*Statutory scheme prohibiting same sex marriage impermissibily discriminates against gay persons on the basis of their sexual orientation in violation of equal protection provisions of state constitution. 289 C. 135.
Cited. 26 CA 737.
Sec. 46b-23. (Formerly Sec. 46-4). Joining persons in marriage knowingly without authority.
Sec. 46b-24a. Validation of marriages occurring in town other than town where license issued.
Sec. 46b-25. (Formerly Sec. 46-5b). Application for license.
Sec. 46b-28. (Formerly Sec. 46-6). Validity of marriages celebrated in a foreign country.
Sec. 46b-28b. Recognition by another state or jurisdiction of marriages entered into in this state.
Sec. 46b-28c. Prior divorce in another state or country. Validity of marriage in this state.
Sec. 46b-29. (Formerly Sec. 46-5e). Marriage of persons under conservatorship.
Sec. 46b-30. (Formerly Sec. 46-5f). Marriage of minors.
Sec. 46b-32. (Formerly Sec. 46-5i). Failure to make license available; penalty.
Sec. 46b-33. (Formerly Sec. 46-5j). Copy of law to applicants.
Sec. 46b-34. (Formerly Sec. 46-7). Marriage certificate. Affidavit in lieu of certificate.
Sec. 46b-35. (Formerly Sec. 46-8). Certificates prima facie evidence.
Sec. 46b-36. (Formerly Sec. 46-9). Property rights of spouse not affected by marriage.
Sec. 46b-36a. Short title: Connecticut Premarital Agreement Act.
Sec. 46b-36c. Form of premarital agreement.
Sec. 46b-36d. Content of premarital agreement.
Sec. 46b-36e. Effect of marriage on premarital agreement.
Sec. 46b-36f. Amendment or revocation of premarital agreement after marriage.
Sec. 46b-36g. Enforcement of premarital agreement.
Sec. 46b-36h. Enforcement of premarital agreement when marriage void.
Sec. 46b-36i. Statute of limitations re claims under premarital agreement.
Sec. 46b-36j. Premarital agreements made prior to October 1, 1995, not affected.
Sec. 46b-38a. Family violence prevention and response: Definitions.
Sec. 46b-38g. Programs for children impacted by domestic violence.
Sec. 46b-38j. Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council. Membership. Duties. Annual report.
Secs. 46b-38n to 46b-38z. Reserved
Sec. 46b-20. Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) “Registrar” means the registrar of vital statistics;
(2) “Applicant” means applicant for a marriage license;
(3) “License” means marriage license; and
(4) “Marriage” means the legal union of two persons.
(P.A. 78-230, S. 1, 54; P.A. 09-13, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 09-13 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. designators with numeric designators and added Subdiv. (4) defining “marriage”, effective April 23, 2009.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-20a. Eligibility to marry. Issuance of license to minor who is sixteen or seventeen, when permitted. (a) A person is eligible to marry if such person is:
(1) Not a party to another marriage, or a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, entered into in this state or another state or jurisdiction, unless the parties to the marriage will be the same as the parties to such other relationship;
(2) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, at least eighteen years of age;
(3) Except as provided in section 46b-29, not under the supervision or control of a conservator; and
(4) Not prohibited from entering into a marriage pursuant to section 46b-21.
(b) A license may be issued to a minor who is at least sixteen years of age but under eighteen years of age with the approval of the Probate Court as provided in this subsection. A parent or guardian of a minor may, on behalf of the minor, petition the Probate Court for the district in which the minor resides seeking approval for the issuance of a license to such minor. The court shall schedule a hearing on the petition and give notice to the minor, the minor's parents or guardians and to the other party to the intended marriage. The minor and the petitioning parent or guardian shall be present at such hearing. The court may, in its discretion, require the other party to the intended marriage to be present at such hearing. After a hearing on the petition, the court may approve the issuance of a license to the minor if the court finds that: (1) The petitioning parent or guardian consents to the marriage; (2) the minor consents to the marriage and such consent is based upon an understanding of the nature and consequences of marriage; (3) the minor has sufficient capacity to make such a decision; (4) the minor's decision to marry is made voluntarily and free from coercion; and (5) the marriage would not be detrimental to the minor.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 4; P.A. 16-66, S. 21; P.A. 17-54, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009; P.A. 16-66 amended Subdiv. (1) to delete “marriage or”; P.A. 17-54 designated existing provisions re person eligible to marry as Subsec. (a) and amended same by substituting “subsection (b) of this section” for “section 46b-30” in Subdiv. (2), and added Subsec. (b) re issuance of license to minor who is at least 16 but under 18 years of age.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-21. (Formerly Sec. 46-1). Marriage of persons related by consanguinity or affinity prohibited. No person may marry such person's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, parent's sibling, sibling's child, stepparent or stepchild. Any marriage within these degrees is void.
(1949 Rev., S. 7301; P.A. 78-230, S. 3, 54; P.A. 09-13, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 78-230 changed wording slightly and substituted “may” for “shall”; Sec. 46-1 transferred to Sec. 46b-21 in 1979; P.A. 09-13 made provision prohibiting a man or woman marrying person of the opposite sex related within certain degrees of consanguinity or affinity applicable regardless of sex of such other person, effective April 23, 2009.
See Sec. 53a-191 re incest.
Annotations to former section 46-1:
Does not prohibit marriage with deceased husband's brother. 12 C. 94. “Sister” includes half-sister for purpose of incest prosecution. 132 C. 165. The marriage of a niece and her uncle in Italy, though valid there and contracted without intent to evade the law of this state, held not valid in this state. 148 C. 288. Relationship of niece-in-law and uncle-in-law held not within enumerated relationships for crime of incest. 158 C. 461.
Annotations to present section:
Former section cited. 182 C. 344. Relationship as half-uncle and half-niece is void. 213 C. 637.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-22. (Formerly Sec. 46-3). Who may join persons in marriage. Penalty for unauthorized performance. (a) Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state. All marriages solemnized according to the forms and usages of any religious denomination in this state, including marriages witnessed by a duly constituted Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, are valid. All marriages attempted to be celebrated by any other person are void.
(b) No public official legally authorized to issue marriage licenses may join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by himself, or his assistant or deputy; nor may any such assistant or deputy join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by such public official.
(c) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 7306; 1951, S. 3001d; 1967, P.A. 129, S. 1; P.A. 78-230, S. 4, 54; P.A. 79-37, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-316, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 27, 58; P.A. 06-196, S. 276; P.A. 07-79, S. 5; P.A. 15-74, S. 1; 15-85, S. 4.)
History: 1967 act specified validity of marriages witnessed by Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is; P.A. 78-230 divided section into Subsecs., deleted reference to county and reordered and rephrased provisions in Subsec. (a) and substituted “may” for “shall” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-37 authorized retired judges and state referees to perform marriages; Sec. 46-3 transferred to Sec. 46b-22 in 1979; P.A. 87-316 applied provisions to family support magistrates; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-79 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. designators (1) to (3), revise provisions re persons authorized to solemnize marriages within the state and make technical changes; P.A. 15-74 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by deleting requirement that members of the clergy continue in the work of the ministry; P.A. 15-85 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding “family support referees”, effective June 24, 2015.
Annotations to former section 46-3:
Minister who solemnizes marriage must be “settled in the work of the ministry”. 2 R. 382. Ordained deacon performing usual duties of minister held to be authorized. 4 C. 134. A clergyman in performing marriage ceremony is a public officer and his acts in that capacity prima facie evidence of his character. Id., 219. Proof of celebration of marriage raises a presumption of its validity. 85 C. 186; 93 C. 47. In absence of proof of authority of justice of peace, marriage void; our law does not recognize common law marriages. 129 C. 432. Marriage, deficient for want of due solemnization, voidable. 163 C. 588.
Annotation to present section:
Former section cited. 182 C. 344.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-22a. Validation of marriages performed by unauthorized justice of the peace or family support referee. (a) All marriages celebrated before June 6, 2014, otherwise valid except that the justice of the peace joining such persons in marriage did not have a valid certificate of qualification, are validated, provided the justice of the peace who joined such persons in marriage represented himself or herself to be a duly qualified justice of the peace and such persons reasonably relied upon such representation.
(b) All marriages celebrated before June 24, 2015, otherwise valid except that the family support referee joining such persons in marriage did not have explicit statutory authority to solemnize marriages in this state, are validated, provided the family support referee who joined such persons in marriage represented himself or herself to be a duly qualified family support referee and such persons reasonably relied upon such representation.
(P.A. 82-166, S. 1, 4; P.A. 84-171, S. 1, 7; P.A. 85-83, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-587, S. 13, 18; P.A. 89-4, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-12, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-87, S. 1, 3; P.A. 95-6, S. 1, 3; P.A. 96-258, S. 4, 5; P.A. 97-10, S. 1, 3; P.A. 99-20, S. 1, 3; P.A. 01-4, S. 1, 3; P.A. 02-71, S. 3; P.A. 03-238, S. 1; P.A. 06-195, S. 18; P.A. 14-146, S. 3; P.A. 15-85, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 84-171 changed applicable date from May 17, 1982, to March 13, 1984; P.A. 85-83 changed applicable date from March 13, 1984, to April 29, 1985; P.A. 87-587 changed applicable date from April 29, 1985, to April 19, 1987; P.A. 89-4 changed applicable date from April 19, 1987, to March 13, 1989; P.A. 91-12 changed “March 13, 1989” to “March 28, 1991”; P.A. 93-87 changed applicable date from March 28, 1991, to June 2, 1993, effective June 2, 1993; P.A. 95-6 changed applicable date from June 2, 1993, to April 13, 1995, effective April 13, 1995; P.A. 96-258 changed applicable date from April 13, 1995, to June 10, 1996, effective June 10, 1996; P.A. 97-10 changed applicable date from June 10, 1996, to April 18, 1997, effective April 18, 1997; P.A. 99-20 changed applicable date from April 18, 1997, to May 12, 1999, effective May 12, 1999; P.A. 01-4 changed applicable date from May 12, 1999, to April 27, 2001, effective April 27, 2001; P.A. 02-71 changed applicable date from “before April 27, 2001,” to “on and after April 27, 2001, and before June 3, 2002,”, effective June 3, 2002; P.A. 03-238 changed applicable date from “on and after April 27, 2001, and before June 3, 2002,” to “before July 9, 2003,” and made validation subject to condition that the justice of the peace represented himself or herself to be a duly qualified justice of the peace and that the persons joined in marriage reasonably relied upon such representation, effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 06-195 made a technical change and changed applicable date from July 9, 2003, to June 7, 2006, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 14-146 changed applicable date from June 7, 2006, to June 6, 2014, effective June 6, 2014; P.A. 15-85 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re validation of marriages celebrated before June 24, 2015, by a family support referee, effective June 24, 2015.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-22b. Refusal to solemnize or participate in ceremony solemnizing a marriage on religious grounds. (a) No member of the clergy authorized to join persons in marriage pursuant to section 46b-22 shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the first amendment to the United States Constitution or section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state.
(b) No church or qualified church-controlled organization, as defined in 26 USC 3121, shall be required to participate in a ceremony solemnizing a marriage in violation of the religious beliefs of that church or qualified church-controlled organization.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-23. (Formerly Sec. 46-4). Joining persons in marriage knowingly without authority. Any person who undertakes to join persons in marriage, knowing that he is not authorized to do so, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 8595.)
History: Sec. 46-4 transferred to Sec. 46b-23 in 1979.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-24. (Formerly Sec. 46-5a). License. Period of validity. Penalty for solemnization without license. Validity of marriage ceremony. (a) Except as provided in section 46b-28a, no persons may be joined in marriage in this state until both have complied with the provisions of this section, sections 46b-20a, 46b-25 and 46b-29 to 46b-33, inclusive, and have been issued a license by the registrar for the town in which the marriage is to be celebrated, which license shall bear the certification of the registrar that the persons named therein have complied with the provisions of said sections.
