The Connecticut State Firefighters Association

CSFA Legislative Update – May 1, 2013 from Ted Schroll, Jr with House Bill Status Report

admin — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:09:25 +0000

All,

The General Assembly met in session on Wed 4/24. They moved many bills from both the House & Senate out to committees. This is somewhat typical of bill movement after the budget documents are finalized. With no meetings on Thurs. or Fri., there is little to report. I would anticipate several committee meetings on Mon. & Tues. of next week to pass bills onto the calendar again. It has been mentioned that the General Assembly will be meeting on Wed. & Thurs. this next week. I expect to meet with some individuals on Monday to discuss acceptable language for H.B. #6015. I will also be lobbying members of the Appropriations committee to ask them to move H.B. #6454 out of committee on Tues.

I added S.B. #1113 to the listing this week. Section #12 of this bill makes reference to local ire marshals being able to communicate with the State Fire Marshal by email for certain conditions. Previously, by statute, those certain communications had to be by first class mail

Bill movement this past week: H.B. #5250, #5278, #5480, #5542, #6334, #6454, #6495, S.B. #823, #925, #975, & #1134 were all moved from the calendar to the noted committees. The following bills moved from committees out to the calendar: H.B. #6596, S.B. #431, #1173, & #1113.

House Bill Status Report

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative

Connecticut State Firefighters Association

703 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109-2634

FAX 860-529-7106

CELL 860-402-3865

Email thschroll@snet.net

CSFA Legislative Update – April 23, 2013 from Ted Schroll, Jr with House Bill Status Report

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:20:40 +0000

All,

I want to thank all of those who sent me emails relating to H.B. #6454, the Work Zone Bill. I submitted the information and I feel that it was a deciding factor to getting the bill back out of committee on Friday. There was several questions as to the need, but the ranking member of the committee mentioned, on the record, that he had received information from the CSFA (your emails) that made it appear that there was a need. The bill was passed out of committee with only one negative vote.

I have deleted a majority of the bills we have been tracking. The deadline for any new bills has passed. The Appropriations & Finance committees are the only active committees left open and their deadlines are Tues & Wed respectively. On Friday the Appropriations committee made public their answer to the Governor’s budget document. We were able to obtain some changes from the original. Of the items we follow, we were able to, once again, separate the Regional Fire School operating funding and the Fire Radio maintenance accounts into individual line items. We were not able to overcome the 5% reductions from the 2012/2013 rescission. However, we were able to overcome the 5% rescission to the CSFA disability account. That account was restored to the original 2012/2013 level. Keep in mind that this document is not final. The Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch will now negotiate a final budget.

The bills in this week’s listing are the only bills I have been tracking that are still alive. I have added 2 new bills this week. H.B. #5480 came out of the Environment committee with a section that pertains to tampering with hydrants, and H.B. #6655 pertains to college campus security. I am flagging the bill for future activity. There was a legislative session on Wednesday (4/17) and many bills moved from the calendar. Among them was H.B. #6454, the Work Zone bill, that was sent to the Transportation committee. That committee met on Friday and passed the bill back out to the House floor. We are still having discussions with the insurance industry regarding the language of H.B. #6015. We hope to be able to come to an agreement this upcoming week.

Activity this week includes; H.B. #5441, #6160, & #6454 were sent to committees and returned to the Calendar.

H.B. #5480, #6334, #6518, & S.B. #1134 came out of LCO and were placed on the calendar.

H.B. #6596 was sent to the Planning & Development committee.

S.B. #1073 was passed in the Senate and was moved to the House calendar.

House Bill Status Report

I am available for any questions.

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative

Connecticut State Firefighters Association

703 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109-2634

FAX 860-529-7106

CELL 860-402-3865

Email thschroll@snet.net

Thanks to all, CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner 2013 another success!

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:04:23 +0000

The Connecticut State Firefighters Association would like to thank everyone who helped to make our CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner another event to remember. Hundreds attended the fabulous banquet we hosted at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville to contribute to our annual celebration.

We are presently collecting pictures of CSFA Firefighters with their families and friends who attended the CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner 2013. Please send your shots to webmaster@csfa.org and we will soon share as many as we can with everyone here on our website. Thanks!

CSFA Legislative Update – March 29, 2013 from Ted Schroll, Jr. with House Bill Status Report

admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:29:26 +0000

All,

The session moves forward. This week marks the approximate mid way point. Some of the committees that we deal with have reached their JF (Joint Favorable) deadlines. This means that no more new bills will be coming out of these committees. The Labor and General Law committees had their JF deadlines on Tuesday of last week and the Public Safety committee had it’s JF deadline on Thursday. The Transportation and Energy & Technology committees have their deadlines next week.

