9 | 16 | | |
---|
10 | 17 | | |
---|
11 | 18 | | |
---|
12 | 19 | | AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DIVISION OF FIRE SERVICES |
---|
13 | 20 | | ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY |
---|
14 | 21 | | SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION, REVISING THE POWERS |
---|
15 | 22 | | AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION ON FIRE PREVENTION AND |
---|
16 | 23 | | CONTROL AND REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE FIRE SERVICE IN THE |
---|
17 | 24 | | STATE. |
---|
18 | 25 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General |
---|
19 | 26 | | Assembly convened: |
---|
20 | 27 | | |
---|
21 | 28 | | Section 1. Section 29-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 |
---|
22 | 29 | | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 2 |
---|
23 | 30 | | (a) There shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and 3 |
---|
24 | 31 | | Public Protection a Division of State Police. The Commissioner of 4 |
---|
25 | 32 | | Emergency Services and Public Protection shall serve as administrative 5 |
---|
26 | 33 | | head and commanding officer of the State Police Division. As 6 |
---|
27 | 34 | | administrative head, said commanding officer of the Division of State 7 |
---|
28 | 35 | | Police shall delegate said commanding officer's jurisdiction of the affairs 8 |
---|
29 | 36 | | of the Division of State Police to a deputy commissioner who shall have 9 |
---|
30 | 37 | | the powers and privileges conferred by statute upon a state policeman. 10 |
---|
42 | 48 | | deputy commissioner. The deputy commissioner shall possess 16 |
---|
43 | 49 | | professional training and knowledge consisting of not less than five 17 |
---|
44 | 50 | | years of managerial or strategic planning experience in matters relating 18 |
---|
45 | 51 | | to public safety, security, emergency services and emergency response. 19 |
---|
46 | 52 | | No person possessing a record of any criminal, unlawful or unethical 20 |
---|
47 | 53 | | conduct shall be eligible for or hold such position. Any person with any 21 |
---|
48 | 54 | | present or past political activities or financial interests that may 22 |
---|
49 | 55 | | substantially conflict with the duties of the deputy commissioner or 23 |
---|
50 | 56 | | expose such person to potential undue influence or compromise such 24 |
---|
51 | 57 | | person's ability to be entrusted with necessary state or federal security 25 |
---|
52 | 58 | | clearances or information shall be deemed unqualified for such position 26 |
---|
53 | 59 | | and shall not be eligible to hold such position. 27 |
---|
54 | 60 | | (c) (1) There shall be within said department a Division of Fire 28 |
---|
55 | 61 | | Services Administration. The commissioner shall serve as 29 |
---|
56 | 62 | | administrative head of said division. As administrative head, said 30 |
---|
57 | 63 | | commissioner shall delegate said commissioner's jurisdiction of the 31 |
---|
58 | 64 | | Division of Fire Services Administration to a deputy commissioner. The 32 |
---|
59 | 65 | | deputy commissioner shall possess professional training and 33 |
---|
60 | 66 | | knowledge consisting of not less than five years of managerial or 34 |
---|
61 | 67 | | strategic planning experience in matters relating to the fire services. 35 |
---|
62 | 68 | | (2) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the former Office 36 |
---|
63 | 69 | | of State Fire Administrator shall be transferred to the Division of Fire 37 |
---|
64 | 70 | | Services Administration pursuant to the provisions of sections 4-38d 38 |
---|
65 | 71 | | and 4-39. 39 |
---|
66 | 72 | | (3) The Division of Fire Services Administration shall constitute the 40 |
---|
67 | 73 | | successor to the Office of State Fire Administrator in accordance with 41 |
---|
68 | 74 | | the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. Wherever the words 42 |
---|
69 | 75 | | "State Fire Administrator" are used in the general statutes, the words 43 |
---|
81 | 86 | | Services and Public Protection" shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Any 49 |
---|
82 | 87 | | order or regulation of the former Office of State Fire Administrator that 50 |
---|
83 | 88 | | is in force on the effective date of this section shall continue in force and 51 |
---|
84 | 89 | | effect as an order or regulation of the Division of Fire Services 52 |
---|
85 | 90 | | Administration within the Department of Emergency Services and 53 |
---|
86 | 91 | | Public Protection until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to 54 |
---|
87 | 92 | | law. 55 |
---|
88 | 93 | | Sec. 2. Section 7-323l of the general statutes is repealed and the 56 |
---|
89 | 94 | | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 57 |
---|
90 | 95 | | (a) The commission shall: 58 |
---|
91 | 96 | | (1) Recommend minimum standards of education and physical 59 |
---|
92 | 97 | | condition required of each candidate for any firefighter position; 60 |
---|
93 | 98 | | (2) Establish standards for [a] fire service training and education 61 |
---|
94 | 99 | | [program, on a voluntary basis] programs, and develop and conduct an 62 |
---|
95 | 100 | | examination program to certify those fire service personnel who 63 |
---|
96 | 101 | | satisfactorily demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the 64 |
---|
97 | 102 | | fire service training and education program standards; 65 |
---|
98 | 103 | | (3) Establish an optional fire service training and education program 66 |
---|
99 | 104 | | in the handling of incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles 67 |
---|
100 | 105 | | and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or 68 |
---|
