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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6838
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 4901
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
Introduced by:
(PS)
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DIVISION OF FIRE SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION, REVISING THE POWERS
AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION ON FIRE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL AND REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE FIRE SERVICE IN THE
STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 29-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 2
(a) There shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and 3
Public Protection a Division of State Police. The Commissioner of 4
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall serve as administrative 5
head and commanding officer of the State Police Division. As 6
administrative head, said commanding officer of the Division of State 7
Police shall delegate said commanding officer's jurisdiction of the affairs 8
of the Division of State Police to a deputy commissioner who shall have 9
the powers and privileges conferred by statute upon a state policeman. 10
(b) There shall be within said department a Division of Emergency 11 Raised Bill No. 6838
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Management and Homeland Security. The commissioner shall serve as 12
administrative head of said division. As administrative head, said 13
commissioner shall delegate said commissioner's jurisdiction of the 14
Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to a 15
deputy commissioner. The deputy commissioner shall possess 16
professional training and knowledge consisting of not less than five 17
years of managerial or strategic planning experience in matters relating 18
to public safety, security, emergency services and emergency response. 19
No person possessing a record of any criminal, unlawful or unethical 20
conduct shall be eligible for or hold such position. Any person with any 21
present or past political activities or financial interests that may 22
substantially conflict with the duties of the deputy commissioner or 23
expose such person to potential undue influence or compromise such 24
person's ability to be entrusted with necessary state or federal security 25
clearances or information shall be deemed unqualified for such position 26
and shall not be eligible to hold such position. 27
(c) (1) There shall be within said department a Division of Fire 28
Services Administration. The commissioner shall serve as 29
administrative head of said division. As administrative head, said 30
commissioner shall delegate said commissioner's jurisdiction of the 31
Division of Fire Services Administration to a deputy commissioner. The 32
deputy commissioner shall possess professional training and 33
knowledge consisting of not less than five years of managerial or 34
strategic planning experience in matters relating to the fire services. 35
(2) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the former Office 36
of State Fire Administrator shall be transferred to the Division of Fire 37
Services Administration pursuant to the provisions of sections 4-38d 38
and 4-39. 39
(3) The Division of Fire Services Administration shall constitute the 40
successor to the Office of State Fire Administrator in accordance with 41
the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. Wherever the words 42
"State Fire Administrator" are used in the general statutes, the words 43
"Deputy Director of the Division of Fire Services Administration within 44 Raised Bill No. 6838
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the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection" shall be 45
substituted in lieu thereof. Wherever the words "Office of State Fire 46
Administrator" are used in the general statutes, the words "Division of 47
Fire Services Administration within the Department of Emergency 48
Services and Public Protection" shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Any 49
order or regulation of the former Office of State Fire Administrator that 50
is in force on the effective date of this section shall continue in force and 51
effect as an order or regulation of the Division of Fire Services 52
Administration within the Department of Emergency Services and 53
Public Protection until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to 54
law. 55
Sec. 2. Section 7-323l of the general statutes is repealed and the 56
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 57
(a) The commission shall: 58
(1) Recommend minimum standards of education and physical 59
condition required of each candidate for any firefighter position; 60
(2) Establish standards for [a] fire service training and education 61
[program, on a voluntary basis] programs, and develop and conduct an 62
examination program to certify those fire service personnel who 63
satisfactorily demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the 64
fire service training and education program standards; 65
(3) Establish an optional fire service training and education program 66
in the handling of incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles 67
and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or 68
nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum for such 69
techniques is made available at no cost from (A) institutions of higher 70
education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations that are 71
concerned with juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, 72
cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, or (B) 73
collaborations of such institutions, professionals or organizations; 74
(4) Conduct fire fighting training and education programs designed 75 Raised Bill No. 6838
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to assist firefighters in developing and maintaining their skills and 76
keeping abreast of technological advances in fire suppression, fire 77
protection, fire prevention and related fields; 78
(5) Recommend standards for promotion to the various ranks of fire 79
departments; 80
(6) Be authorized, with the approval of the Commissioner of 81
Emergency Services and Public Protection, to apply for, receive and 82
distribute any state, federal or private funds or contributions available 83
for training and education of fire fighting personnel; 84
(7) Recommend that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 85
Public Protection approve or reject the establishment of, or, when 86
appropriate, suspend or revoke the approval of, regional fire schools in 87
accordance with section 7-323u; [and] 88
(8) Be authorized to distribute any state, federal or private funds or 89
contributions for the daily operation of the state fire school and regional 90
fire schools; 91
(9) Coordinate activities with the deputy commissioner of the 92
Division of State Fire Services Administration within the Department of 93
Emergency Services and Public Protection; 94
(10) Annually submit proposals for legislation to promote firefighter 95
training to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 96
Protection and provide testimony to the General Assembly; and 97
[(8)] (11) Submit to the Governor, the [Joint Legislative Management 98
Committee of the General Assembly] joint standing committee of the 99
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 100
and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the 101
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual 102
report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and 103
accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations 104
