General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7202 aims to enhance law enforcement training in Connecticut by establishing a Law Enforcement Training Advisory Board and two new initiatives focused on integrating social work into law enforcement and improving police training. The Advisory Board will include key stakeholders, such as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and representatives from law enforcement and social work sectors, with members appointed by October 1, 2025. The bill also introduces a social work and law enforcement project at Southern Connecticut State University and a police training center at Central Connecticut State University, which will focus on crime scene processing and forensic evidence collection. A significant amendment to Section 7-294h extends the training requirements for police programs to include handling incidents involving juveniles and individuals with autism spectrum disorder until 2026.

Additionally, the bill mandates the development of a new training curriculum by January 1, 2026, focusing on interactions with individuals who have mental or physical disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. This curriculum will be created in consultation with relevant advocates and professionals and will cover essential topics such as mental illness, identification of affected individuals, and crisis intervention strategies. Starting October 1, 2026, all police training programs must incorporate this curriculum. The bill appropriates $2.2 million to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the establishment of the new projects and eliminates the previous requirement for training materials on autism spectrum disorder to be provided at no cost. Overall, the legislation seeks to improve police interactions with vulnerable populations and ensure officers are better equipped to handle such situations effectively.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-294h, 7-294v