CT HB05247

Establishes assault of public safety, emergency medical, public transit, or health care personnel as a class C felony with a mandatory minimum of two years imprisonment that cannot be suspended or reduced by the court.

Provides exceptions to the mandatory minimum sentence if the defendant was under 18 years old at the time of the offense or had significantly impaired mental capacity.

Expands the definition of protected personnel to include peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical service employees, emergency room physicians and nurses, health care employees, Department of Correction employees, probation officers, judicial branch employees, DCF employees, police lockup security staff, volunteer canine search and rescue team members, and public transit employees.

Defines prohibited conduct as causing physical injury, throwing objects capable of causing harm, using mace or tear gas, throwing staining agents or noxious liquids, or throwing bodily fluids at protected personnel while they perform their duties.

Creates a defense for assault of health care employees if the defendant has a disability and the conduct was a clear and direct manifestation of that disability; effective October 1, 2012.