Most of the bills that were JF’d this week came from the Public Safety committee.Those include: H.B. #5278, #5441, #5542, #6007, #6015, #6160, #6425, #6523, #6524, #6596, S.B. #929, & #1094. Some had substitute language and I have attempted to provide that language. I did not get all the substitute language that came out on Thursday. I expect to obtain that information and will pass that along next week.

Several bills that previously passed out of committee were moved onto the Calendar this week. They are: H.B. #6434, #6454, S.B. #431, #823, & #898. It’s possible that their journey through the system will continue.

If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call or email.

House Bill Status Report

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative

Connecticut State Firefighters Association

703 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109-2634

FAX 860-529-7106

CELL 860-402-3865

Email thschroll@snet.net

CSFA Health News Link for Firefighters at Asbestos.com

admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:19:04 +0000

Asbestos and Firefighters

One of our online goals at CSFA is to share useful information with members of the Fire Service.

To get the latest health information for Firefighters about issues related to asbestos and mesothelioma, visit this link from Asbestos.com. The site provides links to asbestos news, as well as links to asbestos exposure, asbestos products and much more.

The site also has asbestos information specific to Connecticut and the other 49 states in the U.S.

Mesothelioma News and Information

Asbestos.com also has information about mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment, resources for patient and families and other related topics.

Please share these links with anyone you know who needs it or wants to learn more about health issues related to asbestos and Firefighters.

Thanks!

CSFA Online 2013

CSFA Legislative Update – February 26, 2013 from Ted Schroll, Jr. with House Bill Status Report

admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:00:29 +0000

All,

The public hearing process continues. There are a few bills that are of interest to us this next week.

On Tuesday 2/26:

H.B. #6434 – This is the bill that would add any and all volunteer fire departments and volunteer ambulance companies to the definition of “employer” under OSHA. This could be labeled the GOSHEN F.D. bill. It is to counter the unsuccessful Dept of Labor’s lawsuit against the Goshen F. D.

S.B. #905 – Would extend portal-to-portal workers’ comp coverage for public safety dispatchers under certain circumstances.

S.B. #925 – Would extend workers’ comp benefits for police & firefighters who suffer cardiac emergencies from “on duty” to, “within 72 hours of engaging in certain public safety operations.”

On Thursday 2/28:

H.B. #6425 – This is a bill that has several issues related to changes to fire marshal certification & training activities. It is our understanding that the CFMA has serious concerns with the initiatives proposed within this bill.

H.B. #6454 – This bill was proposed by the CT Chiefs Assoc. & CT Career Chiefs Assoc., and submitted by the CSFA. It would provide that the street on front of your fire stations would be designated as work zones, to help provide protection for your firefighters that have to direct traffic flow upon leaving the station for an alarm or returning and having to stop traffic to allow the apparatus to back into the station. It is expected that Chief Flynn from Suffield will testify. Any additional Chiefs that are available are welcome. Also, any Fire Department that can support this initiative should provide written testimony on your letterhead to Chief Flynn or myself by Wed P.M., or directly to the Public Safety Committee at the LOB before noon on Thursday 2/28.

S.B. #929 – This bill is of particular interest to Fire Marshals. If this is of interest to you, I would suggest contacting your local fire marshal. I’m aware that the CFMA legislative committee has been having discussions over the content of this initiative.

House Bill Status Report

If I can be of any assistance. Do not hesitate to contact me.

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative

Connecticut State Firefighters Association

703 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109-2634

FAX 860-529-7106

CELL 860-402-3865

Email thschroll@snet.net

CSFA Announces 2013 Hall of Fame Dinner, Thursday April 11

admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:11:38 +0000

CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner 2013

CSFA Hall of Fame Dinner

The Connecticut State Firefighters Association proudly announces its Fifth Annual Hall of Fame Dinner to celebrate the dedication and achievement of its members past, present and future. Join us as we come together with our and families and friends from across the state.

Show Your Support for Connecticut’s Firefighters

We are currently accepting adds for our ad book/program to help defray the cost of the event. Our publication will be distributed at the event and throughout Connecticut’s “firefighting community”. An advertisement in our 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ ad book/program is the perfect opportunity to congratulate the recipients or promote your own products, services or organization.

When: Thursday, April 11, 2013

6-7pm Open Bar

7pm- until Dinner and Festivities

Cost $35.00 per person

Where:

The Aqua Turf Club, 556 Mulberry Street, Plantsville, CT

For Tickets:

CSFA Office (860) 423-5799 William Coffey

(203) 746-1424 Bob Guthrie (203) 934-7565

Program Book Price List

Center Page $175.00

Rear Cover $125.00

Inside F/Cover $125.00

Inside R/Cover $125.00

Full Page $100.00

Half Page $75.00

Business Card $25.00

ALL TICKETS MUST BE PAID FOR BY APRIL 1, 2013

The Class of 2013 Inductees

Lewis R. Clark, Morris
Charles H. Davin, Monroe (Deceased)
Clyde Finger, Bethel
Michael Grant, New Haven
Robert J. Guthrie, West Haven
Alan R. Hawkins, Storrs/Mansfield
Father Edward Hyland, Wolcott
Charles McInerney, Westfield/Middletown
Paul M. Metsack, Ashford (Deceased)
Scott Potter, Thomaston
John Reardon, New Haven (Deceased)
Ronald J. Samul, New London
James G. Wino, Waterford

Please make your check payable to CSFA and include your artwork/advertisement.

