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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6841
January Session, 2023
AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Commissioner of 1
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall appoint a firefighter 2
recruitment and training coordinator in each emergency preparedness 3
region designated by the Division of Emergency Management and 4
Homeland Security within the Department of Emergency Services and 5
Public Protection. Each such coordinator shall (1) recruit individuals 6
for careers in firefighting or manage such recruitment programs, and 7
(2) provide training assistance to fire departments and, upon request of 8
a fire department, coordinate or conduct training programs. 9
Sec. 2. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the 10
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 11
(a) There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who 12
shall be recommended by the Commission on Fire Prevention and 13
Control and appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services 14
and Public Protection and who shall: (1) Carry out the requirements of 15
section 7-323n; (2) administer federal funds and grants allocated to the 16
fire services of the state; (3) provide technical assistance and guidance 17
to fire fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; (4) develop a 18 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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centralized information and audiovisual library regarding fire 19
prevention and control; (5) accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire 20
prevention data; (6) recommend specifications of fire service materials 21
and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; (7) assist in 22
mutual aid coordination; (8) coordinate fire programs with those of the 23
other states; (9) assist in communications coordination; (10) establish 24
and maintain a fire service information program; and (11) review the 25
purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at state institutions, facilities 26
and properties and, on and after July 1, 1985, coordinate the training 27
and education of fire service personnel at such institutions, facilities 28
and properties. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to 29
apply to forest fire prevention and control programs administered by 30
the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant 31
to sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive. 32
(b) (1) The State Fire Administrator shall develop, or enter into an 33
agreement with a vendor to develop, facilities across the state that 34
provide opportunities for individuals to train for and take the 35
candidate physical ability test for firefighters throughout the year. The 36
administrator shall seek to develop such facilities at multiple locations 37
that are designed to improve opportunities for, and access to, training 38
and test taking, and shall give a preference to locations at regional fire 39
school sites. The administrator shall provide equipment for such 40
training and test taking at any regional fire school or state facility that 41
offers such training and test taking. 42
(2) The director of fire training within the Office of the State Fire 43
Administrator shall act as coordinator of such training and oversee 44
such training and testing facilities. 45
(c) The Office of the State Fire Administrator shall employ a full-46
time cadet or explorer program coordinator, who shall coordinate and 47
oversee cadet or explorer programs, implement state standards and a 48
best practices guide for such programs, encourage establishment and 49
expansion of such programs throughout the state and encourage the 50
expanded use of regional fire schools for such programs. 51 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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Sec. 3. Section 7-323p of the general statutes is repealed and the 52
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 53
(a) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 54
shall (1) maintain and operate a state fire school that shall serve as the 55
training and education facility for the Commission on Fire Prevention 56
and Control, [and] (2) provide training and educational services in 57
accordance with the standards established pursuant to section 7-323l, 58
and (3) provide instructors and facilities sufficient to conduct training 59
for at least three classes of recruits at the state fire school each year. 60
The use of any hazardous material, as defined in section 29-307a, 61
except a virgin fuel, is prohibited in the simulation of any fire. The 62
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, in 63
consultation with the commission, fix fees for training and education 64
programs and sessions and for such other purposes deemed necessary 65
for the operation and support of the school. Such fees shall be used 66
solely for training and education purposes. 67
(b) The department may establish and maintain a state fire school 68
training and education extension account, which shall be a separate 69
account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any 70
moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. The account 71
shall be used for the operation of such training and education 72
programs and sessions as said department may establish, for the 73
purchase of such equipment as is required for use in the operation of 74
such programs and sessions, and, within available funding, for (1) 75
reimbursement to municipalities and municipal fire departments for 76
one-half of the costs of Firefighter I certification and recruit training of 77
municipal volunteer and paid fire service personnel, and (2) 78
reimbursement to state agencies for one-half of the costs of Firefighter I 79
certification and recruit training of state agency fire service personnel. 80
All proceeds derived from the operation of the training and education 81
programs and sessions shall be deposited in the General Fund and 82
shall be credited to and become a part of the resources of the account. 83
All direct expenses incurred in the conduct of the training, certification 84 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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and education programs and sessions shall be charged, and any 85
payments of interest and principal of bonds or any sums transferable 86
to any fund for the payment of interest and principal of bonds and any 87
cost of equipment for such operations may be charged, against the 88
account on order of the State Comptroller. Any balance of receipts 89
above expenditures shall remain in the account to be used by the 90
department for training and education programs and sessions, and for 91
the acquisition, as provided by section 4b-21, alteration and repairs of 92
real property for educational facilities, except such sums as may be 93
required to be transferred from time to time to any fund for the 94
redemption of bonds and payment of interest on bonds, provided 95
repairs, alterations or additions to educational facilities costing fifty 96
thousand dollars or less shall require the approval of the 97
Commissioner of Administrative Services, and capital projects costing 98
over fifty thousand dollars shall require the approval of the General 99
Assembly or, when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 100
Finance Advisory Committee. 101
(c) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection 102
may establish and maintain a state fire school auxiliary services 103
account, which shall be a separate account within the General Fund. 104
The account shall be used for the operation, maintenance and repair of 105
auxiliary service facilities and for such other auxiliary activities of the 106
state fire school as said department determines. The proceeds of such 107
activities shall be deposited in the General Fund and shall be credited 108
to and become a part of the resources of the account. All direct 109
expenses of operation, maintenance and repair of facilities, food 110
services and other auxiliary activities shall be charged, and any 111
