a diet that is used for punishment purposes. 242
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) The Commissioner of 243
Correction shall ensure that each person in the custody of the 244
commissioner is provided with a form enabling such person to 245
authorize another person to access such person's medical records that 246
are otherwise subject to nondisclosure under the federal Health 247
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, P.L. 104-191, as 248
amended from time to time. 249
Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than one year after the 250
effective date of this section, the Commissioner of Correction, in 251
consultation with the Correction Ombuds appointed pursuant to section 252
18-81jj of the general statutes, shall publish on the Internet web site 253
operated by the Department of Correction, the report commissioned by 254
the department in 2017 under contract with an institute concerned with 255
criminal justice, for the purpose of identifying and examining the most 256
extreme cases of medical malpractice and neglect experienced by 257
persons in the custody of the commissioner. Such published report shall 258
include all addenda and have personal identifying information 259
redacted. 260
(b) The commissioner shall notify any living person, or if deceased, 261
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 10 of 16
the next-of-kin of such person whose case is identified in the report 262
described pursuant to subsection (a) of this section of the publication of 263
such report. As part of such notification, the department shall include 264
all documentation concerning such person's case, including, but not 265
limited to, the entire medical file, security division investigation reports, 266
morbidity and mortality reports, documentation from the utilization 267
review committee and electronic mail related to the case. 268
(c) Not later than one year after the effective date of this section, the 269
Commissioner of Correction, in consultation with the Correction 270
Ombuds, shall report on actions taken to fulfill the requirements of this 271
section to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 272
cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Correction, in 273
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 274
Sec. 5. (Effective from passage) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of 275
section 4-148 of the general statutes concerning time limitations to file a 276
claim against the state and any other provision of the general statutes, a 277
person shall have one year after the date of notification pursuant to 278
subsection (b) of section 4 of this act to pursue a claim based on 279
information contained in the report described in subsection (a) of section 280
4 of this act. Upon filing of any such claim with the Office of the Claims 281
Commissioner, established pursuant to section 4-142 of the general 282
statutes, permission to sue the state shall be deemed granted for such 283
claim. Any such action shall be limited to medical malpractice or 284
negligence claims only and any such action shall be deemed a suit 285
otherwise authorized by law in accordance with subsection (a) of section 286
4-142 of the general statutes. 287
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes concerning 288
any statute of limitations to bring an action in negligence or malpractice, 289
a claimant for whom permission to sue is deemed granted under 290
subsection (a) of this section for a particular claim may bring an action 291
on such claim in the Superior Court not later than one year after the date 292
of notification pursuant to subsection (b) of section 4 of this act. 293
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 11 of 16
Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) Upon publication of the report pursuant 294
to subsection (a) of section 4 of this act, the Commissioner of Correction 295
shall forward all documentation described in subsection (b) of said 296
section for each case in such published report to the Commissioner of 297
Public Health. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-13e of the 298
general statutes, not later than one hundred eighty days after receipt of 299
such documentation, the Commissioner of Public Health shall open an 300
investigation into each such case. Such cases shall be investigated by 301
independent medical examiners or peer-to-peer review specialists to 302
investigate such cases. Not later than three hundred sixty-five days after 303
receipt of such documentation, the Commissioner of Public Health shall 304
identify what, if any, disciplinary action is to be taken against medical 305
practitioners determined to have committed a violation subject to 306
disciplinary action under chapter 370 of the general statutes. 307
Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) The Office of the Correction Ombuds, 308
established pursuant to section 18-81qq of the general statutes, in 309
consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall publish on 310
said offices' Internet web sites a database that contains all cases filed 311
against the Department of Correction defended by the division of the 312
Office of the Attorney General concerning public safety during the 313
period from January 1, 2000, to the effective date of this section. Said 314
offices shall conduct and publish the results of targeted audits of such 315
cases that were brought as medical neglect cases during the period from 316
January 1, 2019, to the effective date of this section. 317
Sec. 8. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Administrative 318
Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Correction, shall 319
study the feasibility of relocating the New Haven Correctional Center 320
on Whalley Avenue and the Bridgeport Correctional Center, to locations 321
that would create fewer impacts on neighborhoods. Such study shall 322
include (1) an assessment of the practicality and potential impacts of 323
each proposed relocation, and (2) a listing of potential sites for each 324
proposed relocation, including a comparison of any advantages or 325
disadvantages each proposed site may have when compared to the 326
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 12 of 16
current site for each such facility. Not later than February 1, 2026, the 327
Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit such study, in 328
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 329
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 330
cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Correction. 331
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 332
Correction shall ensure that each correctional facility under the 333
commissioner's jurisdiction is staffed at a level to ensure the safety of 334
the staff who work at each such facility, visitors and contractors who 335
enter each such facility and persons who are incarcerated at each such 336
facility. 337
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall develop 338
and actively employ a program for the recruitment and retention of 339
correctional officers. 340
(c) Not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the 341
commissioner shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 342
11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the 343
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 344
Department of Correction on efforts to comply with subsections (a) and 345
(b) of this section, including any shortcomings in such compliance. Such 346
report may include recommendations for additional resources needed 347
to achieve such compliance. 348
Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) The Commissioner of 349
Correction shall ensure that persons who are incarcerated have access 350
to and engage in productive programming, including, but not limited 351
to, employment opportunities, education courses and vocational 352
training. Such programming shall be available for incarcerated persons 353
to access during out-of-cell time. Access to such programming shall be 354
prioritized for those incarcerated persons who are not sentenced to a 355
