AN ACT CONCERNING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDREN'S SAFETY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 29-37a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) For the purposes of this section, "long gun" means a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, other than a pistol or revolver.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no person, firm or corporation may sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any long gun to any person under eighteen years of age.
(2) No person, firm or corporation may sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any semi-automatic centerfire rifle that has or accepts a magazine with a capacity exceeding five rounds to any person under twenty-one years of age. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of such a rifle to any person who is a member or employee of an organized local police department, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction or a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their duties.
(c) On and after April 1, 2014, no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless such person holds a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act, a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 or a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act, or is a federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer.
[(a)] (d) No person, firm or corporation may [deliver, at retail,] sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any [firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, other than a pistol or revolver,] long gun to any person unless such person makes application on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which shall be filed and retained by the transferor for at least twenty years or, if the transferor is a federally licensed firearm dealer, attached by the [vendor] transferor to the federal sale or transfer document and filed and retained by the [vendor] transferor for at least twenty years or until such [vendor] transferor goes out of business. Such application shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials. [No sale or delivery of any firearm shall be made until the expiration of two weeks from the date of the application, and] No such sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made until the person, firm or corporation making such sale, delivery or transfer has [insured] ensured that such application has been completed properly and has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall make every effort, including performing the national instant criminal background check, to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive such [firearm] long gun. If it is determined that the applicant is ineligible to receive such [firearm] long gun, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall immediately notify the person, firm or corporation to whom such application was made and no such [firearm] long gun shall be sold, [or] delivered or otherwise transferred to such applicant by such person, firm or corporation. When any [firearm] long gun is delivered in connection with [the] any sale or purchase, such [firearm] long gun shall be enclosed in a package, the paper or wrapping of which shall be securely fastened, and no such [firearm] long gun when delivered on any sale or purchase shall be loaded or contain any gunpowder or other explosive or any bullet, ball or shell.
[(b)] Upon the sale, delivery or other transfer of the [firearm] long gun, the [purchaser] transferee shall sign in triplicate a receipt for such [firearm] long gun, which shall contain the name, [and] address and date and place of birth of such [purchaser] transferee, the date of such sale, delivery or transfer and the caliber, make, model and manufacturer's number and a general description thereof. Not later than twenty-four hours after such sale, delivery or transfer, the [vendor] transferor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one receipt to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and one receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the [purchaser] transferee resides, and shall retain one receipt, together with the original application, for at least five years. [The]
(e) No sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made by a person who is not a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer, importer or dealer to a person who is not a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer, importer or dealer unless:
(1) The prospective transferor and prospective transferee comply with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and the prospective transferor has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer; or
(2) A national instant criminal background check has been initiated by a federally-licensed firearm dealer who has consented to initiate such check at the request of the prospective transferor or prospective transferee in accordance with subsection (f) of this section and the response received by the federally-licensed firearm dealer indicates the prospective transferee is eligible to receive such long gun.
(f) (1) On and after January 1, 2014, for purposes of a transfer pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, a prospective transferor or prospective transferee may request a federally-licensed firearm dealer to initiate a national instant criminal background check of the prospective transferee. If a federally-licensed firearm dealer consents to initiate a national instant criminal background check, the prospective transferor or prospective transferee shall provide to such dealer the name, sex, race, date of birth and state of residence of the prospective transferee and, if necessary to verify the identity of the prospective transferee, may provide a unique numeric identifier including, but not limited to, a Social Security number, and additional identifiers including, but not limited to, height, weight, eye and hair color, and place of birth. The prospective transferee shall present to the dealer such prospective transferee's valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act, valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 or valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act. The dealer may charge a fee not to exceed twenty dollars for initiating such background check.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (d) and (f) of section 29-36l, the dealer shall initiate a background check of such prospective transferee by contacting the national instant criminal background check system operations center for purposes of conducting such background check. Upon receiving a response from the operations center of the results of such check, the dealer shall immediately notify the prospective transferor or prospective transferee of such response. If the response indicates the prospective transferee is ineligible to receive such long gun, no long gun shall be sold, delivered or otherwise transferred by the prospective transferor to the prospective transferee. If the response indicates the prospective transferee is eligible to receive such long gun, the prospective transferor may proceed to sell, deliver or otherwise transfer the long gun to the prospective transferee.
(3) Upon the sale, delivery or other transfer of the long gun, the transferor or transferee shall complete a form, prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, that contains the name and address of the transferor, the name and address of the transferee, the date and place of birth of such transferee, the firearm permit or certificate number of the transferee, the firearm permit or certificate number of the transferor, if any, the date of such sale, delivery or transfer, the caliber, make, model and manufacturer's number and a general description of such long gun and the transaction number assigned by the national instant criminal background check system to the background check request. Not later than twenty-four hours after such sale, delivery or transfer, the transferor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one copy of such form to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and one copy to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the transferee resides, and shall retain one copy, for at least five years.
(g) Prior to April 1, 2014, no sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made until the expiration of two weeks from the date of the application, except that such waiting period [specified in subsection (a) of this section during which delivery may not be made and the provisions of this subsection] shall not apply to any federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer, or to the [delivery at retail] sale, delivery or other transfer of (1) any [firearm] long gun to a holder of a valid state permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued under the provisions of section 29-28, as amended by this act, [or] a valid eligibility certificate issued under the provisions of section 29-36f, as amended by this act, or a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued under the provisions of section 2 of this act, (2) any [firearm] long gun to an active member of the armed forces of the United States or of any reserve component thereof, (3) any [firearm] long gun to a holder of a valid hunting license issued pursuant to chapter 490, or (4) antique firearms. For the purposes of this [section] subsection, "antique firearm" means any firearm which was manufactured in or before 1898 and any replica of such firearm, provided such replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition except rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and not readily available in the ordinary channel of commercial trade.
(h) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of long guns between (1) a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer, (2) a federally-licensed firearm importer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer, or (3) federally-licensed firearm dealers.
(i) If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution. Any person for whom prosecution is suspended shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to such violation and to a waiver of his right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the person refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the court shall terminate the suspension of prosecution and the case shall be brought to trial. If such person satisfactorily completes his period of probation, he may apply for dismissal of the charges against him and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactorily completing his period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed his period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed his period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(j) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony, except that any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a long gun in violation of the provisions of this section, knowing that such long gun is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such long gun has been altered, removed or obliterated, shall be guilty of a class B felony, and any long gun found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) Any person who is eighteen years of age or older may apply to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a long gun eligibility certificate.
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall issue a long gun eligibility certificate unless said commissioner finds that the applicant: (1) Has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of firearms including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of firearms available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of firearms conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association; (2) has been convicted of (A) a felony, or (B) a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 of the general statutes or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d of the general statutes; (3) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120 of the general statutes; (4) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13 of the general statutes; (5) has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495 of the general statutes, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court; (6) has been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495 of the general statutes, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680 of the general statutes; (7) is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person; (8) is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c of the general statutes, as amended by this act, after notice and hearing; (9) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4); or (10) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) Requests for long gun eligibility certificates under section 2 of this act shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection on application forms prescribed by the commissioner. No long gun eligibility certificate shall be issued under the provisions of section 2 of this act unless the applicant for such certificate gives to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, upon the commissioner's request, full information concerning the applicant's criminal record and relevant information concerning the applicant's mental health history. The commissioner shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a of the general statutes. The commissioner shall take a full description of such applicant. The commissioner shall take the fingerprints of such applicant or conduct any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The commissioner shall record the date the fingerprints were taken in the applicant's file and shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a of the general statutes. The commissioner shall, not later than sixty days after receipt of the national criminal history records check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, either approve the application and issue the long gun eligibility certificate or deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing.
(b) A long gun eligibility certificate shall be of such form and content as the commissioner may prescribe, shall be signed by the certificate holder and shall contain an identification number, the name, address, place and date of birth, height, weight and eye color of the certificate holder and a full-face photograph of the certificate holder.
(c) A person holding a long gun eligibility certificate issued by the commissioner shall notify the commissioner not later than two business days after any change of such person's address. The notification shall include both the old address and the new address of such person.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211 of the general statutes, the name and address of a person issued a long gun eligibility certificate under the provisions of section 2 of this act shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-37a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that such certificate is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) The fee for each long gun eligibility certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 2 of this act shall be thirty-five dollars and for each renewal thereof thirty-five dollars, which fees shall be paid to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, the fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of long gun eligibility certificates under said section.
(b) A long gun eligibility certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 2 of this act shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
(c) The renewal fee shall apply for each renewal that is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
(d) No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate shall be refundable except if the certificate for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed.
(e) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall send a notice of the expiration of a long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act to the holder of such certificate, by first class mail, at the address of such person as shown by the records of the commissioner, not less than ninety days before such expiration, and shall enclose therein a form for the renewal of such certificate. A long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to said section shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any certificate which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 5 of this act.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) A long gun eligibility certificate shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 2 of this act.
(b) Upon the revocation of any long gun eligibility certificate, the person whose certificate is revoked shall be notified, in writing, and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification, in writing, of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 6. Subsection (b) of section 29-32b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(b) Any person aggrieved by any refusal to issue or renew a permit or certificate under the provisions of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or 29-36f, as amended by this act, or section 2 of this act, or by any limitation or revocation of a permit or certificate issued under any of said sections, or by a refusal or failure of any issuing authority to furnish an application as provided in section 29-28a, may, within ninety days after receipt of notice of such refusal, limitation or revocation, or refusal or failure to supply an application as provided in section 29-28a, and without prejudice to any other course of action open to such person in law or in equity, appeal to the board. On such appeal the board shall inquire into and determine the facts, de novo, and unless it finds that such a refusal, limitation or revocation, or such refusal or failure to supply an application, as the case may be, would be for just and proper cause, it shall order such permit or certificate to be issued, renewed or restored, or the limitation removed or modified, as the case may be. If the refusal was for failure to document compliance with local zoning requirements, under subsection (a) of section 29-28, the board shall not issue a permit.
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 29-36l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish a state database that any person, firm or corporation who sells or otherwise transfers [pistols or revolvers] firearms may access, by telephone or other electronic means in addition to the telephone, for information to be supplied immediately, on whether a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28, [or] an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act, or a long gun eligibility certificate, issued pursuant to section 2 of this act, is valid and has not been revoked or suspended.
Sec. 8. Section 29-38b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in fulfilling his obligations under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, shall verify that any person who, on or after October 1, 1998, applies for or seeks renewal of a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver or a certificate of possession for an assault weapon, or who, on or after July 1, 2013, applies for or seeks renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate, has not been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding [twelve] sixty months by order of a probate court or has not been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, by making an inquiry to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in such a manner so as to only receive a report on the commitment or admission status of the person with respect to whom the inquiry is made including identifying information in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
(b) If the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection determines pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that a person has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding [twelve] sixty months by order of a probate court or has been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, said commissioner shall report the status of such person's application for or renewal of a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver, [or] a certificate of possession for an assault weapon or a long gun eligibility certificate to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purpose of fulfilling his responsibilities under subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 54-36e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(b) Firearms turned over to the state police pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which are not destroyed or retained for appropriate use shall be sold at public auctions, conducted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services or [such] said commissioner's designee. Pistols and revolvers, as defined in section 53a-3, which are antiques, as defined in section 29-33, as amended by this act, or curios or relics, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Chapter 1, Part 178, or modern pistols and revolvers which have a current retail value of one hundred dollars or more may be sold at such public auctions, provided such pistols and revolvers shall be sold only to persons who have a valid permit to sell a pistol or revolver, or a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act. Rifles and shotguns, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be sold only to persons qualified under federal law to purchase such rifles and shotguns and who have a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act. The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited by the State Treasurer in the forfeit firearms account within the General Fund.
Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) Whenever a person is voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495 of the general statutes, for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680 of the general statutes, the hospital shall forthwith notify the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services of such admission and provide identifying information including, but not limited to, name, address, sex, date of birth and the date of admission. The commissioner shall maintain such identifying information on all such admissions occurring on and after the effective date of this section.
Sec. 11. Section 17a-500 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) Each court of probate shall keep a record of the cases relating to persons with psychiatric disabilities coming before it under sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, 17a-450 to 17a-484, inclusive, 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-576, inclusive, and 17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive, and the disposition of them. It shall also keep on file the original application and certificate of physicians required by said sections, or a microfilm duplicate of such records in accordance with regulations issued by the Probate Court Administrator. All records maintained in the courts of probate under the provisions of said sections shall be sealed and available only to the respondent or his or her counsel unless the Court of Probate, after hearing held with notice to the respondent, determines such records should be disclosed for cause shown.
(b) [Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the] The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, maintain information, in accordance with section 17a-499, [shall maintain information] on commitment orders by a probate court, and shall maintain information, in accordance with section 10 of this act, on voluntary admissions, and shall provide such information to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in fulfillment of his obligations under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, in such a manner as to report identifying information on the commitment or voluntary admission status, including, but not limited to, name, address, sex, date of birth and date of commitment or admission, for a person who applies for or holds a permit or certificate under said sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain as confidential any such information provided to him and shall use such information only for purposes of fulfilling his obligations under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, except that nothing in this section shall prohibit said commissioner from entering such information into evidence at a hearing held in accordance with section 29-32b, as amended by this act.
(c) (1) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall obtain from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection the status of any firearm application, permit or certificate under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, of each person who is the subject of an order of commitment [pursuant to] as provided in section 17a-499 or is the subject of a voluntary admission as provided in section 10 of this act, in such a manner so as to only receive a report on the firearm application, permit or certificate status of the person with respect to whom the inquiry is made.
(2) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall report to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection any commitment or voluntary admission status and identifying information for any person who is an applicant for or holder of any permit or certificate under said sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act.
(3) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall advise the hospital for psychiatric disabilities to which a person has been committed or voluntarily admitted of the status of a firearm application, permit or certificate of such person under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, as reported by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for consideration by such hospital in any psychiatric treatment procedures.
(4) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and a hospital for psychiatric disabilities shall maintain as confidential any information provided to said commissioner or such hospital concerning the status of a firearm application, permit or certificate under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, as amended by this act, sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act and section 53-202d, as amended by this act, of any person.
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 53-202g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon under sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a] or a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, that is lost or stolen from such person shall report the loss or theft to the organized local police department for the town in which the loss or theft occurred or, if such town does not have an organized local police department, to the state police troop having jurisdiction for such town within seventy-two hours of when such person discovered or should have discovered the loss or theft. Such department or troop shall forthwith forward a copy of such report to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm as defined in [subsection (b) of] section 29-37a, as amended by this act.
Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 53-202aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) For the purposes of this section, "firearm" means "firearm" as defined in section 53a-3, but does not include a rifle or shotgun or an antique firearm as defined in [subsection (b) of] section 29-37a, as amended by this act.
Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section and sections 15 to 17, inclusive, of this act, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm, "firearm" has the meaning provided in section 53a-3 of the general statutes, and "magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that accepts ammunition.
(b) No person, firm or corporation shall sell ammunition or an ammunition magazine to any person under eighteen years of age.
(c) On and after October 1, 2013, no person, firm or corporation shall sell ammunition or an ammunition magazine to any person unless such person holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 of the general statutes, a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act and presents to the transferor such permit or certificate, or unless such person holds a valid ammunition certificate issued pursuant to section 15 of this act and presents to the transferor such certificate and such person's motor vehicle operator's license, passport or other valid form of identification issued by the federal government or a state or municipal government that contains such person's date of birth and photograph.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of ammunition between (1) a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer, (2) a federally-licensed firearm importer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer, or (3) federally-licensed firearm dealers.
(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) Any person who is eighteen years of age or older may request the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to (1) conduct a national criminal history records check of such person, in accordance with the provisions of section 29-17a of the general statutes, using such person's name and date of birth only, and (2) issue an ammunition certificate to such person in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) After conducting the national criminal history records check of such person, the commissioner shall issue an ammunition certificate to such person unless the commissioner determines, based on a review of the results of such criminal history records check, that such person would be ineligible to be issued a long gun eligibility certificate under section 2 of this act, except that a conviction of a violation specified in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 2 of this act shall cause such person to be ineligible for an ammunition certificate only if such conviction was for a violation committed on or after the effective date of this section.
(c) Such ammunition certificate shall be of such form as the commissioner may prescribe, contain an identification number and the name, address and date of birth of the certificate holder and be signed by the certificate holder.
