(a) A person is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any independently unlawful act, prevents or attempts to prevent any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof, from performing any of his official functions, powers or duties.
(b) A person is guilty of coercing performance when he, alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any unlawful act, compels or induces any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof to perform any acts as a member, officer or employee against his will.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 29-35 and 53-206, (1) a person, other than a state or local police officer, a member of the Office of State Capitol Police or a police officer of any other state or of the federal government, who is carrying out official duties in this state, or any person summoned by any such officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while he is actually engaged in assisting such officer, while such officer is in the performance of his official duties or any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or of the state, as defined in section 27-2, in the performance of official duties, or any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, performing in uniform as a member of an official ceremonial unit, is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, brings into, or possesses within, any building in which the chamber of either house of the General Assembly is located or in which the official office of any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly or the office of any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof is located or any building in which a committee of the General Assembly is holding a public hearing, any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a billy; and (2) any person is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when such person, alone or in concert with others, brings into, or possesses within, any such building, a switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, or any explosive or incendiary or other dangerous device.
(d) The violation of any provision of this section is a class D felony.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 2; P.A. 82-264; P.A. 83-13, S. 2; P.A. 93-435, S. 25, 95; P.A. 96-219, S. 4; P.A. 16-193, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-264 expanded prohibition against firearms to include any weapon from which a shot may be discharged, a billy, switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles or other dangerous weapon, or any explosive or incendiary device, included as exempt persons members of armed forces performing duties and veterans performing ceremonies and included as buildings subject to provisions those where general assembly committee is holding public hearing; P.A. 83-13 changed a reference to “security officer” in Subsec. (c) to “member of the office of the state capitol security”; P.A. 93-435 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsec. (c) by changing the name of the “Office of State Capitol Security” to the “Office of State Capitol Police”; P.A. 16-193 made technical changes in Subsec. (c).
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 2 - General Assembly and Legislative Agencies
Section 2-1. - Regular sessions; organization.
Section 2-1a. - Adoption of rules and regulations.
Section 2-1b. - Unlawful interference with the General Assembly; injunctive relief.
Section 2-1c. - Contempt of the General Assembly; penalty.
Section 2-1d. - Interference with the General Assembly; misdemeanor.
Section 2-1f. - Office of State Capitol Police.
Section 2-1g. - Indemnification of legislative personnel.
Section 2-1h. - Compensatory time for permanent full-time employees.
Section 2-1i. - Compensatory time for permanent full-time employees.
Section 2-2. - Election by illegal practices.
Section 2-3. - Allowance to contestants.
Section 2-3b. - Members not eligible for unemployment compensation during regular session.
Section 2-4. - Joint convention to elect state officers.
Section 2-5. - Holding of office by members of the General Assembly.
Section 2-6. - Convening of sessions by action of members.
Section 2-7. - Notice of special and reconvened sessions.
Section 2-8. - Compensation and expenses of members and officers of the General Assembly.
Section 2-8a. - Compensation for interim committees and study commissions.
Section 2-8b to 2-8p. - General Assembly pension system.
Section 2-9. - Salary and transportation allowance for General Assembly officers and employees.
Section 2-9a. - Compensation Commission for elected state officers and General Assembly members.
Section 2-9b. - Compensation increases to be approved by Federal Pay Board.
Section 2-9c. - Adjustment to compensation of members of the General Assembly.
Section 2-10. - Clerks' office; assistants; records; duties.
Section 2-11. - Stenographers for General Assembly committees.
Section 2-12a. - Temporary legislative employees, reduction of salary for absence.
Section 2-13. - Records of legislative proceedings. Legislative record index.
Section 2-14. - Initiation of local legislation in General Assembly.
Section 2-14a. - Legislation affecting municipal retirement systems.
Section 2-15. - Transportation allowance for General Assembly members and members-elect.
Section 2-15a. - Annual informational mailing by General Assembly members.
Section 2-15b. - Transportation allowance for member of task force prohibited.
Section 2-16. - Members as attorneys before the General Assembly.
Section 2-16a. - Restriction on former members becoming lobbyists.
Section 2-17. - Presession introduction of bills.
Section 2-19. - Preliminary printing and franchise fees for special charters. Engrossing fees.
Section 2-20. - Certain charters granted only on petition.
Section 2-20a. - Bills seeking incorporation and franchise for water companies.
Section 2-21. - Notice of claims against the state.
Section 2-22. - Numbering of bills and joint resolutions.
Section 2-23a. - Alkaline paper for legislative documents.
Section 2-24a. - Fiscal note and ratepayer impact statement required for action upon bill.
Section 2-24b. - Racial and ethnic impact statement required for certain bills and amendments.
Section 2-25. - Printing to be done at one establishment.
Section 2-26. - Printing and electronic availability of bills prior to passage.
Section 2-27. - Printing and distribution of file bills.
Section 2-27a. - Fiscal review of bills.
Section 2-27b. - Review of bond acts.
Section 2-30. - Engrossing bills after adjournment. Vetoed bills.
Section 2-30b. - Construction of multiple amendments.
Section 2-31. - Numbering of public and special acts.
Section 2-32. - Effective date of public and special acts.
Section 2-32a. - Effective date of public acts imposing state mandate.
Section 2-33. - Specific appropriations. Recurring appropriations.
Section 2-33b. - Performance-informed budget review.
Section 2-33c. - Limitation of General Fund and Special Transportation Fund appropriations.
Section 2-34. - Title of appropriation bills.
Section 2-35a. - Government organization and reorganization.
Section 2-36. - Deficiency bills.
Section 2-36c. - Consensus revenue estimates.
Section 2-37. - Contingent expenses of General Assembly.
Section 2-38. - Bill re person's service as teacher or public employee.
Section 2-39. - Time within which Senate shall act on nominations.
Section 2-40. - Nomination of judges. Action by the judiciary committee.
Section 2-40a. - Disclosure of performance evaluations of judges and judge trial referees.
Section 2-41. - Nomination of judges of municipal courts.
Section 2-42. - Appointment of judges.
Section 2-43. - When further nomination required.
Section 2-44. - Withdrawal of nomination by Governor.
Section 2-45. - Legislative appearances.
Section 2-46. - Investigations by the General Assembly; powers; procedure. Witness' rights.
Section 2-47. - Witness not privileged.
Section 2-48. - Prosecution of witness.
Section 2-49. - Preparation, printing and distribution of assembly journals.
Section 2-50. - Legislative identification plates.
Section 2-50a. - Motor vehicle number plates for legislators.
Section 2-51. - Admittance to floor of House and Senate.
Section 2-52. - Display of United States and state flags at sessions of the General Assembly.
Section 2-53. - Faith and credit of acts passed by General Assembly.
Section 2-53a to 2-53c. - Legislative Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Section 2-53k. - Energy management program compliance review; report and recommendations.
Section 2-53l. - Electronic databases showing state and quasi-public agency expenditures.
Section 2-53m. - Annual report card on policies and programs affecting children.
Section 2-53n. - Quarterly report on overtime granted by state agencies.