(b) Such license, when certified by the registrar, is sufficient authority for any person authorized to perform a marriage ceremony in this state to join such persons in marriage, provided the ceremony is performed within a period of not more than sixty-five days after the date of application.
(c) Anyone who joins any persons in marriage without having received such license from them shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, in order to be valid in this state, a marriage ceremony shall be conducted by and in the physical presence of a person who is authorized to solemnize marriages.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 1; P.A. 78-230, S. 5, 54; P.A. 03-188, S. 3; P.A. 07-79, S. 6; P.A. 09-232, S. 73; P.A. 16-66, S. 29; P.A. 17-54, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 78-230 divided section into Subsecs. and made minor changes in wording and added fine provision applicable to those who marry persons without receiving license, designated as Subsec. (c); Sec. 46-5a transferred to Sec. 46b-24 in 1979 and internal section references changed as necessary to reflect those sections' transfer; P.A. 03-188 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing a registrar for a town to issue a marriage license when either person to be married is a resident of such town, deleting reference to repealed Secs. 46b-26 and 46b-27, adding reference to Sec. 46b-25 and making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision that required marriage ceremony take place “within the town where the license was issued”; P.A. 07-79 added Subsec. (d) to require marriage ceremonies to be conducted by and in the physical presence of a person authorized to solemnize marriages; P.A. 09-232 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdiv. (2) re authority of registrar for a town to issue marriage license when either person to be married resides in such town and by making a conforming change; P.A. 16-66 amended Subsec. (a) to add “Except as provided in section 46b-28a,” and make technical changes, effective May 27, 2016; P.A. 17-54 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to Sec. 46b-20a and make technical changes.
Former section cited and validity of marriage solemnized without marriage license discussed. 182 C. 344.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-24a. Validation of marriages occurring in town other than town where license issued. All marriages celebrated before June 6, 2014, otherwise valid except that the license for any such marriage was issued in a town other than the town in this state in which such marriage was celebrated, or where either party to the marriage resided at the time of the marriage license application, are validated.
(P.A. 79-298, S. 1; P.A. 82-166, S. 3, 4; P.A. 89-151, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-12, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-87, S. 2, 3; P.A. 95-6, S. 2, 3; P.A. 97-10, S. 2, 3; P.A. 99-20, S. 2, 3; P.A. 01-4, S. 2, 3; P.A. 02-71, S. 4; P.A. 03-238, S. 2; P.A. 06-195, S. 19; P.A. 14-146, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 82-166 extended validation to marriages celebrated before May 17, 1982; P.A. 89-151 extended validation to marriages celebrated before June 1, 1989; P.A. 91-12 changed “June 1, 1989” to “March 28, 1991”; P.A. 93-87 changed applicable date from March 26, 1991, to June 2, 1993, effective June 2, 1993; P.A. 95-6 changed applicable date from June 2, 1993, to April 13, 1995, effective April 13, 1995; P.A. 97-10 changed applicable date from April 13, 1995, to April 18, 1997, effective April 18, 1997; P.A. 99-20 changed applicable date from April 18, 1997, to May 12, 1999, effective May 12, 1999; P.A. 01-4 changed applicable date from May 12, 1999, to April 27, 2001, effective April 27, 2001; P.A. 02-71 changed applicable date from “before April 27, 2001,” to “on and after April 27, 2001, and before June 3, 2002,” effective June 3, 2002; P.A. 03-238 changed applicable date from “on and after April 27, 2001, and before June 3, 2002,” to “before July 9, 2003,” and specified that the town in which such marriage was celebrated be “in this state”, effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 06-195 changed applicable date from July 9, 2003, to June 7, 2006, and extended validation to towns where either party resided at time of marriage license application, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 14-146 changed applicable date from June 7, 2006, to June 6, 2014, effective June 6, 2014.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-25. (Formerly Sec. 46-5b). Application for license. No license may be issued by the registrar until both persons have appeared before the registrar and made application for a license. The registrar shall issue a license to any two persons eligible to marry under this chapter. The license shall be completed in its entirety, dated, signed and sworn to by each applicant and shall state each applicant's name, age, birthplace, residence, whether single, widowed or divorced and whether under the supervision or control of a conservator or guardian. The Social Security numbers of both persons shall be recorded in the “administrative purposes” section of the license. If the license is signed and sworn to by the applicants on different dates, the later date shall be deemed the date of application.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 2; P.A. 78-230, S. 6, 54; P.A. 96-3; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7, S. 16, 38; P.A. 01-163, S. 34; P.A. 04-255, S. 26; P.A. 09-13, S. 5; P.A. 12-197, S. 2; P.A. 21-173, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 78-230 restated provisions; Sec. 46b-5b transferred to Sec. 46b-25 in 1979 and internal section reference revised to reflect its transfer; P.A. 96-3 substituted “race” for “color”; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 required that Social Security numbers be stated on application for marriage license, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 01-163 revised requirements re Social Security numbers, deleted requirement for applicant's occupation, deleted provisions re public examination and filing of applications and made technical changes; P.A. 04-255 added requirement that license be completed in its entirety; P.A. 09-13 added provision requiring registrar to issue license to any 2 persons eligible to marry under this chapter and replaced “the bride and groom” with “both persons”, effective April 23, 2009; P.A. 12-197 amended provision re date of application signed by applicants on different dates by replacing “earlier date” with “later date”; P.A. 21-173 deleted “race”.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Secs. 46b-26 and 46b-27. (Formerly Secs. 46-5c and 46-5d). Test for venereal disease and rubella prerequisite. Issuance of license. Sections 46b-26 and 46b-27 are repealed, effective October 1, 2003.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 3, 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-165, S. 2, 5; 78-230, S. 7, 8, 52, 54; P.A. 79-30; P.A. 93-279, S. 14; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-19, S. 9; P.A. 03-19, S. 103; 03-188, S. 6.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-28. (Formerly Sec. 46-6). Validity of marriages celebrated in a foreign country. All marriages in which one or both parties are citizens of this state, celebrated in a foreign country, shall be valid, provided: (1) Each party would have legal capacity to contract such marriage in this state and the marriage is celebrated in conformity with the law of that country; or (2) the marriage is celebrated, in the presence of the ambassador or minister to that country from the United States or in the presence of a consular officer of the United States accredited to such country, at a place within his consular jurisdiction, by any ordained or licensed clergyman engaged in the work of the ministry in any state of the United States or in any foreign country.
(1949 Rev., S. 7303; February, 1965, P.A. 94; P.A. 78-230, S. 14, 54.)
History: 1965 act deleted requirements that license certificate must be obtained from registrar in town of residence of one or both parties to marriage for foreign marriage to be valid and that certificate must be returned to the registrar and provision imposing $100 fine for failure to do so; P.A. 78-230 restated provisions; Sec. 46-6 transferred to Sec. 46b-28 in 1979.
Annotation to former section 46-6:
The marriage of a niece and her uncle in Italy, though valid there and contracted without intent to evade the law of this state, held not valid in this state. 148 C. 288.
Annotation to present section:
Cited. 213 C. 637.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-28a. Recognition of marriages and other relationships entered into in another state or jurisdiction. A marriage, or a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, between two persons entered into in another state or jurisdiction and recognized as valid by such other state or jurisdiction shall be recognized as a valid marriage in this state, provided such marriage or relationship is not expressly prohibited by statute in this state. For purposes of this section, “another jurisdiction” includes, but is not limited to, the Mashantucket Pequot reservation and the Mohegan reservation. The requirements set forth in section 46b-24 shall not apply to a person entering into a marriage on either of said reservations.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 1; P.A. 16-66, S. 31.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009; P.A. 16-66 defined “another jurisdiction” and added provision re application of requirements set forth in Sec. 46b-24, effective May 27, 2016.
Trial court had jurisdiction to dissolve marriage presided in New York by person impersonating a rabbi, because New York legislature validated such marriages, and therefore marriage was not expressly prohibited by statute in this state including Sec. 46b-22 which is limited to marriages performed in this state; section is in accord with full faith and credit clause of U.S. Constitution. 322 C. 166.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-28b. Recognition by another state or jurisdiction of marriages entered into in this state. A marriage between two persons entered into in this state and recognized as valid in this state may be recognized as a marriage, or a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, in another state or jurisdiction if one or both persons travel to or reside in such other state or jurisdiction.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-28c. Prior divorce in another state or country. Validity of marriage in this state. No marriage shall be presumed to be invalid or bigamous because a prior divorce of one of the parties that was entered legally in another state or country does not meet the jurisdictional requirements of the law of this state.
(P.A. 15-214, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 15-214 effective July 1, 2015.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-28d. Recognition of marriages entered into at Mashantucket Pequot reservation or Mohegan reservation. All marriages celebrated before May 27, 2016, under a tribal marriage license at the Mashantucket Pequot reservation or Mohegan reservation are recognized as a valid marriage in this state, provided the marriage is recognized under the laws of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation or the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut and not otherwise expressly prohibited by statute in this state.
(P.A. 16-66, S. 30.)
History: P.A. 16-66 effective May 27, 2016.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-29. (Formerly Sec. 46-5e). Marriage of persons under conservatorship. (a) No marriage license may be issued to any applicant under the supervision or control of a conservator, appointed in accordance with sections 45a-644 to 45a-662, inclusive, unless the written consent of the conservator, signed and acknowledged before a person authorized to take acknowledgments of conveyances under the provisions of section 47-5a, or authorized to take acknowledgments in any other state or country, is filed with the registrar.
(b) Any person married without the consent provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall acquire no rights by such marriage in the property of any person who was under such control or supervision at the time of the marriage.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 5; P.A. 77-14; P.A. 78-230, S. 9, 54; P.A. 86-323, S. 13; P.A. 00-196, S. 25.)
History: P.A. 77-14 prohibited issuance of license to applicants having guardians without written consent of the guardian and added specific references to Chs. 779 and 779a; P.A. 78-230 divided section into Subsecs. and rephrased provisions; Sec. 46-5e transferred to Sec. 46b-29 in 1979; P.A. 86-323 deleted reference to guardians appointed in accordance with chapter 779a; P.A. 00-196 corrected an internal reference in Subsec. (a).
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-30. (Formerly Sec. 46-5f). Marriage of minors. Section 46b-30 is repealed, effective October 1, 2017.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 6; P.A. 78-230, S. 10, 54; P.A. 17-54, S. 5.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-31. (Formerly Sec. 46-5h). Marriage of person whose last previous marriage was terminated by divorce or dissolution. Section 46b-31 is repealed.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 8; 1969, P.A. 400; P.A. 73-373, S. 29; P.A. 78-230, S. 11, 54; P.A. 79-298, S. 2.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-32. (Formerly Sec. 46-5i). Failure to make license available; penalty. Section 46b-32 is repealed, effective October 1, 2004.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 9; P.A. 78-230, S. 12, 54; P.A. 03-188, S. 4; P.A. 04-255, S. 29.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-33. (Formerly Sec. 46-5j). Copy of law to applicants. Each registrar shall issue a copy of sections 46b-24, 46b-25 and 46b-29 to 46b-33, inclusive, to any person making application for a license.
(1967, P.A. 313, S. 10; P.A. 78-230, S. 13, 54; P.A. 03-188, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 78-230 made minor changes in wording but no substantive changes; Sec. 46-5j transferred to Sec. 46b-33 in 1979 and internal section references revised as necessary to reflect transfer of those sections; P.A. 03-188 deleted reference to repealed Secs. 46b-26 and 46b-27 and added reference to Sec. 46b-25.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-34. (Formerly Sec. 46-7). Marriage certificate. Affidavit in lieu of certificate. (a) Each person who joins any person in marriage shall certify upon the license certificate the fact, time and place of the marriage, and return it to the registrar of the town where the marriage took place, before or during the first week of the month following the marriage. Any person who fails to do so shall be fined not more than ten dollars.
