The following two bills were referred to the Appropriations Committee by the House. That Committee issues a joint favorable for both and sends it back to the House. See each of the bill links for more information including file bill language and associated financial and OLR analysis.
HB5388 AN ACT CONCERNING FISHING AND HUNTING RIGHTS OF CERTAIN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.
SUMMARY
This bill reduces, from 250 to 10 acres, the required minimum size of an Indian’s reservation in order for the Indian to qualify for a free private land deer permit from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to take (e.g., hunt, kill, or capture) deer on the tribe’s reservation land. As under existing law, an Indian can only be issued one private land deer permit per season, and the permit must allow for the use of rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow on the reservation from November 1 until December 31 (i.e. the same season and weapons allowed for certain landowners with private land deer permits).The bill also requires DEEP to develop a ceremonial taking permit, under which an Indian may take an animal on state lands for ceremonial purposes. The permit must be free and allow for only one taking of an animal that is otherwise allowed to be taken on state lands.
By law, an “Indian” is a person who is a member of the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot, Mashantucket Pequot, Schaghticoke, Golden Hill Paugussett, or Mohegan tribe (CGS § 47-63).EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2025
SUMMARY
§ 1 — STORAGE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE
Requires DESPP, after analyzing sexual assault evidence, to transfer it back to the law enforcement agency rather than keeping it until the conclusion of criminal proceedings§ 2 — RECORDS OF CASES OF JUVENILE MATTERS
Allows juvenile case records to be made available to authorized government agents and employees while evaluating the proposed transfer of a firearm to any person, regardless of their age§ 3 — IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF SEIZED AND RECOVERED FIREARMS
Requires law enforcement agencies to opt in to share information on recovered firearms through the ATF’s eTrace system§§ 4-6 — SECURITY OFFICERS
Requires security officers to obtain a special permit from the DESPP commissioner before they are permitted to carry an electronic defense weapon; requires security officer license applicants to complete relevant training if they intend to carry batons or pepper spray (“less lethal weapons”); gives licensure applicants 30 days to complete their application if they are notified of a deficiency and intend to keep working while the application is pending§§ 7-9 — TRANSFER OF FIREARMS
Updates documentation requirements for firearm transfers, consolidates the separate process required for the private transfer of long guns into the process for gun dealers, and makes related changes§§ 10 & 11 — SCHOOL SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM
Requires that applicants for the school security infrastructure grant program conduct a school assessment using guidelines established by DESPP’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and sets a cap on DESPP’s use of the program’s funds for certain communications systems