CT HB05154

Law enforcement units cannot discharge, discipline, or penalize police officers solely for seeking mental health care services or surrendering firearms and ammunition during treatment, effective October 1, 2019.

Police officers seeking mental health care may voluntarily surrender their firearm, ammunition, or electronic defense weapon to their law enforcement unit without career penalty, except when seeking care to avoid disciplinary action.

Before returning surrendered weapons, law enforcement units must request officers to submit to mental health examination by a licensed clinical social worker, psychiatrist, or psychologist to determine fitness for duty at no cost to the officer.

Law enforcement units cannot be sued for damages from a police officer's use of personal firearms during the period the officer has surrendered official weapons or for six months after surrender, whichever is longer.

Each state and municipal police department must develop and publish lists of mental health professionals by October 1, 2019, in collaboration with police labor organizations.