Researcher: MGS Page 1 5/12/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5666
AN ACT CONCERNING GRANTS TO DISTRESSED
MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTERS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the state fire administrator to annually award a
grant, beginning in FY 22, to any distressed municipality with a
volunteer fire department to cover the cost of providing Firefighter I
certification and recruit training at regional fire schools. The grant
amount must equal the product of the (1) average number of enrolled
volunteer firefighters in the distressed municipality and (2) average
cost of the certification and training program at a regional fire school.
(Presumably, the average cost is for the preceding four years, as
described below.)
Additionally, the bill imposes two reporting requirements relating
to the grant. First, it requires each distressed municipality’s volunteer
fire department chief to report to the state fire administrator by
January 1, 2022, and each year after, on the yearly average number of
volunteer firefighters who enrolled in Firefighter I certification and
recruit training based on the preceding four years, excluding 2020.
Second, it requires the state fire administrator to report to the
Appropriations Committee, by February 1, 2022, and each year after,
on the (1) chiefs’ annual reports of enrolled firefighters and (2) average
certification and training program cost at a regional fire school.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
BACKGROUND
Legislative History
The House referred the bill (File 257) to the Appropriations
Committee, which reported a substitute that eliminates the provisions 2021HB-05666-R010680-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MGS Page 2 5/12/21
appropriating $70,000 per year from the General Fund, in FYs 22 and
23, to the state fire administrator for the grants.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 21 Nay 1 (03/18/2021)
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 47 Nay 1 (05/03/2021)