(d) A person holding an ammunition certificate issued by the commissioner shall notify the commissioner not later than two business days after any change of such person's address. The notification shall include both the old address and the new address of such person.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211 of the general statutes, the name and address of a person issued an ammunition certificate under this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 14 of this act for verification that such certificate is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) The fee for each ammunition certificate originally issued under the provisions of this section shall be thirty-five dollars and for each renewal thereof thirty-five dollars, which fees shall be paid to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and shall be in addition to the fee paid pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-17a of the general statutes for conducting the national criminal history records check. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, the fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of ammunition certificates under section 15 of this act.
(b) An ammunition certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 15 of this act shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
(c) The renewal fee shall apply for each renewal that is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
(d) No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of an ammunition certificate shall be refundable except if the certificate for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed.
(e) An ammunition certificate issued pursuant to section 15 of this act shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any certificate which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 17 of this act.
Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) An ammunition certificate shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 15 of this act.
(b) Upon the revocation of any ammunition certificate, the person whose certificate is revoked shall be notified, in writing, and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification, in writing, of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2014) (a) For the purposes of this section and sections 19 and 20 of this act, and sections 45a-99 and 52-11 of the general statutes, as amended by this act:
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection;
(2) "Convicted" means that a person has a judgment entered in this state against such person by a court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere or a finding of guilty by a jury or the court notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such judgment;
(3) "Deadly weapon" means a deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3 of the general statutes;
(4) "Department" means the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection;
(5) "Identifying factors" means fingerprints, a photographic image, and a description of any other identifying characteristics as may be required by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection;
(6) "Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" means a finding by a court or jury of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13 of the general statutes notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such finding;
(7) "Offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon" or "offender" means a person who has been convicted of an offense committed with a deadly weapon;
(8) "Offense committed with a deadly weapon" or "offense" means: (A) A violation of subsection (c) of section 2-1e, subsection (e) of section 29-28, subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, or (i) of section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-34, as amended by this act, subsection (a) of section 29-35, section 29-36, as amended by this act, 29-36k, as amended by this act, 29-37a, as amended by this act, or 29-37e, subsection (c) of section 29-37g, section 29-37j, as amended by this act, subsection (b), (c) or (g) of section 53-202, section 53-202b, as amended by this act, 53-202c, as amended by this act, 53-202j, 53-202k, 53-202l, as amended by this act, 53-202aa, as amended by this act, or 53-206b, subsection (b) of section 53a-8, section 53a-55a, 53a-56a, 53a-60a, 53a-60c, 53a-72b, 53a-92a, 53a-94a, 53a-102a, 53a-103a, 53a-211, 53a-212, as amended by this act, 53a-216, 53a-217, as amended by this act, 53a-217a, as amended by this act, 53a-217b or 53a-217c, as amended by this act, or a second or subsequent violation of section 53-202g of the general statutes, as amended by this act; or (B) a violation of any section of the general statutes which constitutes a felony, as defined in section 53a-25 of the general statutes, provided the court makes a finding that, at the time of the offense, the offender used a deadly weapon, or was armed with and threatened the use of or displayed or represented by words or conduct that the offender possessed a deadly weapon;
(9) "Registrant" means a person required to register under section 19 of this act;
(10) "Registry" means a central record system in this state that is established pursuant to this section and receives, maintains and disseminates to law enforcement agencies information on persons convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of an offense committed with a deadly weapon; and
(11) "Release into the community" means, with respect to a conviction or a finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of an offense committed with a deadly weapon, (A) any release by a court after such conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, a sentence of probation or any other sentence under section 53a-28 of the general statutes that does not result in the offender's immediate placement in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; (B) release from a correctional facility at the discretion of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, by the Department of Correction to a program authorized by section 18-100c of the general statutes or upon completion of the maximum term or terms of the offender's sentence or sentences, or to the supervision of the Court Support Services Division in accordance with the terms of the offender's sentence; or (C) temporary leave to an approved residence by the Psychiatric Security Review Board pursuant to section 17a-587 of the general statutes, conditional release from a hospital for mental illness or a facility for persons with intellectual disability by the Psychiatric Security Review Board pursuant to section 17a-588 of the general statutes, or release upon termination of commitment to the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
(b) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, not later than January 1, 2014, establish and maintain a registry of all persons required to register under section 19 of this act as offenders convicted of an offense committed with a deadly weapon. The department shall, in cooperation with the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, the Department of Correction and the Psychiatric Security Review Board, develop appropriate forms for use by agencies and individuals to report registration information, including changes of address. Upon receipt of registration information, the department shall enter the information into the registry and notify the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the registrant resides or plans to reside. Upon receiving notification pursuant to section 19 of this act that a registrant has changed his or her address, the department shall enter the information into the registry and notify the local police departments or state police troops having jurisdiction where the registrant previously resided and the jurisdiction where the registrant has relocated. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall also ensure that the name and residence address of each registrant is available through the Connecticut on-line law enforcement communication teleprocessing system maintained by the department. If a registrant reports a residence in another state, the department may notify the state police agency of that state or such other agency in that state that maintains registry information, if known.
(c) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection may suspend the registration of any person registered under section 19 of this act while such person is incarcerated, under civil commitment or residing outside this state. During the period that such registration is under suspension, the department may withdraw the registration information from access to law enforcement agencies. Upon the release of the registrant from incarceration or civil commitment or resumption of residency in this state by the registrant, the department shall reinstate the registration and redistribute the registration information in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. Suspension of registration shall not affect the date of expiration of the registration obligation of the registrant under section 19 of this act.
(d) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall include in the registry the most recent photographic image of each registrant taken by the department, the Department of Correction, a law enforcement agency or the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Department.
(e) Whenever the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection receives notice from a superior court pursuant to section 52-11 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or a probate court pursuant to section 45a-99 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, that such court has ordered the change of name of a person, and the department determines that such person is listed in the registry, the department shall revise such person's registration information accordingly.
(f) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall develop a protocol for the notification of other state agencies, the Judicial Department and local police departments whenever a person listed in the registry changes such person's name and notifies the commissioner of the new name pursuant to section 19 of this act or whenever the commissioner determines pursuant to subsection (e) of this section that a person listed in the registry has changed such person's name.
(g) The information in the registry shall not be a public record or file for the purposes of section 1-200 of the general statutes. Any information disclosed pursuant to this section or section 19 or 20 of this act, shall not be further disclosed unless such disclosure is permitted under this section or section 19 or 20 of this act.
Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2014) (a) (1) Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of an offense committed with a deadly weapon and is released into the community on or after January 1, 2014, shall, within fourteen calendar days following such release or, if such person is in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, at such time prior to release as the Commissioner of Correction shall direct, and whether or not such person's place of residence is in this state, register such person's name, identifying factors, criminal history record, residence address and electronic mail address with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, on such forms and in such locations as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall direct, and shall maintain such registration for five years.
(2) Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere from a person with respect to an offense committed with a deadly weapon, the court shall (A) inform the person that the entry of a finding of guilty after acceptance of the plea will subject the person to the registration requirements of this section, and (B) determine that the person fully understands the consequences of the plea.
(3) If any person who is subject to registration under this section changes such person's name, such person shall, without undue delay, notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in writing of the new name. If any person who is subject to registration under this section changes such person's address, such person shall, without undue delay, notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in writing of the new address. During such period of registration, each registrant shall complete and return any forms mailed to such registrant to verify such registrant's residence address and shall submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
(b) Any offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon who is required to register under this section shall, not later than twenty calendar days after each anniversary date of such initial registration, until the date such registration requirement expires under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, personally appear at the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the registrant resides to verify and update, as appropriate, the contents of his or her registration. The local police department or state police troop, as the case may be, may defer such requirement to personally appear to a later date for good cause shown. Not later than thirty calendar days prior to such anniversary date, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall mail written notice of the personal appearance requirement of this subsection to the registrant and the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the registrant resides. Not later than thirty calendar days after the anniversary date of each registrant, the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the registrant resides shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may prescribe, (1) whether the registrant complied with the personal appearance requirement of this subsection or whether such personal appearance requirement was deferred to a later date for good cause shown, and (2) if the personal appearance requirement was deferred to a later date for good cause shown, the local police department or state police troop shall indicate the later date established for such personal appearance and describe the good cause shown.
(c) Any person who is subject to registration under this section who violates any provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, except a violation consisting of failure to notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of a change of name or address, shall be guilty of a class D felony. Any person who is subject to registration under this section who fails to notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of a change of name or address not later than five business days after such change of name or address shall be guilty of a class D felony.
Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2014) (a) The registration information for each registrant shall include:
(1) The offender's name, including any other name by which the offender has been legally known, and any aliases used by the offender;
(2) Identifying information, including a physical description of the offender;
(3) The current residence address of the offender;
(4) The date of conviction of the offense;
(5) A description of the offense; and
(6) If the offender was sentenced to a term of incarceration for such offense, a portion of which was not suspended, the date the offender was released from such incarceration.
(b) The offender shall sign and date the registration.
(c) At the time that the offender appears for the purpose of registering, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall photograph the offender and arrange for the fingerprinting of the offender and include such photograph and a complete set of fingerprints in the registry. If the offender is required to submit to the taking of a blood or other biological sample of sufficient quality for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis pursuant to section 54-102g of the general statutes, and has not submitted to the taking of such sample, the commissioner shall also require such sample to be taken for analysis pursuant to section 54-102g of the general statutes.
(d) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection may require the offender to provide documentation to verify the contents of his or her registration.
Sec. 21. Section 45a-99 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2014):
(a) The courts of probate shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court, as provided in section 52-11, as amended by this act, to grant a change of name, except a change of name granted in accordance with subsection (a) of section 46b-63, except that no court of probate may issue an order or otherwise allow for the change of name of a person who is required to register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon unless such person complies with the requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.
(b) (1) Any person who is required to register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon who files an application with the Court of Probate for a change of name shall (A) prior to filing such application, notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may prescribe, that the person intends to file an application for a change of name, indicating the change of name sought, and (B) include with such application a sworn statement that such change of name is not being sought for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal conviction, including, but not limited to, a criminal conviction that requires such person to register as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon.
(2) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall have standing to challenge such person's application for a change of name in the court of probate where such change of name is sought. The commissioner shall challenge the change of name through the Attorney General. The court of probate may deny such person's application for a change of name if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the person is applying for such change of name for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal conviction.
(c) Whenever the court, pursuant to this section, orders a change of name of a person, the court shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of the issuance of such order if the court finds that such person is listed in the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 54-257 or in the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 18 of this act.
Sec. 22. Section 52-11 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2014):
(a) The superior court in each judicial district shall have jurisdiction of complaints praying for a change of name, brought by any person residing in the judicial district, and may change the name of the complainant, who shall thereafter be known by the name prescribed by said court in its decree, except that no superior court may issue an order or otherwise allow for the change of name of a person who is required to register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon unless such person complies with the requirements of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section.
(b) (1) Any person who is required to register with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon who files an application with the Superior Court for a change of name shall (A) prior to filing such application, notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, on such form as the commissioner may prescribe, that the person intends to file an application for a change of name, indicating the change of name sought, and (B) include with such application a sworn statement that such change of name is not being sought for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal conviction, including, but not limited to, a criminal conviction that requires such person to register as a sexual offender or as an offender convicted of committing a crime with a deadly weapon.
(2) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall have standing to challenge such person's application for a change of name in the superior court where such change of name is sought. The commissioner shall challenge the change of name through the Attorney General. The superior court may deny such person's application for a change of name if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the person is applying for such change of name for the purpose of avoiding the legal consequences of a criminal conviction.
(c) Whenever the court, pursuant to this section, orders a change of name of a person, the clerk of the court shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of the issuance of such order if the clerk finds that such person is listed in the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 54-257 or in the registry established and maintained pursuant to section 18 of this act.
Sec. 23. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section and section 24 of this act:
(1) "Large capacity magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that has the capacity of, or can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition, but does not include: (A) A feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than ten rounds of ammunition, (B) a . 22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device, (C) a tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm, or (D) a magazine that is permanently inoperable;
(2) "Lawfully possesses", with respect to a large capacity magazine, means that a person has (A) actual and lawful possession of the large capacity magazine, or (B) constructive possession of the large capacity magazine pursuant to a lawful purchase of a firearm that contains a large capacity magazine that was transacted prior to the effective date of this section, regardless of whether the firearm was delivered to the purchaser prior to the effective date of this section; and
(3) "Licensed gun dealer" means a person who has a federal firearms license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28 of the general statutes.
(b) Except as provided in this section, on and after the effective date of this section, any person who, within this state, distributes, imports into this state, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, or purchases a large capacity magazine shall be guilty of a class D felony. On and after the effective date of this section, any person who, within this state, transfers a large capacity magazine, except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(c) Except as provided in this section and section 24 of this act: (1) Any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2014, that was obtained prior to the effective date of this section shall commit an infraction and be fined not more than ninety dollars for a first offense and shall be guilty of a class D felony for any subsequent offense, and (2) any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2014, that was obtained on or after the effective date of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(d) A large capacity magazine may be possessed, purchased or imported by:
(1) Members or employees of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their official duties or when off duty;
(2) Employees of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee operating a nuclear power generating facility in this state for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor providing security services at such facility; or
(3) Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing large capacity magazines in this state that manufactures or transports large capacity magazines in this state for sale within this state to persons specified in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection or for sale outside this state.
(e) A large capacity magazine may be possessed by:
(1) A licensed gun dealer;
(2) A gunsmith who is in a licensed gun dealer's employ, who possesses such large capacity magazine for the purpose of servicing or repairing a lawfully possessed large capacity magazine;
(3) Any person who has declared possession of the magazine pursuant to section 24 of this act; or
(4) Any person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to section 24 of this act, which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by this section and section 24 of this act.
(f) Subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit:
(1) The transfer by bequest or intestate succession of a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to section 24 of this act;
(2) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a police department or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; or
(3) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer in accordance with section 24 of this act.
(g) If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 29-33 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Sec. 24. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Any person who lawfully possesses a large capacity magazine prior to January 1, 2014, shall apply by January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to declare possession of such magazine. Such application shall be made on such form or in such manner as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes.
(b) In addition to the application form prescribed under subsection (a) of this section, the department shall design or amend the application forms for a certificate of possession for an assault weapon under section 53-202d of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or for a permit to carry a pistol or revolver under section 29-28a of the general statutes, a long gun eligibility certificate under section 2 of this act, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver under section 29-36f of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or any renewal of such permit or certificate to permit an applicant to declare possession of a large capacity magazine pursuant to this section upon the same application.
(c) The department may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to establish procedures with respect to applications under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211 of the general statutes, the name and address of a person who has declared possession of a large capacity magazine shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be disclosed to (1) law enforcement agencies and employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, and (2) the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500 of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(d) Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of a large capacity magazine shall, within ninety days, either render the large capacity magazine permanently inoperable, sell the large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer or remove the large capacity magazine from this state, except that any person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, is in lawful possession of a large capacity magazine and has been transferred into the state after January 1, 2014, may, within ninety days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to declare possession of such large capacity magazine.
(e) (1) If an owner of a large capacity magazine transfers the large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer, such dealer shall, at the time of delivery of the large capacity magazine, execute a certificate of transfer. For any transfer prior to January 1, 2014, the dealer shall provide to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection monthly reports, on such form as the commissioner prescribes, regarding the number of transfers that the dealer has accepted. For any transfer on or after January 1, 2014, the dealer shall cause the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer shall contain: (A) The date of sale or transfer; (B) the name and address of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, and their Social Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if applicable; (C) the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number; and (D) a description of the large capacity magazine.
(2) The licensed gun dealer shall present such dealer's federal firearms license and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of purchase or transfer.
(3) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at the commissioner's central office.
(f) Any person who declared possession of a large capacity magazine under this section may possess the large capacity magazine only under the following conditions:
(1) At that person's residence;
(2) At that person's place of business or other property owned by that person, provided such large capacity magazine contains not more than ten bullets;
(3) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets;
(4) While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range;
(5) While on the premises of a licensed shooting club;
(6) While transporting the large capacity magazine between any of the places set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, provided (A) such large capacity magazine contains not more than ten bullets, and (B) the large capacity magazine is transported in the manner required for an assault weapon under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-202f of the general statutes, as amended by this act; or
(7) Pursuant to a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, provided such large capacity magazine (A) is within a pistol or revolver that was lawfully possessed by the person prior to the effective date of this section, (B) does not extend beyond the bottom of the pistol grip, and (C) contains not more than ten bullets.
