We had some good news this week.  The bill that would fund firefighter training was finally released by the Insurance & Real Estate committee.  The bill # is Senate Raised Bill S. B. #1042 entitled AAC FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND CRUMBLING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS.  Our hopeful thought is that the crumbling foundations issue will drag us through to the finish line.  We have been told that the crumbling foundations issue is near to “sunsetting” and they need to extend that issue.  Here is where we need a LOT OF HELP.  The committee chair told us that not all of the committee was not fully on board with doing this and that we will need a large show of support to move the bill.  We need all of the fire service to get behind this issue.  At the end of this report I will include the heading from within the CGA Bulletin which shows the bill number and an explanation of how to provide written testimony.  There are three different ways, on-line ZOOM, on line telephone, and written email.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!!  All three processes are simple.  Especially the last one.  No different than sending a normal email which we all do every day.  The first listed process is also very easy, you just have to click onto the on-Line registration in the heading and sign in.  After sign-in you will be sent a personal ZOOM “code”  Thursday A.M. you just click on the code like a regular ZOOM meeting.  The only downer is that the sign-in is first come, first serve, and you have to wait your turn.  It could be a few minutes or a few hours before you testify cuz legislators and elected town/city officials go first for the first hour.  BUT, the good part is that you are home, or in your office, and are able to do your regular business waiting for your turn.  The list is published so you know exactly where you are and when it’s your turn.  If you are not near the beginning, you can even go to lunch if you are down the list.  The worst part is that you have wait a little while, but think about down the road when you will no longer have to budget for your firefighter training any longer.

Again, we need your support.  If you are a volunteer and have a second position with a fire service organization, send 2 letters on different letter heads.  They won’t read them, just count them.  If a Fire Chief, have the mayor send a letter too.

Activity Last Week  3/8 thru 3/12

New Bills   3/11  HB #6626 & SB #1024

Public Hearings  3/8 = HB #5420, SB #102, #982 & #983

                            3/9 = SB #119 & #1010

                            3/10 = SB #760

                            3/11 = HB #6595 & SM #1002

JF’d Bills             3/12 = SB #931

Next Week  3/15 thru 3/19

Public Hearings   3/18 = HB #6626 & SB #1042 in Insurance Committee

HOUSE SESSION  3/16

INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021

The Insurance and Real Estate Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. via Zoom.  The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live.  In addition, the public hearing may be recorded and broadcast live on CT-N.com. 

Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form.  The registration form must contain the name of the person who will be testifying.  A unique email address must be provided for each person registered to speak.  Registration will close on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 3:00 P.M.  Speaker order of approved registrants will be listed in a randomized order and posted on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee website on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 8:00 P.M. under Public Hearing Testimony.  If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone.  To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0411 to leave your contact information.  Please email written testimony to instestimony@cga.ct.gov in Word or PDF format.  Testimony should clearly state testifier name and related bill number.  The Committee requests that testimony be limited to matters related to the items on the Agenda.  The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Legislators, Constitutional Officers, Chief Elected Municipal Officials and State Agency Heads.  Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony.  The Committee encourages witnesses to submit a written statement and to condense oral testimony to a summary of that statement.  All public hearing testimony, written and spoken, is public information.  As such, it will be made available on the CGA website and indexed by internet search engines.

SUBJECT MATTER:   Insurance Related Bills

S.B. No. 1042 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND CRUMBLING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS. 

If any questions, email me at the address at the bottom of the listing.

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative
Connecticut State Firefighters Association
Email  thschroll@snet.net