LCO \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-R01-
HB.docx
1 of 12
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6838
January Session, 2023
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 Section 29-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1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
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 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
2 of 12
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 commiss ioner 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
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 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
3 of 12
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
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 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
4 of 12
(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) Distribute any state, federal or private funds or contributions for 89
the daily operation of the state fire school and regional fire schools; 90
(9) Coordinate activities with the deputy commissioner of the 91
Division of State Fire Services Administration within the Department of 92
Emergency Services and Public Protection; 93
(10) Annually submit proposals for legislation to promote firefighter 94
training to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 95
Protection and provide testimony to the General Assembly; and 96
[(8)] (11) Submit to the Governor, the [Joint Legislative Management 97
Committee of the General Assembly] joint standing committee of the 98
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 99
and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the 100
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual 101
report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and 102
accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations 103
on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and 104
capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools. 105
(b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of 106
Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in 107
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement 108 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
5 of 12
the provisions of this section. 109
Sec. 3. Section 7-323n of the general statutes is repealed and the 110
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 111
[There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which 112
office] The Division of State Fire Services Administration within the 113
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall: (a) 114
Carry out the provisions of this part; (b) administer the state's 115
responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; (c) develop a 116
master plan for fire prevention and control; and (d) carry out any other 117
function which the commission may devise. [Subject to the provisions 118
of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical and other 119
assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this 120
section.] 121
Sec. 4. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the 122
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 123
(a) [There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who 124
shall be recommended by the Commission on Fire Prevention and 125
Control and appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 126
Public Protection and who] The deputy commissioner of the Division of 127
Fire Services Administration shall: 128
(1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n, as amended by this 129
act; 130
(2) [administer] Administer federal funds and grants allocated to the 131
fire services of the state; 132
(3) [provide] Provide technical assistance and guidance to fire 133
fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; 134
(4) [develop] Develop a centralized information and audiovisual 135
library regarding fire prevention and control; 136 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
6 of 12
(5) [accumulate] Accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire 137
prevention data; 138
(6) [recommend] Recommend specifications of fire service materials 139
and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; 140
(7) [assist] Assist in mutual aid coordination; 141
(8) [coordinate] Coordinate fire programs with those of the other 142
states; 143
(9) [assist] Assist in communications coordination; 144
(10) [establish] Establish and maintain a fire service information 145
program; [and] 146
(11) [review] Review the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at 147
state institutions, facilities and properties; [and, on and after July 1, 1985, 148
coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at such 149
institutions, facilities and properties.] 150
(12) Prepare, recommend and provide reports on revisions, 151
consolidations or compilations of statutes relating to firefighter training 152
and fire prevention and control; 153
(13) Advise and assist the Commission on Fire Prevention and 154
Control regarding legislative proposals; 155
(14) Encourage the expansion and improvement of existing local 156
firefighter training facilities in cooperation with the Commission on Fire 157
Prevention and Control; 158
(15) Administer the state fire school; 159
(16) Administer certification examinations, testing procedures and 160
reciprocity recognition for credentials in the fire service disciplines; and 161
(17) Make recommendations to the Commission on Fire Prevention 162 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
7 of 12
and Control pertaining to the operational funding of the state fire school 163
and regional fire schools. 164
(b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to 165
forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the 166
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to 167
sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive. 168
Sec. 5. Section 7-313m of the general statutes is repealed and the 169
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 170
(a) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the chief 171
of a volunteer fire department for a distressed municipality, as defined 172
in section 32-9p, shall submit to the [State Fire Administrator] deputy 173
commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration within the 174
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a report on 175
the yearly average of the number of volunteer firefighters from such 176
municipality's volunteer fire department who enrolled in Firefighter I 177
certification and recruit training based on the preceding four years, 178
except the year commencing January 1, 2020, shall not be included in 179
any such four preceding years for purposes of calculating such average. 180
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year 181
thereafter, the [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services 182
Administration shall award a grant to any distressed municipality with 183
a volunteer fire department for the purposes of covering costs related to 184
the provision of Firefighter I certification and recruit training for 185
volunteer firefighters at regional fire schools. The amount of such grant 186
award for each such distressed municipality shall be equal to the 187
product of (1) the average cost of a Firefighter I certification and recruit 188
training program at a regional fire school, and (2) the average number 189
of volunteer firefighters from such distressed municipality's volunteer 190
fire department who enrolled at a regional fire school for such 191
certification and training. 192
(c) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the [State 193 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
8 of 12
Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration shall 194
submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint 195
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 196
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a 197
report on the (1) reports submitted by the chiefs of volunteer fire 198
departments of distressed municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of 199
this section, and (2) average cost of a Firefighter I certification and 200
recruit training program at a regional fire school. 201
Sec. 6. Section 7-323s of the general statutes is repealed and the 202
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 203