payments of interest and principal of bonds or any sums transferable 112
to any fund for the payment of interest and principal of bonds and any 113
cost of equipment for such operations may be charged, against the 114
account on order of the State Comptroller. Any balance of receipts 115
above expenditures shall remain in the account to be used for the 116
improvement and extension of such activities, except such sums as 117
may be required to be transferred from time to time to any fund for the 118 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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redemption of bonds and payment of interest on bonds, provided 119
repairs, alterations or additions to auxiliary service facilities costing 120
fifty thousand dollars or less shall require the approval of the 121
Commissioner of Administrative Services, and capital projects costing 122
over fifty thousand dollars shall require the approval of the General 123
Assembly or, when the General Assembly is not in session, of the 124
Finance Advisory Committee. The department, with the approval of 125
the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Finance 126
Advisory Committee, may borrow from the resources of the General 127
Fund at any time such sum or sums as it deems advisable, to establish 128
or continue auxiliary services activities, such sums to be repaid in 129
accordance with such schedule as the Secretary of the Office of Policy 130
and Management shall establish. 131
(d) The compensation provided by the department to a fire service 132
instructor to provide fire service training shall be comparable to 133
compensation provided by the Police Officer Standards and Training 134
Council to a law enforcement instructor for police officer training. 135
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) There is established a 136
paramedic candidate scholarship program administered by the 137
Department of Public Health. The program shall provide scholarships 138
to individuals receiving training to become licensed as a paramedic 139
pursuant to section 20-206ll of the general statutes. 140
(b) Not later than January 1, 2024, the department shall develop a 141
policy concerning the administration of the scholarship program. Such 142
policy shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions regarding 143
(1) eligibility criteria, and (2) the payment and distribution of the 144
scholarships. 145
(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year 146
thereafter, the department shall award scholarships in accordance with 147
the provisions of this section and the policy developed pursuant to 148
subsection (b) of this section. 149 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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(d) The department may accept gifts, grants and donations from any 150
source, public or private, for the paramedic candidate scholarship 151
program. 152
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) No fire department shall deny 153
employment as a firefighter to a prospective employee solely on the 154
basis of the prospective employee's status as a noncitizen of the United 155
States, provided such prospective employee is lawfully admitted for 156
permanent residence of the United States under federal law and 157
regulations. 158
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) The Connecticut Housing 159
Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of 160
mortgage assistance to uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire 161
departments in the state. Such assistance shall be available to an 162
eligible firefighter for the purchase of a house as such firefighter's 163
principal residence in the community served by such firefighter. In 164
making mortgage assistance available under the program, the 165
authority shall utilize down payment assistance or any other 166
appropriate housing subsidies. The terms of any mortgage assistance 167
shall allow the mortgagee to realize a reasonable portion of the equity 168
gain upon sale of the mortgaged property. 169
Sec. 7. Subsection (d) of section 10a-77 of the general statutes is 170
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 171
1, 2023): 172
(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any 173
of the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent 174
child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has 175
declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war 176
while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child 177
has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of 178
the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to such 179
institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, 180
for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in 181 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of 182
this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in 183
attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been 184
accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state 185
at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, 186
(3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, 187
provided, at the end of the regular registration period, there are 188
enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 189
residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 190
course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 191
available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 192
any student attending the Connecticut State Police Academy who is 193
enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in 194
coordination with a regional community-technical college which 195
accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of 196
the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been 197
certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee 198
as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or 199
accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time 200
basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 201
dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 202
supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 203
section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 204
employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 205
the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent 206
child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 207
resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the 208
state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection 209
of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) 210
for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving 211
spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active 212
military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after 213
September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a 214
uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as 215
documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a 216 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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member in the state for not less than two years, (11) for any dependent 217
child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, 218
who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as 219
such a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any 220
student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at 221
said school offered in coordination with a regional community-222
technical college that accredits courses taken in such program. If any 223
person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 224
of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 225
employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 226
educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 227
Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the 228
same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 229
courses at regional community-technical colleges. Notwithstanding the 230
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 231
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 232
Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the general statutes is 233
