CONNECTICUT — In Hartford, laws are signed throughout the year, but they tend to go into effect in regularly scheduled stages throughout the year. October 1st is traditionally a significant date when new laws come into force, and 2024 will be no different.
A complete list of new laws that take effect on October 1st can be found on the Connecticut General Assembly's website. Below are some highlights.
One of the new laws officially bans dog races, but off-site betting operators can still bet on out-of-state dog races.
Police dogs and their owners are also suffering under the new law. Public Law 24-65 requires anyone convicted of intentionally injuring or killing a peace officer animal or volunteer canine search and rescue dog to pay restitution to the owner.
Police chiefs, fire chiefs, heads of emergency medical services, and administrative officials would be able to easily declare a crew member killed in the line of duty. The new law would eliminate many red tape if a worker dies within 24 hours of finishing a shift or training, provided the cause is heart disease, stroke or pulmonary embolism. be.
It always bothers me, why do we require law enforcement officers to wear body cameras when they can turn them off at any time? As of October 1st, legally you can't. The new regulations require body cameras to record all interactions between police officers and members of the public “until the end of the interaction.” The only exception is when “continuing the recording could significantly impede the investigation.”
Local governments will have an easier time cracking down on unlicensed cannabis sales. The state's cannabis laws have been amended to allow towns to apply for court orders to seize inventory and cash from unscrupulous stores.
Marijuana is not the only cannabis plant that has been hit again by the University of Hartford. Porcelain berry, mugwort, quaggrass, Japanese angelica tree, Japanese wisteria, and Chinese wisteria are all on the “prohibited in Connecticut” list. All are invasive or potentially invasive plants that can disrupt local ecosystems.
There will be a small update to Connecticut data privacy in October. The new regulations add provisions regarding the security of consumer health data, social media accounts of minors, online services, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
In particular, online dating operators must adopt policies for handling reports of harassment by or among users and maintain an online safety center that provides resources to users regarding safe dating. The law also requires social media platforms to make a minor's social media account private within 15 business days and to delete the majority of the account within 45 business days after receiving a verified request. is required.
Good news for disabled heroes. Public Law 24-46 provides a full property tax exemption for a primary residence or motor vehicle owned by a veteran with a permanent and total disability rating.
The Assisting Seniors and Nursing and Home Care Improvement in Connecticut Act requires commissioners of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health to include a link to the Medicare Nursing Home Care Comparison website on their websites. I am. The tool ranks nursing homes by quality of care, health inspections, and staffing using a five-star rating system based on public user reviews.
Home health agencies are now required to provide annual staff training and monthly safety assessments for direct care staff. As a worker, you must report any threats you receive.
Cross per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances off your Christmas list. The new law prohibits the use or sale of anything containing these chemicals that do not break down naturally. These are products of sewage and sludge and can be found in the protective clothing of firefighters and emergency personnel.