101 | 106 | | nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum for such 69 |
---|
102 | 107 | | techniques is made available at no cost from (A) institutions of higher 70 |
---|
103 | 108 | | education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations that are 71 |
---|
104 | 109 | | concerned with juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, 72 |
---|
105 | 110 | | cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, or (B) 73 |
---|
106 | 111 | | collaborations of such institutions, professionals or organizations; 74 |
---|
127 | | - | (8) Distribute any state, federal or private funds or contributions for 89 |
---|
128 | | - | the daily operation of the state fire school and regional fire schools; 90 |
---|
129 | | - | (9) Coordinate activities with the deputy commissioner of the 91 |
---|
130 | | - | Division of State Fire Services Administration within the Department of 92 |
---|
131 | | - | Emergency Services and Public Protection; 93 |
---|
132 | | - | (10) Annually submit proposals for legislation to promote firefighter 94 |
---|
133 | | - | training to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 95 |
---|
134 | | - | Protection and provide testimony to the General Assembly; and 96 |
---|
135 | | - | [(8)] (11) Submit to the Governor, the [Joint Legislative Management 97 |
---|
136 | | - | Committee of the General Assembly] joint standing committee of the 98 |
---|
137 | | - | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 99 |
---|
138 | | - | and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the 100 |
---|
139 | | - | Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual 101 |
---|
140 | | - | report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and 102 |
---|
141 | | - | accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations 103 |
---|
142 | | - | on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and 104 |
---|
143 | | - | capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools. 105 |
---|
144 | | - | (b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of 106 |
---|
145 | | - | Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in 107 |
---|
146 | | - | accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement 108 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 131 | + | (8) Be authorized to distribute any state, federal or private funds or 89 |
---|
| 132 | + | contributions for the daily operation of the state fire school and regional 90 |
---|
| 133 | + | fire schools; 91 |
---|
| 134 | + | (9) Coordinate activities with the deputy commissioner of the 92 |
---|
| 135 | + | Division of State Fire Services Administration within the Department of 93 |
---|
| 136 | + | Emergency Services and Public Protection; 94 |
---|
| 137 | + | (10) Annually submit proposals for legislation to promote firefighter 95 |
---|
| 138 | + | training to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 96 |
---|
| 139 | + | Protection and provide testimony to the General Assembly; and 97 |
---|
| 140 | + | [(8)] (11) Submit to the Governor, the [Joint Legislative Management 98 |
---|
| 141 | + | Committee of the General Assembly] joint standing committee of the 99 |
---|
| 142 | + | General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 100 |
---|
| 143 | + | and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the 101 |
---|
| 144 | + | Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual 102 |
---|
| 145 | + | report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and 103 |
---|
| 146 | + | accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations 104 |
---|
| 147 | + | on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and 105 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
153 | | - | the provisions of this section. 109 |
---|
154 | | - | Sec. 3. Section 7-323n of the general statutes is repealed and the 110 |
---|
155 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 111 |
---|
156 | | - | [There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which 112 |
---|
157 | | - | office] The Division of State Fire Services Administration within the 113 |
---|
158 | | - | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall: (a) 114 |
---|
159 | | - | Carry out the provisions of this part; (b) administer the state's 115 |
---|
160 | | - | responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; (c) develop a 116 |
---|
161 | | - | master plan for fire prevention and control; and (d) carry out any other 117 |
---|
162 | | - | function which the commission may devise. [Subject to the provisions 118 |
---|
163 | | - | of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical and other 119 |
---|
164 | | - | assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this 120 |
---|
165 | | - | section.] 121 |
---|
166 | | - | Sec. 4. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the 122 |
---|
167 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 123 |
---|
168 | | - | (a) [There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who 124 |
---|
169 | | - | shall be recommended by the Commission on Fire Prevention and 125 |
---|
170 | | - | Control and appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 126 |
---|
171 | | - | Public Protection and who] The deputy commissioner of the Division of 127 |
---|
172 | | - | Fire Services Administration shall: 128 |
---|
173 | | - | (1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n, as amended by this 129 |
---|
174 | | - | act; 130 |
---|
175 | | - | (2) [administer] Administer federal funds and grants allocated to the 131 |
---|
176 | | - | fire services of the state; 132 |
---|
177 | | - | (3) [provide] Provide technical assistance and guidance to fire 133 |
---|
178 | | - | fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; 134 |
