House Bill No. 5499, identified as File No. 518, is a legislative proposal that aims to establish a working group to study the criminal laws of the state. The bill mandates that this study should include a comprehensive review of titles 53 and 53a of the general statutes, with the goal of recommending potential legislative changes to these titles. The working group will be composed of six members with expertise in criminal law, each appointed by various leaders from the House of Representatives and the Senate. Additionally, the administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly with jurisdiction over judiciary matters will provide administrative support to the working group.

The bill stipulates that the working group must submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly concerned with judiciary matters by January 1, 2025. This report must comply with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The working group will dissolve after submitting the report or on January 1, 2025, whichever comes later. The bill, which includes the insertion of new legal language, is not expected to have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the working group members are already experts in the subject matter. The bill received a joint favorable vote from the Judiciary Committee with 33 yea votes and 2 nay votes on April 1, 2024.