Senate General Assembly File No. 267, Substitute Senate Bill No. 423, proposes amendments to enhance highway safety by addressing the issue of driving under the influence of alcohol. The bill introduces a new noncriminal offense for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.05% but less than 0.08%, termed as driving while ability impaired (DWAI). It sets penalties for DWAI, including immediate 24-hour license revocation without a restoration fee, a 45-day license suspension after a hearing, and fines ranging from $100 to $500. Additionally, offenders must attend an intoxicated operator's retraining program, which can be conducted in-person or through distance learning, and failure to complete the program can lead to further license suspension. The bill also outlines requirements for program providers, such as maintaining a $50,000 surety bond and having a permanent place of business in Connecticut.

The bill also includes provisions to ensure DUI charges are not reduced without a prosecutor's statement in open court and prohibits reduction to the lesser offense of DWAI. It mandates annual reporting by the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Transportation on the number of police officers accredited as drug recognition experts (DREs), recommendations for increasing DRE training, improvements in roadside screening tests for cannabis impairment, and strategies for detecting cannabis-impaired driving. The bill has various effective dates for its provisions, with the annual report effective upon passage, the retraining program effective July 1, 2024, and other sections effective October 1, 2024. It also anticipates a potential minimal revenue gain from fines and fees for new program provider certifications. The bill is related to sSB 424, which proposes to lower the BAC limit for DUI and establishes a similar reporting requirement, and has received a Joint Favorable Substitute from the Transportation Committee.