---|
179 | | - | (4) [develop] Develop a centralized information and audiovisual 135 |
---|
180 | | - | library regarding fire prevention and control; 136 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 151 | + | LCO No. 4901 5 of 12 |
---|
| 152 | + | |
---|
| 153 | + | capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools. 106 |
---|
| 154 | + | (b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of 107 |
---|
| 155 | + | Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in 108 |
---|
| 156 | + | accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement 109 |
---|
| 157 | + | the provisions of this section. 110 |
---|
| 158 | + | Sec. 3. Section 7-323n of the general statutes is repealed and the 111 |
---|
| 159 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 112 |
---|
| 160 | + | [There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which 113 |
---|
| 161 | + | office] The Division of State Fire Services Administration within the 114 |
---|
| 162 | + | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall: (a) 115 |
---|
| 163 | + | Carry out the provisions of this part; (b) administer the state's 116 |
---|
| 164 | + | responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; (c) develop a 117 |
---|
| 165 | + | master plan for fire prevention and control; and (d) carry out any other 118 |
---|
| 166 | + | function which the commission may devise. [Subject to the provisions 119 |
---|
| 167 | + | of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical and other 120 |
---|
| 168 | + | assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this 121 |
---|
| 169 | + | section.] 122 |
---|
| 170 | + | Sec. 4. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the 123 |
---|
| 171 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 124 |
---|
| 172 | + | (a) [There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who 125 |
---|
| 173 | + | shall be recommended by the Commission on Fire Prevention and 126 |
---|
| 174 | + | Control and appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 127 |
---|
| 175 | + | Public Protection and who] The deputy commissioner of the Division of 128 |
---|
| 176 | + | Fire Services Administration shall: 129 |
---|
| 177 | + | (1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n, as amended by this 130 |
---|
| 178 | + | act; 131 |
---|
| 179 | + | (2) [administer] Administer federal funds and grants allocated to the 132 |
---|
| 180 | + | fire services of the state; 133 |
---|
| 181 | + | (3) [provide] Provide technical assistance and guidance to fire 134 |
---|
| 182 | + | fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; 135 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
187 | | - | (5) [accumulate] Accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire 137 |
---|
188 | | - | prevention data; 138 |
---|
189 | | - | (6) [recommend] Recommend specifications of fire service materials 139 |
---|
190 | | - | and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; 140 |
---|
191 | | - | (7) [assist] Assist in mutual aid coordination; 141 |
---|
192 | | - | (8) [coordinate] Coordinate fire programs with those of the other 142 |
---|
193 | | - | states; 143 |
---|
194 | | - | (9) [assist] Assist in communications coordination; 144 |
---|
195 | | - | (10) [establish] Establish and maintain a fire service information 145 |
---|
196 | | - | program; [and] 146 |
---|
197 | | - | (11) [review] Review the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at 147 |
---|
198 | | - | state institutions, facilities and properties; [and, on and after July 1, 1985, 148 |
---|
199 | | - | coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at such 149 |
---|
200 | | - | institutions, facilities and properties.] 150 |
---|
201 | | - | (12) Prepare, recommend and provide reports on revisions, 151 |
---|
202 | | - | consolidations or compilations of statutes relating to firefighter training 152 |
---|
203 | | - | and fire prevention and control; 153 |
---|
204 | | - | (13) Advise and assist the Commission on Fire Prevention and 154 |
---|
205 | | - | Control regarding legislative proposals; 155 |
---|
206 | | - | (14) Encourage the expansion and improvement of existing local 156 |
---|
207 | | - | firefighter training facilities in cooperation with the Commission on Fire 157 |
---|
208 | | - | Prevention and Control; 158 |
---|
209 | | - | (15) Administer the state fire school; 159 |
---|
210 | | - | (16) Administer certification examinations, testing procedures and 160 |
---|
211 | | - | reciprocity recognition for credentials in the fire service disciplines; and 161 |
---|
212 | | - | (17) Make recommendations to the Commission on Fire Prevention 162 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 186 | + | LCO No. 4901 6 of 12 |
---|
| 187 | + | |
---|
| 188 | + | (4) [develop] Develop a centralized information and audiovisual 136 |
---|
| 189 | + | library regarding fire prevention and control; 137 |
---|
| 190 | + | (5) [accumulate] Accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire 138 |
---|
| 191 | + | prevention data; 139 |
---|
| 192 | + | (6) [recommend] Recommend specifications of fire service materials 140 |
---|
| 193 | + | and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; 141 |
---|
| 194 | + | (7) [assist] Assist in mutual aid coordination; 142 |
---|
| 195 | + | (8) [coordinate] Coordinate fire programs with those of the other 143 |
---|
| 196 | + | states; 144 |
---|
| 197 | + | (9) [assist] Assist in communications coordination; 145 |
---|
| 198 | + | (10) [establish] Establish and maintain a fire service information 146 |
---|
| 199 | + | program; [and] 147 |
---|
| 200 | + | (11) [review] Review the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at 148 |
