Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-294mm (2026)

(a) If a peace officer who is a sworn member of a law enforcement agency responds to an incident involving a deceased person or the remains of a person or otherwise encounters a deceased person or the remains of a person while such officer is on duty, such officer shall ensure that a person who is a next of kin of such person is notified of such person's death in a manner provided for in applicable guidelines used by the law enforcement agency employing such officer. Such law enforcement agency shall ensure such notification is made as soon as practicable, but not later than twenty-four hours following the identification of such person, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) If a peace officer is unable to notify a person who is a next of kin of a deceased person as required under subsection (a) or (c) of this section, such officer shall document the reason for the failure or delay of notification and any attempts made to make such notification.

(c) If a next of kin of a deceased person resides in a town in which the peace officer does not serve, such officer may notify such next of kin of such person's death in a manner provided for in applicable guidelines used by the law enforcement agency employing such officer, or provide notice to the law enforcement agency that serves such town in which such next of kin resides, which agency shall ensure notification in a manner provided for in such agency's applicable guidelines.

(d) If no person who is a next of kin of a deceased person is notified of such person's death as required under subsection (a) or (c) of this section, a person who is a next of kin of the deceased person may request of the Office of the Inspector General, established under section 51-277e, an investigation of such lack of notification or timely notification.

(e) For purposes of this section, “peace officer” has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-3, “next of kin” has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-415a and “law enforcement agency” means the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or any municipal police department.

(P.A. 22-61, S. 1.)

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