Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND TRANSFERRING VARIOUS
FUNCTIONS TO A DIVISION OF FIRE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND
PUBLIC PROTECTION, REVISING THE POWERS AND
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION ON FIRE PREVENTION AND
CONTROL AND ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP.
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 Section 29-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) There shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and
Public Protection a Division of State Police. The Commissioner of
Emergency Services and Public Protection shall serve as administrative
head and commanding officer of the State Police Division. As
administrative head, said commanding officer of the Division of State
Police shall delegate said commanding officer's jurisdiction of the affairs
of the Division of State Police to a deputy commissioner who shall have
the powers and privileges conferred by statute upon a state policeman.
(b) There shall be within said department a Division of Emergency
Management and Homeland Security. The commissioner shall serve as
administrative head of said division. As administrative head, said
commissioner shall delegate said commissioner's jurisdiction of the Substitute House Bill No. 5483
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Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to a
deputy commissioner. The deputy commissioner shall posse ss
professional training and knowledge consisting of not less than five
years of managerial or strategic planning experience in matters relating
to public safety, security, emergency services and emergency response.
No person possessing a record of any criminal, unlawful or unethical
conduct shall be eligible for or hold such position. Any person with any
present or past political activities or financial interests that may
substantially conflict with the duties of the deputy commissioner or
expose such person to potential undue influence or compromise such
person's ability to be entrusted with necessary state or federal security
clearances or information shall be deemed unqualified for such position
and shall not be eligible to hold such position.
(c) (1) There shall be within said department a Division of Fire
Services Administration. The State Fire Administrator shall be the
administrative head of said division.
(2) The functions, powers, duties and personnel of the former Office
of State Fire Administration shall be transferred to the Division of Fire
Services Administration pursuant to the provisions of sections 4-38d
and 4-39.
(3) The Division of Fire Services Administration shall constitute the
successor to the Office of State Fire Administration in accordance with
the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. Wherever the words
"Office of State Fire Administration" are used in the general statutes, the
words "Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department
of Emergency Services and Public Protection" shall be substituted in lieu
thereof. Any order or regulation of the former Office of State Fire
Administration that is in force on the effective date of this section shall
continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of the Division of
Fire Services Administration within the Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection until amended, repealed or superseded Substitute House Bill No. 5483
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pursuant to law.
Sec. 2. Section 7-323k of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) (1) There is established a Commission on Fire Prevention and
Control. [to] Until June 30, 2025, the commission shall consist of twelve
members appointed by the Governor. The State Fire Marshal or his or
her designee and the president of the Connecticut State Colleges and
Universities or his or her designee shall serve as ex-officio, voting
members of said commission. Of the twelve members appointed by the
Governor, two shall represent The Connecticut State Firefighter's
Association, two shall represent the Connecticut Fire Chiefs
Association, two shall represent the Uniformed Professional Firefighters
of the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, two shall
represent the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, two shall
represent the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association and
two shall represent the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. The
term of any member appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall end
on June 30, 2025.
(2) On and after July 1, 2025, the commission shall consist of the
following members:
(A) Two members of The Connecticut State Firefighter's Association,
one of whom is the chairperson of the association's education
committee, appointed by the Governor;
(B) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association,
appointed by the Governor;
(C) Two members of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs' Association,
appointed by the Governor;
(D) Two members of the Uniformed Professional Firefighters of the Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 4 of 15
International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, appointed by the
Governor;
(E) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association,
appointed by the Governor;
(F) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors
Association, appointed by the Governor;
(G) A representative of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns,
appointed by the Governor;
(H) A representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities,
appointed by the Governor;
(I) A representative of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns,
appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public
safety and security;
(J) A representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities,
appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public
safety and security;
(K) A member of the Connecticut Fire Equipment Mechanics
Association, appointed by the House ranking member of the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to public safety and security;
(L) A representative of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory
Board, appointed by the Senate ranking member of the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to public safety and security;
(M) The State Fire Marshal, who shall be a nonvoting member; Substitute House Bill No. 5483
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(N) The forest protection supervisor within the Forestry Division of
the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or such
supervisor's designee, who shall be a nonvoting member; and
(O) The commanding officer of the Fire and Explosion Investigation
Unit of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection, or such officer's designee, who shall be
a nonvoting member.
