Senate Bill No. 138 (File No. 12) proposes amendments to Section 29-11 of the general statutes to assist indigent individuals seeking a pardon by waiving fees for criminal history records checks. The bill, effective July 1, 2024, allows the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to waive fees for indigent pardon applicants and exempts certain agencies from these fees. It also prohibits independent contractors from charging a convenience fee for processing these checks for indigent applicants, with the commissioner covering the fee. The bill requires that forms for fee waiver applications due to indigency be made available online and at municipal police departments.

The bill specifies that fees up to $30 for fingerprinting, the $90.90 fee for electronically preregistering with the Connecticut criminal history request system, and other processing fees for a criminal history report are to be waived for indigent pardon applicants. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is responsible for covering these costs, which may impact the state's General Fund. The bill also allows for the possibility of reimbursing municipal police departments for waived fees, potentially affecting their revenue. The DESPP commissioner is tasked with posting the fee waiver forms on the State Police Bureau of Identification’s website and ensuring their availability at fingerprinting locations. The bill passed the Public Safety and Security Committee unanimously and is set to be enacted on July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-11
PS Joint Favorable: 29-11
File No. 12: 29-11