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 234
1, 2023): 235
(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees at the 236
Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a 237
person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be 238
missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 239
such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 240
for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the 241
time such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject 242
to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as 243
defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as 244
defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, 245
"service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a 246
military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for 247
admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time 248
such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any 249 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been 250
accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident 251
is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the 252
regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient 253
number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers 254
pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident 255
intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after 256
accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the 257
Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement 258
program at said academy offered in coordination with the university 259
which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active 260
member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has 261
been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's 262
designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is 263
enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or 264
part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 265
program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 266
in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 267
firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 268
company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 269
section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 270
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 271
victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 272
resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near 273
the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 274
2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 275
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while 276
performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United 277
States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this 278
state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire 279
department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has 280
served as such a member in the state for not less than two years, (11) 281
for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer 282
fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, 283
has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, 284 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled 285
in a program at said school offered in coordination with the university 286
that accredits courses taken in such program. If any person who 287
receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this 288
subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, 289
such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational 290
reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National Guard 291
described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the same 292
status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 293
courses at Connecticut state universities. Notwithstanding the 294
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 295
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 296
Sec. 9. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the general statutes is 297
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 298
1, 2023): 299
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees at 300
The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person 301
whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing 302
in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed 303
forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for 304
admission to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the 305
state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said institution, 306
(2) subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any 307
veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of 308
war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this 309
subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in 310
attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been 311
accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state 312
at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, 313
(3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has 314
been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such 315
resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of 316
the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a 317 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for 318
waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such 319
resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course 320
after accommodating all such students, (4) for any active member of 321
the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been 322
certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee 323
as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or 324
accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time 325
basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) 326
for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-327
294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as 328
defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) 329
municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, 330
killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the 331
dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who 332
was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of 333
the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 334
intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 335
2005, [and] (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 336
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while 337
performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United 338
States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this 339
state, (9) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire 340
department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has 341
served as such a member in the state for not less than two years, and 342
(10) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or 343
volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such 344
department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than 345
five years. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance 346
with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational 347
reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the 348
amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of 349
the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall 350
be given the same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in 351
registering for courses at The University of Connecticut. 352 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this 353
subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one 354
year. 355
Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) As used in this section: 356
(1) "Accrued service award" means the total value, as of a given 357
date, of a participant's program account. 358
(2) "Bona fide volunteer" has the same meaning as in Section 457(e) 359
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 360
corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 361
from time to time. 362
(3) "Commission" means the State Retirement Commission. 363
