Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00422 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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4		-	SB.docx
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	3	+	LCO No. 2647 1 of 14
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7		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 422
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 422
8	6		February Session, 2024
	7	+	LCO No. 2647
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(PS)
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10	16
11	17
12	18
13	19		AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND
14	20		RETENTION.
15	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
16	22		Assembly convened:
17	23
18	24		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) The Connecticut Housing 1
19	25		Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of mortgage 2
20	26		assistance to uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments 3
21	27		in the state. Such assistance shall be available to an eligible firefighter 4
22	28		for the purchase of a house as such firefighter's principal residence in 5
23	29		the community served by such firefighter. In making mortgage 6
24	30		assistance available under the program, the authority shall utilize down 7
25	31		payment assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies. The 8
26	32		terms of any mortgage assistance shall allow the mortgagee to realize a 9
27	33		reasonable portion of the equity gain upon sale of the mortgaged 10
28	34		property. 11
29	35		Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 10a-77 of the general statutes is 12
30	36		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 13
31	37		2024): 14
32		-	(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 15
	38	+	(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 15 Raised Bill No. 422
	39	+
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+	LCO No. 2647 2 of 14
	43	+
33	44		the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child 16
34	45		of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to 17
35		-	be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 18 Substitute Bill No. 422
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41		-
	46	+	be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 18
42	47		such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 19
43	48		for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 20
44	49		such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 21
45	50		provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in 22
46	51		section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in 23
47	52		section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in 24
48	53		time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 25
49	54		service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such 26
50	55		institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is 27
51	56		accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the 28
52	57		state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular 29
53	58		registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 30
54	59		of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 31
55	60		this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 32
56	61		enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 33
57	62		all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State 34
58	63		Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 35
59	64		academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical 36
60	65		college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active 37
61	66		member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has 38
62	67		been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's 39
63	68		designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled 40
64	69		or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time 41
65	70		basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any 42
66	71		dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or 43
67	72		supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in 44
68	73		section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 45
69	74		employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 46
70	75		the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child 47
71	76		or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of 48
72	77		this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was 49
73		-	killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 50
	78	+	killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 50 Raised Bill No. 422
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+
	82	+	LCO No. 2647 3 of 14
	83	+
74	84		10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of 51
75	85		the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who 52
76		-	was killed in action while performing active military duty with the 53 Substitute Bill No. 422
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	86	+	was killed in action while performing active military duty with the 53
83	87		armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and 54
84	88		who was a resident of this state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid 55
85	89		or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such 56
86	90		department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than 57
87	91		two years, (11) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid 58
88	92		or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such 59
89	93		department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than 60
90	94		five years, and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who 61
91	95		is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with a 62
92	96		regional community-technical college that accredits courses taken in 63
93	97		such program. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance 64
94	98		with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational 65
95	99		reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the 66
96	100		amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of 67
97	101		the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall 68
98	102		be given the same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in 69
99	103		registering for courses at regional community-technical colleges. 70
100	104		Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this 71
101	105		subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one 72
102	106		year. 73
103	107		Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 10a-99 of the 2024 supplement to the 74
104	108		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 75
105	109		thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 76
106	110		(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 77
107	111		undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State 78
108	112		University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the 79
109	113		armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or 80
110	114		to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after 81
111	115		January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such 82
112	116		institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted 83