(g) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
Sec. 25. Section 53-202a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
[(a)] As used in this section and sections 53-202b to 53-202k, inclusive: [, "assault weapon" means: ]
(1) [Any] "Assault weapon" means:
(A) (i) Any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following specified semiautomatic firearms: Algimec Agmi; Armalite AR-180; Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol; Auto-Ordnance Thompson type; Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type; Barrett Light-Fifty model 82A1; Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster Auto Rifle and Auto Pistol; Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P; Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88; Colt AR-15 and Sporter; Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2; Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45; Fabrique Nationale FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FN/FNC; FAMAS MAS 223; Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT; Federal XC-900 and XC-450; Franchi SPAS-12 and LAW-12; Galil AR and ARM; Goncz High-Tech Carbine and High-Tech Long Pistol; Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94 and SP-89; Holmes MP-83; MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 Carbine type; Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion; Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000; Ruger Mini-14/5F folding stock model only; Scarab Skorpion; SIG 57 AMT and 500 series; Spectre Auto Carbine and Auto Pistol; Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3; Sterling MK-6 and MK-7; Steyr AUG; Street Sweeper and Striker 12 revolving cylinder shotguns; USAS-12; UZI Carbine, Mini-Carbine and Pistol; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson "Linda" Pistol;
[(2)] (ii) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, [(1) of this subsection,] or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, [(1) of this subsection,] may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person;
(B) Any of the following specified semiautomatic centerfire rifles, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such rifles, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section: (i) AK-47; (ii) AK-74; (iii) AKM; (iv) AKS-74U; (v) ARM; (vi) MAADI AK47; (vii) MAK90; (viii) MISR; (ix) NHM90 and NHM91; (x) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S and 86S; (xi) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47; (xii) SA 85; (xiii) SA 93; (xiv) VEPR; (xv) WASR-10; (xvi) WUM; (xvii) Rock River Arms LAR-47; (xviii) Vector Arms AK-47; (xix) AR-10; (xx) AR-15; (xxi) Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster XM15, Bushmaster ACR Rifles, Bushmaster MOE Rifles; (xxii) Colt Match Target Rifles; (xxiii) Armalite M15; (xxiv) Olympic Arms AR-15, A1, CAR, PCR, K3B, K30R, K16, K48, K8 and K9 Rifles; (xxv) DPMS Tactical Rifles; (xxvi) Smith and Wesson M&P15 Rifles; (xxvii) Rock River Arms LAR-15; (xxviii) Doublestar AR Rifles; (xxix) Barrett REC7; (13-3) Beretta Storm; (13-3i) Calico Liberty 50, 50 Tactical, 100, 100 Tactical, I, I Tactical, II and II Tactical Rifles; (13-3ii) Hi-Point Carbine Rifles; (13-3iii) HK-PSG-1; (13-3iv) Kel-Tec Sub-2000, SU Rifles, and RFB; (13-3v) Remington Tactical Rifle Model 7615; (13-3vi) SAR-8, SAR-4800 and SR9; (13-3vii) SLG 95; (13-3viii) SLR 95 or 96; (13-3ix) TNW M230 and M2HB; (xl) Vector Arms UZI; (xli) Galil and Galil Sporter; (xlii) Daewoo AR 100 and AR 110C; (xliii) Fabrique Nationale/FN 308 Match and L1A1 Sporter; (xliv) HK USC; (xlv) IZHMASH Saiga AK; (xlvi) SIG Sauer 551-A1, 556, 516, 716 and M400 Rifles; (xlvii) Valmet M62S, M71S and M78S; (xlviii) Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine; and (xlix) Barrett M107A1;
(C) Any of the following specified semiautomatic pistols, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such pistols, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section: (i) Centurion 39 AK; (ii) Draco AK-47; (iii) HCR AK-47; (iv) IO Inc. Hellpup AK-47; (v) Mini-Draco AK-47; (vi) Yugo Krebs Krink; (vii) American Spirit AR-15; (viii) Bushmaster Carbon 15; (ix) Doublestar Corporation AR; (x) DPMS AR-15; (xi) Olympic Arms AR-15; (xii) Rock River Arms LAR 15; (xiii) Calico Liberty III and III Tactical Pistols; (xiv) Masterpiece Arms MPA Pistols and Velocity Arms VMA Pistols; (xv) Intratec TEC-DC9 and AB-10; (xvi) Colefire Magnum; (xvii) German Sport 522 PK and Chiappa Firearms Mfour-22; (xviii) DSA SA58 PKP FAL; (xix) I.O. Inc. PPS-43C; (xx) Kel-Tec PLR-16 Pistol; (xxi) Sig Sauer P516 and P556 Pistols; and (xxii) Thompson TA5 Pistols;
(D) Any of the following semiautomatic shotguns, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such shotguns, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section: All IZHMASH Saiga 12 Shotguns;
[(3)] (E) Any semiautomatic firearm [not listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection] regardless of whether such firearm is listed in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, and regardless of the date such firearm was produced, that meets the following criteria:
[(A)] (i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least [two] one of the following:
[(i)] (I) A folding or telescoping stock;
[(ii) A] (II) Any grip of the weapon, including a pistol grip, [that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon] a thumbhole stock, or any other stock, the use of which would allow an individual to grip the weapon, resulting in any finger on the trigger hand in addition to the trigger finger being directly below any portion of the action of the weapon when firing;
[(iii)] (III) A [bayonet mount] forward pistol grip;
[(iv)] (IV) A flash suppressor; or [threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and]
[(v)] (V) A grenade launcher or flare launcher; or
(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the ability to accept more than ten rounds; or
(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than thirty inches; or
[(B)] (iv) A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least [two] one of the following:
[(i)] (I) An ability to accept a detachable ammunition magazine that attaches [to the pistol] at some location outside of the pistol grip;
[(ii)] (II) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a [barrel extender,] flash suppressor, forward [handgrip] pistol grip or silencer;
[(iii)] (III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to [hold] fire the firearm [with the nontrigger hand] without being burned, [; ] except a slide that encloses the barrel; or
[(iv) A manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and]
(IV) A second hand grip; or
(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the ability to accept more than ten rounds;
[(v) A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; or]
[(C)] (vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has [at least two] both of the following:
[(i)] (I) A folding or telescoping stock; and
[(ii) A] (II) Any grip of the weapon, including a pistol grip, [that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; ] a thumbhole stock, or any other stock, the use of which would allow an individual to grip the weapon, resulting in any finger on the trigger hand in addition to the trigger finger being directly below any portion of the action of the weapon when firing; or
[(iii) A fixed magazine capacity in excess of five rounds; and]
[(iv) An] (vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine;
(viii) A shotgun with a revolving cylinder; or
[(4)] (F) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in [subdivision (3) of this subsection] any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision, or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in [subdivision (3) of this subsection] any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision, may be [rapidly] assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person; [. ]
[(b) As used in this section and sections 53-202b to 53-202k, inclusive, the term "assault weapon" does not include any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable. ]
(2) "Assault weapon" does not include (A) any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable, or (B) a part or any combination of parts of an assault weapon, that are not assembled as an assault weapon, when in the possession of a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, or a gunsmith who is in the licensed gun dealer's employ, for the purposes of servicing or repairing lawfully possessed assault weapons under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act;
(3) "Action of the weapon" means the part of the firearm that loads, fires and ejects a cartridge, which part includes, but is not limited to, the upper and lower receiver, charging handle, forward assist, magazine release and shell deflector;
(4) "Detachable magazine" means an ammunition feeding device that can be removed without disassembling the firearm action;
(5) "Firearm" means a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3;
(6) "Forward pistol grip" means any feature capable of functioning as a grip that can be held by the nontrigger hand;
(7) "Lawfully possesses" means, with respect to an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision, (A) actual possession that is lawful under sections 53-202b to 53-202k, as amended by this act, or (B) constructive possession pursuant to a lawful purchase transacted prior to the effective date of this section, regardless of whether the assault weapon was delivered to the purchaser prior to the effective date of this section;
(8) "Pistol grip" means a grip or similar feature that can function as a grip for the trigger hand; and
(9) "Second hand grip" means a grip or similar feature that can function as a grip that is additional to the trigger hand grip.
Sec. 26. Section 53-202b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) (1) Any person who, within this state, distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives any assault weapon, except as provided by sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a,] shall be guilty of a class C felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which two years may not be suspended or reduced by the court.
(2) Any person who transfers, sells or gives any assault weapon to a person under eighteen years of age in violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six years, which shall not be suspended or reduced by the court and shall be in addition and consecutive to the term of imprisonment imposed under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to:
(1) The sale of assault weapons to (A) the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, for use in the discharge of their official duties or when off duty, or (B) any employee of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee operating a nuclear power generating facility in this state for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor providing security services at such facility for use in the discharge of their official duties;
(2) A person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d, as amended by this act, which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act; [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a; ]
(3) The transfer by bequest or intestate succession of an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d, as amended by this act.
Sec. 27. Section 53-202c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Except as provided in section 53-202e, any person who, within this state, possesses [any] an assault weapon, except as provided in sections [29-37j,] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, and 53-202o, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a,] shall be guilty of a class D felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which one year may not be suspended or reduced [; ] by the court, except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor if (1) the person presents proof that [he] such person lawfully possessed the assault weapon (A) prior to October 1, 1993, with respect to an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, or (B) on the date immediately preceding the effective date of this act, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, with respect to an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, and (2) the person has otherwise possessed the [firearm] assault weapon in compliance with subsection [(d)] (f) of section 53-202d, as amended by this act.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of assault weapons by members or employees of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, [or] the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, any employee of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee operating a nuclear power generating facility in this state for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor providing security services at such facility for use in the discharge of their official duties; nor shall [anything] any provision in sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a] prohibit the possession or use of assault weapons by sworn members of these agencies when on duty and [the] when the possession or use is within the scope of [their] such member's duties.
(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, by any person prior to July 1, 1994, if all of the following are applicable:
(1) The person is eligible under sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a] to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by July 1, 1994;
(2) The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993; and
(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act. [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a. ]
(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, by any person prior to the effective date of this section if all of the following are applicable:
(1) The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by January 1, 2014;
(2) The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon on the date immediately preceding the effective date of this section, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013; and
(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act.
[(d)] (e) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d, as amended by this act, if the assault weapon is possessed at a place set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection [(d)] (f) of section 53-202d, as amended by this act, or as authorized by the Probate Court.
Sec. 28. Section 53-202d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) (1) Any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, prior to October 1, 1993, shall apply by October 1, 1994, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by October 1, 1994, because [he or she] such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
(2) Any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, on the date immediately preceding the effective date of this section, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, shall apply by January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
(3) Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, prior to the effective date of this section, that is defined as an assault weapon pursuant to any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, shall be deemed to have obtained a certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, and shall not be required to obtain a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon.
(4) The certificate of possession shall contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the full name, address, date of birth and thumbprint of the owner, and any other information as the department may deem appropriate.
(5) The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures with respect to the application for and issuance of certificates of possession pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued a certificate of possession shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be disclosed to [(1)] (A) law enforcement agencies and employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, and [(2)] (B) the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
(b) (1) No assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, possessed pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or after January 1, 1994, to any person within this state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, or as provided in section 53-202e, or by bequest or intestate succession.
(2) No assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, as amended by this act, possessed pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or after the effective date of this section, to any person within this state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, or as provided in section 53-202e, or by bequest or intestate succession.
(c) Any person who obtains title to an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under this section by bequest or intestate succession shall, within ninety days of obtaining title, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession as provided in subsection (a) of this section, render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from the state.
(d) Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of an assault weapon, shall, within ninety days, either render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from this state, except that any person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, is in lawful possession of an assault weapon and has been transferred into the state after October 1, 1994, may, within ninety days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
[(c)] (e) If an owner of an assault weapon sells or transfers the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer, [he or she] such dealer shall, at the time of delivery of the assault weapon, execute a certificate of transfer and cause the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer shall contain: (1) The date of sale or transfer; (2) the name and address of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, their Social Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if applicable; (3) the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number and seller's permit number; (4) a description of the assault weapon, including the caliber of the assault weapon and its make, model and serial number; and (5) any other information the commissioner prescribes. The licensed gun dealer shall present [his or her] such dealer's motor vehicle operator's license or Social Security card, federal firearms license and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of purchase or transfer. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at [said] the commissioner's central office.
[(d) A] (f) Any person who has been issued a certificate of possession [of] for an assault weapon under this section may possess [it] the assault weapon only under the following conditions:
(1) At that person's residence, place of business or other property owned by that person, or on property owned by another person with the owner's express permission;
(2) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets;
(3) While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range;
(4) While on the premises of a licensed shooting club;
(5) While attending any exhibition, display or educational project which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms; or
(6) While transporting the assault weapon between any of the places [mentioned] set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, for servicing or repair pursuant to subsection (c) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, provided the assault weapon is transported as required by section 53-202f, as amended by this act.
Sec. 29. Section 53-202f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) While transporting an assault weapon between any of the places [mentioned] set forth in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection [(d)] (f) of section 53-202d, as amended by this act, no person shall carry a loaded assault weapon concealed from public view or knowingly have, in any motor vehicle owned, operated or occupied by [him] such person (1) a loaded assault weapon, or (2) an unloaded assault weapon unless such weapon is kept in the trunk of such vehicle or in a case or other container which is inaccessible to the operator of such vehicle or any passenger in such vehicle. Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(b) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of this section, who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to section 53-202d, as amended by this act, in addition to the uses allowed in section 53-202d, as amended by this act, may transport the assault weapon between dealers or out of the state, display [it] the assault weapon at any gun show licensed by a state or local governmental entity or sell [it] the assault weapon to a resident outside the state. Any transporting of the assault weapon allowed by this subsection must be done as required by subsection (a) of this section.
(c) (1) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (d) of this section, may take possession of any assault weapon for the purposes of servicing or repair from any person to whom has been issued a certificate of possession for such weapon pursuant to sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act. [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a. ]
(2) Any licensed gun dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon received pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection [,] to a gunsmith for purposes of accomplishing service or repair of the same. [Transfers] Such transfers are permissible only to the following persons:
(A) A gunsmith who is in the licensed gun dealer's employ; or
(B) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services, provided the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon holds a dealer's license issued pursuant to Chapter 44, commencing with Section 921, of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(d) The term "licensed gun dealer", as used in sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a] means a person who has a federal firearms license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act.
Sec. 30. Section 53-202i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Nothing in sections [29-37j and] 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, [and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a] shall be construed to prohibit any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing assault weapons in this state from manufacturing or transporting assault weapons in this state for sale within this state in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b, as amended by this act, or for sale outside this state.
Sec. 31. Subsection (a) of section 53-202o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) In any prosecution for a violation of section 53-202c, as amended by this act, based on the possession by the defendant of a specified assault weapon, it shall be an affirmative defense that the defendant (1) in good faith purchased or otherwise obtained title to such specified assault weapon on or after October 1, 1993, and prior to May 8, 2002, in compliance with any state and federal laws concerning the purchase or transfer of firearms, (2) is not otherwise disqualified or prohibited from possessing such specified assault weapon, and (3) has possessed such specified assault weapon in compliance with subsection [(d)] (f) of section 53-202d, as amended by this act.
Sec. 32. Section 53-202l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Armor piercing [. 50 caliber] bullet" means (A) any . 50 caliber bullet that [is (A)] (i) is designed for the purpose of, [(B)] (ii) is held out by the manufacturer or distributor as, or [(C)] (iii) is generally recognized as having a specialized capability to penetrate armor or bulletproof glass, including, but not limited to, such bullets commonly designated as "M2 Armor-Piercing" or "AP", "M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary" or "API", "M20 Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer" or "APIT", "M903 Caliber . 50 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator" or "SLAP", or "M962 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator Tracer" or "SLAPT", or (B) any bullet that can be fired from a pistol or revolver that (i) has projectiles or projectile cores constructed entirely, excluding the presence of traces of other substances, from tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium, or (ii) is fully jacketed with a jacket weight of more than twenty-five per cent of the total weight of the projectile, is larger than .22 caliber and is designed and intended for use in a firearm, and (iii) does not have projectiles whose cores are composed of soft materials such as lead or lead alloys, zinc or zinc alloys, frangible projectiles designed primarily for sporting purposes, or any other projectiles or projectile cores that the Attorney General of the United States finds to be primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes or industrial purposes or that otherwise does not constitute "armor piercing ammunition" as defined in federal law. "Armor piercing bullet" does not include a shotgun shell.
