Public Safety and Security Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6598
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AGAINST HIRING POLICE
OFFICERS DISMISSED FOR MALFEASANCE OR WHO RESIGNED OR
Title: RETIRED WHILE UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Vote Date: 3/18/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/9/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Public Safety and Security Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
In the state of Connecticut, police officers that commit a reprehensible malfeasance in the
service of a police department are generally dealt with one way or another (dismissed, retired
while under investigation, etc.). Despite this arrangement, it is observed too often that such
police officers end up being recycled between departments and end up making more
offenses. Although current law exists on this matter, this bill aims to clarify and enhance the
powers of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to better adjudicate and prohibit
such cases of employment. Since such proceedings are not always infallible, the bill provides
the means for such affected officers and law enforcement units seeking to hire said officer to
make a case for their employment.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Office of Commissioner, Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection
(DESPP), CT
The DESPP supports this bill. The agency believes this bill clarifies the ability of the Police
Officer Standards and Training Council to enforce prohibition of hiring police officers whose
employment background makes them unsuitable to return to policing.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), CT
The CHRO supports HB 6598. The CHRO believes the matter which this bill addresses to be
an urgent concern and stresses the need for officer accountability. It is implied by CHRO that
if police officers continue to be enabled to cycle between departments following breaches of
trust and authority, then the faith in law enforcement institutions will be jeopardized.
Kelly McConney Moore, Interim Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) of Connecticut
The ACLU of CT supports this bill, but believes that changes are needed in its language to
implement effective policy. The ACLU of CT believes that the bill is unclear what constitutes
an exoneration for purposes of certification and further warns that internal investigations are
not always reliable or free from bias. Additionally, the ACLU of CT believes that the definition
of excessive force under Section 1(g)(2)(C) is too limited to generally deem an action befitting
of excessive force as unjustified. As such, the ACLU offers its own recommended changes to
the definition of excessive force.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Jeff Reimer, President, Council 4 AFSCME Public Safety Council
The union does not support this bill. The union believes this bill is unnecessary as they claim
current policy already covers the intent of the bill.
Reported by: John Gerke, Intern Date: 3/29/2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-6598


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-291c, 7-294e
PS Joint Favorable: 7-291c, 7-294e
File No. 273: 7-291c, 7-294e