---|
| 201 | + | state institutions, facilities and properties; [and, on and after July 1, 1985, 149 |
---|
| 202 | + | coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at such 150 |
---|
| 203 | + | institutions, facilities and properties] 151 |
---|
| 204 | + | (12) Prepare, recommend and provide reports on revisions, 152 |
---|
| 205 | + | consolidations or compilations of statutes relating to firefighter training 153 |
---|
| 206 | + | and fire prevention and control; 154 |
---|
| 207 | + | (13) Advise and assist the Commission on Fire Prevention and 155 |
---|
| 208 | + | Control regarding legislative proposals; 156 |
---|
| 209 | + | (14) Encourage the expansion and improvement of existing local 157 |
---|
| 210 | + | firefighter training facilities in cooperation with the Commission on Fire 158 |
---|
| 211 | + | Prevention and Control; 159 |
---|
| 212 | + | (15) Administer the state fire school; 160 |
---|
| 213 | + | (16) Administer certification examinations, testing procedures and 161 |
---|
| 214 | + | reciprocity recognition for credentials in the fire service disciplines; and 162 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
219 | | - | and Control pertaining to the operational funding of the state fire school 163 |
---|
220 | | - | and regional fire schools. 164 |
---|
221 | | - | (b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to 165 |
---|
222 | | - | forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the 166 |
---|
223 | | - | Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to 167 |
---|
224 | | - | sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive. 168 |
---|
225 | | - | Sec. 5. Section 7-313m of the general statutes is repealed and the 169 |
---|
226 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 170 |
---|
227 | | - | (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the chief 171 |
---|
228 | | - | of a volunteer fire department for a distressed municipality, as defined 172 |
---|
229 | | - | in section 32-9p, shall submit to the [State Fire Administrator] deputy 173 |
---|
230 | | - | commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration within the 174 |
---|
231 | | - | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a report on 175 |
---|
232 | | - | the yearly average of the number of volunteer firefighters from such 176 |
---|
233 | | - | municipality's volunteer fire department who enrolled in Firefighter I 177 |
---|
234 | | - | certification and recruit training based on the preceding four years, 178 |
---|
235 | | - | except the year commencing January 1, 2020, shall not be included in 179 |
---|
236 | | - | any such four preceding years for purposes of calculating such average. 180 |
---|
237 | | - | (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 181 |
---|
238 | | - | thereafter, the [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services 182 |
---|
239 | | - | Administration shall award a grant to any distressed municipality with 183 |
---|
240 | | - | a volunteer fire department for the purposes of covering costs related to 184 |
---|
241 | | - | the provision of Firefighter I certification and recruit training for 185 |
---|
242 | | - | volunteer firefighters at regional fire schools. The amount of such grant 186 |
---|
243 | | - | award for each such distressed municipality shall be equal to the 187 |
---|
244 | | - | product of (1) the average cost of a Firefighter I certification and recruit 188 |
---|
245 | | - | training program at a regional fire school, and (2) the average number 189 |
---|
246 | | - | of volunteer firefighters from such distressed municipality's volunteer 190 |
---|
247 | | - | fire department who enrolled at a regional fire school for such 191 |
---|
248 | | - | certification and training. 192 |
---|
249 | | - | (c) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the [State 193 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 218 | + | LCO No. 4901 7 of 12 |
---|
| 219 | + | |
---|
| 220 | + | (17) Make recommendations to the Commission on Fire Prevention 163 |
---|
| 221 | + | and Control pertaining to the operational funding of the state fire school 164 |
---|
| 222 | + | and regional fire schools. 165 |
---|
| 223 | + | (b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to 166 |
---|
| 224 | + | forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the 167 |
---|
| 225 | + | Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to 168 |
---|
| 226 | + | sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive. 169 |
---|
| 227 | + | Sec. 5. Section 7-313m of the general statutes is repealed and the 170 |
---|
| 228 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 171 |
---|
| 229 | + | (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the chief 172 |
---|
| 230 | + | of a volunteer fire department for a distressed municipality, as defined 173 |
---|
| 231 | + | in section 32-9p, shall submit to the [State Fire Administrator] deputy 174 |
---|
| 232 | + | commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration within the 175 |
---|
| 233 | + | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a report on 176 |
---|
| 234 | + | the yearly average of the number of volunteer firefighters from such 177 |
---|
| 235 | + | municipality's volunteer fire department who enrolled in Firefighter I 178 |
---|
| 236 | + | certification and recruit training based on the preceding four years, 179 |
---|
| 237 | + | except the year commencing January 1, 2020, shall not be included in 180 |
---|
| 238 | + | any such four preceding years for purposes of calculating such average. 181 |
---|
| 239 | + | (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 182 |
---|
| 240 | + | thereafter, the [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services 183 |
