An Act Concerning The Meaning Of "out Of Cell" Time For Persons Who Are Incarcerated.
Summary
SB 198 is a narrow clarifying bill that amends section 18-96b of the general statutes to define “out of cell” time for incarcerated persons more broadly. Under the bill, “out of cell” time would mean any time a person is out of their cell, rather than being limited only to recreational time. The stated purpose is to remove ambiguity in how the term is understood and applied.
The practical effect of the bill would be to change how correctional time is counted or reported under state law, likely affecting Department of Correction records, compliance calculations, and any policies or programs that rely on the amount of “out of cell” time an incarcerated person receives. It does not create a new program or penalty, but it would alter the statutory interpretation of an existing term in the corrections context.
Impact
By amending section 18-96b, the bill would broaden the statutory definition of “out of cell” time for incarcerated individuals to include any period outside the cell, not just recreation. This could affect correctional administration, inmate activity tracking, and any legal or policy determinations that depend on the amount of out-of-cell time provided. The bill would primarily impact the Department of Correction and incarcerated persons subject to the statute.
Sentiment
Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and clarifying rather than controversial, suggesting a neutral to modestly supportive posture around standardizing terminology in correctional law.
Contention
The main point of contention, if any, would likely be the breadth of the definition: whether “out of cell” should include all time outside a cell or only structured recreational time. Supporters would likely favor a clearer and more inclusive definition, while any opponents might argue that the broader definition could affect reporting, compliance, or policy benchmarks tied to recreation specifically. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided record.