(b) If any person fails to return the certificate to the registrar, as required under subsection (a) of this section, the persons joined in marriage may provide the registrar with a notarized affidavit attesting to the fact that they were joined in marriage and stating the date and place of the marriage. Upon the recording of such affidavit by the registrar, the marriage of the affiants shall be deemed to be valid as of the date of the marriage stated in the affidavit.
(1949 Rev., S. 7304; P.A. 78-230, S. 15, 54; P.A. 02-71, S. 5; P.A. 04-255, S. 27.)
History: P.A. 78-230 restated provisions but made no substantive changes; Sec. 46-7 transferred to Sec. 46b-34 in 1979; P.A. 02-71 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re use of affidavit where certificate not returned to registrar, effective June 3, 2002; P.A. 04-255 amended Subsec. (a) to require that certificate be returned to town where marriage took place, rather than to town of issuance.
Annotations to former section 46-7:
A certificate of marriage is an original document and need not be authenticated as a copy. 52 C. 526; 57 C. 537; 61 C. 507. When proof depends on validity of form of certificate, same rule prevails in civil and criminal proceedings. Id., 509. Use of abbreviation not fatal to validity of certificate. Id., 507. Signature on marriage certificate not tantamount to solemnization. 163 C. 588.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-35. (Formerly Sec. 46-8). Certificates prima facie evidence. The certificates required by sections 46b-24, 46b-24a, 46b-25 and 46b-29 to 46b-34, inclusive, or an affidavit recorded pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46b-34, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in them.
(1949 Rev., S. 7305; 1967, P.A. 313, S. 12; P.A. 78-230, S. 16, 54; P.A. 02-71, S. 6; P.A. 04-257, S. 73.)
History: 1967 act updated internal section references; P.A. 78-230 made minor change in wording; Sec. 46-8 transferred to Sec. 46b-35 in 1979 and internal references revised as necessary to reflect transfer of those sections; P.A. 02-71 added reference to Sec. 46b-34(b), effective June 3, 2002; P.A. 04-257 made a technical change, effective June 14, 2004.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-35a. Refusal to provide services or accommodations related to the solemnization or celebration of a marriage on religious grounds. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to an individual if the request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage or celebration of a marriage and such solemnization or celebration is in violation of their religious beliefs and faith. Any refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges in accordance with this section shall not create any civil claim or cause of action, or result in any state action to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-35b. Effect of marriage equality law on provision of adoption, foster care or social services by religious organization. Nothing in public act 09-13* shall be deemed or construed to affect the manner in which a religious organization may provide adoption, foster care or social services if such religious organization does not receive state or federal funds for that specific program or purpose.
(P.A. 09-13, S. 19.)
*Note: Public act 09-13 is entitled “An Act Implementing the Guarantee of Equal Protection Under the Constitution of the State for Same Sex Couples”. (See Reference Table captioned “Public Acts of 2009” in Volume 16 which lists the sections amended, created or repealed by the act.)
History: P.A. 09-13 effective April 23, 2009.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36. (Formerly Sec. 46-9). Property rights of spouse not affected by marriage. A spouse shall not acquire by marriage any right to or interest in any property held by the other spouse before or acquired after such marriage, except as to the share of the survivor in the property as provided by sections 45a-436 and 45a-437. Each spouse shall have power to make contracts with the other spouse or with third persons, to convey to the other spouse or to third persons his or her real and personal estate and to receive conveyances of real and personal estate from the other spouse or from third persons as if unmarried. Each spouse may bring suit in his or her own name upon contracts or for torts and he or she may be sued for a breach of contract or for a tort; and his or her property, except such property as is exempt by law, may be taken on attachment and execution, but shall not be taken for the debts of the other spouse, except as provided in section 46b-37. Neither spouse shall be liable for the debts of the other spouse contracted before marriage, nor upon the other spouse's contracts made after marriage, except as provided in said section.
(1949 Rev., S. 7307; P.A. 13-213, S. 1.)
History: Sec. 46-9 transferred to Sec. 46b-36 in 1979 and reference to Sec. 46-10 changed to Sec. 46b-37 to reflect that section's transfer; (Revisor's note: In 1991 a reference to Sec. 45-273a changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 45a-436 to reflect recodification of title 45 as title 45a and in 1993 the reference to Sec. 45a-437 was added editorially since the provisions of that section had originally been included as former Sec. 45-273a(b) until separated by public act 90-146 which enabled the recodification of title 45 and the renumbering of Sec. 45-273a as Secs. 45a-436 and 45a-437, but due to an oversight reference to the latter section was omitted); P.A. 13-213 replaced references to “husband” and “wife” with references to “spouse”, deleted “The separate earnings of the wife shall be her sole property.” and made technical changes.
See Sec. 52-572d re abrogation of interspousal immunity in motor vehicle negligence actions accruing out of state.
Annotations to former section 46-9:
Prior to enacting of section, wife could not bind herself as surety for husband. 56 C. 151; 68 C. 538. Not construed as depriving her of the right in equity to contract with her husband in regard to her property. 56 C. 186. Married woman, during her lifetime, may dispose of all her property as she pleases. 71 C. 237. Legal and equitable title to mortgage are not merged where one makes it and the other acquires it by assignment; wife, occupying with husband, cannot hold adversely to him. 76 C. 223. Present status of married woman. 79 C. 24; 84 C. 21; 88 C. 42; 93 C. 358. Married woman may sue husband. 79 C. 24; 88 C. 42; 103 C. 583; 124 C. 543; 126 C. 147; 132 C. 79. Where husband and wife make note jointly, payment of interest by either is binding on other. 81 C. 143. Rights in building erected on land owned by husband and wife jointly. 82 C. 426; 86 C. 200. Deed to husband and wife makes them joint tenants without survivorship. 83 C. 581. Wife may sue for personal injury to herself; 84 C. 9; or alienation of husband's affections. 76 C. 135; 78 C. 296. Estoppel of wife from letting legal title to her property remain in husband; husband's right to foreclosure against wife. 87 C. 99. Where wife advances money to her husband, there is a presumption of a gift. 88 C. 114. Wife in whose name husband causes deed of land purchased by him to be taken is bare trustee for him. 91 C. 656. Marriage presumed to be after April 20, 1877, unless proved to be earlier. 93 C. 358. Fraudulent representations of husband as to title of property held jointly with wife do not bind her if made without her knowledge or assent. 94 C. 227. Cited. 108 C. 730. Right given married woman to sue husband denied unemancipated child in suit against parent. 109 C. 86. Cited. 137 C. 452. Does not indicate a legislative intent to permit recovery for loss of consortium in any action brought by either a husband or a wife against a third party whose negligence caused disabling injuries to the other spouse. 144 C. 155. Wife can recover from husband because of delict of son who was his agent but is himself immune to suit. 145 C. 663. Right of wife to sue husband is a substantive right. Id., 733. Cited. 147 C. 649; 159 C. 486; 165 C. 742, 748; 170 C. 258, 269.
Cited. 4 CS 145. Public policy of this state not opposed to right of wife to sue husband in tort for cause of action arising in Pennsylvania before parties were married. 18 CS 297. A wife domiciled in this state, and living with her husband so domiciled, may not maintain a tort action against the latter in this state for injuries sustained in Massachusetts. 20 CS 403. Public policy forbids maintenance of negligence action by unemancipated minor child against his parents. 24 CS 382. Cited. 30 CS 593. Wife may sue for husband's medical expenses for which she is legally liable. 32 CS 156. Spouses property rights not affected by marriage. 33 CS 44.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 178 C. 308; 183 C. 35. Neither marriage nor an action for dissolution serves, in and of itself, to transfer an interest in property from one spouse to another. 184 C. 530. Cited. 200 C. 290; 206 C. 31.
Cited. 17 CA 431.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36a. Short title: Connecticut Premarital Agreement Act. Sections 46b-36a to 46b-36j, inclusive, may be cited as the Connecticut Premarital Agreement Act.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 9, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to any premarital agreement executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36b. Definitions. As used in sections 46b-36a to 46b-36j, inclusive:
(1) “Premarital agreement” means an agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage.
(2) “Property” means an interest, present or future, legal or equitable, vested or contingent, in real or personal property, tangible or intangible, including income and debt.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 1, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36c. Form of premarital agreement. A premarital agreement shall be in writing and signed by both parties. It shall be enforceable without consideration.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 2, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36d. Content of premarital agreement. (a) Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to:
(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located;
(2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property;
(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event;
(4) The modification or elimination of spousal support;
(5) The making of a will, trust or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement;
(6) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy;
(7) The right of either party as a participant or participant's spouse under a retirement plan;
(8) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement; and
(9) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations.
(b) No provision made under subdivisions (1) to (9), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section may be in violation of public policy or of a statute imposing a criminal penalty.
(c) The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement. Any provision relating to the care, custody and visitation or other provisions affecting a child shall be subject to judicial review and modification.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 3, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36e. Effect of marriage on premarital agreement. A premarital agreement becomes effective upon marriage unless otherwise provided in the agreement.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 4, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36f. Amendment or revocation of premarital agreement after marriage. After marriage, a premarital agreement may be amended or revoked only by a written agreement signed by the parties. The amended agreement or the revocation shall be enforceable without consideration.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 5, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36g. Enforcement of premarital agreement. (a) A premarital agreement or amendment shall not be enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves that:
(1) Such party did not execute the agreement voluntarily; or
(2) The agreement was unconscionable when it was executed or when enforcement is sought; or
(3) Before execution of the agreement, such party was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the amount, character and value of property, financial obligations and income of the other party; or
(4) Such party was not afforded a reasonable opportunity to consult with independent counsel.
(b) If a provision of a premarital agreement modifies or eliminates spousal support and such modification or elimination causes one party to the agreement to be eligible for support under a program of public assistance at the time of separation or marital dissolution, a court, notwithstanding the terms of the agreement, may require the other party to provide support to the extent necessary to avoid such eligibility.
(c) An issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement shall be decided by the court as a matter of law.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 6, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
Connecticut Premarital Agreement Act endorses, clarifies and codifies McHugh standards and does not require attachment to the agreement of written financial disclosures, signatures of both parties if signed by party seeking to invalidate the contract, and delivery of the agreement to each signing party. 48 CS 502.
Subsec. (a):
Presentation of draft of prenuptial agreement 1 week before wedding is not sufficient to show lack of opportunity of adequate financial disclosure by defendant, where defendant informed plaintiff 2 months before the wedding that defendant wanted a prenuptial agreement; demonstration of reasonable opportunity to consult with legal counsel under section only requires opportunity for consultation, consistent with interpretation of identical statutory language. 281 C. 166.
Prenuptial agreement that disclosed approximate property holdings and other financial obligations but failed to provide sufficient income information was unenforceable under Subsec.; “fair and reasonable disclosure” need not be exact but must at least provide a general approximation of amount, character and value of property, financial obligations and income. 132 CA 609.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36h. Enforcement of premarital agreement when marriage void. If the marriage is held void or voidable, an agreement that would otherwise have been a premarital agreement shall be enforceable only to the extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 7, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36i. Statute of limitations re claims under premarital agreement. Any statute of limitations applicable to an action asserting a claim for relief under a premarital agreement is tolled during the marriage of the parties to the agreement, except that equitable defenses limiting the time for enforcement, including laches and estoppel, shall be available to either party.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 8, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-36j. Premarital agreements made prior to October 1, 1995, not affected. Nothing in sections 46b-36a to 46b-36j, inclusive, shall be deemed to affect the validity of any premarital agreement made prior to October 1, 1995.