(2) "Incendiary . 50 caliber bullet" means any . 50 caliber bullet that [is] (A) is designed for the purpose of, (B) is held out by the manufacturer or distributor as, or (C) is generally recognized as having a specialized capability to ignite upon impact, including, but not limited to, such bullets commonly designated as "M1 Incendiary", "M23 Incendiary", "M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary" or "API", or "M20 Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer" or "APIT".
(b) Any person who knowingly distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale or gives to any person any ammunition that is an armor piercing [. 50 caliber] bullet or an incendiary. 50 caliber bullet shall be guilty of a class D felony, except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor.
(c) Any person who knowingly transports or carries a firearm with an armor piercing bullet or incendiary .50 caliber bullet loaded shall be guilty of a class D felony.
[(c)] (d) The provisions of [subsection] subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to the following:
(1) The sale of such ammunition to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their official duties;
(2) A person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes such ammunition that is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court; or
(3) The transfer by bequest or intestate succession of such ammunition.
[(d)] (e) If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 29-33.
Sec. 33. Section 29-38c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Upon complaint on oath by any state's attorney or assistant state's attorney or by any two police officers, to any judge of the Superior Court, that such state's attorney or police officers have probable cause to believe that (1) a person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, (2) such person possesses one or more firearms, and (3) such firearm or firearms are within or upon any place, thing or person, such judge may issue a warrant commanding a proper officer to enter into or upon such place or thing, search the same or the person and take into such officer's custody any and all firearms and ammunition. Such state's attorney or police officers shall not make such complaint unless such state's attorney or police officers have conducted an independent investigation and have determined that such probable cause exists and that there is no reasonable alternative available to prevent such person from causing imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to others with such firearm.
(b) A warrant may issue only on affidavit sworn to by the complainant or complainants before the judge and establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant, which affidavit shall be part of the seizure file. In determining whether grounds for the application exist or whether there is probable cause to believe they exist, the judge shall consider: (1) Recent threats or acts of violence by such person directed toward other persons; (2) recent threats or acts of violence by such person directed toward himself or herself; and (3) recent acts of cruelty to animals as provided in subsection (b) of section 53-247 by such person. In evaluating whether such recent threats or acts of violence constitute probable cause to believe that such person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to others, the judge may consider other factors including, but not limited to (A) the reckless use, display or brandishing of a firearm by such person, (B) a history of the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force by such person against other persons, (C) prior involuntary confinement of such person in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, and (D) the illegal use of controlled substances or abuse of alcohol by such person. If the judge is satisfied that the grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to believe that they exist, such judge shall issue a warrant naming or describing the person, place or thing to be searched. The warrant shall be directed to any police officer of a regularly organized police department or any state police officer. It shall state the grounds or probable cause for its issuance and it shall command the officer to search within a reasonable time the person, place or thing named for any and all firearms and ammunition. A copy of the warrant shall be given to the person named therein together with a notice informing the person that such person has the right to a hearing under this section and the right to be represented by counsel at such hearing.
(c) The applicant for the warrant shall file a copy of the application for the warrant and all affidavits upon which the warrant is based with the clerk of the court for the geographical area within which the search will be conducted no later than the next business day following the execution of the warrant. Prior to the execution and return of the warrant, the clerk of the court shall not disclose any information pertaining to the application for the warrant or any affidavits upon which the warrant is based. The warrant shall be executed and returned with reasonable promptness consistent with due process of law and shall be accompanied by a written inventory of all firearms and ammunition seized.
(d) Not later than fourteen days after the execution of a warrant under this section, the court for the geographical area where the person named in the warrant resides shall hold a hearing to determine whether the [seized] firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized should be returned to the person named in the warrant or should continue to be held by the state. At such hearing the state shall have the burden of proving all material facts by clear and convincing evidence. If, after such hearing, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, [it] the court may order that the firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized pursuant to the warrant issued under subsection (a) of this section continue to be held by the state for a period not to exceed one year, otherwise the court shall order the [seized] firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized to be returned to the person named in the warrant. If the court finds that the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, [it] the court shall give notice to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services which may take such action pursuant to chapter 319i as it deems appropriate.
(e) Any person whose firearm or firearms and ammunition have been ordered seized pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, or such person's legal representative, may transfer such firearm or firearms and ammunition in accordance with the provisions of section 29-33, as amended by this act, or other applicable state or federal law, to any person eligible to possess such firearm or firearms and ammunition. Upon notification in writing by such person, or such person's legal representative, and the transferee, the head of the state agency holding such seized firearm or firearms and ammunition shall within ten days deliver such firearm or firearms and ammunition to the transferee.
(f) For the purposes of this section, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm.
Sec. 34. Section 29-36k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Not later than two business days after the occurrence of any event that makes a person ineligible to possess a pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition, such person shall (1) transfer in accordance with section 29-33, as amended by this act, all pistols and revolvers which such person then possesses to any person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver and transfer in accordance with any applicable state and federal laws all other firearms to any person eligible to possess such other firearms by obtaining an authorization number for the sale or transfer of the firearm from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and submit a sale or transfer of firearms form to said commissioner within two business days, except that a person described in subdivision [(3)] (4) of subsection (a) of section 53a-217, as amended by this act, may only transfer a pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition under this subdivision to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to the sale of the pistol, revolver or other firearm and ammunition to the federally licensed firearms dealer, or (2) deliver or surrender such pistols and revolvers and other firearms and ammunition to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or (3) transfer such ammunition to any person eligible to possess such ammunition. The commissioner shall exercise due care in the receipt and holding of such pistols and revolvers and other firearms or ammunition. For the purposes of this section, a "person described in subdivision [(3)] (4) of subsection (a) of section 53a-217" means a person described in said subdivision, regardless of whether such person was convicted under said subdivision.
(b) Such person, or such person's legal representative, may, at any time up to one year after such delivery or surrender, transfer such pistols and revolvers in accordance with the provisions of section 29-33, as amended by this act, to any person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver and transfer such other firearms and ammunition, in accordance with any applicable state and federal laws, to any person eligible to possess such other firearms and ammunition, provided any such person described in subdivision [(3)] (4) of subsection (a) of section 53a-217, as amended by this act, or such person's legal representative, may only transfer such pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to the sale of the pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition to the federally licensed firearms dealer. Upon notification in writing by the transferee and such person, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within ten days, deliver such pistols and revolvers or other firearms or ammunition to the transferee. If, at the end of such year, such pistols and revolvers or other firearms or ammunition have not been so transferred, the commissioner shall cause them to be destroyed.
(c) Any person who fails to transfer, deliver or surrender any such pistols and revolvers and other firearms or ammunition as provided in this section shall be subject to the penalty provided for in section 53a-217, as amended by this act, or 53a-217c, as amended by this act.
Sec. 35. Section 29-36n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, shall develop a protocol to ensure that persons who become ineligible to possess a pistol or revolver or ammunition have, in accordance with section 29-36k, as amended by this act, transferred such pistol or revolver or ammunition to a person eligible to possess such pistol or revolver or ammunition or have delivered or surrendered such pistol or revolver or ammunition to said commissioner.
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, shall update the protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to reflect the provisions of sections 29-7h, 29-28, as amended by this act, 29-28a, 29-29, 29-30, 29-32, as amended by this act, and 29-35, subsections (b) and (e) of section 46b-15, as amended by this act, subsections (c) and (d) of section 46b-38c, as amended by this act, and sections 53-202a, as amended by this act, 53-202l, as amended by this act, 53-202m and 53a-217, as amended by this act, and shall include in such protocol specific instructions for the transfer, delivery or surrender of pistols and revolvers and ammunition when the assistance of more than one law enforcement agency is necessary to effect the requirements of section 29-36k, as amended by this act.
Sec. 36. Subsection (b) of section 46b-15 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(b) The application form shall allow the applicant, at the applicant's option, to indicate whether the respondent holds a permit to carry a pistol or revolver or possesses one or more firearms or ammunition. The application shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath which includes a brief statement of the conditions from which relief is sought. Upon receipt of the application the court shall order that a hearing on the application be held not later than fourteen days from the date of the order. The court, in its discretion, may make such orders as it deems appropriate for the protection of the applicant and such dependent children or other persons as the court sees fit. In making such orders, the court, in its discretion, may consider relevant court records if the records are available to the public from a clerk of the Superior Court or on the Judicial Branch's Internet web site. Such orders may include temporary child custody or visitation rights, and such relief may include, but is not limited to, an order enjoining the respondent from (1) imposing any restraint upon the person or liberty of the applicant; (2) threatening, harassing, assaulting, molesting, sexually assaulting or attacking the applicant; or (3) entering the family dwelling or the dwelling of the applicant. Such order may include provisions necessary to protect any animal owned or kept by the applicant including, but not limited to, an order enjoining the respondent from injuring or threatening to injure such animal. If an applicant alleges an immediate and present physical danger to the applicant, the court may issue an ex parte order granting such relief as it deems appropriate. If a postponement of a hearing on the application is requested by either party and granted, the order shall not be continued except upon agreement of the parties or by order of the court for good cause shown.
Sec. 37. Subsection (a) of section 46b-38b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Whenever a peace officer determines upon speedy information that a family violence crime has been committed within such officer's jurisdiction, such officer shall arrest the person or persons suspected of its commission and charge such person or persons with the appropriate crime. The decision to arrest and charge shall not (1) be dependent on the specific consent of the victim, (2) consider the relationship of the parties, or (3) be based solely on a request by the victim. Whenever a peace officer determines that a family violence crime has been committed, such officer may seize any firearm or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or ammunition at the location where the crime is alleged to have been committed that is in the possession of any person arrested for the commission of such crime or suspected of its commission or that is in plain view. Not later than seven days after any such seizure, the law enforcement agency shall return such firearm, [or] electronic defense weapon or ammunition in its original condition to the rightful owner thereof unless such person is ineligible to possess such firearm, [or] electronic defense weapon or ammunition or unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Sec. 38. Subsection (c) of section 46b-38c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(c) Each such local family violence intervention unit shall: (1) Accept referrals of family violence cases from a judge or prosecutor, (2) prepare written or oral reports on each case for the court by the next court date to be presented at any time during the court session on that date, (3) provide or arrange for services to victims and offenders, (4) administer contracts to carry out such services, and (5) establish centralized reporting procedures. All information provided to a family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department in a local family violence intervention unit shall be used solely for the purposes of preparation of the report and the protective order forms for each case and recommendation of services and shall otherwise be confidential and retained in the files of such unit and not be subject to subpoena or other court process for use in any other proceeding or for any other purpose, except that a family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department:
(A) Shall disclose to the court and the prosecuting authority for appropriate action information that the victim has indicated that the defendant holds a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, [or] possesses one or more firearms or possesses ammunition;
(B) Shall disclose to an employee of the Department of Children and Families information that indicates that a defendant poses a danger or threat to a child or a custodial parent of the child;
(C) May disclose to another family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor information pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Chief Court Administrator;
(D) May disclose to a bail commissioner or an intake, assessment and referral specialist employed by the Judicial Department information regarding a defendant who is on or is being considered for pretrial release;
(E) May disclose to a law enforcement agency information that indicates that a defendant poses a danger or threat to another person;
(F) May disclose, after disposition of a family violence case, to a probation officer or a juvenile probation officer, for purposes of determining service needs and supervision levels, information regarding a defendant who has been convicted and sentenced to a period of probation in the family violence case;
(G) May disclose, after a conviction in a family violence case, to a probation officer for the purpose of preparing a presentence investigation report, any information regarding the defendant that has been provided to the family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor in the case or in any other case that resulted in the conviction of the defendant;
(H) May disclose to any organization under contract with the Judicial Department to provide family violence programs and services, for the purpose of determining program and service needs, information regarding any defendant who is a client of such organization, provided no information that personally identifies the victim may be disclosed to such organization; and
(I) Shall disclose such information as may be necessary to fulfill such counselor's, trainee's or supervisor's duty as a mandated reporter under section 17a-101a to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
Sec. 39. Section 54-36e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Except as provided in sections 26-85 and 26-90, firearms and ammunition, adjudged by the court to be contraband pursuant to subsection (c) of section 54-36a, or adjudicated a nuisance pursuant to section 54-33g, shall be turned over to the Bureau of Identification of the Connecticut Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction or appropriate use or disposal by sale at public auction.
(b) Firearms and ammunition turned over to the state police pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which are not destroyed or retained for appropriate use shall be sold at public auctions, conducted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services or such commissioner's designee. Pistols and revolvers, as defined in section 53a-3, which are antiques, as defined in section 29-33, as amended by this act, or curios or relics, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Chapter 1, Part 178, or modern pistols and revolvers which have a current retail value of one hundred dollars or more may be sold at such public auctions, provided such pistols and revolvers shall be sold only to persons who have a valid permit to sell a pistol or revolver, or a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act. Rifles and shotguns, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be sold only to persons qualified under federal law to purchase such rifles and shotguns. The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited by the State Treasurer in the forfeit firearms account within the General Fund.
Sec. 40. Subsection (d) of section 29-38f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(d) The receipts from the sale of seized firearms and ammunition pursuant to section 54-36e, as amended by this act, shall be deposited in the General Fund and credited to a separate, nonlapsing forfeit firearms account which shall be established by the Comptroller. All moneys in the account are deemed to be appropriated and shall be expended for the purposes established in section 29-38e.
Sec. 41. Subsection (d) of section 54-36n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(d) Whenever a firearm is identified and is determined to have been stolen, the law enforcement agency shall return such firearm, and any ammunition seized or recovered with such firearm that is determined to be stolen, to the rightful owner thereof, provided such owner is not prohibited from possessing such firearm or ammunition and such agency does not need to retain such firearm or ammunition as evidence in a criminal prosecution.
Sec. 42. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 53-202aa of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) A person is guilty of firearms trafficking if such person, knowingly and intentionally, directly or indirectly, causes one or more firearms that such person owns, is in possession of or is in control of to come into the possession of or control of another person who such person knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from owning or possessing any firearm under state or federal law.
(b) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers five or fewer firearms, and a class B felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers more than five firearms. (2) Any person who violates any provision of this section on or after October 1, 2013, shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Sec. 43. Section 53a-212 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) A person is guilty of stealing a firearm when, with intent to deprive another person of [his] such other person's firearm or to appropriate the [same] firearm to [himself] such person or a third party, [he] such person wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds a firearm, as defined in subdivision (19) of section 53a-3.
(b) Stealing a firearm is a class [D] C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Sec. 44. Section 53a-217 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon when such person possesses a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon and (1) has been convicted of a felony committed prior to, on or after October 1, 2013, or of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d committed on or after October 1, 2013, (2) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120, (3) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13, (4) knows that such person is subject to (A) a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or (B) a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, [(4)] (5) (A) has been confined on or after October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court, or with respect to any person who holds a valid permit or certificate that was issued or renewed under the provisions of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or 29-36f, as amended by this act, in effect prior to October 1, 2013, such person has been confined in such hospital within the preceding twelve months, or (B) has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, (6) knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c, as amended by this act, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, or [(5)] (7) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4). For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm, and a motor vehicle violation for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed shall be deemed an unclassified felony.
(b) Criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon is a class [D] C felony, for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Sec. 45. Section 53a-217c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) A person is guilty of criminal possession of a pistol or revolver when such person possesses a pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-27, and (1) has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, (2) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120, (3) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13, (4) (A) has been confined prior to October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding twelve months by order of a probate court, or has been confined on or after October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court, or, with respect to any person who holds a valid permit or certificate that was issued or renewed under the provisions of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or 29-36f, as amended by this act, in effect prior to October 1, 2013, such person has been confined in such hospital within the preceding twelve months, or (B) has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, (5) knows that such person is subject to (A) a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or (B) a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, (6) knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, (7) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), or (8) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Criminal possession of a pistol or revolver is a class [D] C felony, for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Sec. 46. Section 29-32 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) For the purposes of this section, "conviction" means the entry of a judgment of conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) Any state permit or temporary state permit for the carrying of any pistol or revolver may be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for cause and shall be revoked by said commissioner upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the state permit or temporary state permit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act. Upon the revocation of any state permit or temporary state permit, the person whose state permit or temporary state permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such state permit or temporary state permit shall be forthwith delivered to the commissioner. Any law enforcement authority shall confiscate and immediately forward to the commissioner any state permit or temporary state permit that is illegally possessed by any person. The commissioner may revoke the state permit or temporary state permit based upon the commissioner's own investigation or upon the request of any law enforcement agency. Any person who fails to surrender any permit within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.
