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 PROSECUTION, REGISTRATION AND MONITORING OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS.

AMENDMENT

LCO No.: 9192

File Copy No.: 886

House Calendar No.: 482

Senate Calendar No.: 640

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact:

Explanation

The amendment conforms the law to a declaratory ruling by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) and could lead to additional staffing costs, to the extent that additional complaints may be filed with CHRO. The extent of the staffing required, if any, is unknown at this time and would be dependent on the increase in complaints. The number of increased complaints is not anticipated to be significant.

The amendment also expands the definition of certain crimes involving the deprivation of rights to include a victim's gender identity or expression. There are very few offenses filed with Superior Court under the existing statutes that the bill changes. Consequently, any fiscal impact associated with revenues from criminal fines or potential costs for incarceration or probation supervision is anticipated to be minimal.

In addition, the amendment prohibits the closure of any residential facility operated by the Department of Children and Families on or before 1/1/09 without prior approval of the legislative body of the affected municipality.

At this time, only the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) is under consideration for closure. The City of Middletown may incur minimal costs associated with conducting hearings to consider any proposal to close the School.

Finally, the amendment adds civil union status to the term “marital status” and has no fiscal impact.