TESTIMONY OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

H.B. No. 7187 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING REVOCATION OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL’S PENSION OR A STATE OR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE’S PENSION.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
February 27, 2019

The Division of Criminal Justice supports the concept of H.B. No. 7187, An Act Concerning Revocation of a Public Official’s Pension or a State or Municipal Employee’s Pension, and would respectfully recommend the Committee’s JOINT FAVORABLE SUBSTITUTE REPORT.

The Division believes the language of the bill can be improved to better reflect its intent and to thus better assure its effective implementation. We stand ready to work with the Office of the Attorney General, which has proposed this legislation, and the Committee to draft substitute language.

Specifically, the Division recommends legislation that requires the State’s Attorney to notify the Attorney General upon the conviction of a state, local or other public official for a crime related to that individual’s public office. Essentially this would be the same as the requirement of Section 10-149a of the General Statutes, which requires the State’s Attorney or other appropriate prosecutor to notify the Commissioner of Education when a certified teacher is convicted of a felony or fined pursuant to Section 17a-101a (the “mandated reporters” law).

In conclusion, the Division respectfully recommends the Committee’s JOINT FAVORABLE SUBSTITUTE REPORT for H.B. No. 7187. We thank the Committee for affording this opportunity to provide input on this matter and would be happy to provide any additional information the Committee might require or to answer any questions that you might have.