113		-	for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 84
114		-	subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-85
115		-	103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 86 Substitute Bill No. 422
	117	+	for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 84 Raised Bill No. 422
116	118
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	122	+
	123	+	subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-85
	124	+	103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 86
122	125		except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 87
123	126		not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 88
124	127		which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and 89
125	128		is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 90
126	129		admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two 91
127	130		years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such 92
128	131		institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting 93
129	132		program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are 94
130	133		enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those 95
131	134		residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the 96
132	135		course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space 97
133	136		available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for 98
134	137		any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled 99
135	138		in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination 100
136	139		with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) 101
137	140		for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard 102
138	141		who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant 103
139	142		General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) 104
140	143		is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time 105
141	144		or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting 106
142	145		program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 107
143	146		in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 108
144	147		firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 109
145	148		company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 110
146	149		section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 111
147	150		who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 112
148	151		victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 113
149	152		resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 114
150	153		intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 115
151	154		[and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 116
152	155		surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 117
153	156		active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 118
154		-	after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a 119
155		-	uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as 120
156		-	documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a 121 Substitute Bill No. 422
	157	+	after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a 119 Raised Bill No. 422
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	162	+
	163	+	uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as 120
	164	+	documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a 121
163	165		member in the state for not less than two years, (11) for any dependent 122
164	166		child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, 123
165	167		who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such 124
166	168		a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any 125
167	169		student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at 126
168	170		said school offered in coordination with the university that accredits 127
169	171		courses taken in such program. If any person who receives a tuition 128
170	172		waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 129
171	173		educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 130
172	174		reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 131
173	175		and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 132
174	176		subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 133
175	177		tuition waivers in registering for courses at Connecticut state 134
176	178		universities. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 135
177	179		in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 136
178	180		than one year. 137
179	181		Sec. 4. Subsection (e) of section 10a-105 of the 2024 supplement to the 138
180	182		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 139
181	183		thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 140
182	184		(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 141
183	185		any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 142
184	186		Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 143
185	187		forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 144
186	188		been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 145
187	189		1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 146
188	190		of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 147
189	191		accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 148
190	192		of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-149
191	193		103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 150
192	194		except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 151
193	195		not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 152
194		-	which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is 153
195		-	domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 154 Substitute Bill No. 422
	196	+	which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is 153 Raised Bill No. 422
196	197
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	202	+	domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 154
202	203		to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age 155
203	204		or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, 156
204	205		provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or 157
205	206		(B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the 158
206	207		course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible 159
207	208		for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which 160
208	209		such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such 161
209	210		course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any active member 162
210	211		of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been 163
211	212		certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee 164
212	213		as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or 165
213	214		accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time 166
214	215		basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for 167
215	216		any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, 168
216	217		or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined 169
217	218		in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal 170
218	219		employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in 171
219	220		the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent 172
