Bill > HB07202

This bill establishes two significant law enforcement training initiatives and updates police training requirements. First, it creates a social work and law enforcement project at Southern Connecticut State University, aimed at integrating social work services into law enforcement by preparing professionals to collaborate, increase community wellness, strengthen community engagement, and address systemic racism in criminal justice settings. Second, it establishes a police training center at Central Connecticut State University focused on training police officers in crime scene processing, forensic evidence collection, and criminal investigations. The bill also modifies existing training requirements by removing the provision that certain autism and disability-related training curriculum must be provided at no cost, and instead expands the curriculum to include more comprehensive training on interactions with individuals with mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairments, and other disabilities. Additionally, the bill requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to conduct a study of police training programs and submit recommendations for improving and streamlining mandatory training by January 1, 2026. The bill allocates $1.1 million each for the social work project and the police training center, with implementation dates starting July 1, 2025, and full training curriculum changes effective January 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Justice

Public Safety and Security Committee (J)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB07202&which_year=2025