---|
| 241 | + | Administration shall award a grant to any distressed municipality with 184 |
---|
| 242 | + | a volunteer fire department for the purposes of covering costs related to 185 |
---|
| 243 | + | the provision of Firefighter I certification and recruit training for 186 |
---|
| 244 | + | volunteer firefighters at regional fire schools. The amount of such grant 187 |
---|
| 245 | + | award for each such distressed municipality shall be equal to the 188 |
---|
| 246 | + | product of (1) the average cost of a Firefighter I certification and recruit 189 |
---|
| 247 | + | training program at a regional fire school, and (2) the average number 190 |
---|
| 248 | + | of volunteer firefighters from such distressed municipality's volunteer 191 |
---|
| 249 | + | fire department who enrolled at a regional fire school for such 192 |
---|
| 250 | + | certification and training. 193 |
---|
| 251 | + | (c) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the [State 194 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
256 | | - | Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration shall 194 |
---|
257 | | - | submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 195 |
---|
258 | | - | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 196 |
---|
259 | | - | matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a 197 |
---|
260 | | - | report on the (1) reports submitted by the chiefs of volunteer fire 198 |
---|
261 | | - | departments of distressed municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 199 |
---|
262 | | - | this section, and (2) average cost of a Firefighter I certification and 200 |
---|
263 | | - | recruit training program at a regional fire school. 201 |
---|
264 | | - | Sec. 6. Section 7-323s of the general statutes is repealed and the 202 |
---|
265 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 203 |
---|
266 | | - | (a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 204 |
---|
267 | | - | Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 205 |
---|
268 | | - | Emergency Services and Public Protection , within available 206 |
---|
269 | | - | appropriations, shall develop model guidelines, on or before January 1, 207 |
---|
270 | | - | 2007, to be used by municipalities with paid municipal emergency 208 |
---|
271 | | - | personnel and municipalities with volunteer emergency personnel in 209 |
---|
272 | | - | entering into agreements authorizing volunteer emergency personnel to 210 |
---|
273 | | - | serve during personal time. 211 |
---|
274 | | - | (b) A municipality with paid municipal emergency personnel and a 212 |
---|
275 | | - | municipality with volunteer emergency personnel may enter into an 213 |
---|
276 | | - | agreement authorizing paid emergency personnel to serve during 214 |
---|
277 | | - | personal time as active members of a volunteer fire department in the 215 |
---|
278 | | - | municipality in which they reside. In developing such agreements, such 216 |
---|
279 | | - | municipalities shall consider the model guidelines developed by the 217 |
---|
280 | | - | [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 218 |
---|
281 | | - | Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 219 |
---|
282 | | - | and Public Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 220 |
---|
283 | | - | (c) The municipalities that are parties to an agreement entered into 221 |
---|
284 | | - | under subsection (b) of this section may request the Labor 222 |
---|
285 | | - | Commissioner to provide assistance, within available appropriations, in 223 |
---|
286 | | - | resolving such issues arising out of the agreement as the commissioner 224 |
---|
287 | | - | deems appropriate. 225 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 255 | + | LCO No. 4901 8 of 12 |
---|
| 256 | + | |
---|
| 257 | + | Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration shall 195 |
---|
| 258 | + | submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 196 |
---|
| 259 | + | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 197 |
---|
| 260 | + | matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a 198 |
---|
| 261 | + | report on the (1) reports submitted by the chiefs of volunteer fire 199 |
---|
| 262 | + | departments of distressed municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 200 |
---|
| 263 | + | this section, and (2) average cost of a Firefighter I certification and 201 |
---|
| 264 | + | recruit training program at a regional fire school. 202 |
---|
| 265 | + | Sec. 6. Section 7-323s of the general statutes is repealed and the 203 |
---|
| 266 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 204 |
---|
| 267 | + | (a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 205 |
---|
| 268 | + | Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 206 |
---|
| 269 | + | Emergency Services and Public Protection , within available 207 |
---|
| 270 | + | appropriations, shall develop model guidelines, on or before January 1, 208 |
---|
| 271 | + | 2007, to be used by municipalities with paid municipal emergency 209 |
---|
| 272 | + | personnel and municipalities with volunteer emergency personnel in 210 |
---|
| 273 | + | entering into agreements authorizing volunteer emergency personnel to 211 |
---|
| 274 | + | serve during personal time. 212 |
---|
| 275 | + | (b) A municipality with paid municipal emergency personnel and a 213 |
---|
| 276 | + | municipality with volunteer emergency personnel may enter into an 214 |
---|
| 277 | + | agreement authorizing paid emergency personnel to serve during 215 |
---|
| 278 | + | personal time as active members of a volunteer fire department in the 216 |
---|
| 279 | + | municipality in which they reside. In developing such agreements, such 217 |