(a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 204
Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 205
Emergency Services and Public Protection , within available 206
appropriations, shall develop model guidelines, on or before January 1, 207
2007, to be used by municipalities with paid municipal emergency 208
personnel and municipalities with volunteer emergency personnel in 209
entering into agreements authorizing volunteer emergency personnel to 210
serve during personal time. 211
(b) A municipality with paid municipal emergency personnel and a 212
municipality with volunteer emergency personnel may enter into an 213
agreement authorizing paid emergency personnel to serve during 214
personal time as active members of a volunteer fire department in the 215
municipality in which they reside. In developing such agreements, such 216
municipalities shall consider the model guidelines developed by the 217
[State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 218
Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 219
and Public Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 220
(c) The municipalities that are parties to an agreement entered into 221
under subsection (b) of this section may request the Labor 222
Commissioner to provide assistance, within available appropriations, in 223
resolving such issues arising out of the agreement as the commissioner 224
deems appropriate. 225 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
9 of 12
Sec. 7. Section 7-323v of the general statutes is repealed and the 226
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 227
(a) The [State Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the 228
Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of 229
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available 230
appropriations, pay five hundred dollars to each volunteer fire 231
company for each call to which it responds on (1) a limited access 232
highway, designated pursuant to section 13b-27, (2) the section of the 233
highway known as the Berlin Turnpike, which begins at the end of the 234
existing Wilbur Cross Parkway in the town of Meriden and extends 235
northerly along Route 15 to the beginning of a section of limited access 236
highway in the town of Wethersfield known as South Meadows 237
Expressway, or (3) the section of Route 8 in the town of Beacon Falls 238
which is within the boundaries of the Naugatuck State Forest. 239
(b) No municipality that provides funds to a volunteer fire company 240
may reduce such funding based on the payments that such company 241
receives, or is anticipated to receive, under subsection (a) of this section. 242
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 22a-601 of the general statutes is 243
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 244
1, 2023): 245
(a) There is established a Connecticut Emergency Response 246
Commission which shall be within the Department of Energy and 247
Environmental Protection. The commission shall consist of eighteen 248
members as follows: The Commissioners of Energy and Environmental 249
Protection, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Public Health 250
and Transportation, the Labor Commissioner, the Secretary of the Office 251
of Policy and Management, the Adjutant General of the Military 252
Department, the State Fire Marshal, and the [State Fire Administrator] 253
deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire Services Administration 254
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or 255
their designees or a designee, and nine members appointed by the 256
Governor, four of whom shall represent the public, three of whom shall 257 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
10 of 12
represent owners or operators of facilities, one of whom shall be the fire 258
chief of a municipal fire department whose employees are compensated 259
for their services and one of whom shall be the fire chief of a volunteer 260
fire department. Members of the commission appointed by the 261
Governor shall serve for two years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy 262
in the office of an appointed member for the unexpired portion of the 263
term. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but 264
shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance 265
of their duties. The chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by 266
the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. 267
Sec. 9. Section 28-29a of the general statutes is repealed and the 268
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 269
(a) There is established an E 9-1-1 Commission to (1) advise the 270
division in the planning, design, implementation and coordination of 271
the state-wide emergency 9-1-1 telephone system created pursuant to 272
sections 28-25 to 28-29b, inclusive, and (2) in consultation with the 273
Coordinating Advisory Board established pursuant to section 29-1t, 274
advise the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 275
in the planning, design, implementation, coordination and governance 276
of the public safety data network established pursuant to section 29-1j. 277
(b) The commission shall be appointed by the Governor and shall 278
consist of the following members: (1) One representative from the 279
technical support services unit of the Division of State Police within the 280
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (2) the [State 281
Fire Administrator] deputy commissioner of the Division of Fire 282
Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services 283
and Public Protection; (3) one representative from the Office of 284
Emergency Medical Services; (4) one representative from the Division 285
of Emergency Management and Homeland Security within the 286
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (5) the 287
Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; (6) the 288
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the 289
commissioner's designee; (7) the Commissioner of Children and 290 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
11 of 12
Families, or the commissioner's designee; (8) one municipal police chief; 291
(9) one municipal fire chief; (10) one volunteer fireman; (11) one 292
representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; (12) one 293
representative of the Council of Small Towns; (13) one representative of 294
telecommunicators, as defined in section 28-30; (14) one representative 295
of the public; (15) one manager or coordinator of 9-1-1 public safety 296
answering points serving areas of differing population concentration; 297
and (16) one representative of providers of commercial mobile radio 298
services, as defined in 47 Code of Federal Regulations 20.3, as amended. 299
Each member shall serve for a term of three years from the date of his 300
or her appointment or until a successor has been appointed and 301
qualified. No member of the commission shall receive compensation for 302
such member's services. 303
Sec. 10. (Effective July 1, 2023) Not later than October 1, 2023, the 304
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall 305
choose a contractor to study issues facing the fire service in the state and 306
develop a strategic master plan to address such issues and prepare the 307
state for the future. Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner 308
shall report the results of such study to the Governor and the joint 309
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 310
matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the 311
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 312
Sec. 11. (Effective July 1, 2023) The sum of two hundred fifty thousand 313
dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and 314
Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 315
30, 2024, for purposes of conducting the study required by section 10 of 316
this act. 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 Substitute Bill No. 6838
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06838-
R01-HB.docx }
12 of 12
Sec. 4 October 1, 2023 7-323o
Sec. 5 October 1, 2023 7-313m
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
Sec. 11 July 1, 2023 New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 2(a)(8), "Be authorized to distribute" was changed to
"Distribute" for conciseness; and Section 10(b) was changed to Section
11 for consistency with standard drafting conventions.
PS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO