Politics & Government
20+ CT Laws That Can Change Your Life Oct. 1
New laws concerning marriage, divorce, sexting, pregnant women in the workplace and many more go into effect today.
About 140 new state laws go into effect on Oct. 1 in Connecticut. Several laws can have life-changing effects for many people across the state.
Below is a summary of more than 20 of the laws; some of them cover wide topics such as marriage and divorce while others are more specific and obscure, such as who can pick mushrooms in state parks. (» Find Your Patch and more news of the day, including our most-read stories)
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Minors under the age of 13 who possess or transmit child pornography will be subject to a class A misdemeanor charge as long as the sender is age 15 or younger and the subject of depiction is age 17 or younger.
Under previous law the misdemeanor charge would only apply if the sender was age 13 through 15 and the subject of depiction and the recipient was age 13 through 17. Minors younger than 13 were subject to felony charges and if convicted could be put on the sex offender registration.
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Pregnant Women In the Workplace
Pregnant women will now have more protections in the workplace Employers must provide a reasonable workplace accommodation for a pregnant employee or applicant unless the employer can prove that such an accommodation would cause an undue hardship.
Civil and Criminal Protections For Those Breaking Into Cars To Help Children
The act provides protections against civil damages and criminal penalties for those who enter a motor vehicle in order to render emergency assistance to a child who is reasonably believed to be in medical distress.
A new law will prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from being issued a marriage license under any circumstance. A 16 or 17-year-old can only be issued a license if the probate court of where the minor lives approves of a petition filed by the minor’s parent or guardian.
Under prior law a minor under the age of 16 could marry with approval from parents/guardians and the probate court while 16 and 17-year-olds only needed written consent from parents/guardians.
The conditions for a non adversarial dissolution of marriage now allows parties to be married for nine years or less and have combined property with a fair market value of $80,000 or less. Previously the married period had to be eight years or less and combined property value of less than $35,000.
A non adversarial dissolution of marriage allows for certain waivers of the divorce process.
A new regulatory structure will be in place for so-called transportation network companies including Uber and Lyft. TNCs will have to register with the Department of Transportation, drivers will have to obtain background checks and certain insurance requirements must be met.
Increased Domestic Violence Laws
The new law strengthens laws concerning domestic violence in the following ways:
1. Expands the conduct that constitutes stalking to include conduct that causes a reasonable person to suffer “emotional distress.”
2. Specifies that 1st or 2nd degree stalking may occur through the use of electronic or social media.
3. Broadens the strangulation statutes to include suffocation that occurs when a person obstructs another person's nose or mouth.
4. Increases the penalty for violating the conditions of release when the violation involves certain conduct.
5. Requires a presentence investigation for anyone convicted of a family violence felony for which a prison sentence may be imposed and prohibits such a defendant from waiving the investigation.
The penalties for hate crimes has increased. Property damage resulting from a hate crime that is more than $10,000 is now classified as a Class C felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 with a minimum fine of $3,000. Property damage less than $10,000 is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Various other penalties have also been strengthened.
Barbers and hairdressers will no longer be subject to a state or national criminal history records check in order to obtain a state license.
This may be the oddest law that goes into effect Oct. 1. People can take mushrooms from state parks for personal use, but the state is not liable for anything that may happen afterwards.
A small business hotline will be established to help entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to start a business, network and access technical and financial assistance from the state and quasi-public agencies.
Nonprofits Allowed To Sell Raffle Tickets Online
Certain qualified organizations can promote or sell raffle tickets online.
Those who want to operate animal shelters must register with the state Department of Agriculture and meet certain other guidelines.
Renter Protection For Essential Services
Tenants can procure reasonable substitute housing starting 48 hours rather than two business days after a landlord fails to provide required essential services such as heat, hot water or electricity.
The new law changes the way civil forfeiture of property seized in connection with criminal offenses operates. Only items seized during a lawful search that results in an arrest can be taken. Other changes also apply.
National Guard Contract Cancellations
Members of the National Guard who are called to active service to serve for 90 or more days can cancel contracts including gym memberships and cable service.
Those who falsely report an incident in order to cause a large scale emergency response will be forced to make financial restitution to state and local departments for costs incurred.
Farms can obtain a distillery permit to manufacture, sell and distribute spirits. Permittees can produce up to 10,000 gallons of alcohol or spirits annually. At least 25 percent of the crops used to create alcohol must come from the farm itself.
The new law sets standards for police who use a device that tracks a phone's movements, intercepts communications or simulates a cell tower.
Police can obtain an ex parte court order that allows surveillance of up to two weeks or use the device for up to 48 hours without a court order under “exigent” circumstances.
Gold Star Parent and Spouse Property Tax Exemption Option
Municipalities can provide a property tax exemption to any parent or surviving spouse of a service member killed in action while performing active military duty. Up to $20,000 or 10 percent of a property's assessed value may be exempt.
The new law makes computer extortion involving ransomware a class E felony. Ransomware involves installing a computer program that shuts down or blocks access to data, usually with the intent of having the victim pay a ransom to regain access.
Doctors must now generally submit prescriptions for controlled substances electronically and pharmacies must have the technology to receive them.
Practitioners must now discuss the potential for abuse of opioids with all patients when prescribing them.
Data from the state’s prescription drug monitoring program can be shared with other state agencies for certain drug abuse studies.
Check out the full list of laws going into effect here.
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