Judiciary Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6669
AN ACT CONCERNING JUVENILES AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT,
INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN PENDING JUVENILE MATTERS AND
Title: REPORTING OF REQUESTS TO DETAIN ARRESTED JUVENILES.
Vote Date: 4/8/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/31/2021
File No.: 600
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:
The Judiciary Committee
Rep. Travis Simms, 140th Dist.,
Rep. Jason Doucette, 13th Dist.
Rep. Christie M. Carpino, 32nd Dist.,
Rep. Craig C. Fishbein, 90th Dist.
Rep. Devin R. Carney, 23rd Dist.,
Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, 17th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
This proposed legislation seeks to mitigate the number of car thefts committed by juveniles
occurring in the state. It does so by increasing penalties for an adult who may coerce a minor
into committing an act of car theft, permitting the use of GPS tracking devices to be used on
juveniles awaiting adjudication, and by requiring the Judicial Branch to compile a report on
the number of times a law enforcement officer request to detain a juvenile that is suspected
of car theft.
PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
The substitute language adds stealing a firearm to the list of offenses that pose a risk to
public safety in 46b-133(k).
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice supports this bill and states support for
provisions that would increase punishments for adults who recruit juveniles to steal cars
because of their juvenile status and the lesser punishment faced, the section that would
require the Judicial Branch to compile data on the request to retain juveniles, and section
three, which would create a new statute to electronically monitor the location of juveniles
charged with delinquency for motor vehicles. The Division does recommend a change to this
language to ensure that any juvenile who removes their electronic tracking device will receive
a referral to the local law enforcement agency to locate the juvenile and consider additional
conditions of release in order to make up for a lack of existing statute in relation to tracking
devices pre-adjudication.
State of Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services, Director of Delinquency Defense
and Child Protection, Susan I. Hamilton opposes this bill and states opposition to part or all of
sections 1-4. Regarding section 1, it's stated that an adult enticing a minor to commit a crime
would become a class D felony, which the Division opposes and states that this would lead to
another opportunity to charge a minor who may not have been the driver and there's no other
applicable defense. For sections 2-4, it's stated that there are provisions in place to address
the proposed changes in statute and that adding these would be duplicative and may violate
due process rights for juveniles. The division does not state support or opposition for section
5 but states that it may be helpful to determine cases in which law enforcement members
seek detention orders from judge at the time of an arrest.
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch does not support or oppose the policies put forth in this
bill, but states concern with how such a policy would be implemented. Regarding section 3,
it's stated that the Juvenile division does not currently use GPS devices and would therefore
need additional time to implement this change. Further concern is stated regarding section 4,
which would authorize the family court to complete investigations in juvenile delinquency
matters, which is not something that the family court does. It's further stated regarding section
5 that requests for detention from law enforcement in juvenile cases are not recorded unless
a judge approves of the request.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Southbury CT, Resident, Lauri Bates supports this bill and gives personal account of an
experience with car theft.
Southington CT Town Council supports this bill and states that their goal as a town council is
to protect their citizens and that enacting this bill will give them the proper resources to deter
automotive related offenses.
CT Police Chiefs Association supports this bill and states that it would provide a solution to
help get youth offenders the treatment they need. It's further stated that any increase in
penalty will serve to deter automotive related crimes.
Town of Newington CT, Mayor, Beth A. DelBuono on behalf of the Newington Town Council
supports this bill and states that the state needs to take responsibility and support law
enforcement officials to create increased measures to prevent those accused from
committing automotive related crimes again.
Curtiss Ryan Honda, President, Richard Foehrenbach supports this bill and gives a personal
account of experience with car theft at their business.
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Connecticut Council of Small Towns, Executive Director, Betsy Gara supports this bill and
states support for providing local law enforcement officials with the tools and resources
needed to address incidents of car theft and break-ins.
Town of Wethersfield, Mayor, Michael Rell supports this bill and states that the town is
requesting that law enforcement and the courts have the sufficient tools and resources
available to adequately hold perpetrators of car theft accountable.
