AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENSES USING DNA EVIDENCE.

OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS

Legislative Office Building, Room 5200

Hartford, CT 06106 ¯ (860) 240-0200

http: //www. cga. ct. gov/ofa

HB-7085

AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENSES USING DNA EVIDENCE.

As Amended by House "A" (LCO 7935)

House Calendar No. : 482

Agency Affected	Fund-Effect	FY 08 $	FY 09 $
Judicial Dept.	GF - Revenue Gain	Potential Minimal	Potential Minimal
Judicial Department (Probation); Correction, Dept.	GF - Cost	Potential	Potential
Public Safety, Dept.	GF - Cost	Minimal	Minimal

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The bill eliminates the statute of limitations for certain offenses provided that the perpetrator is identified by DNA and the victim notified the police or a prosecutor of the offense within five years of its commission. Since few such cases are anticipated, any marginal cost to state agencies under this provision of the bill is anticipated to be minimal.

The bill makes it a felony to misrepresent one's age over the Internet to entice a minor. To the extent that this change increases the likelihood that offenders would be prosecuted or receive harsher penalties, a potential revenue gain from criminal fines and potential cost for incarceration and/or probation supervision in the community exist. Few fines would be imposed on an annual basis, and, consequently, any revenue gain under the bill would be minimal. On average, it costs the state about $2,500 annually to supervise an offender on probation in the community as compared to $41,600 to incarcerate an offender.

The bill requires registered sex offenders to notify the Department of Public Safety whenever the sex offender establishes or changes an electronic mail address, instant message address or other similar Internet communication identifier. The Department of Public Safety could incur a minimal cost associated with the collection of internet communication information.

House Amendment “A” added provisions that: (1) make it a felony to misrepresent one's age over the Internet to entice a minor; and (2) require registered sex offenders to notify the Department of Public Safety when they establish or change any Internet communication identifier.

The Out Years

The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.