Rep. Stafstrom Announces Legislation Punishing Obstruction of State Legislative Process

February 11, 2021

In response to the horrific insurrection at the U.S. Capitol January 6, State Representative Steve Stafstrom (D - Bridgeport) has introduced legislation updating Connecticut’s statute prohibiting interference with the operations of the Connecticut General Assembly and legislative process. 

“This bill brings the current statute into modern times and seeks to create reasonable punishment for those who obstruct the state legislative process,” said Rep. Stafstrom, who serves as House Judiciary Chair. "Public participation is a cornerstone of democracy, but when that participation turns into violence that threatens lives and the unauthorized release of confidential information, those individuals must be held accountable.”

In some respects, the statute passed in 1973 is outdated and by today's standards needs to reflect the advances of modern society, for example failing to proscribe a penalty for theft of an official cellphone or laptop which is known to contain confidential or propriety government information, as well as personal information identifying constituents who have sought assistance. 

In other respects, certain parts are too strict, seemingly allowing someone to be jailed for up to a year for directing explicit language at a legislator or picketing in the lobby of the Legislative Office building – something that pre-Covid was a common occurrence. 

Rep. Stafstom’s bill, House Bill 6455, filed Wednesday by the Judiciary Committee, rectifies the statute's shortcomings by:

  • Creating an offense of Impeding the Legislative Process, punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, refusing to leave the offices of the General Assembly upon lawful order by the Capitol police or other law enforcement; 
  • Creating an offence of Obstructing the Legislative processes, punishable as a Class D felony, for using force, physical interference or intimidation to prevent the General Assembly from meeting, destroying or defacing official documents of the General Assembly, taking property known to contain confidential or propriety information, or bringing weapons into the Capitol or Legislative Office building;
  • Creating a heightened offence, punishable as a Class C felony, for using a weapon to Obstruct the Legislative processes; and
  • Making clear that interfering with a Capitol Police Officer is a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class D felony if it results in injury to the Capitol Police Officer. Making assault of a Capitol Police Officer a Class C felony.

 

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