State agencies coordinate trafficking work and set hotline access rules

The Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division evaluates how state agencies and law enforcement coordinate trafficking prevention and prepares a statewide plan. The plan addresses coordination among executive branch agencies, law enforcement, and other partners working to prevent trafficking in Connecticut. A task force subcommittee also works on statewide coordination, training, data, screening, services, and policy recommendations. State agencies must provide information and help to the division only to the extent state and federal law allow. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026. The division must send its plan and any legislative recommendations to lawmakers by January 1, 2027.

The law provides for trafficking training for child welfare, court support, and police staff. Training covers listed workers who may encounter trafficking, including law enforcement, court staff, certain health and school workers, and Children and Families Department employees and contractors with regular contact with children. Children and Families Department employees and contractors with regular contact with children must complete training within available appropriations. Court Support Services Division training is also within available appropriations. Court support and police training provisions take effect October 1, 2026. Covered child welfare employees and contractors must complete initial training by July 1, 2027, and refresher training every three years; later hires have up to six months, subject to the stated dates.

Child care facility operators must maintain written policies and training plans, review service quality, provide security, and have capable supervisors. These duties apply to operators responsible for the overall operation of a child care facility. Operators must review policies at least yearly and training plans at least every two years. They must submit a quality assurance plan at least every two years and promptly share revisions with staff and the department. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026. Policies must be reviewed at least yearly; training plans and quality assurance plans must be reviewed or submitted at least every two years.

The Department of Correction must request proposals for a confidential sexual violence hotline and publish a policy for hotline access. The hotline is intended for correction officers and people incarcerated in a correctional institution, including York Correctional Institution. Incarcerated people must be able to use the hotline at no charge, privately, and without staff supervision or permission. The law requires the commissioner to report proposal results and any request for funding to lawmakers. The commissioner must request proposals by October 1, 2026, report results and any funding request by January 1, 2027, and post the revised policy by December 1, 2026.