---|
| 280 | + | municipalities shall consider the model guidelines developed by the 218 |
---|
| 281 | + | [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 219 |
---|
| 282 | + | Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 220 |
---|
| 283 | + | and Public Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 221 |
---|
| 284 | + | (c) The municipalities that are parties to an agreement entered into 222 |
---|
| 285 | + | under subsection (b) of this section may request the Labor 223 |
---|
| 286 | + | Commissioner to provide assistance, within available appropriations, in 224 |
---|
| 287 | + | resolving such issues arising out of the agreement as the commissioner 225 |
---|
| 288 | + | deems appropriate. 226 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
294 | | - | Sec. 7. Section 7-323v of the general statutes is repealed and the 226 |
---|
295 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 227 |
---|
296 | | - | (a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 228 |
---|
297 | | - | Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 229 |
---|
298 | | - | Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available 230 |
---|
299 | | - | appropriations, pay five hundred dollars to each volunteer fire 231 |
---|
300 | | - | company for each call to which it responds on (1) a limited access 232 |
---|
301 | | - | highway, designated pursuant to section 13b-27, (2) the section of the 233 |
---|
302 | | - | highway known as the Berlin Turnpike, which begins at the end of the 234 |
---|
303 | | - | existing Wilbur Cross Parkway in the town of Meriden and extends 235 |
---|
304 | | - | northerly along Route 15 to the beginning of a section of limited access 236 |
---|
305 | | - | highway in the town of Wethersfield known as South Meadows 237 |
---|
306 | | - | Expressway, or (3) the section of Route 8 in the town of Beacon Falls 238 |
---|
307 | | - | which is within the boundaries of the Naugatuck State Forest. 239 |
---|
308 | | - | (b) No municipality that provides funds to a volunteer fire company 240 |
---|
309 | | - | may reduce such funding based on the payments that such company 241 |
---|
310 | | - | receives, or is anticipated to receive, under subsection (a) of this section. 242 |
---|
311 | | - | Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 22a-601 of the general statutes is 243 |
---|
312 | | - | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 244 |
---|
313 | | - | 1, 2023): 245 |
---|
314 | | - | (a) There is established a Connecticut Emergency Response 246 |
---|
315 | | - | Commission which shall be within the Department of Energy and 247 |
---|
316 | | - | Environmental Protection. The commission shall consist of eighteen 248 |
---|
317 | | - | members as follows: The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental 249 |
---|
318 | | - | Protection, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Public Health 250 |
---|
319 | | - | and Transportation, the Labor Commissioner, the Secretary of the Office 251 |
---|
320 | | - | of Policy and Management, the Adjutant General of the Military 252 |
---|
321 | | - | Department, the State Fire Marshal, and the [State Fire Administrator] 253 |
---|
322 | | - | deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration 254 |
---|
323 | | - | within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or 255 |
---|
324 | | - | their designees or a designee, and nine members appointed by the 256 |
---|
325 | | - | Governor, four of whom shall represent the public, three of whom shall 257 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 292 | + | LCO No. 4901 9 of 12 |
---|
| 293 | + | |
---|
| 294 | + | Sec. 7. Section 7-323v of the general statutes is repealed and the 227 |
---|
| 295 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 228 |
---|
| 296 | + | (a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 229 |
---|
| 297 | + | Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 230 |
---|
| 298 | + | Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available 231 |
---|
| 299 | + | appropriations, pay five hundred dollars to each volunteer fire 232 |
---|
| 300 | + | company for each call to which it responds on (1) a limited access 233 |
---|
| 301 | + | highway, designated pursuant to section 13b-27, (2) the section of the 234 |
---|
| 302 | + | highway known as the Berlin Turnpike, which begins at the end of the 235 |
---|
| 303 | + | existing Wilbur Cross Parkway in the town of Meriden and extends 236 |
---|
| 304 | + | northerly along Route 15 to the beginning of a section of limited access 237 |
---|
| 305 | + | highway in the town of Wethersfield known as South Meadows 238 |
---|
| 306 | + | Expressway, or (3) the section of Route 8 in the town of Beacon Falls 239 |
---|
| 307 | + | which is within the boundaries of the Naugatuck State Forest. 240 |
---|
| 308 | + | (b) No municipality that provides funds to a volunteer fire company 241 |
---|
| 309 | + | may reduce such funding based on the payments that such company 242 |
---|
| 310 | + | receives, or is anticipated to receive, under subsection (a) of this section. 243 |
---|
| 311 | + | Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 22a-601 of the general statutes is 244 |
---|
| 312 | + | repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 245 |
---|
| 313 | + | 1, 2023): 246 |
---|
| 314 | + | (a) There is established a Connecticut Emergency Response 247 |
---|
| 315 | + | Commission which shall be within the Department of Energy and 248 |
---|
| 316 | + | Environmental Protection. The commission shall consist of eighteen 249 |
---|
| 317 | + | members as follows: The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental 250 |
---|
