The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7069, aims to enhance the behavioral health assessment process for police officers in Connecticut. It mandates that each law enforcement unit's administrative head require police officers to undergo periodic behavioral health assessments conducted by a board-certified psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker of their choice, at least once every five years. The bill allows for the scheduling of these assessments to be staggered over a five-year period, ensuring that approximately 20% of officers are assessed each year. Additionally, it permits the administrative head to waive the assessment requirement for officers who have submitted retirement notifications within six months of the scheduled assessment.

The bill also introduces new confidentiality provisions, stating that no medical records of police officers shall be provided to the chosen mental health professional conducting the assessment. The results of the assessments will only be shared with the officer and the administrative head of the law enforcement unit, excluding any evaluations of the officer's physical fitness for duty. Furthermore, the results and any related records will not be subject to public disclosure, except as required by law. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to improve the mental health support and privacy of police officers undergoing these assessments.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-291e