The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5451, seeks to amend Section 53a-217b of the general statutes regarding the possession of firearms on school grounds. The bill repeals the existing language and substitutes it with new provisions that clarify the circumstances under which firearms may be possessed on school property. Notably, the bill allows peace officers to possess firearms on school grounds without the requirement of being engaged in their official duties, which is a significant change from the current law.

In addition to the new allowance for peace officers, the bill maintains that possession of a weapon on school grounds remains a class D felony unless it falls under specific exceptions. These exceptions include lawful possession for approved programs, agreements with school officials, and traversing school property for lawful purposes, provided the firearm is unloaded and entry is permitted by the local or regional board of education. The effective date for this legislation is set for October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: