CT SB00524

Persons qualified to withdraw blood and medical facilities are granted civil liability protection when performing blood draws at law enforcement request, unless actions constitute gross negligence (effective October 1, 2018).

Blood samples must be taken from operators and pedestrians who die in motor vehicle accidents and tested for alcohol and drug presence; surviving operators involved in accidents causing serious injury or death may be tested if probable cause or reasonable suspicion of impairment exists (effective October 1, 2018).

Commercial motor vehicle permit violation penalties are assessed against vehicle owners or lessees rather than individual operators, with fines ranging from $15 per 100 pounds of excess weight to $1,500 per violation depending on the type of infraction (effective October 1, 2018).

Assault in the second degree with a firearm is elevated to a class C felony if the offense results in serious physical injury, with one year of any sentence being non-suspendable and non-reducible (effective October 1, 2018).

Criminal lockout provisions expanded to include both residential and nonresidential unit lessors and lessees, making it a class C misdemeanor to deprive tenants of access to their units or possessions without a court order (effective October 1, 2018).