(c) Any local permit for the carrying of a pistol or revolver issued prior to October 1, 2001, may be revoked by the authority issuing the same for cause, and shall be revoked by the authority issuing the same upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued such local permit. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the person whose local permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such permit shall be forthwith delivered to the authority issuing the same. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the authority issuing the same shall forthwith notify the commissioner. Upon the revocation of any permit issued by the commissioner, the commissioner shall forthwith notify any local authority which the records of the commissioner show as having issued a currently valid local permit to the holder of the permit revoked by the commissioner. Any person who fails to surrender such permit within five days of notification in writing or revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.
Sec. 47. Subsections (h) and (i) of section 29-33 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(h) If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, [it] the court may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution. Any person for whom prosecution is suspended shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to such violation and to a waiver of his right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the person refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the court shall terminate the suspension of prosecution and the case shall be brought to trial. If such person satisfactorily completes his period of probation, he may apply for dismissal of the charges against him and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactorily completing his period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed his period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed his period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(i) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, except that any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a pistol or revolver in violation of the provisions of this section [,] knowing that such pistol or revolver is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such pistol or revolver has been altered, removed or obliterated, shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, and any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.
Sec. 48. Section 29-34 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) No person shall make any false statement or give any false information connected with any purchase, sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
(b) No person shall sell, barter, hire, lend, give, deliver or otherwise transfer to any person under the age of twenty-one years any pistol or revolver, except that a pistol or revolver may be temporarily transferred to any person only for the use by such person in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range, provided such use is otherwise permitted by law and is under the immediate supervision of a person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony for which [one year] two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
(c) Any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.
Sec. 49. Section 29-36 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) No person shall remove, deface, alter or obliterate the name of any maker or model or any maker's number or other mark of identification on any firearm as defined in section 53a-3. The possession of any firearm upon which any identifying mark, number or name has been removed, defaced, altered or obliterated shall be prima facie evidence that the person owning or in possession of such firearm has removed, defaced, altered or obliterated the same.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be [fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both] guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, and any firearm found in the possession of any person in violation of said provision shall be forfeited.
Sec. 50. Subsection (b) of section 53-202g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(b) Any person who fails to make a report required by subsection (a) of this section, as amended by this act, within the prescribed time period shall commit an infraction and be fined not more than ninety dollars for a first offense and be guilty of a class [D] C felony for any subsequent offense, except that, if such person intentionally fails to make such report within the prescribed time period, such person shall be guilty of a class [C] B felony. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, as amended by this act, for the first offense shall not lose such person's right to hold or obtain any firearm permit under the general statutes.
Sec. 51. Subsection (e) of section 29-36g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver under the provisions of section 29-36f, as amended by this act, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-37a, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that such certificate is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
Sec. 52. Section 29-36i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Any eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act.
(b) Upon the revocation of any eligibility certificate, the person whose eligibility certificate is revoked shall be notified in writing and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.
Sec. 53. Section 29-37j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) Any person who purchases a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, or 29-37a, as amended by this act, with the intent to transfer such firearm to any other person who the transferor knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving such a firearm pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, or 29-37a, as amended by this act, shall be [fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both] guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
(b) Any person prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm and who solicits, employs or assists any person in violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class [B misdemeanor. If the] D felony for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and three thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, except that if such person who is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm obtains a firearm pursuant to a violation of subsection (a) of this section, [involves a transfer of more than one firearm,] such person shall be guilty of a class [A misdemeanor] C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine. Each transfer shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section and who was convicted of a felony within the prior five-year period shall be guilty of a class [D] B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Sec. 54. Section 29-37i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
No person shall store or keep any loaded firearm on any premises under [his] such person's control if [he] such person knows or reasonably should know that (1) a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor, (2) a resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law, or (3) a resident of the premises poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, unless such person [(1)] (A) keeps the firearm in a securely locked box or other container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure, or [(2)] (B) carries the firearm on his or her person or within such close proximity thereto that [he] such person can readily retrieve and use [it] the firearm as if [he] such person carried [it] the firearm on his or her person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of sixteen years.
Sec. 55. Section 52-571g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
Any person whose act or omission constitutes a violation of section 29-37i, as amended by this act, shall be strictly liable for damages when a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, obtains a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, and causes the injury or death of such minor, resident or any other person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of sixteen years.
Sec. 56. Section 53a-217a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) A person is guilty of criminally negligent storage of a firearm when [he] such person violates the provisions of section 29-37i, as amended by this act, and a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, obtains the firearm and causes the injury or death of [himself] such minor, resident or any other person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of sixteen years.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry to any premises by any person.
(c) Criminally negligent storage of a firearm is a class D felony.
Sec. 57. Subsections (b) to (f), inclusive, of section 29-28 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(b) Upon the application of any person having a bona fide permanent residence [or place of business] within the jurisdiction of any such authority, such chief of police, warden or selectman may issue a temporary state permit to such person to carry a pistol or revolver within the state, provided such authority shall find that such applicant intends to make no use of any pistol or revolver which such applicant may be permitted to carry under such permit other than a lawful use and that such person is a suitable person to receive such permit. No state or temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall be issued under this subsection if the applicant (1) has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of pistols and revolvers available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of pistols or revolvers conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association, (2) has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, (3) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120, (4) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13, (5) (A) has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding [twelve] sixty months by order of a probate court, or (B) has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, (6) is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, (7) is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing, (8) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), (9) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, or (10) is less than twenty-one years of age. Nothing in this section shall require any person who holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver on October 1, 1994, to participate in any additional training in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers. No person may apply for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver more than once within any twelve-month period, and no temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall be issued to any person who has applied for such permit more than once within the preceding twelve months. Any person who applies for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall indicate in writing on the application, under penalty of false statement in such manner as the issuing authority prescribes, that such person has not applied for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver within the past twelve months. Upon issuance of a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver to the applicant, the local authority shall forward the original application to the commissioner. Not later than sixty days after receiving a temporary state permit, an applicant shall appear at a location designated by the commissioner to receive the state permit. [Said] The commissioner may then issue, to any holder of any temporary state permit, a state permit to carry a pistol or revolver within the state. Upon issuance of the state permit, the commissioner shall make available to the permit holder a copy of the law regarding the permit holder's responsibility to report the loss or theft of a firearm and the penalties associated with the failure to comply with such law. Upon issuance of the state permit, the commissioner shall forward a record of such permit to the local authority issuing the temporary state permit. The commissioner shall retain records of all applications, whether approved or denied. The copy of the state permit delivered to the permittee shall be laminated and shall contain a full-face photograph of such permittee. A person holding a state permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall notify the issuing authority within two business days of any change of such person's address. The notification shall include the old address and the new address of such person.
(c) No issuing authority may require any sworn member of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or an organized local police department to furnish such sworn member's residence address in a permit application. The issuing authority shall allow each such sworn member who has a permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued by such authority to revise such member's application to include a business or post office address in lieu of the residence address. The issuing authority shall notify each such member of the right to revise such application.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued a permit to sell at retail pistols and revolvers pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or a state or a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or a local permit to carry pistols and revolvers issued by local authorities prior to October 1, 2001, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the issuing authority may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-37a, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that such state or temporary state permit is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and the local authority may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-37a, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that a local permit is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
(e) The issuance of any permit to carry a pistol or revolver does not thereby authorize the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver in any premises where the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited by the person who owns or exercises control over such premises.
(f) Any bona fide resident of the United States having no bona fide permanent residence [or place of business] within the jurisdiction of any local authority in the state, but who has a permit or license to carry a pistol or revolver issued by the authority of another state or subdivision of the United States, may apply directly to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a permit to carry a pistol or revolver in this state. All provisions of subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section shall apply to applications for a permit received by the commissioner under this subsection.
Sec. 58. Subsection (b) of section 29-36f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(b) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall issue an eligibility certificate unless said commissioner finds that the applicant: (1) Has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of pistols and revolvers available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of pistols or revolvers conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association; (2) has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d; (3) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120; (4) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13; (5) (A) has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding [twelve] sixty months by order of a probate court; or (B) has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, (6) is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person; (7) is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing; (8) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4); or (9) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
Sec. 59. Section 54-125a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) A person convicted of one or more crimes who is incarcerated on or after October 1, 1990, who received a definite sentence or aggregate sentence of more than two years, and who has been confined under such sentence or sentences for not less than one-half of the aggregate sentence less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e or one-half of the most recent sentence imposed by the court less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e, whichever is greater, may be allowed to go at large on parole in the discretion of the panel of the Board of Pardons and Paroles for the institution in which the person is confined, if (1) it appears from all available information, including any reports from the Commissioner of Correction that the panel may require, that there is reasonable probability that such inmate will live and remain at liberty without violating the law, and (2) such release is not incompatible with the welfare of society. At the discretion of the panel, and under the terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the panel including requiring the parolee to submit personal reports, the parolee shall be allowed to return to the parolee's home or to reside in a residential community center, or to go elsewhere. The parolee shall, while on parole, remain under the jurisdiction of the board until the expiration of the maximum term or terms for which the parolee was sentenced less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e. Any parolee released on the condition that the parolee reside in a residential community center may be required to contribute to the cost incidental to such residence. Each order of parole shall fix the limits of the parolee's residence, which may be changed in the discretion of the board and the Commissioner of Correction. Within three weeks after the commitment of each person sentenced to more than two years, the state's attorney for the judicial district shall send to the Board of Pardons and Paroles the record, if any, of such person.
(b) (1) No person convicted of any of the following offenses, which was committed on or after July 1, 1981, shall be eligible for parole under subsection (a) of this section: (A) Capital felony, as provided under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, (B) murder with special circumstances, as provided under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, (C) felony murder, as provided in section 53a-54c, (D) arson murder, as provided in section 53a-54d, (E) murder, as provided in section 53a-54a, or (F) aggravated sexual assault in the first degree, as provided in section 53a-70a. (2) A person convicted of (A) a violation of section 53a-100aa or 53a-102, or (B) an offense, other than an offense specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, where the underlying facts and circumstances of the offense involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person shall be ineligible for parole under subsection (a) of this section until such person has served not less than eighty-five per cent of the definite sentence imposed. [less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e. ]
(c) The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall, not later than July 1, 1996, adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to ensure that a person convicted of an offense described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section is not released on parole until such person has served eighty-five per cent of the definite sentence imposed by the court. [less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e. ] Such regulations shall include guidelines and procedures for classifying a person as a violent offender that are not limited to a consideration of the elements of the offense or offenses for which such person was convicted.
(d) The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall hold a hearing to determine the suitability for parole release of any person whose eligibility for parole release is not subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section upon completion by such person of seventy-five per cent of such person's definite or aggregate sentence less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e. An employee of the board or, if deemed necessary by the chairperson, a panel of the board shall reassess the suitability for parole release of such person based on the following standards: (1) Whether there is reasonable probability that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the law, and (2) whether the benefits to such person and society that would result from such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh the benefits to such person and society that would result from such person's continued incarceration. After hearing, if the board determines that continued confinement is necessary, it shall articulate for the record the specific reasons why such person and the public would not benefit from such person serving a period of parole supervision while transitioning from incarceration to the community. The decision of the board under this subsection shall not be subject to appeal.
(e) The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall hold a hearing to determine the suitability for parole release of any person whose eligibility for parole release is subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section upon completion by such person of eighty-five per cent of such person's definite or aggregate sentence. [less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18-98e. ] An employee of the board or, if deemed necessary by the chairperson, a panel of the board shall assess the suitability for parole release of such person based on the following standards: (1) Whether there is reasonable probability that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the law, and (2) whether the benefits to such person and society that would result from such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh the benefits to such person and society that would result from such person's continued incarceration. After hearing, if the board determines that continued confinement is necessary, it shall articulate for the record the specific reasons why such person and the public would not benefit from such person serving a period of parole supervision while transitioning from incarceration to the community. The decision of the board under this subsection shall not be subject to appeal.
(f) Any person released on parole under this section shall remain in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and be subject to supervision by personnel of the Department of Correction during such person's period of parole.
Sec. 60. Subsection (a) of section 29-32b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) There [shall be] is established a Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300, to be comprised of [seven] nine members, eight of whom shall be appointed by the Governor to serve during [his] the Governor's term and until [their] such members' successors are appointed and qualify, and one of whom shall be a retired judge of the Superior Court appointed by the Chief Court Administrator. With the exception of two public members, the members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed from nominees of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Connecticut State Association of Chiefs of Police, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, The Connecticut State Rifle and Revolver Association, Inc. , and Ye Connecticut Gun Guild, Inc. , and each of said organizations shall be entitled to representation on the board. At least one member of the board appointed by the Governor shall be a lawyer licensed to practice in this state [,] who shall act as chairman of the board during the hearing of appeals brought under this section.
Sec. 61. Subsection (c) of section 29-32b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(c) Any person aggrieved by the action of an issuing authority may file with the board a clear and concise statement of the facts on which [he] such person relies for relief, and shall state the relief sought by the appellant. The receipt by the board of the appellant's statement shall initiate the appeals process, and no appeal may be rejected for mere lack of formality. The board shall, [within] not later than ten days [next following] after receipt of the appeal, set a time and place at which the appeal shall be heard. The board, while such appeal is pending, may request such additional information from the appellant and from the issuing authority as it deems reasonably necessary to conduct a fair and impartial hearing, and shall require of the issuing authority from whose decision or action the appeal is being sought a written statement [in writing] setting forth the reasons for such failure, refusal, revocation or limitation. [Failure] The failure, absent good cause shown, or refusal of the issuing authority to furnish such written statement, or to supply the appellant with an application, at least ten days prior to the hearing shall be cause for the board to grant the relief sought, forthwith and without further hearing. If the issuing authority shows good cause for its failure to furnish such written statement, the board shall continue the matter to the next scheduled meeting of the board, provided the issuing authority shall be allowed only one such continuance.
Sec. 62. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall study the feasibility and cost of establishing and maintaining a system to electronically submit and access information required for the sale, delivery or transfer of a firearm. Such system shall permit the electronic submission to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection of information required for the sale, delivery or transfer of a firearm, including, but not limited to, the information required by sections 29-33 and 29-37a of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Such system shall permit electronic access to the state database established pursuant to section 29-36l of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (d) and (f) of section 29-36l of the general statutes, the system shall permit a retail seller to directly initiate a background check on individuals purchasing firearms through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
(b) The system may permit the electronic submission of other documents and forms related to firearms permitting including, but not limited to, an application for the renewal of a permit to carry a pistol or revolver pursuant to section 29-30 of the general statutes, an application for renewal of an eligibility certificate pursuant to section 29-36h of the general statutes, an application for renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate pursuant to section 4 of this act, an application for a certificate of possession for an assault weapon pursuant to section 53-202d of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and an application to declare possession of a large capacity magazine pursuant to section 24 of this act.
(c) The commissioner shall submit a report to the General Assembly, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, on or before January 1, 2014, on the results of the study and shall include in such report recommendations for the development and implementation of such system.
Sec. 63. (Effective July 1, 2013) The sum of one million dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, for the purpose of funding the activities of the state-wide firearms trafficking task force established in section 29-38e of the general statutes.
Sec. 64. Subsection (a) of section 10-220a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in-service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate. Such program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, and alcohol to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education which includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence, child abuse and youth suicide, (3) the growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, including, but not limited to, children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in a regular classroom, including, but not limited to, implementation of student individualized education programs, (4) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (d) of section 10-145a, [subsection (a) of section 10-220a,] sections 10-222d, 10-222g and 10-222h, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08-160, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (5) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (6) computer and other information technology as applied to student learning and classroom instruction, communications and data management, (7) the teaching of the language arts, reading and reading readiness for teachers in grades kindergarten to three, inclusive, (8) second language acquisition in districts required to provide a program of bilingual education pursuant to section 10-17f, (9) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter. Each local and regional board of education may allow any paraprofessional or noncertified employee to participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-service training program provided pursuant to this section, and (10) the teacher evaluation and support program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-151b. The State Board of Education, within available appropriations and utilizing available materials, shall assist and encourage local and regional boards of education to include: (A) Holocaust and genocide education and awareness; (B) the historical events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland; (C) African-American history; (D) Puerto Rican history; (E) Native American history; (F) personal financial management; (G) domestic violence and teen dating violence; [and] (H) mental health first aid training; and (I) topics approved by the state board upon the request of local or regional boards of education as part of in-service training programs pursuant to this subsection.
