Substitute House Bill No. 6794 (sHB6794 File No. 363) seeks to amend Section 29-11 of the general statutes to waive fees for criminal history record information searches for indigent individuals applying for a pardon. The bill directs the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to waive fees for fingerprinting, criminal history report processing, distribution, and electronic preregistration with the Connecticut criminal history request system, upon approval of an indigency waiver form. Additionally, independent contractors may charge a convenience fee for processing criminal history records checks, but this fee is also subject to waiver for indigent pardon applicants. The bill requires that the forms for fee waivers be made available online and at municipal police departments, and includes minor language corrections for clarity.

The bill also addresses the maintenance of arrest records by the State Police Bureau of Identification and exempts certain agencies and volunteer organizations from fees for services provided by the bureau. It mandates that the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection reimburse independent contractors for waived fees and allows for the possibility of reimbursing municipal police departments. The fiscal impact of the bill includes potential costs and revenue losses to the state and municipalities, which would continue annually based on the number of waivers granted. The bill has received a Joint Favorable Substitute from the Public Safety and Security Committee with a unanimous vote and is set to become effective on July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-11
PS Joint Favorable Substitute: 29-11
File No. 363: 29-11