| 318 | + | Protection, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Public Health 251 |
---|
| 319 | + | and Transportation, the Labor Commissioner, the Secretary of the Office 252 |
---|
| 320 | + | of Policy and Management, the Adjutant General of the Military 253 |
---|
| 321 | + | Department, the State Fire Marshal, and the [State Fire Administrator] 254 |
---|
| 322 | + | deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration 255 |
---|
| 323 | + | within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or 256 |
---|
| 324 | + | their designees or a designee, and nine members appointed by the 257 |
---|
| 325 | + | Governor, four of whom shall represent the public, three of whom shall 258 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
332 | | - | represent owners or operators of facilities, one of whom shall be the fire 258 |
---|
333 | | - | chief of a municipal fire department whose employees are compensated 259 |
---|
334 | | - | for their services and one of whom shall be the fire chief of a volunteer 260 |
---|
335 | | - | fire department. Members of the commission appointed by the 261 |
---|
336 | | - | Governor shall serve for two years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy 262 |
---|
337 | | - | in the office of an appointed member for the unexpired portion of the 263 |
---|
338 | | - | term. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but 264 |
---|
339 | | - | shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance 265 |
---|
340 | | - | of their duties. The chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by 266 |
---|
341 | | - | the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. 267 |
---|
342 | | - | Sec. 9. Section 28-29a of the general statutes is repealed and the 268 |
---|
343 | | - | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 269 |
---|
344 | | - | (a) There is established an E 9-1-1 Commission to (1) advise the 270 |
---|
345 | | - | division in the planning, design, implementation and coordination of 271 |
---|
346 | | - | the state-wide emergency 9-1-1 telephone system created pursuant to 272 |
---|
347 | | - | sections 28-25 to 28-29b, inclusive, and (2) in consultation with the 273 |
---|
348 | | - | Coordinating Advisory Board established pursuant to section 29-1t, 274 |
---|
349 | | - | advise the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 275 |
---|
350 | | - | in the planning, design, implementation, coordination and governance 276 |
---|
351 | | - | of the public safety data network established pursuant to section 29-1j. 277 |
---|
352 | | - | (b) The commission shall be appointed by the Governor and shall 278 |
---|
353 | | - | consist of the following members: (1) One representative from the 279 |
---|
354 | | - | technical support services unit of the Division of State Police within the 280 |
---|
355 | | - | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (2) the [State 281 |
---|
356 | | - | Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 282 |
---|
357 | | - | Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 283 |
---|
358 | | - | and Public Protection; (3) one representative from the Office of 284 |
---|
359 | | - | Emergency Medical Services; (4) one representative from the Division 285 |
---|
360 | | - | of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the 286 |
---|
361 | | - | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (5) the 287 |
---|
362 | | - | Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; (6) the 288 |
---|
363 | | - | Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 289 |
---|
364 | | - | commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Children and 290 Substitute Bill No. 6838 |
---|
| 329 | + | LCO No. 4901 10 of 12 |
---|
| 330 | + | |
---|
| 331 | + | represent owners or operators of facilities, one of whom shall be the fire 259 |
---|
| 332 | + | chief of a municipal fire department whose employees are compensated 260 |
---|
| 333 | + | for their services and one of whom shall be the fire chief of a volunteer 261 |
---|
| 334 | + | fire department. Members of the commission appointed by the 262 |
---|
| 335 | + | Governor shall serve for two years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy 263 |
---|
| 336 | + | in the office of an appointed member for the unexpired portion of the 264 |
---|
| 337 | + | term. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but 265 |
---|
| 338 | + | shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance 266 |
---|
| 339 | + | of their duties. The chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by 267 |
---|
| 340 | + | the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. 268 |
---|
| 341 | + | Sec. 9. Section 28-29a of the general statutes is repealed and the 269 |
---|
| 342 | + | following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 270 |
---|
| 343 | + | (a) There is established an E 9-1-1 Commission to (1) advise the 271 |
---|
| 344 | + | division in the planning, design, implementation and coordination of 272 |
---|
| 345 | + | the state-wide emergency 9-1-1 telephone system created pursuant to 273 |
---|
| 346 | + | sections 28-25 to 28-29b, inclusive, and (2) in consultation with the 274 |
---|
| 347 | + | Coordinating Advisory Board established pursuant to section 29-1t, 275 |
---|
| 348 | + | advise the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 276 |
---|
| 349 | + | in the planning, design, implementation, coordination and governance 277 |
---|
| 350 | + | of the public safety data network established pursuant to section 29-1j. 278 |
---|
| 351 | + | (b) The commission shall be appointed by the Governor and shall 279 |
---|
| 352 | + | consist of the following members: (1) One representative from the 280 |
---|