(b) On or before July fifteenth, annually, each organization to be
represented on said commission shall submit to the [Governor]
appropriate appointing authority a list of nominees for appointment to
said commission, which list the [Governor] appointing authority may
use when making appointments to said commission. [On or before
September 1, 1975, the Governor shall appoint eight members of said
commission to serve for a term of three years and on or before
September 1, 1976, he shall appoint four members for a term of one year.
Thereafter he] Appointing authorities shall appoint members to said
commission [, to replace those whose terms have expired,] to serve for
three years, or until a successor is appointed. Any vacancy in the
membership of the commission shall be filled by the appointing
authority for the unexpired portion of the term. Persons appointed to
said commission shall be qualified, by experience or education, in the
fields of fire protection, fire prevention, fire suppression, fire fighting
and related fields.
(c) The commission shall meet at such times and at such places as it
deems proper. [Said] On and before June 30, 2025, the commission shall
elect from its membership a [chairman, vice chairman] chairperson, vice
chairperson and secretary who shall serve a one year term commencing
on October first of the year in which they are elected, provided such
terms shall expire on June 30, 2025, and nothing contained herein shall
prevent their reelection to such office. On and after July 1, 2025, the
Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission from the Substitute House Bill No. 5483
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commission's membership, and the commission shall elect from its
membership a vice chairperson and secretary, who shall serve one year
terms, provided nothing contained herein shall prevent their reelection
to such office. No member of said commission shall receive
compensation for such member's services.
(d) Members of the commission shall not be considered as holding
public office solely by virtue of their membership on said commission.
(e) On and after July 1, 2025, the members of the education committee
of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Inc., shall serve as a
subcommittee of the commission on matters relating to fire schools.
[(e)] (f) The commission shall be within the Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection.
Sec. 3. Section 7-323l of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) The commission shall:
(1) Recommend minimum standards of education and physical
condition [required of each candidate] for candidates for any firefighter
position;
(2) Establish standards for [a] fire service training and education
[program, on a voluntary basis] programs, and develop and conduct an
examination program to certify those fire service personnel who
satisfactorily demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the
fire service training and education program standards;
(3) Establish an optional fire service training and education program
in the handling of incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles
and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or
nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum for such Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 7 of 15
techniques is made available at no cost from (A) institutions of higher
education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations that are
concerned with juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder,
cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, or (B)
collaborations of such institutions, professionals or organizations;
(4) Conduct fire fighting training and education programs designed
to assist firefighters in developing and maintaining their skills and
keeping abreast of technological advances in fire suppression, fire
protection, fire prevention and related fields;
(5) Recommend standards for promotion to the various ranks of fire
departments;
(6) Be authorized, with the approval of the Commissioner of
Emergency Services and Public Protection, to apply for, receive and
distribute any state, federal or private funds or contributions available
for training and education of fire fighting personnel;
(7) Recommend that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and
Public Protection approve or reject the establishment of, or, when
appropriate, suspend or revoke the approval of, regional fire schools in
accordance with section 7-323u; [and]
(8) Advise the Division of Fire Services Administration within the
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection on the
management of the Statewide Fire Service Disaster Response Plan;
(9) Implement the recommendations of the study of the fire service
authorized pursuant to subdivision (36) of subsection (b) of section 41
of public act 23-204; and
[(8)] (10) Submit to the Governor, the [Joint Legislative Management
Committee of the General Assembly] joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 8 of 15
and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual
report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and
accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations
on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and
capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools.
(b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of
Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement
the provisions of this section.