(P.A. 95-170, S. 10, 11.)
History: P.A. 95-170 effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to premarital agreements executed on or after that date.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-37. (Formerly Sec. 46-10). Joint duty of spouses to support family. Liability for purchases and certain expenses. Abandonment. (a) Any purchase made by either a husband or wife in his or her own name shall be presumed, in the absence of notice to the contrary, to be made by him or her as an individual and he or she shall be liable for the purchase.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, it shall be the joint duty of each spouse to support his or her family, and both shall be liable for: (1) The reasonable and necessary services of a physician or dentist; (2) hospital expenses rendered the husband or wife or minor child while residing in the family of his or her parents; (3) the rental of any dwelling unit actually occupied by the husband and wife as a residence and reasonably necessary to them for that purpose; and (4) any article purchased by either which has in fact gone to the support of the family, or for the joint benefit of both.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a spouse who abandons his or her spouse without cause shall be liable for the reasonable support of such other spouse while abandoned.
(d) No action may be maintained against either spouse under the provisions of this section, either during or after any period of separation from the other spouse, for any liability incurred by the other spouse during the separation, if, during the separation the spouse who is liable for support of the other spouse has provided the other spouse with reasonable support.
(e) Abandonment without cause by a spouse shall be a defense to any liability pursuant to the provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section for expenses incurred by and for the benefit of such spouse. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the duty of a parent to support his or her minor child.
(1949 Rev., S. 7308; 1957, P.A. 191; P.A. 77-288, S. 1; P.A. 78-230, S. 17, 54; P.A. 88-364, S. 58, 123; P.A. 92-140; P.A. 01-195, S. 35, 181.)
History: P.A. 77-288 rephrased section, referring to spouse where previously either husband or wife was specified, added exception re liability for expenses of last illness of deceased spouse and deleted provision which required that husband's property be first applied to support family and entitled wife to indemnity from husband's property for any of her property which was taken or money she was compelled to pay for satisfaction of claims; P.A. 78-230 divided section into Subsecs., rearranging and restating provisions, and deleted provision re liability for expenses of last illness; Sec. 46-10 transferred to Sec. 46b-37 in 1979; P.A. 88-364 changed the first word of Subsec. (a) from “all” to “any”; P.A. 92-140 deleted former Subdivs. (5) and (6) of Subsec. (b), inserted new Subsec. (c) re liability of spouse who abandons spouse without cause, relettering former Subsec. (c) as (d), and added Subsec. (e) re abandonment by spouse as defense to expenses; P.A. 01-195 made a technical change in Subsec. (b) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001.
Annotations to former section 46-10:
Not necessary to first obtain judgment against husband, and have execution returned unsatisfied; plaintiff may sue on implied promise created by statute. 52 C. 406. Father not obliged to support child unlawfully detained by mother. 68 C. 256. Liability of husband for goods purchased for family not limited to those necessary or reasonable. 77 C. 390; 93 C. 453; Id., 515. Husband is liable for wife's reasonable apparel even though he has not abandoned her. 93 C. 515. That goods were purchased by wife in foreign country is immaterial. Id., 516. “While abandoned by her husband” qualifies next preceding clause only. Id., 515; 94 C. 267. If goods in fact went to support of family, husband's prior notice to seller not to extend credit to wife is no defense. Id., 267. Whether a plastic surgery operation to improve husband's facial appearance is a “reasonable and necessary” expense depends on all circumstances. 100 C. 168. Common law liability to provide necessaries to wife exists independently of statute; scope thereof. 102 C. 705. Necessary allegations in action on statute. Id., 706. Cited. 108 C. 730. Wife is not jointly responsible for every business obligation husband undertakes. 111 C. 306; 115 C. 295; 131 C. 156; 134 C. 332; 142 C. 375; Id., 553; 143 C. 443; 144 C. 21. There must be a direct relationship between article purchased and the family benefit. 121 C. 663; 124 C. 249. Under former statute, it was immaterial that husband supported wife. 112 C. 64. “Family” includes wife. Id.; 131 C. 156. In tort action, husband entitled to medical expenses for wife's injuries, both past and future. 122 C. 338. Statute does not make wife guarantor but may make her liable on an implied promise; husband has primary obligation to support and may be liable to wife for past support; her claim is legal rather than equitable and 6-year limitation applies. 124 C. 251. Payment by husband did not toll statute of limitations as to wife. 125 C. 202. However, in suit by wife against husband, she may recover such expenses if creditors look to her for payment. 126 C. 146. Her claim not defeated by reason of having private means. 132 C. 80. Three bases of recovery when creditor sues husband for goods furnished wife. Id., 77. If wife lives apart without justification, husband's obligation to support is suspended. 136 C. 685. Husband and wife cannot make contract with each other concerning maintenance or custody of child which court is compelled to enforce. 137 C. 74. Undertaker's services are not included in those purchases to which statute applies. Id., 450. Does not modify common law determining conditions excusing husband from obligation to support wife or child. 138 C. 6. Plaintiff not entitled to recover where her estate had not been depleted in any way and she had not expended money of her own for support. Id., 701. Husband must provide for his wife and child within the reasonable limits of his ability. 142 C. 553. Wife's doctors' bills cannot be recovered from husband as damages in tort action. 145 C. 663. Cited. 155 C. 545. In action by wife for indemnification of money paid out by her for support of herself and children, it is immaterial whether second ground for divorce was found where it was proved defendant had committed adultery and wife was fully justified in living apart from and divorcing him for that reason. 156 C. 628. Cited. 162 C. 546. Section does not exempt wife from any legal obligation towards family; husband has primary duty to support family, but wife is also liable for family expenses. 170 C. 258. Cited. 175 C. 527.
Circumstances under which indemnity is available to wife under section. 3 CS 211. Cited. 4 CS 144. There is no statute of limitations affecting this claim. 5 CS 459. Recovery by wife for expenditures for support of the family allowed only for payments actually made. 7 CS 153; 17 CS 208. Wife's right to indemnity is not defeated because she has private means. 13 CS 474; 17 CS 189; 20 CS 9. Cited. 14 CS 128. Liability of husband and wife for medical and hospital expenses rendered a minor child living with them does not exclude a minor married child. 16 CS 84. Conditions under which wife living apart entitled to sums expended and to be expended by her for reasonable necessities for support of family. Id., 235. Cited. 17 CS 189. Where wife left husband without just cause and where her return to him was not in good faith, he was justified in living apart and equitable support was denied wife. 23 CS 221. In absence of divorce, husband has primary obligation of paying for support, medical care and burial of wife, and person advancing money for those purposes can recover from husband; such person has legally protected interest adversely affected by purported divorce decree and may therefore attack decree. Id., 306. Judgment against wife leaves unaffected right to indemnification from husband. 30 CS 593. Wife may sue for husband's medical expenses for which she is liable. 32 CS 156. Liability for certain expenses. 33 CS 44.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 186 C. 167; 200 C. 290. Abandonment is a defense to liability. 206 C. 31. Cited. 234 C. 194; 235 C. 82.
Cited. 3 CA 392; 21 CA 200; 26 CA 737.
Cited. 44 CS 169; 45 CS 84.
Subsec. (b):
Subdiv. (4): Spousal liability does not include nursing home expenses or services or expenses associated with nursing home care, including food and medicine consumed by a nursing home resident. 299 C. 819.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38. Relief from physical abuse by spouse. Application. Court orders. Duration. Copy. Other remedies. Section 46b-38 is repealed.
(P.A. 77-336, S. 1; P.A. 78-230, S. 51, 54; P.A. 81-272, S. 1; 81-472, S. 149, 159; P.A. 83-319; P.A. 86-337, S. 12.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38a. Family violence prevention and response: Definitions. For the purposes of sections 46b-38a to 46b-38f, inclusive:
(1) “Family violence” means an incident resulting in physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or an act of threatened violence that constitutes fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, including, but not limited to, stalking or a pattern of threatening, between family or household members. Verbal abuse or argument does not constitute family violence unless there is present danger and the likelihood that physical violence will occur.
(2) “Family or household member” means any of the following persons, regardless of the age of such person: (A) Spouses or former spouses; (B) parents or their children; (C) persons related by blood or marriage; (D) persons other than those persons described in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision presently residing together or who have resided together; (E) persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they are or have been married or have lived together at any time; and (F) persons in, or who have recently been in, a dating relationship.
(3) “Family violence crime” means a crime as defined in section 53a-24, other than a delinquent act, as defined in section 46b-120, which, in addition to its other elements, contains as an element thereof an act of family violence to a family or household member. “Family violence crime” includes any violation of section 53a-222, 53a-222a, 53a-223, 53a-223a or 53a-223b when the condition of release or court order is issued for an act of family violence or a family violence crime. “Family violence crime” does not include acts by parents or guardians disciplining minor children unless such acts constitute abuse.
(4) “Institutions and services” means peace officers, service providers, mandated reporters of abuse, agencies and departments that provide services to victims and families and services designed to assist victims and families.
(5) “Dominant aggressor” means the person who poses the most serious ongoing threat in a situation involving the suspected commission of a family violence crime.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 1; P.A. 87-567, S. 1, 7; P.A. 88-364, S. 59, 123; P.A. 99-186, S. 2; P.A. 11-152, S. 2; 11-157, S. 21; P.A. 12-114, S. 2; P.A. 18-5, S. 1; P.A. 21-78, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 87-567 amended definitions of “family violence” by adding provision re verbal abuse or argument, “family or household member” by adding “and their children”, changing “sixteen” to “eighteen” and adding persons 16 or older other than persons in Subpara. (C) and “family violence crime” by deleting former provisions and adding “in addition to its other elements, contains as an element thereof an act of family violence to a family member and shall not include acts by parents or guardians disciplining minor children unless such acts constitute abuse”; P.A. 88-364 amended Subdiv. (2)(D) to remove a redundant reference to persons who have resided together in the recent past; P.A. 99-186 added Subdiv. (2)(F) re persons in, or having recently been in, a dating relationship; P.A. 11-152 amended Subdiv. (2)(F) to redefine “family or household member” by adding “regardless of the age of such persons”; P.A. 11-157 amended Subdiv. (3) to redefine “family violence crime” by excluding a delinquent act as defined in Sec. 46b-120; P.A. 12-114 redefined “family violence” in Subdiv. (1) to include stalking or pattern of threatening, redefined “family or household member” in Subdiv. (2) to apply to enumerated persons regardless of age, redefined “family violence crime” in Subdiv. (3) to include crimes that contain element of family violence to a household member, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 18-5 amended Subdiv. (1) by replacing “shall not constitute” with “does not constitute”, added Subdiv. (5) defining “dominant aggressor”, and made a technical change, effective January 1, 2019; P.A. 21-78 amended Subdiv. (3) to redefine “family violence crime”, effective July 1, 2021.
See chapter 968a re address confidentiality program.
Cited. 219 C. 752.
Cited. 42 CA 624.
Creation of a class of victims and defendants does not affect the prosecution of any crime, does not afford victim greater rights with regard to defendant's prosecution, and is a legitimate classification, being neither arbitrary nor irrational, and thus does not violate equal protection rights. 46 CS 598.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38b. Investigation of family violence crime by peace officer. Arrest. Assistance to victim. Guidelines. Compliance with model law enforcement policy on family violence. Education and training program. Assistance and protocols for victims whose immigration status is questionable. Exceptions. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, whenever a peace officer determines upon speedy information that a family violence crime has been committed within such officer's jurisdiction, such officer shall arrest the person suspected of its commission and charge such person with the appropriate crime. The decision to arrest and charge shall not (1) be dependent on the specific consent of the victim, (2) consider the relationship between persons suspected of committing a family violence crime, or (3) be based solely on a request by the victim. Whenever a peace officer determines that a family violence crime has been committed, such officer may seize any firearm or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or ammunition at the location where the crime is alleged to have been committed that is in the possession of any person arrested for the commission of such crime or suspected of its commission or that is in plain view. Not later than seven days after any such seizure, the law enforcement agency shall return such firearm, electronic defense weapon or ammunition in its original condition to the rightful owner thereof unless such person is ineligible to possess such firearm, electronic defense weapon or ammunition or unless otherwise ordered by the court.