term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release. 356
Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of 357
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 13 of 16
Correction shall develop a protocol for full documentation of any 358
assault by a person who is incarcerated on custodial staff. On and after 359
October 1, 2025, each such assault shall be documented in accordance 360
with such protocol. 361
Sec. 12. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, 362
the Commissioner of Correction shall (1) purchase at least two body 363
scanner machines, and install at least one at the York Correctional 364
Institution and at least one at the John R. Manson Youth Institution, 365
Cheshire, and (2) establish a pilot program and directives that prioritize 366
using such machines to inspect persons who are incarcerated in said 367
institutions in lieu of correctional personnel conducting strip searches 368
or cavity searches when such searches are typically performed, 369
according to the existing directives. As part of such pilot program, the 370
commissioner shall train correctional personnel in the use of such 371
machines and collect data concerning such use. 372
(b) Not later than February 15, 2027, the Commissioner of Correction 373
shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 374
of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General 375
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and 376
government oversight. Such report shall include, but need not be 377
limited to, (1) the total number of body scans performed by the body 378
scanning machines during the 2026 calendar year based upon the reason 379
for the scan, by month, (2) the number of strip or cavity searches 380
conducted during the 2026 calendar year, by month, (3) the total number 381
of such body scans that discovered contraband material, by month, (4) 382
the types and material of contraband discovered during such period, 383
differentiated by the type of search or scan performed, (5) the use of any 384
additional screening subsequent to the implementation of the body 385
scanner machines, including a strip search, placement on a dry cell 386
watch, urinalysis or medical assessment to confirm contraband was not 387
present, and (6) any recommendations for legislative changes based 388
upon the results of such pilot program. 389
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 14 of 16
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) Not later than February 15, 2026, the 390
Commissioner of Correction shall submit a report, in accordance with 391
the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 392
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 393
matters relating to the judiciary and government oversight. Such report 394
shall include an evaluation of current directives and procedures for strip 395
searches and cavity searches in correctional institutions in the state 396
compared to other states in the northeastern region and federal policies, 397
based on the type of institution, and highlight any differences in such 398
directives and procedures. 399
Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) For the purposes described in 400
subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 401
power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 402
in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 403
aggregate five hundred thousand dollars. 404
(b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 405
stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department 406
of Correction for the purpose of purchasing two body scanning 407
machines, installing such machines and training corrections staff on 408
their use in accordance with the provisions of section 12 of this act. 409
(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 410
of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 411
provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 412
bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 413
section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 414
from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 415
accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 416
time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 417
exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 418
in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 419
Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 420
authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 421
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 15 of 16
there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 422
by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 423
and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 424
discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 425
be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 426
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 427
interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 428
part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 429
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 430
principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 431
such principal and interest as the same become due. 432
Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) On or before January 1, 2026, 433
and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Correction shall submit a 434
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 435
statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 436
having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and government 437
oversight, concerning the conduct of strip and cavity searches in such 438
facilities. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The 439
number of strip searches and cavity searches of persons who are 440
incarcerated that have occurred during the prior calendar year, broken 441
out by correctional facility, (2) whether there have been any lawsuits 442
filed concerning such strip searches or cavity searches during the year 443
immediately preceding such report and, if so, the status or outcome of 444
such lawsuits, and (3) a copy of the current policy concerning the 445
conduct of such searches, including any training requirements for 446
correctional officers concerning the conduct of such searches. 447
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 18-81pp
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 4 from passage New section
Sec. 5 from passage New section
Raised Bill No. 1543
LCO No. 6728 16 of 16
Sec. 6 from passage New section
Sec. 7 from passage New section
Sec. 8 from passage New section
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 11 from passage New section
Sec. 12 from passage New section
Sec. 13 from passage New section
Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 15 from passage New section
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) require that persons who are incarcerated be immediately
provided evidence-based mental health interventions upon initial
assessment and intake, (2) require that persons who are incarcerated be
fed palatable and nutritious meals and not be served nutraloaf as
punishment, (3) ensure that persons who are incarcerated are provided
a form to authorize another person to access their medical records, (4)
cause the publication of the Criminal Justice Institute's report
concerning cases of medical neglect in Connecticut's correctional
facilities and provide that claimants in such cases be granted permission
to sue the state, (5) adopt measures to increase access to data concerning
cases involving medical neglect by the Department of Correction, (6)
require a study of relocating the New Haven Correctional Center on
Whalley Avenue and the Bridgeport Correctional Center, (7) employ
measures to increase staffing at correctional facilities, (8) increase
productive time for out-of-cell time for persons who are incarcerated,
(9) ensure incidents of violence against correctional officers are fully
documented, and (10) establish a pilot program for body scans in lieu of
body and cavity searches and bonding for such program.
[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.]