Signed by Governor Ned Lamont

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes measures to end the process known as prison gerrymandering.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Correction to deliver to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management a report regarding the United States Census Bureau counts of incarcerated individuals (Sec. 1):

• A unique identifier for each incarcerated individual subject to the jurisdiction of the department on the date for which the decennial census reports population;

• The street address of the correctional facility in which such individual was incarcerated at the time of such report;

• The residential or other address of such individual before incarceration;

• An indication of whether such individual has attained the age of 18 years;

• The individual's race and whether such individual is of Hispanic or Latino origin, if known; and

• Any additional information the Secretary may request.

• Prohibits the information required to be provided under this subsection from including the name of any incarcerated individual or in any other way allow for the identification of any such individual from such information (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies if such individual's prior residential or other address is known and in this state, the secretary shall adjust such information to (Sec. 1-2-2):

• Ensure that all relevant population counts reported in the decennial census are as if such individual resided at such address on the date for which the census reports population; and

• Ensure that such individuals are not represented in any applicable population count reported in the decennial census for the geographic units that include the facility in which such individual was incarcerated on the date for which the census reports population.

• Specifies for each individual included in a report whose residential or other address is unknown or not in this state, and for each individual reported in the Decennial Census as residing in a federal correctional facility for whom a report was not provided, the secretary will adjust such information to (Sec. 1-3):

• Ensure that the individual is not represented in any applicable population count reported in the decennial census for the geographic units that include the facility in which such individual was incarcerated on the date for which the census reports population; and

• Ensure that such individuals are counted as part of a state unit not tied to a specific geographical location, in the same manner, that an individual with an unknown state of residency is counted, including, but not limited to, military and federal government personnel stationed abroad.

• Requires the Department of Correction to determine the residential or other address of each individual committed to the custody of the department on or after January 1, 2020, and maintain an electronic record of such address. Such record will contain, at a minimum, the last-known residential or other address of each individual before incarceration (Sec. 1-3.e).

Full Bill Text