Substitute Senate Bill No. 91 seeks to strengthen the investigative powers of the Inspector General concerning incidents involving peace officers and the use of physical force. Key amendments include a broader definition of "peace officer," which now includes federal law enforcement personnel, and a clarification that the use of electronic defense weapons does not constitute deadly physical force. The bill mandates investigations by the Inspector General into any deaths resulting from the use of physical force by peace officers, determining the justifiability of such force under the revised section 53a-22. It also requires investigations into deaths in custody and the circumstances surrounding them, with referrals to the Chief State's Attorney for potential criminal actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes a process for investigating failures to notify next of kin about a deceased person's death, while excluding federal law enforcement officers from this accountability.

Additionally, the bill introduces the concept of "protected areas," which include schools, medical facilities, and places of worship, where federal law enforcement representatives are restricted from detaining individuals based on civil offenses without proper documentation. Violations of this prohibition are classified as a second-degree breach of peace, a class B misdemeanor. The bill emphasizes the need for reasonable de-escalation measures before the use of deadly force by peace officers and allows for the use of chokeholds under strict conditions. It also permits private individuals to use reasonable force to effect an arrest, with deadly force restricted to self-defense situations. Overall, sSB91 aims to balance law enforcement authority with accountability and the protection of vulnerable populations, while ensuring that federal law enforcement actions are justified and documented.