(b) When complaints of family violence are made by two or more opposing persons, a peace officer is not required to arrest both persons. The peace officer shall evaluate each complaint separately to determine which person is the dominant aggressor. In determining which person is the dominant aggressor, the peace officer shall consider the need to protect victims of domestic violence, whether one person acted in defense of self or a third person, the relative degree of any injury, any threats creating fear of physical injury, and any history of family violence between such persons, if such history can reasonably be obtained by the peace officer. The peace officer shall arrest the person whom the officer believes to be the dominant aggressor.
(c) If a peace officer believes probable cause exists for the arrest of two or more persons, in lieu of arresting or seeking a warrant for the arrest of any person determined not to be the dominant aggressor, such peace officer may submit a report detailing the conduct of such person during the incident to the state's attorney for the judicial district in which the incident took place for further review and advice. The provisions of this section shall be construed to discourage, when appropriate, but not prohibit, dual arrests.
(d) No peace officer investigating an incident of family violence shall threaten, suggest or otherwise indicate, the arrest of all persons involved in such incident for the purpose of discouraging any request from a person for law enforcement intervention.
(e) No peace officer shall be held liable in any civil action regarding personal injury or injury to property brought by any party to a family violence incident for (1) an arrest based on probable cause; (2) any conditions of release imposed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 54-63c; or (3) determinations made pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section.
(f) It shall be the responsibility of the peace officer at the scene of a family violence incident to provide immediate assistance to the victim. Such assistance shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) Assisting the victim to obtain medical treatment if such treatment is required; (2) notifying the victim of the right to file an affidavit for a warrant for arrest; (3) informing the victim of services available, including providing the victim with (A) contact information for a regional family violence organization that employs, or provides referrals to, counselors who are trained in providing trauma-informed care, and (B) on and after January 1, 2023, a copy of the information concerning services and resources available to victims of domestic violence published pursuant to section 10-10g; (4) on and after January 1, 2023, if there is a child at the scene, providing the victim a copy of the documents concerning behavioral and mental health evaluation and treatment resources available to children developed pursuant to section 17a-22r for the mental health region in which such victim is located; (5) referring the victim to the Office of Victim Services; and (6) providing assistance in accordance with the uniform protocols for treating victims of family violence whose immigration status is questionable, established pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. In cases where the officer has determined that no cause exists for an arrest, assistance shall include: (A) Assistance as provided in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of this subsection; and (B) remaining at the scene for a reasonable time until, in the reasonable judgment of the officer, the likelihood of further imminent violence has been eliminated. For the purposes of this subsection, “trauma-informed care” means services (i) directed by a thorough understanding of the neurological, biological, psychological and social effects of trauma and violence on a person; and (ii) delivered by a regional family violence organization that employs, or provides referrals to, counselors who: (I) Make available to the victim of family violence resources on trauma exposure, its impact and treatment; (II) engage in efforts to strengthen the resilience and protective factors of victims of family violence who are impacted by and vulnerable to trauma; (III) emphasize continuity of care and collaboration among organizations that provide services to children; and (IV) maintain professional relationships for referral and consultation purposes with programs and persons with expertise in trauma-informed care.
(g) (1) Each law enforcement agency shall develop, in conjunction with the Division of Criminal Justice, and implement specific operational guidelines for arrest policies in family violence incidents. Such guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to: (A) Procedures for the conduct of a criminal investigation; (B) procedures for arrest and for victim assistance by peace officers; (C) education as to what constitutes speedy information in a family violence incident; (D) procedures with respect to the provision of services to victims; and (E) such other criteria or guidelines as may be applicable to carry out the purposes of sections 46b-1, 46b-15, 46b-38a to 46b-38f, inclusive, and 54-1g. Such procedures shall be duly promulgated by such law enforcement agency. On and after October 1, 2012, each law enforcement agency shall develop and implement specific operational guidelines for arrest policies in family violence incidents which, at a minimum, meet the standards set forth in the model law enforcement policy on family violence established in subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(2) There is established a model law enforcement policy on family violence for the state. Such policy shall consist of the model policy submitted by the task force established in section 19 of public act 11-152* on January 31, 2012, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary, as amended from time to time by the Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council established pursuant to section 46b-38j.
(3) Not later than January 15, 2013, and annually thereafter, the chairperson of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall provide notice of updates to the model policy, if any, adopted by the council during the prior calendar year, to the chief law enforcement officer of each municipality having a police department, the law enforcement instructor of each such police department, and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
(4) Not later than July 1, 2013, and annually thereafter, each law enforcement agency shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in such form as the commissioner prescribes, regarding the law enforcement agency's compliance with the model law enforcement policy on family violence for the state.
(5) (A) On and after July 1, 2021, each law enforcement agency shall designate at least one officer with supervisory duties to expeditiously process, upon request of a victim of family violence or other crime who is applying for U Nonimmigrant Status (i) a certification of helpfulness on Form I-918, Supplement B, or any subsequent corresponding form designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, confirming that the victim of family violence or other crime has been helpful, is being helpful or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity, and (ii) any subsequent certification required by the victim. As used in this subparagraph, “expeditiously” means not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of the request for certification of helpfulness, or not later than fourteen days after the date of receipt of such request if (I) the victim is in federal immigration removal proceedings or detained, or (II) the victim's child, parents or siblings would become ineligible for an immigration benefit by virtue of the victim or the sibling of such victim attaining the age of eighteen years, or the victim's child attaining the age of twenty-one years.
(B) By signing a certification of helpfulness, the officer or agency is not making a determination of eligibility for U Nonimmigrant Status. The officer or agency is solely providing information required by the United States Department of Homeland Security on such form as is required by said department and certifying that: (i) The requesting individual or his or her family member is a victim of one of the enumerated crimes eligible for U Nonimmigrant Status, (ii) the victim possesses or possessed information regarding that crime, (iii) the victim has been, is being or is likely to be helpful in an investigation of that crime, and (iv) the victim has not failed or refused to provide reasonably requested information or assistance. A current or ongoing investigation, filing of criminal charges, prosecution or conviction is not required for a victim to request and obtain certification under this subdivision.
(h) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council, in conjunction with the Division of Criminal Justice, shall establish an education and training program for law enforcement officers, supervisors and state's attorneys on the handling of family violence incidents. Training under such program shall: (1) Stress the enforcement of criminal law in family violence cases and the use of community resources, and include training for peace officers at both recruit and in-service levels; and (2) include, but not be limited to: (A) The nature, extent and causes of family violence; (B) factors for determining a dominant aggressor in a family violence case; (C) legal rights of and remedies available to victims of family violence and persons accused of family violence; (D) services and facilities available to victims and persons who commit acts of family violence; (E) legal duties imposed on police officers to make arrests and to offer protection and assistance, including applicable probable cause standards; and (F) techniques for handling incidents of family violence that minimize the likelihood of injury to the officer and promote the safety of the victim. Training under such program shall also include, within available appropriations, information on (i) the impact of arrests of multiple parties in a family violence case on the immigration status of the parties; (ii) crime scene investigation and evaluation practices in family violence cases designed by the council to reduce the number of multiple arrests in family violence cases; and (iii) practical considerations in the application of the general statutes related to family violence. Such training shall also address, within available appropriations, eligibility for federal T Visas for victims of human trafficking and federal U Visas for unauthorized immigrants who are victims of family violence and other crimes.
(i) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall establish uniform protocols for treating victims of family violence whose immigration status is questionable, and shall make such protocols available to law enforcement agencies. Each law enforcement agency shall adopt and use such protocols on and after the date they are established by the council.
(j) The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons who are (1) attending an institution of higher education and presently residing together in on-campus housing or in off-campus housing that is owned, managed or operated by the institution of higher education or its agent, provided such persons are not family or household members as defined in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E) or (F) of subdivision (2) of section 46b-38a, or (2) presently residing in a dwelling unit, as defined in section 47a-1, and making payments pursuant to a rental agreement, as defined in section 47a-1, provided such persons are not family or household members as defined in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E) or (F) of subdivision (2) of section 46b-38a.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 2; P.A. 87-554; 87-567, S. 2, 7; 87-589, S. 13, 87; P.A. 95-108, S. 15; P.A. 96-246, S. 32; P.A. 99-186, S. 3; P.A. 00-196, S. 58; P.A. 02-120, S. 1; P.A. 04-66, S. 1; P.A. 07-123, S. 2, 7; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 64; P.A. 10-36, S. 5; P.A. 11-152, S. 3; P.A. 12-114, S. 19, 23; P.A. 13-3, S. 37; 13-214, S. 11; P.A. 18-5, S. 2; P.A. 19-189, S. 43; P.A. 21-78, S. 5; P.A. 22-47, S. 62.)
*Note: Section 19 of public act 11-152 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.
