Connecticut House Bill HB06879

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/23/15
• Refer: 2/23/15

Caption

An Act Concerning Hazardous Duty And Certain Department Of Corrections Staff.

Impact

The proposed legislation seeks to amend existing state statutes which dictate the conditions under which certain health-related impairments are recognized and compensated. By broadening the definition of hazardous duty, it seeks to improve the support frameworks for correctional staff, specifically emphasizing the demanding nature of their work. The bill aims to provide these employees with presumptive health benefits, which recognize conditions like hypertension and heart disease as arising from job-related duties, thereby facilitating better health coverage and protection under the state's workers' comp rules.

Summary

House Bill 06879 aims to establish more comprehensive definitions and recognition of certain employees within the Department of Corrections and associated establishments as members engaged in hazardous duty. This includes those who perform clerical and instructional roles within corrections institutions, as well as crucial employees assisting in public safety, such as state policemen and those who work closely with patients in forensic divisions. A significant intent of the bill is to ensure these workers receive relevant protections and benefits, particularly relating to their health and retirement plans.

Contention

One notable point of contention appears to center around the adequacy of protection and acknowledgment for those working in non-traditional hazardous roles, such as clerical staff. Critics may argue whether the bill sufficiently expands protections and whether the amendments do enough to address the complex realities faced by these employees. Conversations during legislative discussions often hint at differing opinions on how to best define 'hazardous duty' and whether all employees in these roles should indeed be classified as such for the purposes of health and retirement benefits.