New Laws Effective October 1st

New Laws Effective October 1st

I just wanted you to know that several new laws will take effect on Tuesday, October 1st, that could have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I highlighted some of them below. An expanded list of those that will take effect, along with summaries, can be accessed here.

AN ACT SUPPORTING CONNECTICUT SENIORS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF NURSING AND HOME-BASED CARE. – Public Act No. 24-39 (Sec. 1-5, 7-9, 15-19, 21-23)

Among other things, this law requires home health care, home health aide, homemaker companion, and hospice agency to require employees to wear an identification badge with his or her name and photograph during each client appointment.

AN ACT PROMOTING NURSING HOME RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE. – Public Act No. 24-141 (Sec. 8-9)

Existing law requires managed residential communities (MRC) provide each resident a written residency agreement clearly setting out the resident’s and the MRC’s rights and responsibilities. This act modifies those agreements and establishes notification and reimbursement requirements for certain resident fees, including (1) how often fees may increase, (2) the schedule or specific dates of these increases, and (3) the history of fee increases over the past three calendar years.  The act also requires that agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2024, specify any nonrefundable charges, fees, expenses, and costs.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE A SERVICE-CONNECTED PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY RATING. – Public Act No. 24-46 (Sec. 1)

Fully exempts property tax for either a primary dwelling or motor vehicle for each veteran who has a permanent and total disability rating (“P&T rating”) of 100%.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF POLICE BODY-WORN RECORDING EQUIPMENT. – Public Act No. 24-15 (Sec. 1)

Updates the state’s guidelines on the use of police body cameras and defines the circumstances when officers must not pause recording with the cameras.

AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORITY TO DECLARE THAT A FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICER OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PERSONNEL DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. – Public Act No. 24-16

Allows police chiefs, fire chiefs, and emergency medical service (EMS) chiefs and administrative heads to, declare that a police officer, uniformed paid or volunteer firefighter, or EMS personnel died in the line of duty if the death was caused by a cardiac event, stroke, or pulmonary embolism within 24 hours after the individual finished a shift or training.

AN ACT REQUIRING RESTITUTION WHEN A POLICE ANIMAL OR DOG IN A VOLUNTEER CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM IS INJURED OR KILLED. – Public Act No. 24-65

Requires anyone convicted of intentionally injuring or killing a peace officer’s animal or a volunteer canine search and rescue team’s dog to pay restitution to the law enforcement unit, entity, or individual that owns the animal. The restitution may include the cost of veterinary services and, if the animal is killed or rendered unable to perform its duties, the costs and expenses of purchasing and training a replacement.

AN ACT CONCERNING DOG RACING. – Public Act No. 24-1

Bans dog tracks and dog racing in Connecticut, but explicitly allows off-track betting operators to conduct betting on out-of-state dog races.