History: P.A. 87-554 substituted commission on victim services for criminal injuries compensation board; P.A. 87-567 added “as defined in subdivision (3) of section 46b-38a” after “family violence crime” and deleted former provision of Subsec. (e) re release of person arrested in family violence case; P.A. 87-589 made technical change in Subsec. (d); P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (f) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting references to Subsec. (e) of Sec. 17a-101 and Sec. 17a-107; P.A. 99-186 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude a family violence crime involving a dating relationship from provision requiring peace officer to make an arrest when a family violence crime has been committed, to add provision authorizing a peace officer to seize any firearm in possession of any person or in plain view at the crime scene, to add provision requiring the law enforcement agency to return any such seized firearm in its original condition to the rightful owner within 48 hours unless the person is ineligible to possess such firearm or unless otherwise ordered by the court, and to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 00-196 changed reference to “Commission on” to “Office of” Victim Services in Subsec. (d); P.A. 02-120 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change, to authorize seizure of a firearm whenever a peace officer “determines that a family violence crime has been committed” rather than whenever the officer “makes an arrest under this subsection”, to authorize seizure of a firearm that is in the possession of any person suspected of the commission of a family violence crime and to extend from 48 hours to 7 days the time period after seizure for the law enforcement agency to return the firearm to its rightful owner; P.A. 04-66 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “received from” with “made by”, replacing “he should seek a warrant” with “such officer should make an arrest or seek a warrant” and adding provision re use of force as means of self defense and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (d), (e) and (f); P.A. 07-123 amended Subsec. (a) to make provisions re seizure and return of a firearm applicable to an electronic defense weapon and amended Subsec. (c) to provide that a peace officer shall not be held liable for any conditions of release imposed pursuant to Sec. 54-63c(b); Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 added Subsec. (d)(4) re assistance in accordance with uniform protocols for treating victims whose immigration status is questionable, designated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (e)(1) and added Subsec. (e)(2) re designation of officer to process certification of helpfulness or any subsequent certification required by victim, amended Subsec. (f) to include applicable probable cause standards in Subdiv. (2)(D) and to add training requirements to be included on and after July 1, 2010, added Subsec. (g) re uniform protocols for treating victims whose immigration status is questionable and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 10-36 amended Subsec. (d)(2) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 11-152 amended Subsec. (a) to delete exception from arrest provisions for family violence crime involving a dating relationship, and amended Subsec. (d) to include contact information for regional family violence organization that employs or provides referrals to counselors trained in trauma-informed care in Subdiv. (3), designate portion of Subdiv. (3) re Office of Victim Services as Subdiv. (4), redesignate existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5), define “trauma-informed care” and make conforming changes; P.A. 12-114 amended Subsec. (d) to redefine “trauma-informed care” by adding provisions re services delivered by regional family violence organization, effective July 1, 2012, and amended Subsec. (e) to add requirement in Subdiv. (1) that law enforcement agencies develop and implement operational guidelines that meet standards in model law enforcement policy on family violence, add new Subdiv. (2) re model law enforcement policy on family violence for the state, add Subdiv. (3) re notice of updates to model policy to be provided to chief law enforcement officers and law enforcement instructors, add Subdiv. (4) re annual compliance report from law enforcement agencies and redesignate existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (5), effective October 1, 2012; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to apply provisions re seizure and return of firearms and electronic defense weapons to ammunition; P.A. 13-214 amended Subsec. (f) to substitute “persons who commit acts of family violence” for “batterers” and “general statutes” for “state statutes”; P.A. 18-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section”, and replacing “of the parties” with “between persons suspected of committing a family violence crime” in Subdiv. (2), substantially amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provisions re peace officer investigating incident of family violence and evaluating complaint with new provisions re same, added new Subsec. (c) re police officer's belief probable cause exists for arrest of two or more persons, added new Subsec. (d) re police officer not to threaten, suggest or otherwise indicate arrest of all persons involved in incident of family violence for purpose of discouraging request from person for law enforcement intervention, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (g) as Subsecs. (e) to (i), amended redesignated Subsec. (e) by designating existing provisions re arrest based on probable cause as Subdiv. (1), designating existing provisions re conditions of release imposed pursuant to Sec. 54-63c(b) as Subdiv. (2), and adding Subdiv. (3) re determinations made pursuant to Subsec. (b) or (c), amended redesignated Subsec. (h)(2) by adding new Subpara. (B) re factors for determining dominant aggressor in family violence case, redesignating existing Subparas. (B) to (E) as Subparas. (C) to (F), and further amended redesignated Subsec. (h) by deleting references to July 1, 2010, amended redesignated Subsec. (i) by deleting reference to July 1, 2010, added Subsec. (j) re persons to whom provisions of section are not applicable, and made technical and conforming changes, effective January 1, 2019; P.A. 19-189 amended Subsec. (j) by replacing provision re persons not in dating relationship with provision re persons in off-campus housing owned, managed or operated by institution of higher education or agent, provided persons are not family or household members, and replacing “and” with “or” in Subdiv. (1), and replacing provision re persons not in dating relationship with provision re family or household members in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-78 amended Subsec. (g)(5) by substituting “July 1, 2021” for “July 1, 2010”, designating existing provisions as Subpara. (A), redesignating existing Subparas. (A) and (B) as subclauses (i) and (ii), adding definition of “expeditiously” and adding new Subpara. (B) re certification of helpfulness, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-47 amended Subsec. (f) by designating existing provisions in Subdiv. (3) re informing victim of contact information for a regional family violence organization as Subpara. (A), adding Subdiv. (3)(B) requiring provision of a copy of information concerning services and resources available to victims of domestic violence, adding new Subdiv. (4) requiring provision of documents concerning behavioral and mental health evaluation and treatment resources available to children, redesignating existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (5) and (6) and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2022.
Cited. 23 CA 657.
Cited. 43 CS 441; 44 CS 121. Creation of a class of victims and defendants does not affect the prosecution of any crime, does not afford victim greater rights with regard to defendant's prosecution, and is a legitimate classification, being neither arbitrary nor irrational, and thus does not violate equal protection rights. 46 CS 598.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38c. Family violence response and intervention units. Local units. Duties and functions. Protective orders. Electronic monitoring pilot program. Pretrial family violence education program; fees. Training program. (a) There shall be family violence response and intervention units in the Connecticut judicial system to respond to cases involving family violence. The units shall be coordinated and governed by formal agreement between the Chief State's Attorney and the Judicial Department.
(b) The Court Support Services Division, in accordance with the agreement between the Chief State's Attorney and the Judicial Department, shall establish within each geographical area of the Superior Court a local family violence intervention unit to implement sections 46b-1, 46b-15, 46b-38a to 46b-38f, inclusive, and 54-1g. The Court Support Services Division shall oversee direct operations of the local units.
(c) Each such local family violence intervention unit shall: (1) Accept referrals of family violence cases from a judge or prosecutor, (2) prepare written or oral reports on each case for the court by the next court date to be presented at any time during the court session on that date, (3) provide or arrange for services to victims and offenders, (4) administer contracts to carry out such services, and (5) establish centralized reporting procedures. All information provided to a family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department in a local family violence intervention unit shall be used solely for the purposes of preparation of the report and the protective order forms for each case and recommendation of services and shall otherwise be confidential and retained in the files of such unit and not be subject to subpoena or other court process for use in any other proceeding or for any other purpose, except that a family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department:
(A) Shall disclose to the court and the prosecuting authority for appropriate action information that the victim has indicated that the defendant holds a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, possesses one or more firearms or possesses ammunition;
(B) Shall disclose to an employee of the Department of Children and Families information that indicates that a defendant poses a danger or threat to a child or a custodial parent of the child;
(C) May disclose to another family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor information pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Chief Court Administrator;
(D) May disclose to a bail commissioner or an intake, assessment and referral specialist employed by the Judicial Department information regarding a defendant who is on or is being considered for pretrial release;
(E) May disclose to a law enforcement agency information that indicates that a defendant poses a danger or threat to another person;
(F) May disclose, after disposition of a family violence case, to a probation officer or a juvenile probation officer, for purposes of determining service needs and supervision levels, information regarding a defendant who has been convicted and sentenced to a period of probation in the family violence case;
(G) May disclose, after a conviction in a family violence case, to a probation officer for the purpose of preparing a presentence investigation report, any information regarding the defendant that has been provided to the family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor in the case or in any other case that resulted in the conviction of the defendant;
(H) May disclose to any organization under contract with the Judicial Department to provide family violence programs and services, for the purpose of determining program and service needs, information regarding any defendant who is a client of such organization, provided no information that personally identifies the victim may be disclosed to such organization; and
(I) Shall disclose such information as may be necessary to fulfill such counselor's, trainee's or supervisor's duty as a mandated reporter under section 17a-101a to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
(d) In all cases of family violence, a written or oral report that indicates whether the parties in the family violence case are parties to a case pending on the family relations docket of the Superior Court and includes recommendation of the local family violence intervention unit shall be available to a judge at the first court date appearance to be presented at any time during the court session on that date. A judge of the Superior Court may consider and impose the following conditions to protect the parties, including, but not limited to: (1) Issuance of a protective order pursuant to subsection (e) of this section; (2) prohibition against subjecting the victim to further violence; (3) referral to a family violence education program for persons who commit acts of family violence; and (4) immediate referral for more extensive case assessment. Such protective order shall be an order of the court, and the clerk of the court shall cause (A) a copy of such order to be sent to the victim, and (B) a copy of such order, or the information contained in such order, to be sent by facsimile or other means within forty-eight hours of its issuance to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the victim resides and, if the defendant resides in a town different from the town in which the victim resides, to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the defendant resides. If the victim is employed in a town different from the town in which the victim resides, the clerk of the court shall, upon the request of the victim, send, by facsimile or other means, a copy of such order, or the information contained in such order, to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the victim is employed not later than forty-eight hours after the issuance of such order. If the victim is enrolled in a public or private elementary or secondary school, including a technical education and career school, or an institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-55, the clerk of the court shall, upon the request of the victim, send, by facsimile or other means, a copy of such order, or the information contained in such order, to such school or institution of higher education, the president of any institution of higher education at which the victim is enrolled and the special police force established pursuant to section 10a-156b, if any, at the institution of higher education at which the victim is enrolled, if the victim provides the clerk with the name and address of such school or institution of higher education.
(e) (1) A protective order issued under this section may include provisions necessary to protect the victim from threats, harassment, injury or intimidation by the defendant, including, but not limited to, an order enjoining the defendant from (A) imposing any restraint upon the person or liberty of the victim, (B) threatening, harassing, assaulting, molesting or sexually assaulting the victim, or (C) entering the family dwelling or the dwelling of the victim. A protective order issued under this section may include provisions necessary to protect any animal owned or kept by the victim including, but not limited to, an order enjoining the defendant from injuring or threatening to injure such animal. Such order shall be made a condition of the bail or release of the defendant and shall contain the following notification: “In accordance with section 53a-223 of the Connecticut general statutes, any violation of this order constitutes criminal violation of a protective order which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or both. Additionally, in accordance with section 53a-107 of the Connecticut general statutes, entering or remaining in a building or any other premises in violation of this order constitutes criminal trespass in the first degree which is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars, or both. Violation of this order also violates a condition of your bail or release, and may result in raising the amount of bail or revoking release.” Every order of the court made in accordance with this section after notice and hearing shall be accompanied by a notification that is consistent with the full faith and credit provisions set forth in 18 USC 2265(a), as amended from time to time. The information contained in and concerning the issuance of any protective order issued under this section shall be entered in the registry of protective orders pursuant to section 51-5c.
(2) Each person who receives an order of the court in accordance with this subsection shall be given a notice that contains the following language: “If a protective order has been issued on your behalf or on behalf of your child, you may elect to give testimony or appear in a family court proceeding remotely, pursuant to section 46b-15c. Please notify the court in writing at least two days in advance of a proceeding if you choose to give testimony or appear remotely, and your physical presence in the courthouse will not be required in order to participate in the court proceeding.”.
(f) The Judicial Department may establish, within available appropriations, a pilot program in three judicial districts for the purpose of using electronic monitoring in accordance with this subsection. Such pilot program shall be conducted in at least one judicial district that contains an urban area, as defined in section 4b-13, and at least one judicial district that does not contain such an urban area. Pursuant to such pilot program, the court may order that any person appearing in such judicial district who is charged with the violation of a restraining order or a protective order, and who has been determined to be a high-risk offender by the family violence intervention unit, be subject to electronic monitoring designed to warn law enforcement agencies, a state-wide information collection center and the victim when the person is within a specified distance of the victim, if the court finds that such electronic monitoring is necessary to protect the victim, provided the cost of such electronic monitoring is paid by the person who is subject to such electronic monitoring, subject to guidelines established by the Chief Court Administrator. If the court orders that such person be subject to electronic monitoring, the clerk of the court shall send, by facsimile or other means, a copy of the order, or the information contained in any such order, to the law enforcement agency or agencies for the town in which the person resides. The Judicial Department shall cease operation of any pilot program established under this subsection not later than March 31, 2011, unless resources are available to continue operation of the pilot program. On and after July 1, 2012, the Judicial Department may resume operation of the pilot program, within available resources, and may operate such pilot program in one or more additional judicial districts, within such available resources.
(g) (1) In cases referred to the local family violence intervention unit, it shall be the function of the unit to (A) identify victim service needs, (B) assess offenders for the purpose of identifying appropriate services, (C) monitor compliance with program requirements by offenders who are allowed to participate in the pretrial family violence education program described in subsection (h) of this section, and (D) monitor offenders who have been referred to pretrial services or programs.
(2) The Judicial Department may contract with victim service providers to make available, either directly or through referral, appropriate services that include, but are not limited to, the provision of trauma-informed care, as defined in subsection (f) of section 46b-38b.
(3) The Judicial Department may contract with service providers to provide domestic violence offender treatment programs for offenders referred by the court. Such treatment programs shall comply with the domestic violence offender program standards promulgated under section 46b-38l. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the pretrial family violence education program described in subsection (h) of this section.