Sec. 65. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Education shall consider whether to include mental health first aid training as a requirement for a candidate in a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification pursuant to section 10-145a of the general statutes.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, public health and appropriations concerning the commissioner's recommendation for inclusion of such training as a requirement for such program of teacher preparation.
Sec. 66. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study the provision of behavioral health services in the state with particular focus on the provision of behavioral health services for persons sixteen to twenty-five years of age, inclusive.
(b) The task force shall analyze and make recommendations concerning: (1) Improving behavioral health screening, early intervention and treatment; (2) closing gaps in private insurance coverage; (3) improving behavioral health case management services; (4) addressing the insufficient number of certain behavioral health providers, including psychiatrists who specialize in treating children and those offering specialized services; (5) improving the delivery system for behavioral health services; (6) improving payment models for behavioral health services; (7) creating a central clearinghouse with information for members of the public concerning behavioral health services; (8) providing intensive, individualized behavioral health intervention services in schools for students who are exhibiting violent tendencies; (9) requiring the State Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts concerning behavioral intervention specialists in public and private schools and for preschool programs; (10) employing the use of assisted outpatient behavioral health services and involuntary outpatient commitment as treatment options; (11) conducting behavioral health screenings of public school children; (12) requiring disclosure of communications by mental health professionals concerning persons who present a clear and present danger to the health or safety of themselves or other persons; and (13) reducing the stigma of mental illness as it presents a barrier to a person's receipt of appropriate mental health services.
(c) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Healthcare Advocate;
(2) The Child Advocate;
(3) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a child psychiatrist and the other a primary care provider;
(4) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a pediatrician whose practice is focused on treating adolescents and the other a representative of a school-based health center;
(5) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a judge of probate and the other a parent with a child who has utilized behavioral health services;
(6) Two appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a school psychologist and the other a representative of a community health center;
(7) Two appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of a health insurer and the other a representative of a hospital that offers behavioral health services; and
(8) Two appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a representative of an organization that offers behavioral health case management services and the other a consumer of behavioral health services or the representative of an organization that advocates for consumers of behavioral health services;
(9) One appointed by the Governor, who shall be a representative of an institution of higher education; and
(10) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Public Health and Education, and the Insurance Commissioner or the commissioners' designees.
(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one chairperson of the task force from among the members. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. A majority of the voting task force members shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of a quorum shall be required for any official action of the task force. Any tie vote shall be decided by the chairpersons. The task force shall meet not less than monthly until February 1, 2014, and at other times upon the call of the chairs or upon the request of a majority of the members.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, except for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(h) The task force may seek funding from any state, federal or private source and may enter into contracts to carry out its duties.
(i) Not later than February 1, 2014, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, public health, human services, education and insurance, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall provide additional information not contained in such report to said members of the General Assembly, upon their request. The task force shall terminate on July 1, 2014.
Sec. 67. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall implement an assertive community treatment program to provide behavioral health support services in three cities of the state that, on June 30, 2013, do not have a program that offers such services. Such program shall use a person-centered, recovery-based approach to provide to persons, including those released from commitment, who have been diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness: (1) Assertive outreach; (2) mental health services; (3) vocational assistance; (4) education concerning family issues; (5) information to develop wellness skills; and (6) peer support services. Such services shall be provided by mobile, multi-disciplinary teams in community settings.
Sec. 68. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide case management and case coordination services to not more than one hundred persons with mental illness who are involved in the Probate Court system and who, on June 30, 2013, are not receiving such services.
Sec. 69. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall establish and implement a regional behavioral health consultation and care coordination program for primary care providers who serve children. Such program shall provide to such primary care providers: (1) Timely access to a consultation team that includes a child psychiatrist, social worker and a care coordinator; (2) patient care coordination and transitional services for behavioral health care; and (3) training and education concerning patient access to behavioral health services. Said commissioner may enter into a contract for services to administer such program.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2013, said commissioner shall submit a plan, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, children, human services and appropriations concerning the program to be established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The Commissioner of Children and Families may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section.
Sec. 70. Subdivision (7) of section 38a-591a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(7) "Clinical peer" means a physician or other health care professional who (A) holds a nonrestricted license in a state of the United States and in the same or similar specialty as typically manages the medical condition, procedure or treatment under review, and (B) for a review specified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a, as amended by this act, concerning (i) a child or adolescent substance use disorder or a child or adolescent mental disorder, holds a national board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry or child and adolescent psychology, and has training or clinical experience in the treatment of child and adolescent substance use disorder or child and adolescent mental disorder, as applicable, or (ii) an adult substance use disorder or an adult mental disorder, holds a national board certification in psychiatry or psychology, and has training or clinical experience in the treatment of adult substance use disorders or adult mental disorders, as applicable.
Sec. 71. Subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(38) "Urgent care request" means a request for a health care service or course of treatment (A) for which the time period for making a non-urgent care request determination [(A)] (i) could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the covered person or the ability of the covered person to regain maximum function, or [(B)] (ii) in the opinion of a health care professional with knowledge of the covered person's medical condition, would subject the covered person to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the health care service or treatment being requested, or (B) for a substance use disorder, as described in section 17a-458, or for a co-occurring mental disorder, or (C) for a mental disorder requiring (i) inpatient services, (ii) partial hospitalization, as defined in section 38a-496, (iii) residential treatment, or (iv) intensive outpatient services necessary to keep a covered person from requiring an inpatient setting.
Sec. 72. Section 38a-591c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) (1) Each health carrier shall contract with (A) health care professionals to administer such health carrier's utilization review program, [and oversee utilization review determinations,] and (B) [with] clinical peers to conduct utilization reviews and to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of an adverse determination.
(2) Each utilization review program shall use documented clinical review criteria that are based on sound clinical evidence and are evaluated periodically by the health carrier's organizational mechanism specified in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 38a-591b to assure such program's ongoing effectiveness. A health carrier may develop its own clinical review criteria or it may purchase or license clinical review criteria from qualified vendors approved by the commissioner. Each health carrier shall make its clinical review criteria available upon request to authorized government agencies.
(3) (A) Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of this subsection, for any utilization review for the treatment of a substance use disorder, as described in section 17a-458, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (i) The most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's Patient Placement Criteria; or (ii) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates is consistent with the most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's Patient Placement Criteria, in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
(B) A health carrier that uses clinical review criteria as set forth in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision shall create and maintain a document in an easily accessible location on such health carrier's Internet web site that (i) compares each aspect of such clinical review criteria with the American Society of Addiction Medicine's Patient Placement Criteria, and (ii) provides citations to peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community or to professional society guidelines that justify each deviation from the American Society of Addiction Medicine's Patient Placement Criteria.
(4) (A) Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of this subsection, for any utilization review for the treatment of a child or adolescent mental disorder, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (i) The most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument; or (ii) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates is consistent with the most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument, in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
(B) A health carrier that uses clinical review criteria as set forth in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision for children and adolescents shall create and maintain a document in an easily accessible location on such health carrier's Internet web site that (i) compares each aspect of such clinical review criteria with the guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument, and (ii) provides citations to peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community or to professional society guidelines that justify each deviation from the guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument.
(5) (A) Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of this subsection, for any utilization review for the treatment of an adult mental disorder, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (i) The most recent guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare; or (ii) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates is consistent with the most recent guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
(B) A health carrier that uses clinical review criteria as set forth in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this subdivision for adults shall create and maintain a document in an easily accessible location on such health carrier's Internet web site that (i) compares each aspect of such clinical review criteria with the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, and (ii) provides citations to peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community or to professional society guidelines that justify each deviation from the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare.
(b) Each health carrier shall:
(1) Have procedures in place to ensure that (A) the health care professionals administering such health carrier's utilization review program are applying the clinical review criteria consistently in utilization review determinations, and (B) the appropriate or required clinical peers are being designated to conduct utilization reviews;
(2) Have data systems sufficient to support utilization review program activities and to generate management reports to enable the health carrier to monitor and manage health care services effectively;
(3) Provide covered persons and participating providers with access to its utilization review staff through a toll-free telephone number or any other free calling option or by electronic means;
(4) Coordinate the utilization review program with other medical management activity conducted by the health carrier, such as quality assurance, credentialing, contracting with health care professionals, data reporting, grievance procedures, processes for assessing member satisfaction and risk management; and
(5) Routinely assess the effectiveness and efficiency of its utilization review program.
(c) If a health carrier delegates any utilization review activities to a utilization review company, the health carrier shall maintain adequate oversight, which shall include (1) a written description of the utilization review company's activities and responsibilities, including such company's reporting requirements, (2) evidence of the health carrier's formal approval of the utilization review company program, and (3) a process by which the health carrier shall evaluate the utilization review company's performance.
(d) When conducting utilization review, the health carrier shall (1) collect only the information necessary, including pertinent clinical information, to make the utilization review or benefit determination, and (2) ensure that such review is conducted in a manner to ensure the independence and impartiality of the [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers involved in making the utilization review or benefit determination. No health carrier shall make decisions regarding the hiring, compensation, termination, promotion or other similar matters of such [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers based on the likelihood that the [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers will support the denial of benefits.
Sec. 73. Section 38a-591d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) (1) Each health carrier shall maintain written procedures for (A) utilization review and benefit determinations, (B) expedited utilization review and benefit determinations with respect to prospective urgent care requests and concurrent review urgent care requests, and (C) notifying covered persons or covered persons' authorized representatives of such review and benefit determinations. Each health carrier shall make such review and benefit determinations within the specified time periods under this section.
(2) In determining whether a benefit request shall be considered an urgent care request, an individual acting on behalf of a health carrier shall apply the judgment of a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, except that any benefit request (A) determined to be an urgent care request by a health care professional with knowledge of the covered person's medical condition, or (B) specified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a, as amended by this act, shall be deemed an urgent care request.
(3) After a covered person, a covered person's authorized representative or a covered person's health care professional is notified of an initial adverse determination that was based, in whole or in part, on medical necessity, of a concurrent or prospective utilization review or of a benefit request, a health carrier may offer a covered person's health care professional the opportunity to confer with a clinical peer of such health carrier, provided such covered person, covered person's authorized representative or covered person's health care professional has not filed a grievance of such initial adverse determination prior to such conference. Such conference shall not be considered a grievance of such initial adverse determination.
(b) With respect to a nonurgent care request:
(1) (A) For a prospective or concurrent review request, a health carrier shall make a determination within a reasonable period of time appropriate to the covered person's medical condition, but not later than fifteen calendar days after the date the health carrier receives such request, and shall notify the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative of such determination, whether or not the carrier certifies the provision of the benefit.
(B) If the review under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision is a review of a grievance involving a concurrent review request, pursuant to 45 CFR 147.136, as amended from time to time, the treatment shall be continued without liability to the covered person until the covered person has been notified of the review decision.
(2) For a retrospective review request, a health carrier shall make a determination within a reasonable period of time, but not later than thirty calendar days after the date the health carrier receives such request.
(3) The time periods specified in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection may be extended once by the health carrier for up to fifteen calendar days, provided the health carrier:
(A) Determines that an extension is necessary due to circumstances beyond the health carrier's control; and
(B) Notifies the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative prior to the expiration of the initial time period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the health carrier expects to make a determination.
(4) (A) If the extension pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection is necessary due to the failure of the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative to provide information necessary to make a determination on the request, the health carrier shall:
(i) Specifically describe in the notice of extension the required information necessary to complete the request; and
(ii) Provide the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative with not less than forty-five calendar days after the date of receipt of the notice to provide the specified information.
(B) If the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative fails to submit the specified information before the end of the period of the extension, the health carrier may deny certification of the benefit requested.
(c) With respect to an urgent care request:
(1) (A) Unless the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative has failed to provide information necessary for the health carrier to make a determination and except as specified under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, the health carrier shall make a determination as soon as possible, taking into account the covered person's medical condition, but not later than seventy-two hours after the health carrier receives such request, provided, if the urgent care request is a concurrent review request to extend a course of treatment beyond the initial period of time or the number of treatments, such request is made at least twenty-four hours prior to the expiration of the prescribed period of time or number of treatments. [; ]
(B) Unless the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative has failed to provide information necessary for the health carrier to make a determination, for an urgent care request specified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a, as amended by this act, the health carrier shall make a determination as soon as possible, taking into account the covered person's medical condition, but not later than twenty-four hours after the health carrier receives such request, provided, if the urgent care request is a concurrent review request to extend a course of treatment beyond the initial period of time or the number of treatments, such request is made at least twenty-four hours prior to the expiration of the prescribed period of time or number of treatments.
(2) (A) If the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative has failed to provide information necessary for the health carrier to make a determination, the health carrier shall notify the covered person or the covered person's representative, as applicable, as soon as possible, but not later than twenty-four hours after the health carrier receives such request.
(B) The health carrier shall provide the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, a reasonable period of time to submit the specified information, taking into account the covered person's medical condition, but not less than forty-eight hours after notifying the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable.
(3) The health carrier shall notify the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative of its determination as soon as possible, but not later than forty-eight hours after the earlier of (A) the date on which the covered person and the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, provides the specified information to the health carrier, or (B) the date on which the specified information was to have been submitted.
(d) (1) Whenever a health carrier receives a review request from a covered person or a covered person's authorized representative that fails to meet the health carrier's filing procedures, the health carrier shall notify the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative of such failure not later than five calendar days after the health carrier receives such request, except that for an urgent care request, the health carrier shall notify the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative of such failure not later than twenty-four hours after the health carrier receives such request.
(2) If the health carrier provides such notice orally, the health carrier shall provide confirmation in writing to the covered person and the covered person's health care professional of record not later than five calendar days after providing the oral notice.
(e) Each health carrier shall provide promptly to a covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative a notice of an adverse determination.
(1) Such notice may be provided in writing or by electronic means and shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative:
(A) Information sufficient to identify the benefit request or claim involved, including the date of service, if applicable, the health care professional and the claim amount;
(B) The specific reason or reasons for the adverse determination, including, upon request, a listing of the relevant clinical review criteria, including professional criteria and medical or scientific evidence and a description of the health carrier's standard, if any, that [was] were used in reaching the denial;
(C) Reference to the specific health benefit plan provisions on which the determination is based;
(D) A description of any additional material or information necessary for the covered person to perfect the benefit request or claim, including an explanation of why the material or information is necessary to perfect the request or claim;
(E) A description of the health carrier's internal grievance process that includes (i) the health carrier's expedited review procedures, (ii) any time limits applicable to such process or procedures, (iii) the contact information for the organizational unit designated to coordinate the review on behalf of the health carrier, and (iv) a statement that the covered person or, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative is entitled, pursuant to the requirements of the health carrier's internal grievance process, to [(I) submit written comments, documents, records and other material relating to the covered person's benefit request for consideration by the individual or individuals conducting the review, and (II)] receive from the health carrier, free of charge upon request, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records, communications and other information and evidence regarding the covered person's benefit request;
(F) If the adverse determination is based on a health carrier's internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion, (i) the specific rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion, or (ii) (I) a statement that a specific rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion of the health carrier was relied upon to make the adverse determination and that a copy of such rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion will be provided to the covered person free of charge upon request, [and] (II) instructions for requesting such copy, and (III) the links to such rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion on such health carrier's Internet web site. If the adverse determination involves the treatment of a substance use disorder, as described in section 17a-458, or a mental disorder, the notice of adverse determination shall also include, if applicable, a link to the document created and maintained by such health carrier pursuant to subdivision (3), (4) or (5) of subsection (a) of section 38a-591c, as amended by this act, as applicable, on such health carrier's Internet web site;
(G) If the adverse determination is based on medical necessity or an experimental or investigational treatment or similar exclusion or limit, the written statement of the scientific or clinical rationale for the adverse determination and (i) an explanation of the scientific or clinical rationale used to make the determination that applies the terms of the health benefit plan to the covered person's medical circumstances or (ii) a statement that an explanation will be provided to the covered person free of charge upon request, and instructions for requesting a copy of such explanation; [and]
(H) A statement explaining the right of the covered person to contact the commissioner's office or the Office of the Healthcare Advocate at any time for assistance or, upon completion of the health carrier's internal grievance process, to file a civil suit in a court of competent jurisdiction. Such statement shall include the contact information for said offices; [. ] and
(I) A statement that if the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative chooses to file a grievance of an adverse determination, (i) such appeals are sometimes successful, (ii) such covered person or covered person's authorized representative may benefit from free assistance from the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, which can assist such covered person or covered person's authorized representative with the filing of a grievance pursuant to 42 USC 300gg-93, as amended from time to time, or from the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Insurance Department, (iii) such covered person or covered person's authorized representative is entitled and encouraged to submit supporting documentation for the health carrier's consideration during the review of an adverse determination, including narratives from such covered person or covered person's authorized representative and letters and treatment notes from such covered person's health care professional, and (iv) such covered person or covered person's authorized representative has the right to ask such covered person's health care professional for such letters or treatment notes.