(4) "Eligible firefighter" means a firefighter who (A) is a bona fide 364
volunteer performing qualified services in a volunteer fire company or 365
department, and (B) is not otherwise earning credit for such qualified 366
service as a participant in any other length of service award program, 367
pension system operating pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision 368
(5) of subsection (c) of section 7-148 of the general statutes or any other 369
comparable program. 370
(5) "Participant" means an eligible firefighter who participates in the 371
program. 372
(6) "Program account" means a separate account maintained for 373
each participant reflecting applicable contributions, applicable 374
forfeitures, investment income or loss and administrative and 375
investment expenses allocated to each participant and paid from the 376
Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award Program Trust Fund, 377
established under subsection (c) of this section. 378
(7) "Qualified service" has the same meaning as provided in Section 379
457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 380
corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 381 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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from time to time. 382
(b) The State Retirement Commission, in consultation with the 383
Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and the State Fire 384
Administrator, shall establish a volunteer firefighter length of service 385
award program. The State Retirement Commission may contract with 386
third parties to provide services for such program. 387
(c) There is established a Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service 388
Award Program Trust Fund. The fund shall contain any moneys 389
required or permitted by law to be deposited in the fund and may 390
apply for and accept gifts, grants or donations from public or private 391
sources to enable the trust fund to carry out its objectives. Investment 392
earnings credited to the assets of the fund shall become part of the 393
assets of the fund. The fund shall be held in trust separate and apart 394
from all other moneys, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in 395
the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the 396
fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. The fund shall be used to 397
make payments as provided in this section and for administrative 398
expenses related to the provisions of this section. 399
(d) Not later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, each 400
volunteer fire company or department shall submit to the commission 401
a list of eligible firefighters and the amount of service credit each such 402
firefighter has earned with such department, on a form and in a 403
manner as determined by the commission. 404
(e) (1) Not later than April 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 405
commission shall determine which eligible firefighters satisfy the 406
service credit requirements established pursuant to regulations 407
adopted in accordance with subsection (k) of this section to be 408
participants in the program, and the amount of credits applicable to 409
each such participant. 410
(2) An eligible firefighter may decline to become a participant in the 411
program if such firefighter files with the commission, prior to such 412 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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firefighter satisfying such service credit requirements to become a 413
participant in the program, an irrevocable waiver of participation that 414
is signed by the eligible firefighter and the chief of the volunteer fire 415
company or department of which such firefighter is a member. 416
(3) A participant shall receive service credit for service as an eligible 417
firefighter before, on and after the effective date of this section. Service 418
credit earned by a participant shall never be forfeited. 419
(f) Not later than July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 420
commission shall credit a length of service award, in an amount 421
determined by the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (k) of 422
this section, to the program account of each participant who the 423
commission determines qualifies for a length of service award 424
pursuant to the service credit requirements established by such 425
regulations. No such award may exceed the limit provided in Section 426
457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 427
corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 428
from time to time. 429
(g) (1) A participant's accrued service award becomes vested once 430
such participant has five years of service credit, as determined 431
pursuant to regulations adopted under subsection (k) of this section. 432
(2) If a participant has not been an eligible firefighter for thirty-six 433
consecutive months and such participant's accrued service award has 434
not become vested, such accrued service award shall be forfeited and 435
deposited in the Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award 436
Program Trust Fund. 437
(h) The commission shall pay each participant such participant's 438
accrued service award when the participant: 439
(1) Becomes vested pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and has 440
attained the age of sixty-five years or over; 441
(2) Has twenty years of service credit, provided the participant may, 442 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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prior to attaining such twenty years of service credit, file a written 443
election with the commission to defer payment of the accrued service 444
award until the participant attains the age of sixty-five; 445
(3) Is vested and has not been an eligible firefighter for at least 446
thirty-six consecutive months; or 447
(4) Has been determined to be totally and permanently disabled by 448
the United States Social Security Administration, the Workers' 449
Compensation Commission or any other entity approved by the State 450
Retirement Commission. 451
(i) If a participant is paid such participant's accrued service award 452
pursuant to subsection (h) of this section and subsequently qualifies 453
for a length of service award at any other time pursuant to the 454
provisions of this section and regulations adopted pursuant to 455
subsection (k) of this section, the commission shall pay such service 456
award directly to such participant. 457
(j) If a participant dies prior to receiving such participant's accrued 458
service award pursuant to subsection (h) of this section or a length of 459
service award pursuant to subsection (i) of this section, the commission 460
shall pay such award to any beneficiary the participant has designated 461
on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commission. 462
(k) Not later than January 1, 2024, the State Retirement Commission, 463
in consultation with the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control 464
and the State Fire Administrator, shall adopt regulations, in 465
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to 466
implement the volunteer firefighter length of service award program. 467
Such regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions 468
regarding (1) earning service credits and determining the amount of 469
awards, which may include a point-based system that requires earning 470
points for responding to calls, attending meetings and trainings or 471
other factors, (2) documentation for earning such credits, including a 472
system to permit volunteer fire companies and departments to comply 473 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and (3) 474
contesting determinations of service credits awarded to a participant. 475
Sec. 11. Section 3-13c of the general statutes is repealed and the 476
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 477
Trust funds as used in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b 478
shall be construed to include Connecticut Municipal Employees' 479
Retirement Fund A, Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement 480