(h) (1) There shall be a pretrial family violence education program for persons who are charged with family violence crimes. At a minimum, such program shall inform participants of the basic elements of family violence law and applicable penalties. The court may, in its discretion, invoke such program on motion of the defendant when it finds: (A) That the defendant has not previously been convicted of a family violence crime which occurred on or after October 1, 1986; (B) the defendant has not had a previous case assigned to the family violence education program; (C) the defendant has not previously invoked or accepted accelerated rehabilitation under section 54-56e for a family violence crime which occurred on or after October 1, 1986; and (D) that the defendant is not charged with a class A, class B or class C felony, or an unclassified felony carrying a term of imprisonment of more than ten years, or unless good cause is shown, a class D felony, an unclassified offense carrying a term of imprisonment of more than five years or an offense that involved the infliction of serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3. Participation by any person in the accelerated pretrial rehabilitation program under section 54-56e prior to October 1, 1986, shall not prohibit eligibility of such person for the pretrial family violence education program under this section. The court may require that the defendant answer such questions under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under the penalties of perjury as will assist the court in making these findings.
(2) The court, on such motion, may refer the defendant to the family violence intervention unit, and may continue the defendant's case pending the submission of the report of the unit to the court. The court shall also give notice to the victim or victims that the defendant has requested assignment to the family violence education program, and, where possible, give the victim or victims opportunity to be heard. Any defendant who accepts placement in the family violence education program shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to the crime or crimes with which the defendant is charged, and to a waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial. Any such defendant shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody of the family violence intervention unit for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the defendant refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the defendant's case shall be brought to trial. If the defendant satisfactorily completes the family violence education program and complies with the conditions imposed for the period set by the court, the defendant may apply for dismissal of the charges against the defendant and the court, on finding satisfactory compliance, shall dismiss such charges.
(3) Upon dismissal of charges under this subsection, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a.
(i) A nonrefundable application fee of one hundred dollars shall be paid to the court by any person who files a motion pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (h) of this section to participate in the pretrial family violence education program, and a fee of three hundred dollars shall be paid to the court by any person who enters the family violence education program, except that no person shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay any such fee, provided (1) the person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay and the court enters a finding thereof, or (2) such person has been determined indigent and eligible for representation by a public defender who has been appointed on behalf of such person pursuant to section 51-296. The court shall not require a person to perform community service in lieu of payment of such fee, if such fee is waived. All such fees shall be credited to the General Fund.
(j) The Judicial Department shall establish an ongoing training program for judges, Court Support Services Division personnel, guardians ad litem and clerks to inform them about the policies and procedures of sections 46b-1, 46b-15, 46b-38a to 46b-38f, inclusive, and 54-1g, including, but not limited to, the function of the family violence intervention units and the use of restraining and protective orders. Such training program shall include an examination of the factors that contribute to a family being at risk for episodes of domestic violence within the family. The Judicial Branch may consult with organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence in order to ensure that the training includes information on the unique characteristics of family violence crimes.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 3; P.A. 87-567, S. 3, 7; P.A. 89-219, S. 1, 10; P.A. 91-6, S. 2, 3; 91-24, S. 3; 91-381, S. 4; P.A. 93-280, S. 2; 93-343; P.A. 96-180, S. 125, 166; 96-246, S. 33, 34; P.A. 97-126, S. 2; P.A. 01-130, S. 13; P.A. 02-132, S. 13, 14, 55; P.A. 03-202, S. 5; P.A. 05-288, S. 157; P.A. 06-196, S. 170; P.A. 07-78, S. 2; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 65; P.A. 10-43, S. 13; 10-144, S. 3; P.A. 11-152, S. 4; P.A. 12-114, S. 3, 6, 24; 12-133, S. 42; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 131; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 98; P.A. 13-3, S. 38; 13-214, S. 3, 12; P.A. 14-217, S. 125; 14-234, S. 10; P.A 15-211, S. 21; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 441; P.A. 16-71, S. 13; P.A. 17-163, S. 3; 17-237, S. 114; P.A. 18-5, S. 4; P.A. 21-78, S. 6; 21-102, S. 16.)
History: P.A. 87-567 amended Subsec. (c) by adding “to be presented at any time during the court session on that date” and provision re confidentiality of information provided to family relations officer; amended Subsec. (d) by adding “to be presented at any time during the court session on that date”; and amended Subsec. (g) by changing $200 fee to $50 fee; P.A. 89-219 amended Subsec. (g) by increasing the fee to $100; P.A. 91-6 deleted Subsec. (c)(5) re provision of monitoring systems for all restraining and protective orders; P.A. 91-24 amended Subsec. (f) to authorize the court to require the defendant to answer questions under oath “before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths”; P.A. 91-381 amended Subsec. (d) by adding “pursuant to subsection (e)” after “protective order” and inserted new Subsec. (e) re provisions of protective order, including specific language required to be contained in such order and requiring that order be made a condition of bail or release of defendant, relettering remaining Subsecs. as necessary; P.A. 93-280 amended Subsec. (h) by increasing the fee for person entering family violence education program from $100 to $200; P.A. 93-343 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re establishment of twenty-four-hour registry of protective orders on the Connecticut on-line law enforcement communications teleprocessing system; P.A. 96-180 made technical change in Subsec. (e) by changing fine from $1,000 to $2,000 in accordance with P.A. 92-256, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsecs. (b) and (i) by deleting references to Sec. 17a-101(e) and Sec. 17a-107; P.A. 97-126 amended Subsec. (e) by adding required language in protective order re jurisdiction, notice and hearing, and validity and enforceability of order; P.A. 01-130 amended Subsec. (c) to add exception to the requirement that information provided to the family relations officer remain confidential by providing that if the victim has indicated that the defendant holds a permit to carry a pistol or revolver or possesses one or more firearms the family relations officer shall disclose such information to the court and the prosecuting authority and amended Subsec. (d) to make a technical change, to reposition language re nature and distribution of a protective order and to replace the requirement that the clerk send a certified copy of the order to the “appropriate law enforcement agency” with requirement that the clerk send a copy of the order to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the victim resides, to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the respondent resides if different than the town in which the victim resides and, if requested by the victim, to the law enforcement agency for the town in which the victim is employed if different than the town in which the victim resides; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Family Relations Division of the Superior Court” and “Family Relations Division” with “Court Support Services Division”, effective October 1, 2002, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re preparation of protective order forms and disclosure of information for appropriate action and making technical changes, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing provisions re sending certified copy of order to law enforcement agency with provisions re sending copy of or information contained in order to law enforcement agency by facsimile or other means and making technical changes and amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provisions re Department of Public Safety registry of protective orders, adding provisions re entry of information into registry of protective orders pursuant to Sec. 51-5c and making technical changes, effective January 1, 2003, and amended Subsec. (i) by replacing “Family Division personnel” with “Court Support Services Division personnel”, deleting reference to bail commissioners and making a technical change, effective October 1, 2002; P.A. 03-202 amended Subsec. (e) by revising language required to be contained in protective order to specify five-year term of imprisonment and $5,000 fine for criminal violation of a protective order and make a conforming change; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsec. (e), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (d), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-78 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision authorizing protective order to include provisions necessary to protect any animal owned or kept by the victim; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (g) to provide that program shall inform participants of basic elements of family violence law and applicable penalties and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (c) to replace “family relations officer” with “family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department”, designate existing provision re disclosure of information re firearms permit or possession as Subpara. (A) and amend same to replace “family relations officer” with “family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor” and add provision, codified by the Revisors as Subpara. (G), re disclosure of information re suspected child abuse or neglect; P.A. 10-144 amended Subsec. (c) to replace “family relations officer” with “family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Branch”, designate existing provision re disclosure of information re firearms permit or possession as Subpara. (A) and add Subparas. (B) to (F) re permitted disclosures, amended Subsec. (d)(A) to delete “certified” re copy of order, amended Subsec. (e) to replace requirement re specific language in order re jurisdiction, notice, hearing and validity and enforceability of order with requirement that order indicate that it is accorded full faith and credit pursuant to 18 USC 2265, inserted new Subsec. (f) re electronic monitoring pilot program, redesignated existing Subsecs. (f) to (i) as Subsecs. (g) to (j), and made technical changes; P.A. 11-152 substituted “Judicial Department” for “Judicial Branch”, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute “Shall disclose” for “May disclose” and add “custodial” re parent in Subpara. (B), delete clause (i) and (ii) designators in Subpara. (F) and reposition existing clause (ii) provisions re disclosure to organizations under contract with Judicial Branch to new Subpara. (H) with added proviso that no information personally identify the victim, insert new Subpara. (G) re disclosure to probation officer for purpose of preparing presentence investigation report, redesignate existing Subpara. (G) as Subpara. (I) and make a technical change, amended Subsec. (e) to substitute “notification” for “language” and replace provision re language to be included in order with requirement that order be accompanied by notification consistent with full faith and credit provisions in 18 USC 2265(a), amended Subsec. (g) to add provisions re trauma-informed care, amended Subsec. (h) to insert new Subdiv. designators and make conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (i) to require nonrefundable application fee of $100, increase program entry fee from $200 to $300 and make a technical change; P.A. 12-114 amended Subsec. (g) to redefine “trauma-informed care”, effective July 1, 2012, and amended Subsec. (d) to add provisions re report to judge to indicate whether the parties are parties to a case on the family relations docket and re clerk of court to send copy of order to school at which victim is enrolled, and make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (h)(1)(D) to disqualify offender from the pretrial family violence education program if offense involved infliction of serious physical injury, effective October 1, 2012; P.A. 12-133 amended Subsec. (c) by adding reference to intake, assessment and referral specialist in Subpara. (D); June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (f) to allow Judicial Department to resume operation of pilot program and operate same in additional judicial districts within available resources, effective July 1, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 amended Subsec. (d) to substitute “technical high school” for “regional vocational technical school”; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (c)(5)(A) to require disclosure to court and prosecuting authority if victim has indicated the defendant possesses ammunition; P.A. 13-214 amended Subsec. (d) to substitute “persons who commit acts of family violence” for “batterers” and amended Subsec. (j) to extend ongoing training program to guardians ad litem; P.A. 14-217 amended Subsec. (e) to replace reference to 5 years and $5,000 with reference to 10 years and $10,000 re required language in order re penalty for criminal violation of a protective order, effective January 1, 2015; P.A. 14-234 amended Subsec. (j) to add provision allowing Judicial Branch to consult with organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence to ensure that training includes information on unique characteristics of family violence crimes; P.A. 15-211 amended Subsec. (g) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending same by redesignating existing Subdiv. (1) re identification of victim service needs as Subpara. (A), deleting provision re making appropriate services available, former Subdiv. (2) re identifying appropriate offender services and definition of “trauma-informed care”, and adding Subparas. (B) and (C) re assessment of offenders and compliance monitoring, by adding new Subdiv. (2) re Judicial Department may contract with victim service providers, and by adding Subdiv. (3) re Judicial Department may contract with service providers to provide domestic violence offender treatment programs, effective January 1, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (g)(1) by adding Subpara. (D) re monitoring offenders referred to pretrial services or programs, effective January 1, 2016; P.A. 16-71 amended Subsec. (j) by adding provision re training program to include examination of factors that contribute to family being at risk for episodes of domestic violence; P.A. 17-163 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re victim providing name and address of school or institution of higher education to clerk, effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 17-237 amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “technical high school” with “technical education and career school”, effective July 1, 2017; P.A. 18-5 amended Subsec. (g)(2) by replacing reference to Sec. 46b-38b(d) with reference to Sec. 46b-38b(f), effective January 1, 2019; P.A. 21-78 amended Subsec. (e) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), redesignating existing Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3) as Subparas. (A), (B) and (C) and adding Subdiv. (2) re notice to person who receives an order of the court; P.A. 21-102 amended Subsec. (i) by redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) re entering of court finding as part of Subdiv. (1) and adding new Subdiv. (2) re finding of indigency based on eligibility for a public defender and prohibition on requiring community service.
