Bill Text: CT HB05148 | 2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Communications To Victims Of The Criminal Operation Of A Motor Vehicle That Results In Death Or Serious Physical Injury.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-06-15 - Signed by the Governor [HB05148 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-HB05148-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 5148
February Session, 2012		LCO No. 847
		*00847_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING COMMUNICATIONS TO VICTIMS OF THE CRIMINAL OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT RESULTS IN DEATH OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) Any person convicted of a motor vehicle offense that resulted in the death or serious physical injury of another person may, prior to sentencing for the offense, make a statement, affirmation, gesture or expression of apology, fault, sympathy, commiseration, condolence, compassion or a general sense of benevolence to the victim of such offense, a relative of the victim or a representative of the victim. Such statement, affirmation, gesture or expression shall be made before the court in a courtroom closed to the public at a time set by the court. Such statement, affirmation, gesture or expression shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission against interest in any civil or criminal proceeding. For the purposes of this section, "serious physical injury" has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3 of the general statutes.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2012	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To permit a person convicted of a motor vehicle offense that resulted in the death or serious physical injury of another person to express sympathy, fault, condolence or similar sentiment to the victim or family members of the victim in open court, without such expression being admissible as evidence against such person.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]