Senate Bill No. 232, also known as File No. 115, proposes the establishment of a grant program to provide law enforcement units with automated number plate recognition systems. The bill defines "automated number plate recognition system" as a system consisting of one or more mobile or fixed electronic devices capable of recording data on or photographing a vehicle or its number plate and comparing the collected data and photographs to existing law enforcement databases for investigative purposes. It also defines "law enforcement unit" as per section 7-294a of the general statutes.
The bill mandates that, starting from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall administer a program to provide grants to law enforcement units for obtaining automated number plate recognition systems, within available appropriations. The department is required to develop eligibility criteria, application forms, and deadlines by October 1, 2024, and to post a description of the grant program on its website. Additionally, starting January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department must submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, detailing the number of applications received, the number of grants awarded, and a list of law enforcement units that received grants. The bill is effective upon passage.