Bill > SB01492

This bill is a comprehensive legislative effort to enhance police officer recruitment and retention in Connecticut through multiple strategies. The bill directs the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to develop a promotional plan for law enforcement careers, including using various media platforms. It establishes a full-time cadet/explorer program coordinator and allocates $5,000 annually to municipal police departments with such programs. The bill creates a grant program to reimburse municipalities for basic police officer training costs and directs the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to examine potential course equivalencies and develop a pilot training program with the University of New Haven. Additionally, the legislation provides financial incentives such as grants to the top ten most populous municipalities to increase police officer salaries, tuition waivers for police officers and their dependents at state educational institutions, a loan reimbursement program for officers with ten or more years of service, and property tax exemptions for police officers in distressed municipalities. The bill also tasks various state agencies with studying and developing programs to support police officers, including mental health resources, retirement options, and housing assistance. Other provisions include creating a task force to study volunteer auxiliary police forces and a pilot program for providing law enforcement units with unmanned aerial vehicles.

Justice

Public Safety and Security Committee (Joint)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01492&which_year=2025