Raised Bill No. 459 Summary

• Repeals and replaces Section 53a-40 of Connecticut General Statutes, effective October 1, 2020, to establish definitions and sentencing provisions for various categories of persistent offenders

• Defines persistent dangerous felony offenders as those convicted of specified violent crimes (manslaughter, arson, kidnapping, robbery, assault, home invasion, burglary) with prior convictions for similar crimes involving imprisonment of more than one year

• Establishes sentencing enhancements for persistent dangerous felony offenders: not less than twice the minimum nor more than twice the maximum authorized term (or 40 years, whichever is greater), or three times the minimum term to life imprisonment if two prior convictions exist

• Requires prosecuting authorities to investigate whether arrested persons qualify as persistent dangerous felony offenders, investigate eligibility for sentence enhancement, and document specific reasons if declining to pursue enhancement proceedings

• Creates additional offender categories (persistent dangerous sexual offenders, persistent serious felony offenders, persistent larceny offenders, and others) with corresponding sentencing guidelines, providing a 10-year look-back period for some offense types