on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and 105 Raised Bill No. 6838
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capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools. 106
(b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of 107
Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in 108
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement 109
the provisions of this section. 110
Sec. 3. Section 7-323n of the general statutes is repealed and the 111
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 112
[There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which 113
office] The Division of State Fire Services Administration within the 114
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall: (a) 115
Carry out the provisions of this part; (b) administer the state's 116
responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; (c) develop a 117
master plan for fire prevention and control; and (d) carry out any other 118
function which the commission may devise. [Subject to the provisions 119
of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical and other 120
assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this 121
section.] 122
Sec. 4. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the 123
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 124
(a) [There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who 125
shall be recommended by the Commission on Fire Prevention and 126
Control and appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 127
Public Protection and who] The deputy commissioner of the Division of 128
Fire Services Administration shall: 129
(1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n, as amended by this 130
act; 131
(2) [administer] Administer federal funds and grants allocated to the 132
fire services of the state; 133
(3) [provide] Provide technical assistance and guidance to fire 134
fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; 135 Raised Bill No. 6838
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(4) [develop] Develop a centralized information and audiovisual 136
library regarding fire prevention and control; 137
(5) [accumulate] Accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire 138
prevention data; 139
(6) [recommend] Recommend specifications of fire service materials 140
and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; 141
(7) [assist] Assist in mutual aid coordination; 142
(8) [coordinate] Coordinate fire programs with those of the other 143
states; 144
(9) [assist] Assist in communications coordination; 145
(10) [establish] Establish and maintain a fire service information 146
program; [and] 147
(11) [review] Review the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at 148
state institutions, facilities and properties; [and, on and after July 1, 1985, 149
coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at such 150
institutions, facilities and properties] 151
(12) Prepare, recommend and provide reports on revisions, 152
consolidations or compilations of statutes relating to firefighter training 153
and fire prevention and control; 154
(13) Advise and assist the Commission on Fire Prevention and 155
Control regarding legislative proposals; 156
(14) Encourage the expansion and improvement of existing local 157
firefighter training facilities in cooperation with the Commission on Fire 158
Prevention and Control; 159
(15) Administer the state fire school; 160
(16) Administer certification examinations, testing procedures and 161
reciprocity recognition for credentials in the fire service disciplines; and 162 Raised Bill No. 6838
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(17) Make recommendations to the Commission on Fire Prevention 163
and Control pertaining to the operational funding of the state fire school 164
and regional fire schools. 165
(b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to 166
forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the 167
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to 168
sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive. 169
Sec. 5. Section 7-313m of the general statutes is repealed and the 170
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 171
(a) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the chief 172
of a volunteer fire department for a distressed municipality, as defined 173
in section 32-9p, shall submit to the [State Fire Administrator] deputy 174
commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration within the 175
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a report on 176
the yearly average of the number of volunteer firefighters from such 177
municipality's volunteer fire department who enrolled in Firefighter I 178
certification and recruit training based on the preceding four years, 179
except the year commencing January 1, 2020, shall not be included in 180
any such four preceding years for purposes of calculating such average. 181
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 182
thereafter, the [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services 183
Administration shall award a grant to any distressed municipality with 184
a volunteer fire department for the purposes of covering costs related to 185
the provision of Firefighter I certification and recruit training for 186
volunteer firefighters at regional fire schools. The amount of such grant 187
award for each such distressed municipality shall be equal to the 188
product of (1) the average cost of a Firefighter I certification and recruit 189
training program at a regional fire school, and (2) the average number 190
of volunteer firefighters from such distressed municipality's volunteer 191
fire department who enrolled at a regional fire school for such 192
certification and training. 193
(c) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the [State 194 Raised Bill No. 6838
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Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration shall 195
submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 196
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 197
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a 198
report on the (1) reports submitted by the chiefs of volunteer fire 199
departments of distressed municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 200
this section, and (2) average cost of a Firefighter I certification and 201
recruit training program at a regional fire school. 202
Sec. 6. Section 7-323s of the general statutes is repealed and the 203
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 204
(a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 205
Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 206
Emergency Services and Public Protection , within available 207
appropriations, shall develop model guidelines, on or before January 1, 208
2007, to be used by municipalities with paid municipal emergency 209
personnel and municipalities with volunteer emergency personnel in 210
entering into agreements authorizing volunteer emergency personnel to 211
serve during personal time. 212
(b) A municipality with paid municipal emergency personnel and a 213
municipality with volunteer emergency personnel may enter into an 214
agreement authorizing paid emergency personnel to serve during 215
personal time as active members of a volunteer fire department in the 216
municipality in which they reside. In developing such agreements, such 217
municipalities shall consider the model guidelines developed by the 218
[State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 219
Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 220
and Public Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 221
(c) The municipalities that are parties to an agreement entered into 222
