HB 5566 — AN ACT CONCERNING ACCELERATED REHABILITATION IN THE CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY.

House of Representatives General Assembly SubstituteFile Bill No.

5566644 February Session, 2026 ANSubstitute ACTHouse CONCERNINGBill ACCELERATEDNo. REHABILITATION IN THE CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY.

5566 House of Representatives, April 15, 2026 The Committee on Judiciary reported through REP.

STAFSTROM of the 129th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING ACCELERATED REHABILITATION IN THE CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY.

(1) To any person charged with (A) a class A felony, (B) a class B felony, except a violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122 that does not involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or a violation of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122 that does not involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person and does not involve a violation by a person who is a public official, as defined in section 1-110, or a state or municipal employee, as defined in section 1- 110, or (C) a violation of section 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or section 14-227a or 14-227m, subdivisionsHB5566 (1)/ orFile (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, subdivision (2) ofsubsection(a)ofsection53-21or section53a-56b,53a-60d,53a-70,53a- 70a, 53a-71, except as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection, 53a- 72a, 53a-72b, 53a-90a, 53a-196e or 53a-196f, (2) to any person charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation who, as a result of the commission of such crime or motor vehicle violation, causes the death LCO 1 of 3 Substitute Bill No.

5566644 of1 anothersHB5566 person,File (3)No. to any person accused of a family violence crime as defined in section 46b-38a who (A) is eligible for the pretrial family violence education program established under section 46b-38c, or (B) has previously had the pretrial family violence education program invoked in such person's behalf, (4) to any person charged with a violation of section 21a-267, 21a-279 or 21a-279a, who (A) is eligible for thepretrialdrug educationandcommunity service programestablished under section 54-56i or the pretrial drug intervention and community service program established under section 54-56q, or (B) has previously had (i) the pretrial drug education program, (ii) the pretrial drug education and community service program established under the provisions of section 54-56i, or (iii) the pretrial drug intervention and community service program established under section 54-56q, invoked on such person's behalf, (5) unless good cause is shown, to (A) any person charged with a class C felony, or (B) any person charged with committing a violationofsubdivision(1)ofsubsection(a)ofsection53a- 71 while such person was less than four years older than the other person, (6) to any person charged with a violation of section 9-359 or 9- 359a, (7) to any person charged with a motor vehicle violation (A) while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or (B) who holds a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit at the time of the violation, (8) to any person charged with a violation of subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 53a-60, (9) to a health care provider or vendor participating in the state's Medicaid program charged with a violation of section 53a-122 or subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 53a-123, [or] (10) to any person charged with a violation of section 15-132a, 15-133 or 15-140n, or (11) to any person charged with a violation of section 22-329 or 53-247 who has previously participated in the program pursuant to this section, unless fifteen or more years have passed since the date of dismissal by the court of any charge or charges for which the program was invoked on the defendant's behalf.

644 subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, subdivision (2) ofsubsection(a)ofsection53-21or section53a-56b,53a-60d,53a-70,53a- 70a, 53a-71, except as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection, 53a- 72a, 53a-72b, 53a-90a, 53a-196e or 53a-196f, (2) to any person charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation who, as a result of the commission of such crime or motor vehicle violation, causes the death of another person, (3) to any person accused of a family violence crime as defined in section 46b-38a who (A) is eligible for the pretrial family violence education program established under section 46b-38c, or (B) has previously had the pretrial family violence education program invoked in such person's behalf, (4) to any person charged with a violation of section 21a-267, 21a-279 or 21a-279a, who (A) is eligible for thepretrialdrug educationandcommunity service programestablished under section 54-56i or the pretrial drug intervention and community service program established under section 54-56q, or (B) has previously had (i) the pretrial drug education program, (ii) the pretrial drug education and community service program established under the provisions of section 54-56i, or (iii) the pretrial drug intervention and community service program established under section 54-56q, invoked on such person's behalf, (5) unless good cause is shown, to (A) any person charged with a class C felony, or (B) any person charged with committing a violationofsubdivision(1)ofsubsection(a)ofsection53a- 71 while such person was less than four years older than the other person, (6) to any person charged with a violation of section 9-359 or 9- 359a, (7) to any person charged with a motor vehicle violation (A) while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or (B) who holds a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit at the time of the violation, (8) to any person charged with a violation of subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 53a-60, (9) to a health care provider or vendor participating in the state's Medicaid program charged with a violation of section 53a-122 or subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 53a-123, [or] (10) to any person charged with a violation of section 15-132a, 15-133 or 15-140n, or (11) to any person charged with a violation of section 22-329 or 53-247 who has previously participated in the program pursuant to this section, unless fifteen or sHB5566 / File No.

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644 more years have passed since the date of dismissal by the court of any charge or charges for which the program was invoked on the defendant's behalf.

LCOSection 21 ofOctober 31, Substitute2026 Bill54-56e(c) No.Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

5566 Section 1 October 1, 2026 54-56e(c) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

-LCO LCOsHB5566 3/ ofFile 3No.

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644 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Correction, Dept.;

Judicial Dept.

GF - Potential Minimal Minimal (Probation) Cost Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill prohibits individuals charged with certain animal cruelty crimesfromparticipating intheacceleratedrehabilitation(AR)program if they have already participated in the program within the past 15 years, resulting in a minimal potential cost to the Department of Correction and the Judicial Department for incarceration or probation, to the extent any individuals who would have been eligible for AR are no longer eligible because of the bill.

On average, the marginal cost to the state for incarcerating an offender for the year is $3,300 while the1 average marginal cost for supervision in the community is less than $600 each year for adults and $450 each year for juveniles.

1Inmate marginal cost is based on increased consumables (e.g., food, clothing, water, sewage, living supplies, etc.) This does not include a change in staffing costs or utility expenses because these expenses would only be realized if a unit or facility opened.

2Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and only includes costs that increase with each additional participant.

This does not include a cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense is anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation officers.

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644 The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into thefuture subject to thenumber ofindividualswho would have been eligible for AR.

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644 OLR Bill Analysis HB 5566 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCELERATED REHABILITATION IN THE CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY.

SUMMARY This bill generally prohibits people charged with certain animal cruelty crimes from participating in the pretrial diversionary program, accelerated rehabilitation (AR) (see BACKGROUND) if they have already participated in the program.

The bill makes an exception if it is at least 15 years since the prior charges were dismissed under the program.

Existing law already limits defendants to using the program once, unless, among other things, at least 10 years have passed since the prior charges were dismissed under the program.

Therefore, violators of second or subsequent animal cruelty crimes are already generally ineligible for the program.

The bill applies to the primary animal cruelty crimes which are primarily C and D felonies:

cruelty to animals, malicious or intentional cruelty to animals, engaging in exhibition of animal fighting, and intentionally injuring or killing police animals or dogs in volunteer canine service and rescue teams.

It also applies to the crime of interfering with or obstructing or resisting an animal control officer or law enforcement officer in carrying out their duty to prevent animal cruelty, which is a class D misdemeanor.