Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 104 - Municipal Police and Fire Protection
Section 7-294kk. - Determination of number of drug recognition experts. Development of model policy. Policy adoption. Drug recognition expert and advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training.

(a) Not later than January 1, 2022, each law enforcement unit shall report to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, in the manner specified by the council, a recommendation as to the minimum number of officers that such law enforcement unit should have accredited as drug recognition experts in order to ensure adequate availability of drug recognition experts to respond to instances of impaired driving, allowing that law enforcement units may call upon drug recognition experts from other law enforcement units as necessary and available. Such recommendation shall be based on data on impaired driving made available to law enforcement units by the Department of Transportation and any guidance issued by the council.

(b) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council, in conjunction with the Highway Safety Office within the Department of Transportation, shall determine the minimum number of police officers to be accredited as drug recognition experts for each law enforcement unit. In making such determination, the council and office shall consider the recommendation made by each law enforcement unit pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The council and office shall submit the results of such determination to the Governor and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management not later than July 1, 2022. The council and office shall update and submit such determination to the Governor and Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management no less frequently than once every three years.
(c) Not later than April 1, 2022, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall develop and promulgate a model policy to ensure that enough police officers become trained drug recognition experts in each law enforcement unit to meet the minimum number established in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) Not later than October 1, 2022, each law enforcement unit shall adopt and maintain a written policy that meets or exceeds the standards of the model policy developed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and the Highway Safety Office within the Department of Transportation shall jointly issue a plan to increase access to advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement training and drug recognition expert training for police officers and law enforcement units in the state. The council and office shall update such plan no less frequently than once every three years.
(f) On and after January 1, 2022, each police officer who has not yet been recertified pursuant to section 7-294e for the second time after receiving an initial certification, shall complete training and receive certification in advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement prior to being recertified pursuant to section 7-294e.
(g) For purposes of this section, “advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement” means a program developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Technical Advisory Panel, which focuses on impaired driving enforcement education for police officers, or any successor to such program; “drug recognition expert” means a person certified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as having met all requirements of the International Drug Evaluation and Classification Program; “law enforcement unit” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-294a; and “Police Officer Standards and Training Council” means the council established under section 7-294b.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 114.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective July 1, 2021.

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