'Randy Cox' bill requiring police transports to wear seat belts headed to Connecticut Senate

FILE – The Connecticut State Capitol building is seen in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 1, 2012. A group of Hispanic lawmakers in Connecticut proposed Wednesday, …

FILE – The Connecticut State Capitol building is seen in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 1, 2012. A group of Hispanic lawmakers in Connecticut proposed Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, that the state follow Arkansas’ lead and ban the term “Latinx” from official government documents, calling it offensive to Spanish speakers. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

by: Ellie Stamp, Sarah Paduano

Posted: May 4, 2023 / 05:55 PM EDT

Updated: May 4, 2023 / 06:06 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The House passed a bill on Thursday at the Connecticut State Capitol, which would make it mandatory for police transports to wear a seatbelt while riding in a law enforcement vehicle.

The bill will require the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to create a new process to address violations of the new policy.

New Haven police release additional video in Richard ‘Randy’ Cox case

The bill comes after 36-year-old Randy Cox was paralyzed while riding in the back of a police transport van without a seat belt. When the van stopped abruptly, Cox flew head-first into a metal partition inside the van, which left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Five officers with the New Haven Police Department are now facing criminal charges as a result of Cox’s life-changing injuries.

The Cox family is suing the city of New Haven for $100 million.

The bill is now headed to the Senate.