Bill Summary: HB 5509

• Makes public safety committees optional rather than mandatory in municipalities with correctional facilities, allowing each municipality to establish one at its discretion rather than requiring the Department of Correction to establish committees in each location.

• Reduces meeting frequency requirements from quarterly to annually, though committees may meet additional times as deemed necessary to review correctional safety, security issues, and offender reentry efforts.

• Requires the warden or superintendent (or designee) of the correctional facility to attend at least one committee meeting annually if a committee is established.

• Maintains the requirement that established committees submit annual reports to legislative committees having cognizance of public safety and judiciary matters, outlining municipal concerns and mitigation recommendations.

• Repeals section 18-81bb of the general statutes, which provided additional protections for Department of Correction employee personal data disclosure.

• Effective October 1, 2020.