CGA 27th House District, Rep. Gary Turco supports this bill and states that their district has
been adversely affected by car theft and that this legislation will be an important step to
mitigating the issue of car theft statewide. It's further stated that while the Representative
does not support treating juveniles that commit these crimes as adults that other measures
need to be put in place to facilitate the rehabilitation of those who commit these crimes.
CGA 8th Senate District, Sen. Kevin Witkos supports this bill and states that this bill would
address the increase in car theft offenses seen throughout the state. It's further stated that
while the Senator does not support a long prison sentence for juveniles who commit these
crimes, the Senator does support the creation of program and services to offer intervention
services to prevent offenders from reoffending.
The following members of the public support this bill. Many of those that testified gave
personal accounts of an experience with car theft involving themselves or others.
6 Anonymous CT Residents Stafford CT, Resident, Derek Bauer
Rocky Hill CT, Resident, Victor Acca Rocky Hill CT, Resident, Karen Bedlack
CT Resident, Fran Adinolfi CT Resident, Bert Begin
CT Resident, Rick Aiello CT Resident, Thomas Berchulski
Windsor CT, Resident, Dr. Linda S. CT Resident, Gary R. Bergeron
Alexander CT Resident, Marilyn Bjorklund
CT Resident, Debra Alling CT Resident, Sheila Borla
Trumbull CT, Resident, Gary R. Anderson CT Resident, Frank Borres
Robert Anderson CT Resident, Norman Boucher
CT Resident, Dennis Andrews Farmington and Madison CT, Resident,
CT Resident, Paul Andrews Ken Boudreau
Enfield CT, Resident, Joseph J. Annis Jr. Waterbury CT, Former Resident, Richard
Avon CT, Resident, Thomas Armstrong Bouffard
CT Residents, Art and Karen Canton CT, Resident, Laurie Bourque
CT Resident, Mary Ann Attianese Middlebury CT, Resident, Doreen
CT Resident, Lynne Auche Bousaada
CT Resident, Daniel Bailey CT Resident, Donna Bouton
CT Resident, Justin Baldwin CT Resident, Chris Brown
Shelton CT, Resident, and City Engineer, Rocky Hill CT, Resident, George Brown
Rimas J. Balsys CT Resident, Harold Brown
CT Resident, Laurie Bani Essa CT Resident, Jerry Bruckner
CT Resident, Jeff Bantle CT Resident, Gary Brugnetti
CT Resident, Christopher Barrett CT Resident, Janet Buchanan
Madison CT, Resident, Scott Bass Bristol CT, Resident, Linda Buchiere
Wilton CT, Resident, David J. Bauer CT Resident, Neil Bukowski
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CT Resident, Anna Buono CT Resident, Michael P. DiVito
Weston CT, Resident, Michele Burke Wethersfield CT, Resident, Mary Ellen
Vernon CT, Resident, John Buxton Dombrowski
Burlington CT, Resident, Tom Calvello Bristol CT, Resident, William Dorsey Fuller
CT Resident, Gina Campbell Avon CT, Resident, Michael Dropick
CT Resident, Robert Cantor CT Resident, Bob Ducharme
CT Resident, Marie Capela-Campos CT Resident, June Danaher
CT Resident, Terri Carmichael CT Resident, Steve Dunn
Bethany CT, Resident, Adam Carrington Shelton CT, Resident, Cheryl Dziubina
CT Resident, Iris Castro Newington CT, Resident, Steve Eccles
CT Resident, Frederick Centrella Rocky Hill CT, Resident, John Emmanuel
CT Resident, Ron Chaika Beacon Falls CT, Resident, Carl R.