Sec. 4. Section 7-323n of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
[There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which
office] The Division of State Fire Services Administration within the
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall: [(a)] (1)
Carry out the provisions of this part; [(b)] (2) administer the state's
responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; [(c)] (3)
develop a master plan for fire prevention and control; and [(d)] (4) carry
out any other function which the commission may devise. [Subject to
the provisions of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical
and other assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions
of this section.]
Sec. 5. Section 7-323o of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) There is established the position of State Fire Administrator. [who]
Prior to July 1, 2025, the State Fire Administrator shall be recommended
by the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and be appointed by
the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. [and
who] Upon a vacancy in the position of State Fire Administrator Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 9 of 15
occurring on or after July 1, 2025, the Commission on Fire Prevention
and Control may recommend candidates for the position of State Fire
Administrator to the commissioner, and the commissioner shall appoint
such State Fire Administrator, who shall be qualified for the position by
at least five years of experience in the fire service.
(b) The Division of Fire Services Administration shall:
[(1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n; (2) administer]
(1) Administer federal funds and grants allocated to the fire services
of the state; [(3) provide]
(2) Provide technical assistance and guidance to fire fighting forces of
any state or municipal agency; [(4) develop]
(3) Develop a centralized information and audiovisual library
regarding fire prevention and control; [(5) accumulate]
(4) Accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire prevention data; [(6)
recommend]
(5) Recommend specifications of fire service materials and equipment
and assist in the purchasing thereof; [(7) assist]
(6) Assist in mutual aid coordination; [(8) coordinate]
(7) Coordinate fire programs with those of the other states; [(9) assist]
(8) Assist in communications coordination; [(10) establish]
(9) Establish and maintain a fire service information program; [and
(11) review]
(10) Review and approve the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment
at state institutions, facilities and properties; [and, on and after July 1,
1985, coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 10 of 15
such institutions, facilities and properties.]
(11) Recommend and provide reports on revisions to statutes relating
to firefighter training and fire prevention and control;
(12) Advise and assist the Commission on Fire Prevention and
Control regarding legislative proposals;
(13) Encourage the expansion and improvement of existing regional
firefighter training facilities in cooperation with the Commission on Fire
Prevention and Control;
(14) Administer the state fire school and regional fire schools;
(15) Administer certification examinations, testing procedures and
reciprocity recognition for credentials in the fire service disciplines;
(16) Manage the Statewide Fire Service Disaster Response Plan, with
the advice of the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control; and
(17) Make recommendations to the Commission on Fire Prevention
and Control and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public
Protection pertaining to the operational funding of the state fire school
and regional fire schools.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to
forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to
sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive.
Sec. 6. Section 7-313m of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the chief
of a volunteer fire department for a distressed municipality, as defined
in section 32-9p, shall submit to the [State Fire Administrator] Division Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 11 of 15
of Fire Services Administration within the Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection a report on the yearly average of the
number of volunteer firefighters from such municipality's volunteer fire
department who enrolled in Firefighter I certification and recruit
training based on the preceding four years, except the year commencing
January 1, 2020, shall not be included in any such four preceding years
for purposes of calculating such average.
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services
Administration shall award a grant to any distressed municipality with
a volunteer fire department for the purposes of covering costs related to
the provision of Firefighter I certification and recruit training for
volunteer firefighters at regional fire schools. The amount of such grant
award for each such distressed municipality shall be equal to the
product of (1) the average cost of a Firefighter I certification and recruit
training program at a regional fire school, and (2) the average number
of volunteer firefighters from such distressed municipality's volunteer
fire department who enrolled at a regional fire school for such
certification and training.
(c) Not later than February 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the [State
Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration shall
submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies a
report on the (1) reports submitted by the chiefs of volunteer fire
departments of distressed municipalities pursuant to subsection (a) of
this section, and (2) average cost of a Firefighter I certification and
recruit training program at a regional fire school.