220	221		child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a 173
221	222		resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state 174
222	223		who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of 175
223	224		Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (8) for 176
224	225		any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse 177
225	226		of a person who was killed in action while performing active military 178
226	227		duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 179
227	228		11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (9) for a uniformed 180
228	229		member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by 181
229	230		the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state 182
230	231		for not less than two years, and (10) for any dependent child of a 183
231	232		uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as 184
232	233		documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a 185
233	234		member in the state for not less than five years. If any person who 186
234	235		receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this 187
235		-	subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, 188
236		-	such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational 189 Substitute Bill No. 422
	236	+	subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, 188 Raised Bill No. 422
237	237
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	241	+
	242	+	such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational 189
243	243		reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National Guard 190
244	244		described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be given the same 191
245	245		status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses 192
246	246		at The University of Connecticut. Notwithstanding the provisions of 193
247	247		section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" 194
248	248		includes domicile for less than one year. 195
249	249		Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) As used in this section: 196
250	250		(1) "Accrued service award" means the total value, as of a given date, 197
251	251		of a participant's program account. 198
252	252		(2) "Bona fide volunteer" has the same meaning as provided in 199
253	253		Section 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 200
254	254		corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 201
255	255		from time to time. 202
256	256		(3) "Commission" means the State Retirement Commission. 203
257	257		(4) "Eligible firefighter" means a firefighter who (A) is a bona fide 204
258	258		volunteer performing qualified services in a volunteer fire company or 205
259	259		department, and (B) is not otherwise earning credit for such qualified 206
260		-	service as a participant in any other length-of-service award program, 207
	260	+	service as a participant in any other length of service award program, 207
261	261		pension system operating pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision 208
262	262		(5) of subsection (c) of section 7-148 of the general statutes or any other 209
263	263		comparable program. 210
264	264		(5) "Participant" means an eligible firefighter who participates in the 211
265	265		program. 212
266	266		(6) "Program account" means a separate account maintained for each 213
267	267		participant reflecting applicable contributions, applicable forfeitures, 214
268	268		investment income or loss and administrative and investment expenses 215
269	269		allocated to each participant and paid from the Volunteer Firefighter 216
270		-	Length-of-Service Award Program Trust Fund, established under 217
271		-	subsection (c) of this section. 218 ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 422
	270	+	Length of Service Award Program Trust Fund, established under 217
	271	+	subsection (c) of this section. 218 Raised Bill No. 422
272	272
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277	276
278	277		(7) "Qualified service" has the same meaning as provided in Section 219
279	278		457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 220
280	279		corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 221
281	280		from time to time. 222
282	281		(b) The State Retirement Commission, in consultation with the 223
283	282		Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and the State Fire 224
284		-	Administrator, shall establish a volunteer firefighter length-of-service 225
	283	+	Administrator, shall establish a volunteer firefighter length of service 225
285	284		award program. The State Retirement Commission may contract with 226
286	285		third parties to provide services for such program. 227
287		-	(c) There is established a Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service 228
	286	+	(c) There is established a Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service 228
288	287		Award Program Trust Fund. The fund shall contain any moneys 229
289	288		required or permitted by law to be deposited in the fund and may apply 230
290	289		for and accept gifts, grants or donations from public or private sources 231
291	290		to enable the trust fund to carry out its objectives. Investment earnings 232
292	291		credited to the assets of the fund shall become part of the assets of the 233
293	292		fund. The fund shall be held in trust separate and apart from all other 234
294	293		moneys, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in the fund at the 235
295	294		end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal 236
296	295		year next succeeding. The fund shall be used to make payments as 237
297	296		provided in this section and for administrative expenses related to the 238
298	297		provisions of this section. 239
299	298		(d) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, each 240
300	299		volunteer fire company or department shall submit to the commission a 241
301	300		list of eligible firefighters and the amount of service credit each such 242
302	301		firefighter has earned with such department, on a form and in a manner 243
303	302		as determined by the commission. 244
304	303		(e) (1) Not later than April 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 245
305	304		commission shall determine which eligible firefighters satisfy the 246
306	305		service credit requirements established pursuant to regulations adopted 247
307	306		in accordance with subsection (k) of this section to be participants in the 248
308		-	program, and the amount of credits applicable to each such participant. 249 Substitute Bill No. 422
	307	+	program, and the amount of credits applicable to each such participant. 249
	308	+	(2) An eligible firefighter may decline to become a participant in the 250 Raised Bill No. 422
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315		-	(2) An eligible firefighter may decline to become a participant in the 250
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	313	+
316	314		program if such firefighter files with the commission, prior to such 251
317	315		firefighter satisfying such service credit requirements to become a 252
318	316		participant in the program, an irrevocable waiver of participation that 253
319	317		is signed by the eligible firefighter and the chief of the volunteer fire 254
320	318		company or department of which such firefighter is a member. 255
321	319		(3) A participant shall receive service credit for service as an eligible 256
322	320		firefighter before, on and after the effective date of this section. Service 257
323	321		credit earned by a participant shall never be forfeited. 258
324	322		(f) Not later than July 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 259
325		-	commission shall credit a length-of-service award, in an amount 260
	323	+	commission shall credit a length of service award, in an amount 260
326	324		determined by the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (k) of this 261
327	325		section, to the program account of each participant who the commission 262
328		-	determines qualifies for a length-of-service award pursuant to the 263
	326	+	determines qualifies for a length of service award pursuant to the 263
329	327		service credit requirements established by such regulations. No such 264
330	328		award may exceed the limit provided in Section 457(e)(11) of the 265
331	329		Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 266
332	330		internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 267
333	331		time. 268
334	332		(g) (1) A participant's accrued service award becomes vested once 269
335	333		such participant has five years of service credit, as determined pursuant 270
336	334		to regulations adopted under subsection (k) of this section. 271
337	335		(2) If a participant has not been an eligible firefighter for thirty-six 272
338	336		consecutive months and such participant's accrued service award has 273
339	337		not become vested, such accrued service award shall be forfeited and 274
340		-	deposited in the Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service Award 275
	338	+	deposited in the Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service Award 275
341	339		Program Trust Fund. 276
342	340		(h) The commission shall pay each participant such participant's 277
343	341		accrued service award when the participant: 278
344	342		(1) Becomes vested pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and has 279
345		-	attained the age of sixty-five years or over; 280 ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 422
	343	+	attained the age of sixty-five years or over; 280 Raised Bill No. 422
346	344
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352	349		(2) Has twenty years of service credit, provided the participant may, 281
353	350		prior to attaining such twenty years of service credit, file a written 282
354	351		election with the commission to defer payment of the accrued service 283
355	352		award until the participant attains the age of sixty-five; 284
356	353		(3) Is vested and has not been an eligible firefighter for at least thirty-285
357	354		six consecutive months; or 286
358	355		(4) Has been determined to be totally and permanently disabled by 287
359	356		the United States Social Security Administration, the Workers' 288
360	357		Compensation Commission or any other entity approved by the State 289
361	358		Retirement Commission. 290
362	359		(i) If a participant is paid such participant's accrued service award 291
363	360		pursuant to subsection (h) of this section and subsequently qualifies for 292
364		-	a length-of-service award at any other time pursuant to the provisions 293
	361	+	a length of service award at any other time pursuant to the provisions 293
365	362		of this section and regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (k) of this 294
366	363		section, the commission shall pay such service award directly to such 295
367	364		participant. 296
368	365		(j) If a participant dies prior to receiving such participant's accrued 297
369		-	service award pursuant to subsection (h) of this section or a length-of-298
	366	+	service award pursuant to subsection (h) of this section or a length of 298
370	367		service award pursuant to subsection (i) of this section, the commission 299
371	368		shall pay such award to any beneficiary the participant has designated 300
372	369		on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commission. 301
373	370		(k) Not later than January 1, 2025, the State Retirement Commission, 302
374	371		in consultation with the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control 303
375	372		and the State Fire Administrator, shall adopt regulations, in accordance 304
376	373		with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement 305
377		-	the volunteer firefighter length-of-service award program. Such 306
	374	+	the volunteer firefighter length of service award program. Such 306
378	375		regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions 307
379	376		regarding (1) earning service credits and determining the amount of 308
380	377		awards, which may include a point-based system that requires earning 309
381	378		points for responding to calls, attending meetings and trainings or other 310
382		-	factors, (2) documentation for earning such credits, including a system 311 Substitute Bill No. 422
	379	+	factors, (2) documentation for earning such credits, including a system 311
	380	+	to permit volunteer fire companies and departments to comply with the 312 Raised Bill No. 422
383	381
384	382
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388	383
389		-	to permit volunteer fire companies and departments to comply with the 312
	384	+	LCO No. 2647 11 of 14
	385	+
390	386		requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and (3) contesting 313
391	387		determinations of service credits awarded to a participant. 314
392	388		Sec. 6. Section 3-13c of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is 315
393	389		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 316
394	390		2024): 317
395	391		As used in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b, "trust funds" 318
396	392		includes the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund A, the 319
397	393		Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B, the Soldiers, 320
398	394		Sailors and Marines Fund, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance 321
399	395		Trust Fund, the State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, the Teachers' 322
400	396		Annuity Fund, the Teachers' Pension Fund, the Teachers' Survivorship 323
401	397		and Dependency Fund, the School Fund, the State Employees 324
402	398		Retirement Fund, the Hospital Insurance Fund, the Policemen and 325
403	399		Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in 326
404	400		subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-450 that is administered, 327
405	401		held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond 328
406	402		Trust, any Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency Reserve Fund created 329
407		-	pursuant to section 7-159d, the Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service 330
	403	+	pursuant to section 7-159d, the Volunteer Firefighter Length of Service 330
408	404		Award Program Trust Fund and all other trust funds administered, held 331
409	405		or invested by the State Treasurer. 332
410	406		Sec. 7. Section 1 of special act 23-1 is amended to read as follows 333
411	407		(Effective from passage): 334
412	408		(a) There is established a task force to study the shortage of 335