(2) Upon request pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the health carrier shall provide such copies in accordance with subsection (a) of section 38a-591n.
(f) If the adverse determination is a rescission, the health carrier shall include with the advance notice of the application for rescission required to be sent to the covered person, a written statement that includes:
(1) Clear identification of the alleged fraudulent act, practice or omission or the intentional misrepresentation of material fact;
(2) An explanation as to why the act, practice or omission was fraudulent or was an intentional misrepresentation of a material fact;
(3) A disclosure that the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative may file immediately, without waiting for the date such advance notice of the proposed rescission ends, a grievance with the health carrier to request a review of the adverse determination to rescind coverage, pursuant to sections 38a-591e and 38a-591f, as amended by this act;
(4) A description of the health carrier's grievance procedures established under sections 38a-591e and 38a-591f, as amended by this act, including any time limits applicable to those procedures; and
(5) The date such advance notice of the proposed rescission ends and the date back to which the coverage will be retroactively rescinded.
(g) (1) Whenever a health carrier fails to strictly adhere to the requirements of this section with respect to making utilization review and benefit determinations of a benefit request or claim, the covered person shall be deemed to have exhausted the internal grievance process of such health carrier and may file a request for an external review in accordance with the provisions of section 38a-591g, as amended by this act, regardless of whether the health carrier asserts it substantially complied with the requirements of this section or that any error it committed was de minimis.
(2) A covered person who has exhausted the internal grievance process of a health carrier may, in addition to filing a request for an external review, pursue any available remedies under state or federal law on the basis that the health carrier failed to provide a reasonable internal grievance process that would yield a decision on the merits of the claim.
Sec. 74. Section 38a-591e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) (1) Each health carrier shall establish and maintain written procedures for (A) the review of grievances of adverse determinations that were based, in whole or in part, on medical necessity, (B) the expedited review of grievances of adverse determinations of urgent care requests, including concurrent review urgent care requests involving an admission, availability of care, continued stay or health care service for a covered person who has received emergency services but has not been discharged from a facility, and (C) notifying covered persons or covered persons' authorized representatives of such adverse determinations.
(2) Each health carrier shall file with the commissioner a copy of such procedures, including all forms used to process requests, and any subsequent material modifications to such procedures.
(3) In addition to a copy of such procedures, each health carrier shall file annually with the commissioner, as part of its annual report required under subsection (e) of section 38a-591b, a certificate of compliance stating that the health carrier has established and maintains grievance procedures for each of its health benefit plans that are fully compliant with the provisions of sections 38a-591a to 38a-591n, inclusive, as amended by this act.
(b) (1) A covered person or a covered person's authorized representative may file a grievance of an adverse determination that was based, in whole or in part, on medical necessity with the health carrier not later than one hundred eighty calendar days after the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, receives the notice of an adverse determination.
(2) For prospective or concurrent urgent care requests, a covered person or a covered person's authorized representative may make a request for an expedited review orally or in writing.
(c) (1) (A) When conducting a review of an adverse determination under this section, the health carrier shall ensure that such review is conducted in a manner to ensure the independence and impartiality of the [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers involved in making the review decision.
(B) If the adverse determination involves utilization review, the health carrier shall designate an appropriate clinical peer or peers to review such adverse determination. Such clinical peer or peers shall not have been involved in the initial adverse determination.
(C) The [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers conducting a review under this section shall take into consideration all comments, documents, records and other information relevant to the covered person's benefit request that is the subject of the adverse determination under review, that are submitted by the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, regardless of whether such information was submitted or considered in making the initial adverse determination.
(D) Prior to issuing a decision, the health carrier shall provide free of charge, by facsimile, electronic means or any other expeditious method available, to the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, any new or additional documents, communications, information and evidence relied upon and any new or additional scientific or clinical rationale used by the health carrier in connection with the grievance. Such documents, communications, information, evidence and rationale shall be provided sufficiently in advance of the date the health carrier is required to issue a decision to permit the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, a reasonable opportunity to respond prior to such date.
(2) If the review under subdivision (1) of this subsection is an expedited review, all necessary information, including the health carrier's decision, shall be transmitted between the health carrier and the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative, as applicable, by telephone, facsimile, electronic means or any other expeditious method available.
(3) If the review under subdivision (1) of this subsection is an expedited review of a grievance involving an adverse determination of a concurrent review [urgent care] request, pursuant to 45 CFR 147.136, as amended from time to time, the treatment shall be continued without liability to the covered person until the covered person has been notified of the review decision.
(d) (1) The health carrier shall notify the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative, in writing or by electronic means, of its decision within a reasonable period of time appropriate to the covered person's medical condition, but not later than:
(A) For prospective review and concurrent review requests, thirty calendar days after the health carrier receives the grievance;
(B) For retrospective review requests, sixty calendar days after the health carrier receives the grievance; [and]
(C) For expedited review requests, except as specified under subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, seventy-two hours after the health carrier receives the grievance; and
(D) For expedited review requests of a health care service or course of treatment specified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a, as amended by this act, twenty-four hours after the health carrier receives the grievance.
(2) The time periods set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply regardless of whether all of the information necessary to make a decision accompanies the filing.
(e) (1) The notice required under subsection (d) of this section shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the covered person or the covered person's authorized representative:
(A) The titles and qualifying credentials of the [individual or individuals] clinical peer or peers participating in the review process;
(B) Information sufficient to identify the claim involved with respect to the grievance, including the date of service, if applicable, the health care professional and the claim amount;
(C) A statement of such [individual's or individuals'] clinical peer's or peers' understanding of the covered person's grievance;
(D) The [individual's or individuals'] clinical peer's or peers' decision in clear terms and the health benefit plan contract basis or scientific or clinical rationale for such decision in sufficient detail for the covered person to respond further to the health carrier's position;
(E) Reference to the evidence or documentation used as the basis for the decision;
(F) For a decision that upholds the adverse determination:
(i) The specific reason or reasons for the final adverse determination, including the denial code and its corresponding meaning, as well as a description of the health carrier's standard, if any, that was used in reaching the denial;
(ii) Reference to the specific health benefit plan provisions on which the decision is based;
(iii) A statement that the covered person may receive from the health carrier, free of charge and upon request, reasonable access to and copies of, all documents, records, communications and other information and evidence not previously provided regarding the adverse determination under review;
(iv) If the final adverse determination is based on a health carrier's internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion, (I) the specific rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion, or (II) a statement that a specific rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion of the health carrier was relied upon to make the final adverse determination and that a copy of such rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion will be provided to the covered person free of charge upon request and instructions for requesting such copy;
(v) If the final adverse determination is based on medical necessity or an experimental or investigational treatment or similar exclusion or limit, the written statement of the scientific or clinical rationale for the final adverse determination and (I) an explanation of the scientific or clinical rationale used to make the determination that applies the terms of the health benefit plan to the covered person's medical circumstances, or (II) a statement that an explanation will be provided to the covered person free of charge upon request and instructions for requesting a copy of such explanation;
(vi) A statement describing the procedures for obtaining an external review of the final adverse determination;
(G) If applicable, the following statement: "You and your plan may have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options such as mediation. One way to find out what may be available is to contact your state Insurance Commissioner. "; and
(H) A statement disclosing the covered person's right to contact the commissioner's office or the Office of the Healthcare Advocate at any time. Such disclosure shall include the contact information for said offices.
(2) Upon request pursuant to subparagraph (F)(iii) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the health carrier shall provide such copies in accordance with subsection (b) of section 38a-591n.
(f) (1) Whenever a health carrier fails to strictly adhere to the requirements of this section with respect to receiving and resolving grievances involving an adverse determination, the covered person shall be deemed to have exhausted the internal grievance process of such health carrier and may file a request for an external review, regardless of whether the health carrier asserts that it substantially complied with the requirements of this section, or that any error it committed was de minimis.
(2) A covered person who has exhausted the internal grievance process of a health carrier may, in addition to filing a request for an external review, pursue any available remedies under state or federal law on the basis that the health carrier failed to provide a reasonable internal grievance process that would yield a decision on the merits of the claim.
Sec. 75. Subsection (d) of section 38a-591f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(d) (1) The written decision issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall contain:
(A) The titles and qualifying credentials of the individual or individuals participating in the review process;
(B) A statement of such individual's or individuals' understanding of the covered person's grievance;
(C) The individual's or individuals' decision in clear terms and the health benefit plan contract basis for such decision in sufficient detail for the covered person to respond further to the health carrier's position;
(D) Reference to the documents, communications, information and evidence used as the basis for the decision; and
(E) For a decision that upholds the adverse determination, a statement (i) that the covered person may receive from the health carrier, free of charge and upon request, reasonable access to and copies of, all documents, communications, information and evidence regarding the adverse determination that is the subject of the final adverse determination, and (ii) disclosing the covered person's right to contact the commissioner's office or the Office of the Healthcare Advocate at any time, and that such covered person may benefit from free assistance from the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, which can assist such covered person with the filing of a grievance pursuant to 42 USC 300gg-93, as amended from time to time, or from the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Insurance Department. Such disclosure shall include the contact information for said offices.
(2) Upon request pursuant to subparagraph (E) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the health carrier shall provide such copies in accordance with subsection (b) of section 38a-591n.
Sec. 76. Subdivision (1) of subsection (i) of section 38a-591g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(i) (1) The independent review organization shall notify the commissioner, the health carrier, the covered person and, if applicable, the covered person's authorized representative in writing of its decision to uphold, reverse or revise the adverse determination or the final adverse determination, not later than:
(A) For external reviews, forty-five calendar days after such organization receives the assignment from the commissioner to conduct such review;
(B) For external reviews involving a determination that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment is experimental or investigational, twenty calendar days after such organization receives the assignment from the commissioner to conduct such review;
(C) For expedited external reviews, except as specified under subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, as expeditiously as the covered person's medical condition requires, but not later than seventy-two hours after such organization receives the assignment from the commissioner to conduct such review; [and]
(D) For expedited external reviews involving a health care service or course of treatment specified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of subdivision (38) of section 38a-591a, as amended by this act, as expeditiously as the covered person's medical condition requires, but not later than twenty-four hours after such organization receives the assignment from the commissioner to conduct such review; and
[(D)] (E) For expedited external reviews involving a determination that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment is experimental or investigational, as expeditiously as the covered person's medical condition requires, but not later than five calendar days after such organization receives the assignment from the commissioner to conduct such review.
Sec. 77. Section 38a-1046 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
Each employer [, other than a self-insured employer,] that provides health insurance or health care benefits to employees shall obtain from the Healthcare Advocate and post, in a conspicuous location, a notice concerning the services that the Healthcare Advocate provides.
Sec. 78. Section 38a-478l of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (e) as follows (Effective October 1, 2013):
(NEW) (e) The commissioner shall analyze annually the data submitted under subparagraphs (E) and (F) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section for the accuracy of, trends in and statistically significant differences in such data among the health care centers and licensed health insurers included in the consumer report card. The commissioner may investigate any such differences to determine whether further action by the commissioner is warranted.
Sec. 79. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than September 15, 2013, the Insurance Commissioner shall seek input from stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Healthcare Advocate, health insurance companies, health care professionals and behavioral health advocacy groups on methods the Insurance Department might use to check for compliance with state and federal mental health parity laws by health insurance companies and other entities under its jurisdiction. The department shall also post notice of such request for input on its Internet web site and provide for a written public comment period of thirty days following the posting of such notice. The department shall include in such posting the date the public comment period closes and instructions on how to submit comments to the department.
(b) (1) Not later than January 1, 2014, the commissioner shall issue a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to insurance and public health and provide an educational presentation to said committees. Such report and presentation shall (A) cover the methodology the department is using to check for compliance with the interim regulations or guidance or the final regulations or guidance, whichever is in effect, published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services relating to the compliance and oversight requirements of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, (B) cover the methodology the department is using to check for compliance with mental health parity under state law, and (C) detail the department's regulatory and educational approaches relating to the financing of mental health services in this state. The report shall describe and address any public comments received pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Not later than February 1, 2014, the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to insurance and public health shall hold a joint public hearing on the report.
Sec. 80. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a School Safety Infrastructure Council. The council shall consist of: (1) The Commissioner of Construction Services, or the commissioner's designee; (2) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or the commissioner's designee; (3) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; (4) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a person with expertise in building security, preferably school building security; (5) one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a licensed professional engineer who is a structural engineer; (6) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a public school administrator certified by the State Board of Education; (7) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a firefighter, emergency medical technician or a paramedic; (8) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a school resource officer; and (9) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a public school teacher certified by the State Board of Education. The Commissioner of Construction Services shall serve as the chairperson of the council. The administrative staff of the Department of Construction Services shall serve as staff for the council and assist with all ministerial duties.
(b) The School Safety Infrastructure Council shall develop school safety infrastructure standards for school building projects under chapter 173 of the general statutes and projects receiving reimbursement as part of the school security infrastructure competitive grant program, pursuant to section 84 of this act. Such school safety infrastructure standards shall conform to industry standards for school building safety infrastructure and shall include, but not be limited to, standards regarding (1) entryways to school buildings and classrooms, such as, reinforcement of entryways, ballistic glass, solid core doors, double door access, computer-controlled electronic locks, remote locks on all entrance and exits and buzzer systems, (2) the use of cameras throughout the school building and at all entrances and exits, including the use of closed-circuit television monitoring, (3) penetration resistant vestibules, and (4) other security infrastructure improvements and devices as they become industry standards. The council shall meet at least annually to review and update, if necessary, the school safety infrastructure standards and make such standards available to local and regional boards of education.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the School Safety Infrastructure Council shall submit the school safety infrastructure standards to the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Education, the School Building Projects Advisory Council, established pursuant to section 10-292q of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 81. Subsection (a) of section 10-284 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) The Commissioner of Education shall have authority to receive and review applications for state grants under this chapter, and the Commissioner of Construction Services shall have authority to review and approve any such application, or to disapprove any such application if (1) it does not comply with the requirements of the State Fire Marshal or the Department of Public Health, (2) it is not accompanied by a life-cycle cost analysis approved by the Commissioner of Construction Services pursuant to section 16a-38, (3) it does not comply with the provisions of sections 10-290d and 10-291, (4) it does not meet (A) the standards or requirements established in regulations adopted in accordance with section 10-287c, or (B) school building categorization requirements described in section 10-283, as amended by this act, (5) the estimated construction cost exceeds the per square foot cost for schools established in regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Construction Services for the county in which the project is proposed to be located, (6) on and after July 1, 2014, the application does not comply with the school safety infrastructure standards developed by the School Safety Infrastructure Council, pursuant to section 80 of this act, or [(6)] (7) the Commissioner of Education determines that the proposed educational specifications for or theme of the project for which the applicant requests a state grant duplicates a program offered by a technical high school or an interdistrict magnet school in the same region.
