New Month — New Laws Effective on October 1st

State Representative Joe Gresko, (D)
121st Connecticut House District

State Representative Phil Young (D)
120th Connecticut House District

Dear Neighbor,

This weekend, several new laws in Connecticut will go into effect on October 1. These laws are a result of my colleagues’ hard work during the 2022 session. Below are just some of the laws that will take effect and what they mean for you.

Establishing Juneteenth as a State Holiday

Public Act 22-128 designates June 19, known as Juneteenth Independence Day, a legal state holiday.

Juvenile Justice Reforms & Firearm Background Checks

To respond to pandemic-related crime, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 22-115. Provisions taking effect will streamline juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings; create more intensive responses to juveniles with serious repeated charges, focusing on motor vehicle thefts; and the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will notify local law enforcement if a resident fails a background check when trying to purchase a firearm.

Addressing Children’s Mental Health Concerns

Public Act 22-47 is a transformative piece of legislation that takes steps to bolster Connecticut’s children is mental and behavioral health system and improve the delivery and accessibility of services. Parts of this law will take effect to increase the number of qualified health care providers by permitting out-of-state providers to apply for edited licensure in Connecticut; create a statewide emergency service telecommunications plan addressing mental health, behavioral health, or substance use disorder needs; and expand Connecticut’s emergency response team.

Connecticut Clean Air Act

Public Act 22-25 takes steps to cut transportation-related emissions, improve air quality, and realize a greener, more sustainable state for all. Parts of the law will go into effect:

electrifying state vehicles; establishing the “right to charge” allowing renters to request electric charging stations at their residences; transitioning to zero-emission school buses; prohibiting planned community associations from adopting rules that would prevent unit homeowners from installing solar panels

Fair Rent Commission Act

Public Act 22-30 requires municipalities with populations of at least 25,000 to establish a fair rent commission, where they conduct studies and investigations, hold hearings, receive rent complaints, and intervene in matters between tenants and landlords.

Timely Reporting by the Police of a Death

In light of an investigation of Bridgeport police officers who failed to properly notify the next of kin of two women who died in December 2021 and similar incidents across our state, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 22-61 to require the timely reporting of a death to the next of kin. Police officers will have 24 hours after identifying a victim to report the death. Failure to report a death as required will trigger an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.

Written Consent from Patients Receiving Intimate Examinations and the Development of Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program

Public Act 22-33 requires hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities to obtain a patient’s express written consent to an “intimate examination.” The law also requires UConn Health Center to develop a plan to establish an endometriosis data and biorepository program.

Click the address below to view the full list of laws taking effect on October 1^st.

https://cga.ct.gov/asp/content/aeauto.asp?utm_source=Test&utm_campaign=dc42d955d6

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at the Capitol at 800-842-0363 or email me at Joseph.Gresko@cga.ct.gov.

Joseph P. Gresko