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HB 6218 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AS AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

HB 6218 prohibits individuals convicted of animal abuse or neglect (or who plead guilty/nolo contendere to such charges) from serving as animal control officers or regional animal control officers in Connecticut. The law, effective October 1, 2025, directly affects current and future officers under existing statutes (sections 22-331 and 22-331a). If convicted, officers must be placed on unpaid administrative leave until all appeals are resolved. This policy change ensures only individuals with no history of animal cruelty can hold these roles, aiming to uphold standards for animal care.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Proposed Bill → Committee Bill · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended from a proposed version to a committee version, primarily changing the bill number and legal citation numbers while retaining the core substance. The main substantive change is the addition of a new provision requiring animal control officers convicted of animal abuse or neglect to be placed on unpaid administrative leave until appeals are exhausted, in addition to being disqualified from serving.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on disqualifying animal control officers with animal abuse convictions, but the committee version adds a specific enforcement mechanism requiring unpaid administrative leave during the appeals process.
TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from Proposed Bill No. 6218 to Committee Bill No. 6218, and legal citation number changed from LCO No. 3415 to LCO No. 5829.

Added co-sponsor information listing REP. LINEHAN and REP. MUSHINSKY, and added statement that the act takes effect October 1, 2025.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement that animal control officers convicted of animal abuse or neglect must be placed on unpaid administrative leave until all applicable appeals are exhausted.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.