Sec. 7. Section 7-323s of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): Substitute House Bill No. 5483
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(a) The [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services
Administration within the Department of Emergency Services and
Public Protection, within available appropriations, shall develop model
guidelines, on or before January 1, 2007, to be used by municipalities
with paid municipal emergency personnel and municipalities with
volunteer emergency personnel in entering into agreements authorizing
volunteer emergency personnel to serve during personal time.
(b) A municipality with paid municipal emergency personnel and a
municipality with volunteer emergency personnel may enter into an
agreement authorizing paid emergency personnel to serve during
personal time as active members of a volunteer fire department in the
municipality in which they reside. In developing such agreements, such
municipalities shall consider the model guidelines developed by the
[State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services Administration
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The municipalities that are parties to an agreement entered into
under subsection (b) of this section may request the Labor
Commissioner to provide assistance, within available appropriations, in
resolving such issues arising out of the agreement as the commissioner
deems appropriate.
Sec. 8. Section 7-323v of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) The [State Fire Administrator] Division of Fire Services
Administration within the Department of Emergency Services and
Public Protection shall, within available appropriations, pay five
hundred dollars to each volunteer fire company for each call to which it
responds on (1) a limited access highway, designated pursuant to
section 13b-27, (2) the section of the highway known as the Berlin
Turnpike, which begins at the end of the existing Wilbur Cross Parkway Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 13 of 15
in the town of Meriden and extends northerly along Route 15 to the
beginning of a section of limited access highway in the town of
Wethersfield known as South Meadows Expressway, or (3) the section
of Route 8 in the town of Beacon Falls which is within the boundaries of
the Naugatuck State Forest.
(b) No municipality that provides funds to a volunteer fire company
may reduce such funding based on the payments that such company
receives, or is anticipated to receive, under subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Any regional fire school may
receive and use federal, state or private funds or contributions for the
facilities and operations of such school.
Sec. 10. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working
group to make recommendations regarding the structure and
operations of the Office of State Fire Marshal and the Office of Education
and Data Management within the Department of Administrative
Services in order to effectively administer code development, code
enforcement, fire prevention and fire investigation functions.
(b) The working group shall consist of the following members:
(1) The chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and ranking members of the
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to public safety and security, or their designees;
(2) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection,
or the commissioner's designee;
(3) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the
commissioner's designee;
(4) The head of the Office of Education and Data Management within
the Department of Administrative Services; and Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 14 of 15
(5) A representative of the Connecticut State Fire Marshals
Association, who shall be appointed by the chairpersons of the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to public safety and security.
(c) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not
later than July 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing
authority.
(d) The working group shall select a chairperson from among its
members. Such chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the
working group, which shall be held not later than August 1, 2024.
(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety
and security shall serve as administrative staff of the working group.
(f) Not later than January 1, 2025, the working group shall submit a
report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the provisions
of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The working group shall
terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2025,
whichever is later.
Sec. 11. Section 7-323j of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
As used in this part, "commission" means the Commission on Fire
Prevention and Control; "municipality" means town, city, consolidated
town and city, consolidated town and borough, borough, school district,
fire district, fire and sewer district, sewer district, lighting district or any
other municipal corporation or taxing district upon which is placed the
duty of, or which has itself assumed the duty of, protecting its
inhabitants from loss by fire; "fire fighting duties" means and includes Substitute House Bill No. 5483
Public Act No. 24-136 15 of 15
duties performed in connection with the suppression and prevention of
fires, fire training and rescue, fire investigation, arson investigation,
details and assignments to protect the public safety against fire and
other related work; "firefighters" means any person who is regularly
employed and paid by any municipality or by a contractor which is a
nonprofit corporation for the purpose of performing fire fighting duties
for a municipality on an average of not less than thirty-five hours per
week or any volunteer who performs fire fighting duties. [and who
elects to cooperate with the commission in accordance with section 7-
323m.]
Sec. 12. Section 7-323m of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective
July 1, 2025)