Connecticut HB 5349: AN ACT CONCERNING A POLICE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE ROUNDING OF CERTAIN CASH PURCHASES.

Bill Text

House Bill No. 5349 
 
Public Act No. 26-128 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING A POLICE OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM 
AND THE ROUNDING OF CERTAIN CASH PURCHASES. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) Not later than January 
1, 2028, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in 
consultation  with  the  Police  Officer  Standards  and  Training  Council, 
shall  coordinate  with  an  independent  institution  of  higher  education 
with  a  campus  located  in  the  city  of  West  Haven  to  establish  a  state-
wide, one-day training program for police officers in the state in order 
to increase law enforcement retention and readiness. Such training shall 
include,  but  need  not  be  limited  to,  expert  instruction,  scenario-based 
exercises,  de-escalation  skills  and  practical  planning,  and  be  available 
on  an  online  technology  platform.  Nothing  in  this  section  shall  be 
construed  to  require  a  police  officer  to  attend  such  training  at  an 
independent institution of higher education in the city of West Haven. 
For  purposes  of  this  section,  "police  officer"  has  the  same  meaning  as 
provided in section 7-294a of the general statutes. 
(b)  Not  later  than  January  1,  2029,  and  annually  thereafter,  the 
Commissioner   of   Emergency   Services   and   Public   Protection   shall 
submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 
general  statutes,  on  the  status  of  the  program  to  the joint  standing 

House Bill No. 5349 
 
Public Act No. 26-128 2 of 3 
 
committees  of  the  General  Assembly  having  cognizance  of  matters 
relating to public safety and labor. 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027) (a) As used in this section: 
(1) "Cash" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-434 of the 
general statutes, as amended by this act; 
(2)  "Merchant"  means  a  person  engaged  in  the  business  of  selling 
goods or services at retail on an in-person basis; and 
(3)  "Person"  means an  individual,  association,  corporation,  limited 
liability company, partnership, trust or other legal entity. 
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, a merchant 
doing business in this state shall determine the total price for a good or 
service  such  merchant  sells,  at  retail,  on  an  in-person  basis  in  the 
following manner: 
(1) The total price of such good or service shall include all service and 
merchant fees charged for such good or service, and all taxes imposed 
on  the  purchase  of  such  good  or  service  under  title  12  of  the  general 
statutes, less any discount or deduction made therefrom; and 
(2) (A) If the total price determined in accordance with the provisions 
of subdivision (1) of this subsection ends in one cent, two cents, six cents 
or  seven  cents,  such  total  price may be  rounded  down  to the  nearest 
amount  divisible  by  five  cents  for  an  individual  seeking  to  purchase 
such good or service by cash; or 
(B) If the total price determined in accordance with the provisions of 
subdivision  (1)  of  this  subsection  ends  in  three  cents,  four  cents,  eight 
cents or nine cents, such total price may be rounded up to the nearest 
amount  divisible  by  five  cents  for  an  individual  seeking  to  purchase 
such good or service by cash. 

House Bill No. 5349 
 
Public Act No. 26-128 3 of 3 
 
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this subsection shall not apply 
to any transaction in which: 
(1)  The  total  price  determined  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section is four cents or less; or 
(2)  Payment  is  made  by  any  demand  or  negotiable  instrument, 
electronic funds transfer, money order, credit card, debit card, electronic 
payment or similar instrument. 
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 21a-434 of the 2026 supplement to the 
general  statutes  is  repealed  and  the  following  is  substituted  in  lieu 
thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) or (d) of this section, a person 
selling  or  offering  for sale  goods  or  services  at  retail  in  this  state  shall 
not:  (1)  Refuse  to  accept  cash  as  a  form  of  payment  for  such  goods  or 
services, (2) post signs stating that cash payment is not accepted, or (3) 
except as provided in section 2 of this act, charge a customer paying cash 
a higher price than such customer would pay using any other form of 
payment. 
 
 
 
Governor's Action: 
Approved June 4, 2026