The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 343 seeks to amend existing laws concerning fees for criminal history records checks by repealing Section 29-11 of the general statutes and implementing new provisions effective July 1, 2026. The bill establishes a framework for the State Police Bureau of Identification to manage comprehensive criminal records and sets specific fees for services such as name searches and fingerprinting. A significant feature of the bill is the introduction of a fee waiver for individuals applying for a pardon, which will be available until July 1, 2029, with the possibility of continued waivers based on indigency thereafter. Additionally, the bill allows the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to engage independent contractors for processing these checks, while ensuring that no fees will be charged for individuals seeking criminal history reports or preregistration for pardon applications if they apply for a waiver due to indigency.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that by July 1, 2029, the commissioner must make specific forms related to the pardon application process available on the State Police Bureau of Identification's website and distribute them to municipal police departments that provide fingerprinting services. These forms must be prominently displayed alongside other necessary materials to ensure accessibility for individuals seeking a pardon. The legislation emphasizes the importance of making these resources readily available to the public, thereby enhancing the support for individuals navigating the pardon application process. Notably, there are no deletions from current law mentioned in the text provided.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-11
JUD Joint Favorable: 29-11
File No. 616: 29-11
FIN Joint Favorable: 29-11