Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that extends convicted felons' voting rights if they are committed to confinement in an in-state or out-of-state community residence and restores these rights to convicted felons who are on parole or special parole or who are confined in a community residence.

Highlights:

• Defines "electronic equipment" as any technology that facilitates real-time communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, telephonic, video, and other conferencing platforms (Sec. 163).

• Requires the Secretary of the State to transmit voter eligibility lists to the registrars of the towns in which convicted persons who have been convicted or returned to confinement, as applicable, resided at the time of their conviction or violation of parole, special parole, release, or furlough (Sec. 96.a).

• Establishes a person who has been convicted of a felony and is committed to confinement in a community residence of the federal government or of another state will have such person's electoral privileges restored if such person had previously forfeited such electoral privileges (Sec. 98.a-2).

• Requires the town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town to warn the electors on parole to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which warning will be given by publication (Sec. 99.a-1)

• In a newspaper having a general circulation in such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication, not more than 15 nor less than 5 days previous to holding such election; and

• On such town's Internet web site, not more than 15 nor less than 5 days previous to holding such election.

• Authorizes the Secretary of the State to suspend the supervision of absentee balloting under this law, provided the Secretary (Sec. 108.l):

• Suspends such supervision of absentee balloting in recognition of a declaration by the Governor of a civil preparedness emergency; and

• Submits a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections advising of such suspension and specifying alternative actions to be taken to provide opportunities for absentee voting by electors.

• Specifies if an offender is attending a meeting by means of electronic equipment the moderator may terminate such offender's attendance by electronic equipment until such time as the offender conforms to order or until such meeting is closed (Sec. 152).

• Requires all municipalities that mandate notarization of a landlord verification of property rental on an application to do the following (Sec. 168.a):

• Exempt a renter from the requirement if a landlord verification for the same property rental by the same renter has been previously notarized; and

• Will not delay submission of the application of an otherwise qualified renter to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management if the renter fails to meet the deadline for notarizing such landlord verification.

• Requires the Chief Workforce Officer to submit recommendations to the Governor for updates to the state workforce strategy (Sec. 204):

• That address the needs of certain individuals, including, but not limited to, those who are disabled, veterans, long-term unemployed, have a criminal background, or have recently been released from prison; and

• As advised by the Two-Generational Advisory Board.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that extends convicted felons' voting rights if they are committed to confinement in an in-state or out-of-state community residence and restores these rights to convicted felons who are on parole or special parole or who are confined in a community residence.

Highlights:

• Defines "electronic equipment" as any technology that facilitates real-time communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limited to, telephonic, video, and other conferencing platforms (Sec. 163).

• Requires the Secretary of the State to transmit voter eligibility lists to the registrars of the towns in which convicted persons who have been convicted or returned to confinement, as applicable, resided at the time of their conviction or violation of parole, special parole, release, or furlough (Sec. 96.a).

• Establishes a person who has been convicted of a felony and is committed to confinement in a community residence of the federal government or of another state will have such person's electoral privileges restored if such person had previously forfeited such electoral privileges (Sec. 98.a-2).

• Requires the town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town to warn the electors on parole to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which warning will be given by publication (Sec. 99.a-1)

• In a newspaper having a general circulation in such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication, not more than 15 nor less than 5 days previous to holding such election; and

• On such town's Internet web site, not more than 15 nor less than 5 days previous to holding such election.

• Authorizes the Secretary of the State to suspend the supervision of absentee balloting under this law, provided the Secretary (Sec. 108.l):

• Suspends such supervision of absentee balloting in recognition of a declaration by the Governor of a civil preparedness emergency; and

• Submits a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections advising of such suspension and specifying alternative actions to be taken to provide opportunities for absentee voting by electors.

• Specifies if an offender is attending a meeting by means of electronic equipment the moderator may terminate such offender's attendance by electronic equipment until such time as the offender conforms to order or until such meeting is closed (Sec. 152).

• Requires all municipalities that mandate notarization of a landlord verification of property rental on an application to do the following (Sec. 168.a):

• Exempt a renter from the requirement if a landlord verification for the same property rental by the same renter has been previously notarized; and

• Will not delay submission of the application of an otherwise qualified renter to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management if the renter fails to meet the deadline for notarizing such landlord verification.

• Requires the Chief Workforce Officer to submit recommendations to the Governor for updates to the state workforce strategy (Sec. 204):

• That address the needs of certain individuals, including, but not limited to, those who are disabled, veterans, long-term unemployed, have a criminal background, or have recently been released from prison; and

• As advised by the Two-Generational Advisory Board.

Full Bill Text