Sec. 82. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2013):
(a) (1) Each town or regional school district shall be eligible to apply for and accept grants for a school building project as provided in this chapter. Any town desiring a grant for a public school building project may, by vote of its legislative body, authorize the board of education of such town to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept or reject such grant for the town. Any regional school board may vote to authorize the supervising agent of the regional school district to apply to the Commissioner of Education for and to accept or reject such grant for the district. Applications for such grants under this chapter shall be made by the superintendent of schools of such town or regional school district on the form provided and in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Construction Services. The application form shall require the superintendent of schools to affirm that the school district considered the maximization of natural light, [and] the use and feasibility of wireless connectivity technology and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure standards, developed by the School Safety Infrastructure Council, pursuant to section 80 of this act, in projects for new construction and alteration or renovation of a school building. The Commissioner of Education shall review each grant application for a school building project for compliance with educational requirements and on the basis of categories for building projects established by the State Board of Education in accordance with this section, and shall evaluate, if appropriate, whether the project will assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. , provided grant applications submitted for purposes of subsection (a) of section 10-65 or section 10-76e shall be reviewed annually by the commissioner on the basis of the educational needs of the applicant. The Commissioner of Education shall forward each application and the category that the Commissioner of Education has assigned to each such project in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection to the Commissioner of Construction Services not later than August thirty-first of each fiscal year. The Commissioner of Construction Services shall review [all grant applications for school building projects on the basis of] each grant application for a school building project for compliance with standards for school [construction, established in regulation] building projects pursuant to regulations, adopted in accordance with section 10-287c, and, on and after July 1, 2014, the school safety infrastructure standards, developed by the School Safety Infrastructure Council pursuant to section 80 of this act. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of Quinebaug Valley Community College and Three Rivers Community College and the following entities that will operate an interdistrict magnet school that will assist the state in meeting the goals of the 2008 stipulation and order for Milo Sheff, et al. v. William A. O'Neill, et al. , as determined by the Commissioner of Education, may apply for and shall be eligible to receive grants for school building projects pursuant to section 10-264h for such a school: (A) The Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges on behalf of a regional community-technical college, (B) the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System on behalf of a state university, (C) the Board of Trustees for The University of Connecticut on behalf of the university, (D) the board of governors for an independent college or university, as defined in section 10a-37, or the equivalent of such a board, on behalf of the independent college or university, (E) cooperative arrangements pursuant to section 10-158a, and (F) any other third-party not-for-profit corporation approved by the Commissioner of Education.
Sec. 83. Subsection (b) of section 10-292q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) The School Building Projects Advisory Council shall (1) develop model blueprints for new school building projects that are in accordance with industry standards for school buildings and the school safety infrastructure standards, developed pursuant to section 80 of this act, (2) conduct studies, research and analyses, and (3) make recommendations for improvements to the school building projects processes to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, education and finance, revenue and bonding.
Sec. 84. (Effective from passage) (a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2013, to June 30, 2015, inclusive, the Departments of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Construction Services and Education shall jointly administer a school security infrastructure competitive grant program to reimburse towns for certain expenses for schools under the jurisdiction of the town's school district incurred on or after the effective date of this section for: (1) The development or improvement of the security infrastructure of schools, based on the results of school building security assessments pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, including, but not limited to, the installation of surveillance cameras, penetration resistant vestibules, ballistic glass, solid core doors, double door access, computer-controlled electronic locks, entry door buzzer systems, scan card systems, panic alarms or other systems; and (2) (A) the training of school personnel in the operation and maintenance of the security infrastructure of school buildings, or (B) the purchase of portable entrance security devices, including, but not limited to, metal detector wands and screening machines and related training.
(b) On and after the effective date of this section, each local and regional board of education may, on behalf of its town or its member towns, apply, at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a grant. Prior to the date that the School Safety Infrastructure Council makes its initial submission of the school safety infrastructure standards, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 80 of this act, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Commissioners of Construction Services and Education, shall determine which expenses are eligible for reimbursement under the program. On and after the date that the School Safety Infrastructure Council submits the school safety infrastructure standards, the decision to approve or deny an application and the determination of which expenses are eligible for reimbursement under the program shall be in accordance with the most recent submission of the school safety infrastructure standards, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 80 of this act.
(c) A town may receive a grant equal to a percentage of its eligible expenses. The percentage shall be determined as follows: (1) Each town shall be ranked in descending order from one to one hundred sixty-nine according to town wealth, as defined in subdivision (26) of section 10-262f of the general statutes, (2) based upon such ranking, a percentage of not less than twenty or more than eighty shall be assigned to each town on a continuous scale, and (3) the town ranked first shall be assigned a percentage of twenty and the town ranked last shall be assigned a percentage of eighty. If there are not sufficient funds to provide grants to all towns based on the percentage determined pursuant to this subsection, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Commissioners of Construction Services and Education, shall give priority to applicants on behalf of schools with the greatest need for security infrastructure, as determined by said commissioners based on school building security assessments of the schools under the jurisdiction of the town's school district conducted pursuant to this subsection. Of the applicants on behalf of such schools with the greatest need for security infrastructure, said commissioners shall give first priority to applicants on behalf of schools that have no security infrastructure at the time of such school building security assessment and succeeding priority to applicants on behalf of schools located in priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p of the general statutes. To be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to this section, an applicant board of education shall (A) demonstrate that it has developed and periodically practices an emergency plan at the schools under its jurisdiction and that such plan has been developed in concert with applicable state or local first-responders, and (B) provide for a uniform assessment of the schools under its jurisdiction, including any security infrastructure, using the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities' Safe Schools Facilities Check List. The assessment shall be conducted under the supervision of the local law enforcement agency.
Sec. 85. (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes described in subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate fifteen million dollars.
(b) The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Education for the purpose of the school security infrastructure competitive grant program, established pursuant to section 84 of this act.
(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise of any right or power granted thereby, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this section, and temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in accordance with said section 3-20 and from time to time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond Commission authorizing such bonds. None of said bonds shall be authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that there has been filed with it a request for such authorization which is signed by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its discretion, may require. Said bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as part of the contract of the state with the holders of said bonds, appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay such principal and interest as the same become due.
Sec. 86. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall develop school security and safety plan standards. The school security and safety plan standards shall be an all-hazards approach to emergencies at public schools and shall include, but not be limited to, (1) involvement of local officials, including the chief executive officer of the municipality, the superintendent of schools, law enforcement, fire, public health, emergency management and emergency medical services, in the development of school security and safety plans, (2) a command center organization structure based on the federal National Incident Management System and a description of the responsibilities of such command center organization, (3) a requirement that a school security and safety committee be established at each school, in accordance with the provisions of section 87 of this act, (4) crisis management procedures, (5) a requirement that local law enforcement and other local public safety officials evaluate, score and provide feedback on fire drills and crisis response drills, conducted pursuant to section 10-231 of the general statutes, (6) a requirement that local and regional boards of education annually submit reports to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection regarding such fire drills and crisis response drills, (7) procedures for managing various types of emergencies, (8) a requirement that each local and regional board of education conduct a security and vulnerability assessment for each school under the jurisdiction of such board every two years and develop a school security and safety plan for each such school, in accordance with the provisions of section 87 of this act, based on the results of such assessment, (9) a requirement that the safe school climate committee for each school, established pursuant to section 10-222k of the general statutes, as amended by this act, collect and evaluate information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, as defined in section 10-222d of the general statutes, and report such information, as necessary, to the district safe school climate coordinator, described in section 10-222k of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and the school security and safety committee for the school, established pursuant to section 87 of this act, and (10) a requirement that the school security and safety plan for each school provide an orientation on such school security and safety plan to each school employee, as defined in section 10-222d of the general statutes, at such school and provide violence prevention training in a manner prescribed in such school security and safety plan. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall make such standards available to local officials, including local and regional boards of education.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall submit the school security and safety plan standards and any recommendations for legislation regarding such standards to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 87. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall develop and implement a school security and safety plan for each school under the jurisdiction of such board. Such plans shall be based on the school security and safety plan standards developed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, pursuant to section 86 of this act. Each local and regional board of education shall annually review and update, if necessary, such plans.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall establish a school security and safety committee at each school under the jurisdiction of such board. The school security and safety committee shall be responsible for assisting in the development of the school security and safety plan for the school and administering such plan. Such school security and safety committee shall consist of a local police officer, a local first responder, a teacher and an administrator employed at the school, a mental health professional, as defined in section 10-76t of the general statutes, a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school and any other person the board of education deems necessary. Any parent or guardian serving as a member of a school security and safety committee shall not have access to any information reported to such committee, pursuant to subparagraph (c) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 10-222k of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(c) Each local and regional board of education shall annually submit the school security and safety plan for each school under the jurisdiction of such board, developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Sec. 88. Subsection (c) of section 10-222k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, and each school year thereafter, the principal of each school shall establish a committee or designate at least one existing committee in the school to be responsible for developing and fostering a safe school climate and addressing issues relating to bullying in the school. Such committee shall include at least one parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school appointed by the school principal.
(2) Any such committee shall: (A) [receive] Receive copies of completed reports following investigations of bullying, (B) identify and address patterns of bullying among students in the school, (C) implement the provisions of the school security and safety plan, developed pursuant to section 87 of this act, regarding the collection, evaluation and reporting of information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, (D) review and amend school policies relating to bullying, [(D)] (E) review and make recommendations to the district safe school climate coordinator regarding the district's safe school climate plan based on issues and experiences specific to the school, [(E)] (F) educate students, school employees and parents and guardians of students on issues relating to bullying, [(F)] (G) collaborate with the district safe school climate coordinator in the collection of data regarding bullying, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-222d and subsection (a) of section 10-222h, and [(G)] (H) perform any other duties as determined by the school principal that are related to the prevention, identification and response to school bullying for the school.
(3) Any parent or guardian serving as a member of any such committee shall not participate in the activities described in subparagraphs (A) [and (B)] to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (2) of this subsection or any other activity that may compromise the confidentiality of a student.
Sec. 89. Section 10-222h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, (1) document school districts' articulated needs for technical assistance and training related to safe learning and bullying, (2) collect information on the prevention and intervention strategies used by schools to reduce the incidence of bullying, improve school climate and improve reporting outcomes, (3) develop or recommend a model safe school climate plan for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, and (4) in collaboration with the Connecticut Association of Schools, disseminate to all public schools grade-level appropriate school climate assessment instruments approved by the department, including surveys, to be used by local and regional boards of education for the purposes of collecting information described in subdivision (2) of this subsection so that the department can monitor bullying prevention efforts over time and compare each district's progress to state trends.
(b) On or before February 1, [2010] 2014, and [biennially] annually thereafter, the department shall, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, submit a report on the status of its efforts pursuant to this section including, but not limited to, the number of verified acts of bullying in the state, an analysis of the responsive action taken by school districts and any recommendations it may have regarding additional activities or funding to prevent bullying in schools and improve school climate to the joint standing [committee] committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and [to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to] children and to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
[(b)] (c) The department may accept private donations for the purposes of this section.
Sec. 90. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall administer a mental health first aid training program. Said program shall: (1) Help persons attending the training program recognize the signs of mental disorders in children and young adults; and (2) connect children and young adults who show signs of having a mental disorder with a professional who offers the appropriate services.
(b) Said commissioners may seek federal and state funding and may accept private donations for the administration of, and providing for persons to participate in, the mental health first aid training program.
(c) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide mental health first aid training to any person appointed to serve as the district safe school climate coordinator, pursuant to section 10-222k of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Each such district safe school climate coordinator shall successfully complete such mental health first aid training.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide mental health and first aid training to any person appointed to serve as the district safe school climate coordinator for such school year and who did not serve as the district safe school climate coordinator for the prior school year or did not otherwise successfully complete such training. Each such district safe school climate coordinator shall successfully complete such mental health first aid training.
(3) No district safe school climate coordinator shall be required to successfully complete such mental health first aid training more than once.
(d) Each local and regional board of education may require teachers, school nurses, counselors and other school employees to participate in mental health first aid training.
Sec. 91. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish and maintain a registry of school security consultants operating in the state. The registry shall contain the names and employers of school security consultants and such other information as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may require. Such registry shall be updated at least annually by the department, be made available to the public upon request and be published on the department's Internet web site.
Sec. 92. Section 10a-156a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
[Each] (a) Not later than October 1, 2013, each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and each independent [college or university] institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-37, as amended by this act, shall submit [a plan described in this section to the Department of Higher Education by January 1, 2009] an up-to-date security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Such plan shall identify procedures specifically designed to heighten awareness by all faculty and staff regarding potentially at-risk students and other individuals on campus through effective educational strategies. Such procedures shall be designed to educate faculty and staff on how to recognize and respond to students and such other individuals who may be at risk of harm to themselves or others. Not later than July 1, 2015, and biennially thereafter, each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education shall review the security protocol plan with each of its chiefs of police or heads of campus security to determine whether such plan adequately addresses campus security concerns or requires revisions. In the event that revisions are required, the constituent unit or independent institution of higher education making revisions shall submit a revised security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection not later than August first of the year in which revisions are deemed necessary.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education shall establish a trained threat assessment team for each of its campuses. The threat assessment team shall consist of individuals selected by the president of each state college, regional community-technical college or independent institution of higher education in consultation with its chief of police or head of campus security and may include not less than one member of its special police force or campus security personnel, administration, faculty and senior and mid-level staff. The chief of police or head of campus security at each state college, regional community-technical college and independent institution of higher education shall be responsible for ensuring that every member of the treat assessment team (1) is capable of executing the security protocol plan developed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, and (2) receives comprehensive training in identifying potentially at-risk students, other potentially at-risk individuals on campus and any other potential threats to campus safety.
Sec. 93. Section 10a-142 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) There are established special police forces for The University of Connecticut at Storrs and its several campuses, The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. The members of each special police force shall have the same duties, responsibilities and authority under sections 7-281, 14-8, 54-1f and 54-33a and title 53a as members of a duly organized local police department. The jurisdiction of said special police forces shall extend to the geographical limits of the property owned or under the control of the above institutions, and to property occupied by The University of Connecticut in the town of Mansfield, except as provided in subsection (b) of section 7-277a.
(b) Members of said special police forces shall continue to be state employees and, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 67, and parts III and IV of this chapter. The provisions of part V of chapter 104 and section 7-433c shall not apply to such members.
(c) Said special police forces shall have access to, and use of, the Connecticut on-line law enforcement communications teleprocessing system without charge.
(d) The chief executive officer of any institution listed in subsection (a) of this section which maintains a special police force may enter into an agreement with one or more of said other institutions which maintain a special police force to furnish or receive police assistance under the same conditions and terms specified in subsection (a) of section 7-277a.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 67, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall determine (A) the preliminary requirements, including educational qualifications, for members of the special police forces for the state colleges, and (B) the timeline for filling any vacancies on any of such special police forces, including, but not limited to, when an examination for a vacant position shall occur and how soon after the examination is conducted shall an appointment to a vacant position be made or, in the event an examination for a vacant position is unnecessary due to a sufficient candidate list provided in accordance with section 5-215a, when an appointment of a candidate from such candidate list shall be made.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 67, the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall determine (A) the preliminary requirements including educational qualifications, for members of the special police force for The University of Connecticut, and (B) the timeline for filling any vacancies on such police force, including, but not limited to, when an examination for a vacant position shall occur and how soon after the examination is conducted shall an appointment to a vacant position be made or, in the event an examination for a vacant position is unnecessary due to a sufficient candidate list provided in accordance with section 5-215a, when an appointment of a candidate from such candidate list shall be made.
Sec. 94. (Effective from passage) (a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, shall evaluate the effectiveness of establishing a special police force for each regional community-technical college and replacing campus security personnel at each regional community-technical college with the special police force. Not later than January 1, 2014, the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on such evaluation to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
(b) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall develop a coordinated security plan for the Connecticut State University System and the regional community-technical college system. Not later than January 1, 2014, the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on such plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
Sec. 95. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Any armed security personnel of any public institution of higher education or armed member of a special police force established under section 10a-142 of the general statutes shall be certified under the provision of sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive, of the general statutes.
Sec. 96. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than December 1, 2014, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall conduct or require a safety and security audit of every campus of the constituent units identified in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of section 10a-1 of the general statutes, to determine the safety and security characteristics of each campus and any building or structure located thereon. Such security audit shall be conducted in cooperation with the Board of Regents for Higher Education or, for a safety and security audit of any campus of The University of Connecticut, with the Board of Trustees of The University of Connecticut.
(b) Any recommendations for safety or security upgrades in any such safety and security audit shall be based on the audit's findings and, at a minimum, shall enable the constituent unit to successfully implement its security protocol plan developed in accordance with section 10a-156a of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2015, the department shall report on such audit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.
Sec. 97. Subsection (d) of section 10a-37 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) An ["independent college or university"] "independent institution of higher education": (1) Is a nonprofit institution established in this state; (2) has degree-granting authority in this state; (3) has its home campus located in this state; (4) is not included in the Connecticut system of public higher education; and (5) is an institution whose primary function is not the preparation of students for religious vocation;
Sec. 98. Section 12 of public act 07-7 of the June special session, as amended by section 233 of public act 10-44 and section 143 of public act 10-179, is amended to read as follows (Effective from passage):
The State Bond Commission shall have power, in accordance with the provisions of sections 12 to 19, inclusive, of public act 07-7 of the June special session, from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in principal amounts in the aggregate, not exceeding [$ 195,103,868] $192,103,868.
Sec. 99. Subdivision (6) of subsection (j) of section 13 of public act 07-7 of the June special session, as amended by section 309 of public act 10-44, is repealed. (Effective from passage)