| 353 | + | technical support services unit of the Division of State Police within the 281 |
---|
| 354 | + | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (2) the [State 282 |
---|
| 355 | + | Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 283 |
---|
| 356 | + | Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 284 |
---|
| 357 | + | and Public Protection; (3) one representative from the Office of 285 |
---|
| 358 | + | Emergency Medical Services; (4) one representative from the Division 286 |
---|
| 359 | + | of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the 287 |
---|
| 360 | + | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (5) the 288 |
---|
| 361 | + | Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; (6) the 289 |
---|
| 362 | + | Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 290 |
---|
| 363 | + | commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Children and 291 Raised Bill No. 6838 |
---|
371 | | - | Families, or the commissioner's designee; (8) one municipal police chief; 291 |
---|
372 | | - | (9) one municipal fire chief; (10) one volunteer fireman; (11) one 292 |
---|
373 | | - | representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; (12) one 293 |
---|
374 | | - | representative of the Council of Small Towns; (13) one representative of 294 |
---|
375 | | - | telecommunicators, as defined in section 28-30; (14) one representative 295 |
---|
376 | | - | of the public; (15) one manager or coordinator of 9-1-1 public safety 296 |
---|
377 | | - | answering points serving areas of differing population concentration; 297 |
---|
378 | | - | and (16) one representative of providers of commercial mobile radio 298 |
---|
379 | | - | services, as defined in 47 Code of Federal Regulations 20.3, as amended. 299 |
---|
380 | | - | Each member shall serve for a term of three years from the date of his 300 |
---|
381 | | - | or her appointment or until a successor has been appointed and 301 |
---|
382 | | - | qualified. No member of the commission shall receive compensation for 302 |
---|
383 | | - | such member's services. 303 |
---|
384 | | - | Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2023) Not later than October 1, 2023, the 304 |
---|
385 | | - | Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 305 |
---|
386 | | - | choose a contractor to study issues facing the fire service in the state and 306 |
---|
387 | | - | develop a strategic master plan to address such issues and prepare the 307 |
---|
388 | | - | state for the future. Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner 308 |
---|
389 | | - | shall report the results of such study to the Governor and the joint 309 |
---|
390 | | - | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 310 |
---|
391 | | - | matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the 311 |
---|
392 | | - | provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 312 |
---|
393 | | - | Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2023) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand 313 |
---|
394 | | - | dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and 314 |
---|
395 | | - | Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 315 |
---|
396 | | - | 30, 2024, for purposes of conducting the study required by section 10 of 316 |
---|
397 | | - | this act. 317 |
---|
| 367 | + | LCO No. 4901 11 of 12 |
---|
| 368 | + | |
---|
| 369 | + | Families, or the commissioner's designee; (8) one municipal police chief; 292 |
---|
| 370 | + | (9) one municipal fire chief; (10) one volunteer fireman; (11) one 293 |
---|
| 371 | + | representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; (12) one 294 |
---|
| 372 | + | representative of the Council of Small Towns; (13) one representative of 295 |
---|
| 373 | + | telecommunicators, as defined in section 28-30; (14) one representative 296 |
---|
| 374 | + | of the public; (15) one manager or coordinator of 9-1-1 public safety 297 |
---|
| 375 | + | answering points serving areas of differing population concentration; 298 |
---|
| 376 | + | and (16) one representative of providers of commercial mobile radio 299 |
---|
| 377 | + | services, as defined in 47 Code of Federal Regulations 20.3, as amended. 300 |
---|
| 378 | + | Each member shall serve for a term of three years from the date of his 301 |
---|
| 379 | + | or her appointment or until a successor has been appointed and 302 |
---|
| 380 | + | qualified. No member of the commission shall receive compensation for 303 |
---|
| 381 | + | such member's services. 304 |
---|
| 382 | + | Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Not later than October 1, 2023, the 305 |
---|
| 383 | + | Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 306 |
---|
| 384 | + | choose a contractor to study issues facing the fire service in the state and 307 |
---|
| 385 | + | develop a strategic master plan to address such issues and prepare the 308 |
---|
| 386 | + | state for the future. Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner 309 |
---|
| 387 | + | shall report the results of such study to the Governor and the joint 310 |
---|
| 388 | + | standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 311 |
---|
| 389 | + | matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the 312 |
---|
| 390 | + | provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 313 |
---|
| 391 | + | (b) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars is appropriated to 314 |
---|
| 392 | + | the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection from the 315 |
---|
| 393 | + | General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, for purposes of 316 |
---|
| 394 | + | conducting the study required by subsection (a) of this section. 317 |
---|