Senate Bill 421 (SB421 File No. 223) is a legislative proposal focused on supporting and improving law enforcement recruitment, retention, and mental health in Connecticut. The bill includes a variety of initiatives, such as a state-wide campaign to promote the law enforcement profession, the creation of a full-time cadet or explorer program coordinator position, and a grant program to reimburse municipal police departments for police officer basic training costs. It also prohibits the denial of employment or certification to noncitizen police officers who are lawful permanent residents and requires a report with recommendations for a bonus schedule to encourage careers in law enforcement. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for tuition waivers for police officers and their dependent children, a loan reimbursement program, property tax exemptions, housing assistance, and studies on retirement benefits. It also allows retired officers to return to service and establishes a task force to study the volunteer police auxiliary force, as well as pilot programs for the use of drones and mental health support for officers.

The bill introduces new legal language, such as the addition of categories (10) and (11) for tuition waivers for police officers and their dependent children, respectively. It also includes a deletion, removing the conjunction "and" before these new categories, indicating an expansion of eligibility for tuition waivers. The bill outlines the fiscal impacts, including potential revenue loss for higher education institutions and municipalities, costs for administering the loan reimbursement program, and one-time costs for the pilot programs and studies. The effective dates for the various sections of the bill range from immediate effect upon passage to specific dates in 2024 and 2025.