HARTFORD, Conn. — The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration to Connecticut's law requiring a minimum number of state troopers.
The Connecticut State Police Union sued Malloy and the state public safety commissioner last August because the state wasn't abiding by the law requiring a minimum of 1,248 troopers. The state now has fewer than 1,100 troopers.
The Supreme Court decided last week to hear the state's appeal of a lower court decision that rejected the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Arguments haven't been scheduled yet.
Administration officials argue the staffing level isn't mandatory and interferes with the governor's staffing and budgeting powers. A bill pushed by Malloy that would have eliminated the staffing requirement died during this year's legislative session, but both the troopers' union and Malloy aides believe lawmakers may revisit the issue during a special session within the next month or so.
Andrew McDonald, Malloy's legal counsel, said Tuesday that the state would have to hire 170 more troopers to meet the requirement.
"Hiring 170 troopers the state does not need would require an appropriation of more than $18 million that is not in the budget at the moment," McDonald said.
Sgt. Andrew Matthews, president of the troopers' union, has said the 1998 staffing law was meant to prevent the governor and lawmakers from cutting trooper positions to help make up for budget deficits. He said it wouldn't make sense to eliminate the requirement without first determining what the adequate staffing level should be.