Glastonbury CT, Resident, Galina Erlingheuser
Chanduvi New York, NY, Resident, Peter F. Farinella
CT Resident, Edward V. Charamut CT Resident, Bruce Farmer
CT Resident, Donna Chiulli Canton CT, Resident, Sarah Faulkner
Farmington CT, Resident, Rev. Doug South Glastonbury CT, Resident, Marilyn
Christgau Ferguson
Willington CT, Resident, Richard E. Claus CT Resident, John J. Ferrante
CT Resident, Kathy Clauss East Haddam CT, Resident, Jack Fiora
CT Resident, Roy Cline CT Resident, Michael Fiora
CT Resident, Katie Copeland Milford CT, Resident, Robert Fiore
North Haven CT, Resident, Nick Coppola Cheshire CT, Resident, Jim Flood
CT Resident, Jody Cox Berlin CT, Resident, John Flynn
CT Resident, Rose Cruz Farmington CT, Resident, James Foote
CT Resident, Joan Cummings CT Resident, Lauren Foote
Southington CT, Resident, Kristen Curley CT Resident, Maryann Francischelli
CT Resident, Debra Czarnecki CT Resident, Franny
CT Resident, Tom D'Addario Stamford CT, Resident, Joe Frattaroli
West Granby CT, Resident, Ricky Daigle Bristol CT, Resident, Robert Gabor
CT Resident, Diane Dalton Clinton CT, Resident, Elaine Godowsky
Plainville CT, Resident, Brian Danko CT Resident, Richard Gallagher
CT Resident, Jeanette Davidson CT Resident, Catherine Galligan
CT Resident, Lisa Dean Watertown CT, Resident, Ted Gallucci
Bethel CT, Resident, Robert Debacher Woodbury CT, Resident, Mike Gannon
CT Resident, John Dee Durham CT, Resident, Donald Gates
Southington CT, Resident and Town Cheshire CT, Resident and Director of
Councilor, Mike Del Santo Parks and Recreation, John Gawlak
Tolland CT, Resident, MaryAnn Delaney Madison CT, Resident, Richard Gedney
Tuttle CT Resident, Thomas Goclowski
CT Resident, Linda Dellacamera Canton CT, Resident and RTC Chairman,
Stafford Springs CT, Resident, Dino Arnold L. Goldman
DePellegrini CT Resident, Peter Goletz
Wethersfield CT, Resident, Lorain Deramo Vernon CT, Resident, Margaret Gordon
CT Resident, Vas Diakos Killingworth CT, Resident, Rita D. Gould
Norwalk CT, Resident, Tim Dineen Groton CT, Resident, Mark Grader
CT Resident, John DiSarro III Suffield CT, Resident, Regina Graziani
Westbrook CT, Resident, Martha CT Resident, Peter Greenwood
DiVincenzo
Page 4 of 9 HB-6669
Trumbull CT, Resident, MaryAnn CT Resident, Ted Krol
Grygorcewicz Wallingford CT, Resident, Richard Krombel
CT Resident, Jeff Guertin CT Resident, Frederick Krompegal
CT Resident, Glenn Guggenheim Ellington CT, Resident, Audrey Kubas
Avon CT, Resident, Laura Guzallis Wallingford CT, Resident, C. Marcella
CT Resident, Holly Hall Kurowski
CT Resident, Julia Hamilton CT Resident, Charlene Labruna
Willington CT, Resident, Russ Hardgrove CT Resident, Gary J. Lafferty
CT Resident, Cathy Hartley CT Resident, Michelle Lambert
CT Resident, Shannon Harvill Burlington CT, Resident, John-Robert La
CT Resident, Michael Haas Porta
Prospect CT, Resident, Al Havican Watertown CT, Resident, Ray Lecours
Wethersfield CT, Resident, Christopher Danbury CT, Resident, Deborah Legg
Healy Southington CT, Resident, Carolyn
Fairfield CT, Resident, Kimberly Heyn Legnani
CT Resident, Richard Hines CT Resident, Juliette Leith
Vernon CT, Resident, Keith Hodson Southington CT, Resident, Marcel Lessard
CT Resident, Al Horila Avon CT, Resident, Lee Lester
Avon CT, Resident, Mike Hornish Avon CT, Resident, Scott Lewis
Granby CT, Resident, Carol Hulbert Rocky Hill CT, Member of Town Council,
CT Resident, Norma Ingram Miriam Lifshitz-Theroux