Cited. 219 C. 752. The trial court may issue a criminal protective order at defendant's arraignment after consideration of oral argument and the family violence intervention unit's report; the trial court is required to hold, at defendant's request at arraignment, a subsequent hearing within a reasonable period of time at which the state will be required to prove the continued necessity of the order by a fair preponderance of the evidence, which may include reliable hearsay testimony, and defendant will have an opportunity to proffer relevant evidence; legislature did not intend for this section and Sec. 54-63c(b) to entitle defendant to an evidentiary hearing beyond consideration of parties' arguments and unit's report prior to the initial issuance of a criminal protective order at arraignment, which may occur within hours of the alleged incident of family violence. 294 C. 1.
Cited. 45 CA 722. Writ of error challenging the constitutionality of this statute was improper where Sec. 54-63g provides exclusive remedy of petition for review of an order concerning release. 110 CA 653.
Ability to issue a protective order, which is a restriction on defendant's liberty, is not punitive but is meant to protect victims of family violence, and the state has a legitimate and significant interest in doing so; creation of a class of victims and defendants does not affect prosecution of any crime, does not afford victim greater rights with regard to defendant's prosecution, and is a legitimate classification, being neither arbitrary nor irrational, and thus does not violate equal protection rights; defendant's due process rights were not violated by issuance of a protective order without an adversarial hearing; issuance of a protective order is not in the nature of a trial, so defendant was not denied right to an impartial tribunal; summons for disorderly conduct and report from an officer is sufficient information to find beyond a preponderance of the evidence that a protective order should be issued; there is no right against self-incrimination since information was not used in defendant's criminal case, but only to determine whether to issue a protective order. 46 CS 598.
Subsec. (e):
Nothing in Subsec. prohibits state from bringing charges for other criminal acts in addition to violation of protective order. 151 CA 590.
Subsec. (g):
Subsec. does not provide for automatic dismissal of criminal charges on completion of program's educational classes because Subsec. provides that defendant “may apply”, and “satisfactory compliance” necessarily requires that the court retain at least some discretion to determine if defendant has met conditions of program. 116 CA 788.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38d. Family violence offense report by peace officer. Compilation of statistics by Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Report to Governor and General Assembly. (a) A peace officer who responds to a family violence incident shall complete a family violence offense report, whether or not an arrest occurs.
(b) Each police department, including resident troopers and constables, shall report all family violence incidents where an arrest occurs to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, who shall compile statistics of family violence crimes and cause them to be published annually in the Connecticut Uniform Crime Reports. An offense shall be counted for each incident reported to the police. A zero shall be reported if no incidents have occurred during the reporting periods.
(c) For the purpose of establishing accurate data on the extent and severity of family violence in the state and on the degree of compliance with the requirements of sections 46b-38a to 46b-38f, inclusive, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall prescribe a form for making family violence offense reports. The form shall include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Name of the parties; (2) relationship of the parties; (3) sex of the parties; (4) date of birth of the parties; (5) time and date of the incident; (6) whether children were involved or whether the alleged act of family violence was committed in the presence of children; (7) type and extent of the alleged abuse; (8) existence of substance abuse; (9) number and types of weapons involved; (10) existence of any prior court orders; (11) any other data that may be necessary for a complete analysis of all circumstances leading to the arrest.
(d) A copy of the family violence offense report shall be forwarded to the state's attorney for the appropriate judicial district in cases where an arrest has been made.
(e) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall tabulate and compile data from the family violence offense reports and report such compilation annually for the five years following October 1, 1986, to the Governor and the General Assembly.
(f) Any person required to report under the provisions of this section who fails to make such report shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 4; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)
History: Pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” and “Department of Public Safety” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection” and “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38e. Medical data collection reports. Form. Compilation of data by Department of Public Safety. Report to Governor and General Assembly. Section 46b-38e is repealed.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 5; P.A. 91-381, S. 6.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38f. Statistical summary of family violence cases maintained by Court Support Services Division. Reports. (a) The Court Support Services Division shall maintain a statistical summary of all family violence cases referred to the family violence intervention units. Such summary shall include, but not be limited to, the number of family violence cases referred, the nature of the cases and the charges and dispositions.
(b) The statistical summary reports prepared by the Court Support Services Division shall be submitted to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection on a monthly basis. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall compile and report annually for a period of five years to the Governor and the General Assembly the tabulated data of family violence crime reports.
(P.A. 86-337, S. 8; P.A. 02-132, S. 15; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)
History: P.A. 02-132 replaced “Family Division” with “Court Support Services Division”; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38g. Programs for children impacted by domestic violence. The Chief Court Administrator shall, within available appropriations, establish programs for children impacted by domestic violence.
(P.A. 93-280, S. 1.)
See Sec. 54-216 re restitution services for victims of domestic violence and their families and children who witness domestic violence.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38h. Designation of conviction of certain crimes as involving family violence for purposes of criminal history record information. If any person is convicted of a violation of section 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or section 53a-59, 53a-59a, 53a-59c, 53a-60, 53a-60a, 53a-60b, 53a-60c, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-64, 53a-64aa, 53a-64bb, 53a-64cc, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70c, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-181, 53a-181c, 53a-181d, 53a-181e, 53a-182, 53a-182b, 53a-183, 53a-223, 53a-223a or 53a-223b, against a family or household member, as defined in section 46b-38a, the court shall include a designation that such conviction involved family violence on the court record for the purposes of criminal history record information, as defined in subsection (a) of section 54-142g.
(P.A. 99-186, S. 1; P.A. 03-202, S. 6; P.A. 12-114, S. 7; P.A. 14-234, S. 1; P.A. 19-189, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 03-202 added reference to Sec. 53a-223b and made a technical change; P.A. 12-114 added references to Secs. 53a-59c, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-64, 53a-64aa, 53a-64bb, 53a-64cc, 53a-70c, 53a-182, 53a-182b and 53a-183, substituted “family violence” for “domestic violence” and made a conforming change; P.A. 14-234 added reference to Sec. 53a-181; P.A. 19-189 replaced “53a-70b” with “section 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019” and made a technical change.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38i. Judicial Department training for staff re family violence issues and law. Methods to reduce geographic disparities. (a) The Judicial Department shall provide training to Judicial Department staff, including court personnel, within available appropriations, on family violence issues and law, including, but not limited to, issues and law related to family violence in immigrant communities. Such training shall address arrest policies and eligibility for federal T Visas for victims of human trafficking and federal U Visas for unauthorized immigrants who are victims of family violence and other crimes.
(b) The Judicial Department shall, on an ongoing basis, within available appropriations, study and implement methods to reduce disparities in the disposition of family violence cases among geographic areas.
(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 66.)
History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 effective July 1, 2010.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38j. Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council. Membership. Duties. Annual report. (a) There is established a Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council for the purpose of (1) evaluating policies and procedures used by law enforcement agencies when responding to incidents of family violence and violations of restraining orders and protective orders, (2) reviewing and updating the model law enforcement policy on family violence for the state established in section 46b-38b, and (3) evaluating the accuracy of data collected by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection under section 46b-38d and the Court Support Services Division under section 46b-38f.
(b) The council shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
(3) One municipal police officer with experience in domestic violence training, appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives;
(4) One victim of domestic violence, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
(7) One appointed by the Governor;
(8) One representative of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council with experience in domestic violence training, appointed by the chairperson of the council;
(9) One representative of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney, appointed by the Chief State's Attorney;
(10) One representative of the Office of the Chief Public Defender, appointed by the Chief Public Defender;
(11) One representative of the Office of the Victim Advocate, appointed by the Victim Advocate;
(12) One representative of the Division of State Police with experience in domestic violence training, and one commanding officer in the Division of State Police, each appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection;
(13) One judge of the Superior Court assigned to hear criminal matters, appointed by the Chief Court Administrator;
(14) One victim of domestic violence, one victim advocate with courtroom experience in domestic violence matters and one representative of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc., each appointed by the executive director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc.;
(15) One representative of the legal aid programs in Connecticut, appointed by the executive director of the Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut; and
(16) One representative of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, appointed by the president of the association.
(c) Any member of the council appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.
(d) All members of said council shall be appointed on or before July 1, 2012, and quadrennially thereafter, to serve for a term of four years. Any member may be reappointed, and any member may continue to serve until such member's successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The members of the council shall select two chairpersons of the council from among the members of the council. Said chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the council, which shall be held not later than sixty days after June 8, 2012.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety shall serve as administrative staff of the council.
(g) Not later than January 15, 2013, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report in accordance with section 11-4a to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and public safety regarding the effectiveness of the model law enforcement policy on family violence for the state established in section 46b-38b and identifying any amendments to such model policy adopted during the prior calendar year.
(P.A. 12-114, S. 25.)
History: P.A. 12-114 effective June 8, 2012.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38k. Unlawful disclosure of confidential location of an emergency shelter operated by domestic violence agency. Class A misdemeanor. Any person who maliciously publishes, disseminates or otherwise discloses the confidential location of an emergency shelter operated by a domestic violence agency, as defined in section 52-146k, without written authorization from the domestic violence agency that operates such emergency shelter to publish, disseminate or otherwise disclose the location of such emergency shelter shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(P.A. 14-234, S. 11.)
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38l. Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council. Duties. Members. Report. (a) There is established a Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council. The Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council shall promulgate, review and, as needed, update and amend the domestic violence offender program standards that were presented to the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Committee on September 25, 2014.
(b) The council shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc.;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that provides group counseling or treatment to persons who have committed acts of domestic violence;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a community-based practicing psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker who provides individual counseling or treatment services to persons who have committed acts of domestic violence;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that provides services to adults with mental health or substance use disorders;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a community-based organization that provides direct services to persons impacted by domestic violence;
(7) Two appointed by the Chief Court Administrator, one of whom shall be a representative of the Court Support Services Division and one of whom shall be a representative of the Office of Victim Services;
(8) The chairperson of the Board of Pardons and Parole, or the chairperson's designee;
(9) The Chief State's Attorney, or the Chief State's Attorney's designee;
(10) The Chief Public Defender, or the Chief Public Defender's designee;
(11) The Victim Advocate, or the Victim Advocate's designee; and
(12) The Commissioners of Children and Families, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Correction and Public Health, or said commissioners' designees.
(c) All appointments to the council shall be made not later than thirty days after June 30, 2015. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(d) The representative of the Court Support Services Division and the representative of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc. shall serve as the chairpersons of the council. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the council, which shall be held not later than sixty days after June 30, 2015. Thereafter, the council shall meet upon the call of the chairpersons or upon the call of a majority of the council members.
(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to judiciary shall serve as administrative staff of the council.
(f) Not later than February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report on its activities to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. The report shall include any updates or amendments to the domestic violence offender program standards adopted during the preceding calendar year.
(P.A. 15-211, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 15-211 effective June 30, 2015.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-38m. Accessibility of domestic violence offender program standards on Judicial Branch's Internet web site. Not later than thirty days after June 30, 2015, the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Committee shall submit to the Chief Court Administrator the domestic violence offender program standards that were presented to said committee on September 25, 2014. The Chief Court Administrator shall ensure that such program standards, and any updates or revisions thereto provided to the Chief Court Administrator by the Domestic Violence Offender Program Standards Advisory Council, are accessible electronically on the Internet web site of the Judicial Branch.
(P.A. 15-211, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 15-211 effective June 30, 2015.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Secs. 46b-38n to 46b-38z. Reserved for future use.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |