Substitute Bill No. 5379 Summary

• Increases personal liability insurance requirements for state marshals from $100,000/$300,000 to $250,000/$500,000 per person/incident, effective January 1, 2025, with policies running October 1 through September 30 annually.

• Reduces the maximum number of state marshals appointed in most counties: Hartford from 72 to 62, New Haven from 62 to 55, New London from 38 to 20, Windham from 18 to 7, Litchfield from 30 to 13, Middlesex from 21 to 13, and Tolland from 22 to 10.

• Requires state marshals to pay collected funds within 30 days (or 40 days for personal checks) with interest penalties of 5% per month for late payment, and allows parties to agree to different payment timeframes.

• Increases bond requirements for state marshals from $10,000 to $100,000, and increases the separate bond for collecting tax warrants to $100,000.

• Establishes governance structure with an 8-member State Marshal Commission appointed by judicial and legislative leaders and the Governor, and a 24-member advisory board elected by county marshals annually.