CT Resident, Mike Ingrassia Simsbury CT, Resident, Nicola Lightner
CT Resident, Guy Iodice CT Resident, Linda
CT Resident, Barbara Irwin CT Resident, Stanton Lipson
CT Resident, Robert Jacques Seymour CT, Resident, Susan Liscinsky
CT Resident, Larry Janesky Middletown CT, Resident, Joan Liska
CT Resident, John Prospect CT, Resident, Mark Lloret
Ledyard CT, Resident, James Johnson Willington CT, Resident, Joshlyn Lucas-
Weatogue CT, Resident, David Johnson Nash
Ridgefield CT, Resident, Michael Johnston Oakville CT, Resident, Kenneth Lukowski
CT Resident, Anne Johnson CT Resident, Peter Lundin
CT Resident, Bonnie Karkowski Eastford CT, Resident, Nick Lupacchino
Shelton CT, Resident, Marieanne Kalotai Oakdale CT, Resident, Gary Lussier
Fairfield CT, Resident, Constantina Wethersfield CT, Resident, Thomas Mahar
Karageorge CT Resident, Andrew Main
Hamden CT, Resident, Cheryl Kasprzycki CT Resident, Monica Malo
Newington CT, Resident, Colleen Kelly CT Resident, Lou Manoni
CT Resident, Eileen Kenneally CT Resident, James D. Mansell
CT Resident, Laura Klett Shelton CT, Resident, Paul Manzione
CT Resident, Marilyn Koback CT Resident, Linda Maresca
Shelton CT, Resident, Peter Konieczny Hartland CT, Resident, Edward Marshall
Pleasant Valley CT, Resident, Cheryl B. Farmington CT, Resident, Peter Martin
Kornegay Fairfield CT, Resident, George Masek
Barkhamsted CT, Resident, John Willington CT, Resident, Sahri Masinda
Kornegay CT Resident, Carol Matteo-Strachan
CT Resident, Ronald Koroscil North Haven CT, Resident, Susan Maturo
CT Resident, John Koster CT Resident, Richard W. Mayhew
CT Resident, John Kozloski Middletown CT, Resident, Jim Mazzei
Avon CT, Resident, Debra Krauss Essex CT, Resident, Edward McCaffrey
Page 5 of 9 HB-6669
Durham CT, Resident, Jim McCandless Waterbury CT, Resident, Dana Place
CT Resident, A T McGeary North Haven CT, Resident, Frank
Simsbury CT, Resident, Paul J. McKenna Podgwaite
Eat Hampton CT, Resident, Layne Old Saybrook CT, Resident, Steven Pope
McLennan CT Resident, Gil Pratt
Vernon CT, Resident, Jean Merz Beacon Falls CT, Resident, Ruta Pratt
CT Resident, Bill Michalowski Willington CT, Residents, Peter and
CT Resident, Joe Mikula Pamela Puhlick
CT Resident, Philip Milano CT Resident, Mary Ann Raph
Higganum CT, Resident, Toni-Lynn Miles CT Resident, Mary Rawson
Suffield CT, Resident, Don Miner CT Resident, Jim Reilly
Trumbull CT, Resident, Marilyn Mitchell Berlin CT, Resident, Adam Renfrew
CT Resident, Marty Moran CT Resident, Debbie Reynolds
CT Resident, Dennis Moriarty CT Resident, Lourdes Rhodes
Stamford CT, Resident, Anna Moschella CT Resident, Michael Rinaldi
CT Resident, Marilyn Mullen CT Resident, Nora Robbins
CT Resident, Joyce Mundt CT Resident, Jen Roberts
Torrington CT, Resident, Fran Murack Wallingford CT, Resident, Ronald D.
Chester CT, Resident, Bill Myers Roberts
CT Resident, Andrew Netro CT Resident, Susan Roberts
Willington CT, Resident, Elaine Newcomb CT Resident, Roland Robillard
Trumbull CT, Resident, Dan Nichols CT Resident, Marc Rogg
North Haven CT, Resident, Lynne Nielsen CT Resident, Heinz D. Rosskothen
CT Resident, Dick Novia South Windsor CT, Resident, Bill Rotavera
CT Resident, Patricia Obrien CT Resident, Jennifer Rottkamp
Simsbury CT, Resident, Maria O'Donnell New Hartford CT, Resident, Judy Ruhm
CT Resident, William O'Neill CT Resident, John M. Russo DMD
CT Resident, Peter Ohotnicky Branford CT, Resident, Jason Sabatino
CT Resident, Karen Oko CT Resident, William Sangster
CT Resident, Joseph