Fund B, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, Family and Medical Leave 481
Insurance Trust Fund, State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, Teachers' 482
Annuity Fund, Teachers' Pension Fund, Teachers' Survivorship and 483
Dependency Fund, School Fund, State Employees Retirement Fund, 484
the Hospital Insurance Fund, Policemen and Firemen Survivor's 485
Benefit Fund, Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award Program 486
Trust Fund, any trust fund described in subdivision (1) of subsection 487
(b) of section 7-450 that is administered, held or invested by the State 488
Treasurer and all other trust funds administered, held or invested by 489
the State Treasurer. 490
Sec. 12. (Effective from passage) The State Retirement Commission 491
shall develop a new tier or classification within the municipal 492
employees' retirement system for public safety professionals. Such tier 493
or classification shall (1) take into consideration the tiered 494
classifications of firefighters developed pursuant to section 13 of this 495
act, and (2) permit an individual employed as a firefighter to retire 496
from such position with one participating municipality and accept 497
employment as a firefighter with another participating municipality 498
and be eligible for retirement benefits from such other municipality. 499
The commission may consult with the Commission on Fire Prevention 500
Control, the State Fire Administrator and any other entities deemed 501
appropriate in developing such new tier or classification. Not later 502
than January 1, 2024, the commission shall report to the joint standing 503
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matter 504
relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the 505
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, regarding the terms 506 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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and benefits that will be applicable to such tier or classification and 507
legislation necessary to implement such tier or classification. 508
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commission on Fire 509
Prevention and Control shall conduct a study of the different levels of 510
training and certification of firefighters and the benefits available to 511
firefighters and make recommendations regarding benefits to provide 512
incentives to encourage individuals to begin a career in firefighting 513
and encourage firefighters to continue in their careers in firefighting. 514
As part of such study, the commission shall: 515
(1) Develop a tiered classification of firefighters based on various 516
factors the commission deems relevant, which may include, but need 517
not be limited to, a firefighter's certification and level of training, years 518
of experience, responsibilities, including any supervisory, executive, 519
support or administrative responsibilities and status as an employed 520
or volunteer firefighter, and the commission may include one of more 521
classifications for individuals training to become a firefighter; 522
(2) Identify existing benefits available to firefighters, including the 523
volunteer firefighter length of service award program established 524
under section 10 of this act and the retirement tier developed pursuant 525
to section 12 of this act, propose changes to any such benefits and 526
identify new benefits that could encourage recruitment and retention 527
of employed and volunteer firefighters; 528
(3) Consider as a factor for a firefighter's eligibility for any one or 529
more benefits identified under subdivision (2) of this subsection, 530
whether the firefighter (A) adheres to standard 1582 of the National 531
Fire Protection Association on comprehensive occupational medical 532
program for fire departments, or any subsequent standard by such 533
association that is applicable to fire departments, and (B) does not use 534
any tobacco products; and 535
(4) Consider whether eligibility for any one or more benefits 536
identified under subdivision (2) of this subsection should be 537 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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determined based on a firefighter's inclusion in a specific classification 538
tier, as developed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, in 539
order to provide incentives that encourage individuals to begin a 540
career in firefighting and encourage firefighters to continue in their 541
careers in firefighting. 542
(b) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commission shall report the 543
results of the study, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 544
of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 545
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and 546
security. 547
Sec. 14. (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) The Department of Public Health 548
shall establish a pilot program to provide emergency services 549
organizations, as defined in section 19a-904 of the general statutes, 550
with (1) equipment capable of identifying individuals at high risk of 551
cardiac arrest, (2) an early detection system capable of identifying 552
individuals who are at low risk of cardiac arrest before such 553
individuals experience critical cardiac issues, or (3) both such 554
equipment and system. Not later than October 1, 2023, the department 555
shall (A) post in a conspicuous place on the department's Internet web 556
site a description of the program, including, but not limited to, 557
eligibility criteria and the application process for such program, and 558
(B) notify each emergency services organization of the opportunity to 559
apply for participation in such program. 560
(b) Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner shall, in 561
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 562
report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 563
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security on the 564
result of such pilot program and recommendations as to whether to 565
continue or expand such program. 566
Sec. 15. (Effective July 1, 2023) The sum of five hundred thousand 567
dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and 568
Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal years ending 569 Substitute Bill No. 6841
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June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, for the purpose of providing funds, in 570
addition to any reimbursement provided pursuant to subsection (b) of 571
section 7-323p of the general statutes, as amended by this act, to reduce 572
the cost to trainees and fire departments of attendance at the state fire 573
school. 574
Sec. 16. (Effective July 1, 2023) The sum of five hundred thousand 575
dollars is appropriated to the Department of Emergency Services and 576
Public Protection from the General Fund, for the fiscal years ending 577
June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, for the purpose of providing funds to 578
reduce the cost to trainees and fire departments of attendance at 579
regional fire schools. 580
Sec. 17. (Effective July 1, 2023) The sum of seven hundred fifty 581
thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Public Health 582
from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for the 583
purposes of providing scholarships pursuant to section 4 of this act. 584
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 7-323o
Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 7-323p
Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 7 July 1, 2023 10a-77(d)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 10a-99(d)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 10a-105(e)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 11 July 1, 2023 3-13c
Sec. 12 from passage New section
Sec. 13 from passage New section
Sec. 14 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 15 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 16 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 17 July 1, 2023 New section Substitute Bill No. 6841
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ED Joint Favorable Subst.