These New CT Laws Can Change Your Life On Oct. 1

CONNECTICUT — It’s Oct. 1 and in Connecticut that means some potentially life-changing laws will go into effect.

Connecticut’s effective dates for new laws typically are Jan. 1, July 1 and Oct. 1. This year there aren’t many bills that go into effect in October, but they can have life-changing consequences.

Most of Connecticut’s laws that go into effect Oct. 1 have to do with the police accountability bill that was passed in a special legislative session over the summer. There is also one law that will bring Connecticut in line with the 49 other states when it comes to nail technician licensing.

Nail technician

Nail technicians can begin applying for state licenses. They must have a valid license by Jan. 1 to legally practice. Previously the state didn’t license nail technicians. Technicians who don’t have the required experience to apply for the full license can apply for a technician trainee license.

Connecticut was the last state in the country that didn’t require nail technicians to be licensed.

Police

Some parts of Connecticut’s police accountability public act go into effect Oct. 1. The law represents the largest change to policing in decades in Connecticut. Here are some changes effective Oct. 1.

Searches during traffic stops

Police officers won’t be able to ask vehicle operators to search the vehicle if the stop is solely for a motor vehicle violation. Searches can be performed if there is probable cause to search the vehicle or if the operator grants unsolicited consent to search the vehicle.

Falsely reporting incident

Potential penalties are being increased for falsely reporting an incident based on race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The penalty for misusing the 911 system based on bigotry or bias is also being increased from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.

Security guards

Decertified police officers won’t be able to get certification to become a security officer.

Officer duty to intervene

Officers have a duty to intervene if another officer is using excessive force. The state Police Officer Standards and Training Council has regulations that require a duty to intervene, but the law codifies the duty in state statute. It also raises the possibility of criminal penalties for failure to intervene. The duty doesn’t apply to witnessing officers who are working undercover.

A witnessing officer must also report the incident as soon as it's practical. Officers who don't report can be charged with first- or second-degree hindering of prosecution.
Officers who report an excessive force case are protected under whistle-blowing laws.

Inspector General office

The police accountability bill established the state Inspector General office, which will investigate deadly use of force incidents by police. The office is also tasked with investigating any incidents where a person dies while in police custody. The office is supposed to handle investigations into any such incidents from Oct. 1 onward, but the office isn’t fully created yet.

The Criminal Justice Commission referred two attorneys for consideration by the state Legislature to head the office. The commission deadlocked on the two referrals.

Connecticut previously had prosecutors from other judicial districts investigate any deadly incidents.

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