413	409		firefighters and emergency medical services personnel in the state. The 336
414	410		task force shall: 337
415	411		(1) Examine the factors associated with the shortage of firefighters 338
416	412		and emergency medical services personnel in the state; 339
417	413		(2) Study ways to alleviate such shortage, which shall include, but is 340
418	414		not limited to, an examination of (A) providing an income tax credit for 341
419		-	volunteer firefighters, (B) developing a pipeline from colleges and 342 Substitute Bill No. 422
	415	+	volunteer firefighters, (B) developing a pipeline from colleges and 342
	416	+	universities into firefighting and emergency medical services, (C) 343 Raised Bill No. 422
420	417
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425	419
426		-	universities into firefighting and emergency medical services, (C) 343
	420	+	LCO No. 2647 12 of 14
	421	+
427	422		offering tuition incentives for volunteer firefighters and emergency 344
428	423		medical services personnel, (D) streamlining certification and 345
429	424		recertification processes for firefighters and emergency medical services 346
430	425		personnel, and (E) providing sustainable and consistent state funding 347
431	426		for training of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel; 348
432	427		and 349
433	428		(3) Make recommendations to address such shortage. 350
434	429		(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 351
435	430		(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 352
436	431		one of whom is a municipal chief executive officer; 353
437	432		(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one of 354
438	433		whom is a municipal chief executive officer; 355
439	434		(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 356
440	435		Representatives, who is a firefighter; 357
441	436		(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who provides 358
442	437		emergency medical services; 359
443	438		(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 360
444	439		Representatives, who provides emergency medical services; 361
445	440		(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who is a 362
446	441		firefighter; 363
447	442		(7) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 364
448	443		or the commissioner's designee; 365
449	444		(8) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's 366
450	445		designee; and 367
451		-	(9) Three persons appointed by the Governor. 368 Substitute Bill No. 422
	446	+	(9) Three persons appointed by the Governor. 368
	447	+	(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 369
	448	+	(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 370 Raised Bill No. 422
452	449
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457	451
458		-	~~(c) Any member~~ of ~~the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 369~~
459		-	~~(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 370~~
	452	+	LCO No. 2647 13 of 14
	453	+
460	454		of the General Assembly. 371
461	455		(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 372
462	456		than [thirty days after the effective date of this section] July 1, 2024. Any 373
463	457		vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. 374
464	458		(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 375
465	459		tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 376
466	460		among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 377
467	461		the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than 378
468	462		[sixty days after the effective date of this section] August 1, 2024. 379
469	463		(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 380
470	464		General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety 381
471	465		and security shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 382
472	466		(g) Not later than January 1, [2024] 2025, the task force shall submit a 383
473	467		report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 384
474	468		committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 385
475	469		relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the provisions 386
476	470		of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on 387
477	471		the date that it submits such report or January 1, [2024] 2025, whichever 388
478	472		is later. 389
479		-	Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For purposes of this section: 390
480		-	(1) "Entry-level training" means the training requirements associated 391
481		-	with performing the basic duties of a firefighter, as determined by the 392
482		-	state fire school, a municipal or regional fire school or a municipality 393
483		-	within this state; 394
484		-	(2) "Cost of entry-level training" means the cost of training, 395
485		-	equipment, uniforms, salary and fringe benefits and any cost related to 396
486		-	firefighter entry-level training, except for the cost of any equipment or 397
487		-	uniforms that were returned by such firefighter; 398 Substitute Bill No. 422
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493		-
494		-	(3) "Firefighter" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-323j 399
495		-	of the general statutes, except that "firefighter" does not include a 400
496		-	volunteer firefighter; and 401
497		-	(4) "Municipality" has the same meaning as provided in section 7-323j 402
498		-	of the general statutes. 403
499		-	(b) If a firefighter who satisfactorily completes entry-level training 404
500		-	while employed by a municipality is subsequently hired by another 405
501		-	municipality on or after July 1, 2024, and within two years after the 406
502		-	firefighter completed the entry-level training, the municipality that 407
503		-	subsequently hires the firefighter shall reimburse the initial employing 408
504		-	municipality fifty per cent of the total cost of the entry-level training. 409
505		-	The provisions of this section shall not apply to a municipality that hires 410
506		-	a firefighter two years or more after the firefighter completes entry-level 411
507		-	training. 412
508		-	(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect an agreement 413
509		-	between a firefighter or a collective bargaining unit and a municipality 414
510		-	entered into prior to July 1, 2024, that provides for the reimbursement 415
511		-	of the cost of entry-level training. 416
512	473		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
513	474		sections:
514	475
515	476		Section 1 July 1, 2024 New section
516	477		Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 10a-77(d)
517	478		Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 10a-99(d)
518	479		Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 10a-105(e)
519	480		Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 New section
520	481		Sec. 6 July 1, 2024 3-13c
521	482		Sec. 7 from passage SA 23-1, Sec. 1
522		-	Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 New section
523	483
524		-	PS Joint Favorable Subst.
	484	+	Statement of Purpose:
	485	+	To enhance firefighter recruitment and retention. Raised Bill No. 422
	486	+
	487	+
	488	+
	489	+	LCO No. 2647 14 of 14
	490	+
	491	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	492	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	493	+	underlined.]
525	494