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SB 1541 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF THE CORRECTION OMBUDS, DISCLOSURE OF DISCIPLINARY MATTERS OR ALLEGED MISCONDUCT BY A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION EMPLOYEE, USE OF FORCE AND BODY CAMERAS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS.

This law establishes an Office of the Correction Ombuds to independently address complaints in state correctional facilities. It requires correctional facilities to publicly disclose disciplinary actions against employees and mandates body cameras during use-of-force incidents. The bill also updates procedures for managing criminal history records related to correctional staff. Now effective as Public Act 25-161, it applies directly to all state correctional facilities and their employees.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes ombuds office, mandates public disciplinary disclosure, requires body cameras for use-of-force - enhancing accountability and transparency in correctional facilities.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Signed Jun 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → JUD Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to add a new mechanism for removing the Correction Ombuds if they are accused of abuse of power, malfeasance, or negligence. The amendment also expanded the ombuds' duties to include reviewing disciplinary matters or alleged misconduct by correction employees, and clarified the ombuds' term of office.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include oversight of correction employee misconduct and added a formal process for removing the ombuds official.
ENFORCEMENT

Added a new subsection allowing the Governor's office to receive complaints about the Correction Ombuds' performance, with a process for the General Assembly to vote on removing the ombuds if abuse of power, malfeasance, or negligence is found.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the Correction Ombuds' initial term from two years to four years, running concurrent with the Governor's term.

Added a new requirement that surveys sent to Department of Correction employees must first be made available for review and comment by the employees' bargaining units.

SCOPE

Added new duties for the ombuds to review disciplinary matters or alleged misconduct by Department of Correction employees.

Floor votes · Senate May 23, 2025 · House Jun 4, 2025

How they voted

36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
May 23, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican11
11 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
35
Key actions
14
Committee
4
Amendments
4
Jun 30, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
SEN. PASSED, HO. AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. ADOPTED HO. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (36-0)
senate
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. PASSED, SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.