All,

HB 5207 (AN ACT IMPOSING A SURCHARGE ON CERTAIN PERSONAL RISK INSURANCE POLICIES TO FUND REGIONAL FIRE SCHOOLS’ OPERATING BUDGETS AND CERTAIN FIREFIGHTER TRAINING COSTS) had a public hearing but has stalled in the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. The best news is that we still have a commitment from Sen. Tim Larson to assist Rep. Linda Orange’s bill perhaps by amending it to another bill in Public Safety and Security Committee.

Additionally, we had a good long meeting with Sen. Steve Cassano and his staff today March 23^rd in which we discussed how the senator might use his SB 538 (AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION TO FUND FIRE TRAINING SCHOOLS) to help in our efforts with Rep. Orange’s HB 5207. We discussed some alternative funding sources and have another meeting on Tuesday to follow up the research Sen. Cassano has asked his staff to do between now and then.

HB 5089 (AN ACT ELIMINATING THE CITIZENS’ ELECTION PROGRAM AND TRANSFERRING FUNDS TO STATE AND REGIONAL FIRE TRAINING SCHOOLS) has not had any movement in the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Rep. Sampson has not provided any further action on the bill.

Several bills have moved forward in various committees (each bill listed bellow is followed by a link to the latest available version of the bill):

• HB 5176 (AN ACT INCREASING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. See Committee Bill No. 5176 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-05176-R01-HB.htm
• HB 5278 (AN ACT CONCERNING PAID SICK LEAVE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHERS AND CALL RECEIVING OPERATORS) moved to a Joint Favorable report in the Labor Committee. See File No. 65 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/FC/2017HB-05278-R000065-FC.htm
• HB 5298 (AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND PATIENTS DURING EMERGENCIES) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. See Committee Bill No. 5298 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-05298-R01-HB.htm
• HB 5755 (AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES’ LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN) was substituted and recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Health Committee. See File No. 115 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/FC/2017HB-05755-R000115-FC.htm
• HB 6038 (AN ACT CONCERNING GOOD SAMARITAN PROTECTIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RENDER EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO ANIMALS) was substituted and recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. See Committee Bill No. 6038 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-06038-R01-HB.htm
• HB 6258 (AN ACT CONCERNING GOOD SAMARITAN PROTECTIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RENDER EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO ANIMALS) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. Committee Bill No. 6258 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-06258-R01-HB.htm
• HB 6329 (AN ACT CONCERNING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING WASTE IN CONNECTICUT) is still in the Environment Committee. See Committee Bill No. 6329 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-06329-R01-HB.htm
• HB 6715 (AN ACT INCREASING THE PENALTIES FOR THE INTENTIONAL INJURY OR KILLING OF POLICE ANIMALS OR DOGS IN VOLUNTEER CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS) was recommended Joint Favorable and referred to the Judiciary Committee. See Committee Bill No. 6715 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-06715-R02-HB.htm
• HB 6954 (AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY INSPECTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BY LOCAL FIRE MARSHALS) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. See Committee Bill No. 6954 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-06954-R01-HB.htm
• HB 7047 (AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE APPARATUS SAFETY AND TESTING) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Planning and Development Committee. See File No. 90 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/FC/2017HB-07047-R000090-FC.htm
• HB 7139 (AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTING EMERGENCY VEHICLES) failed the Joint Favorable vote. See Raised Bill 7139 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-07139-R00-HB.htm
• HB 7263 (AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS AND TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE TAX AND RELATED STATUTES) was referred to the Finance Committee. See Raised Bill No. 7263 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/h/2017HB-07263-R00-HB.htm
• SB 27 (AN ACT INCLUDING CERTAIN MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL IMPAIRMENTS WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF “PERSONAL INJURY” UNDER THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION STATUTES) was substituted and recommended Joint Favorable by the Labor Committee. See File No. 60 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/FC/2017SB-00027-R000060-FC.htm
• SB 889 (AN ACT CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF A FIRE MARSHAL AND POLICE OFFICERS AT THE CONNECTICUT AIRPORT AUTHORITY) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety and Security Committee. See Raised Bill No. 889 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/s/2017SB-00889-R00-SB.htm
• SB 890 (AN ACT CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL REGARDING THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION CODE AND LICENSES FOR DEMOLITION) was recommended Joint Favorable by the Public Safety Committee. See Raised Bill 890 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/TOB/s/2017SB-00890-R00-SB.htm

Still no word from the UPFFA or the Governor’s staff regarding progress with finding an alternative funding source for 2016’s Public Act 16-10 (“The Cancer Bill”).

To see the full list of proposed bills that we are tracking, see our downloadable CSFA House Bill Status Report.

Please contact me if you have any questions or requests related to legislative issues.

Sincerely,

Leon Collins

Legislative Representative
The Connecticut State Firefighters Association
49 Midwood Road
Branford, CT 06405