under subsection (b) of this section may request the Labor 223
Commissioner to provide assistance, within available appropriations, in 224
resolving such issues arising out of the agreement as the commissioner 225
deems appropriate. 226 Raised Bill No. 6838
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Sec. 7. Section 7-323v of the general statutes is repealed and the 227
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 228
(a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 229
Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 230
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available 231
appropriations, pay five hundred dollars to each volunteer fire 232
company for each call to which it responds on (1) a limited access 233
highway, designated pursuant to section 13b-27, (2) the section of the 234
highway known as the Berlin Turnpike, which begins at the end of the 235
existing Wilbur Cross Parkway in the town of Meriden and extends 236
northerly along Route 15 to the beginning of a section of limited access 237
highway in the town of Wethersfield known as South Meadows 238
Expressway, or (3) the section of Route 8 in the town of Beacon Falls 239
which is within the boundaries of the Naugatuck State Forest. 240
(b) No municipality that provides funds to a volunteer fire company 241
may reduce such funding based on the payments that such company 242
receives, or is anticipated to receive, under subsection (a) of this section. 243
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 22a-601 of the general statutes is 244
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 245
1, 2023): 246
(a) There is established a Connecticut Emergency Response 247
Commission which shall be within the Department of Energy and 248
Environmental Protection. The commission shall consist of eighteen 249
members as follows: The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental 250
Protection, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Public Health 251
and Transportation, the Labor Commissioner, the Secretary of the Office 252
of Policy and Management, the Adjutant General of the Military 253
Department, the State Fire Marshal, and the [State Fire Administrator] 254
deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration 255
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or 256
their designees or a designee, and nine members appointed by the 257
Governor, four of whom shall represent the public, three of whom shall 258 Raised Bill No. 6838
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represent owners or operators of facilities, one of whom shall be the fire 259
chief of a municipal fire department whose employees are compensated 260
for their services and one of whom shall be the fire chief of a volunteer 261
fire department. Members of the commission appointed by the 262
Governor shall serve for two years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy 263
in the office of an appointed member for the unexpired portion of the 264
term. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but 265
shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance 266
of their duties. The chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by 267
the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. 268
Sec. 9. Section 28-29a of the general statutes is repealed and the 269
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 270
(a) There is established an E 9-1-1 Commission to (1) advise the 271
division in the planning, design, implementation and coordination of 272
the state-wide emergency 9-1-1 telephone system created pursuant to 273
sections 28-25 to 28-29b, inclusive, and (2) in consultation with the 274
Coordinating Advisory Board established pursuant to section 29-1t, 275
advise the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 276
in the planning, design, implementation, coordination and governance 277
of the public safety data network established pursuant to section 29-1j. 278
(b) The commission shall be appointed by the Governor and shall 279
consist of the following members: (1) One representative from the 280
technical support services unit of the Division of State Police within the 281
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (2) the [State 282
Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 283
Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 284
and Public Protection; (3) one representative from the Office of 285
Emergency Medical Services; (4) one representative from the Division 286
of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the 287
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (5) the 288
Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; (6) the 289
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 290
commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Children and 291 Raised Bill No. 6838
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Families, or the commissioner's designee; (8) one municipal police chief; 292
(9) one municipal fire chief; (10) one volunteer fireman; (11) one 293
representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; (12) one 294
representative of the Council of Small Towns; (13) one representative of 295
telecommunicators, as defined in section 28-30; (14) one representative 296
of the public; (15) one manager or coordinator of 9-1-1 public safety 297
answering points serving areas of differing population concentration; 298
and (16) one representative of providers of commercial mobile radio 299
services, as defined in 47 Code of Federal Regulations 20.3, as amended. 300
Each member shall serve for a term of three years from the date of his 301
or her appointment or until a successor has been appointed and 302
qualified. No member of the commission shall receive compensation for 303
such member's services. 304
Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than October 1, 2023, the 305
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 306
choose a contractor to study issues facing the fire service in the state and 307
develop a strategic master plan to address such issues and prepare the 308
state for the future. Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner 309
shall report the results of such study to the Governor and the joint 310
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 311
matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the 312
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 313
(b) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars is appropriated to 314
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection from the 315
General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, for purposes of 316
conducting the study required by subsection (a) of this section. 317
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2023 29-1b
Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 7-323l
Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 7-323n
Sec. 4 October 1, 2023 7-323o
Sec. 5 October 1, 2023 7-313m Raised Bill No. 6838
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Sec. 6 October 1, 2023 7-323s
Sec. 7 October 1, 2023 7-323v
Sec. 8 October 1, 2023 22a-601(a)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2023 28-29a
Sec. 10 July 1, 2023 New section
Statement of Purpose:
To establish a Division of Fire Services Administration within the
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and transfer
the powers and duties of the Office of State Fire Administrator to said
division, revise the powers and duties of the Commission on Fire
Prevention and Control and require the Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection to contract for a study of the fire service
in the state.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]