Forward ads to:

William Coffey

45 Beaver Brook Road

Danbury, CT 06810

Deadline for Ad Publication

Please note that all ads for publication in the 2013 Connecticut State Firefighters program must be received by March 25, 2013 – thank you for supporting your local Firefighters!

CSFA Hall of Fame Award Details and Requirements

Purpose: To recognize a present or former member(s) of an organized Fire Department who has served both his or her department and state association(s) above and beyond normal expectations over an extended period of time. They shall have demonstrated leadership and have shown themselves to be a motivating force for the betterment of the Fire Service throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed in a positive way to the enrichment of the Fire Service organizations they represented. Recipients’ names will be placed in alocation of prominence as a remembrance of their efforts which have benefited and improved the Fire Service of the state.

Eligibility: Any Firefighter who has served in a Fire Department and who has contributed to the betterment of the Fire Service on a local state or national level.

Nomination: Only one nomination shall be submitted annually and must be a recognized member of a fire department or a recognized fire service organization in the state of Connecticut the nomination shall include positions, deeds, accomplishments and awards of distinction. Review of nominations will be made by the CSFA awards committee. Awards as a result of brave actions will be given under a separate format administered by CSFA.

Applications: To be completed on CSFA application forms and received by the CSFA Awards Committee no later than July 1st. Persons nominated by a Fire Department shall be on CSFA applications and signed or countersigned by the active Chief of Department as well as the submitter. Those nominated by a state association shall be signed by the current president. All applications will be kept on file and reviewed in subsequent years.

Awards: To be made annually at the Hall of Fame awards dinner. A pin and plaque of accomplishment will be awarded to each recipient or their family in case of posthumous award. The number of awards to be presented each year will be recommended by the Hall of Fame Committee to the Executive Committee of CSFA at the February meeting.

CSFA Online 2013

CSFA Legislative Update February 20, 2013 from Ted Schroll, Jr. with House Bill Status Report

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:46:04 +0000

All,

Legislative activity is starting to ramp up in the past week. As the committees start to process proposals, more bills are being published. Gov. Malloy presented his budget message on 2/6 which also generated more activity. Public hearings are being scheduled. There will be a public hearing in the Public Safety committee this coming Thursday 2/21. I will attach their agenda to the end of this note.

New Bills published this past week: H.B. #6424, H.B. #6434, S.B. #898, & S.B. #905.

H.B. #5441 was referred to the Labor committee from the P & D committee.

Public hearings this coming week: H.B. #5187 in Transportation on Wed. 2/20,

H.B. #5895 & H.B. #5904 in G.A.E on Wed. 2/20,

H.B. #6160 & S.B. #708 in Public Safety on Thurs. 2/21,

H.B. #6332 in Children on Thurs. 2/21,

H.B. #6334 in Planning & Development on Wed. 2/20,

S.B. #594 in Human Services on Tues. 2/19,

S.B. #823 in Labor on Tues. 2/19.

Public Safety and Security Committee

PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA

Thursday, February 21, 2013

10:00 AM in Room 1E of the LOB

I. BILLS FOR REVIEW

1. Proposed S.B. No. 708 AN ACT CONCERNING FIRE RETARDANT PAINTS. (PS)

2. Proposed S.B. No. 709 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SILVER ALERT SYSTEM AND MAINTAINING THE PRIVACY OF A MISSING PERSON’S MEDICAL INFORMATION. (PS)

3. S.B. No. 825 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING PROFESSIONAL BONDSMEN, SURETY BAIL BOND AGENTS AND BAIL ENFORCEMENT AGENTS. (PS)

4. S.B. No. 834 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COUNCIL. (PS)

5. S.B. No. 856 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. (PS)

6. Proposed H.B. No. 6014 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEFENSE WEAPONS. (PS)

7. Proposed H.B. No. 6160 AN ACT REQUIRING WORKING SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS IN ALL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND PRIVATE DWELLINGS AT THE TIME TITLE IS TRANSFERRED. (PS)

8. H.B. No. 6336 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE TIMING OF TESTS FOR BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS IN OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CASES. (PS)

9. H.B. No. 6373 AN ACT CONCERNING THE POLICING OF INDIAN TRIBAL LAND. (PS)

10. H.B. No. 6374 AN ACT CONCERNING COORDINATED LONG-TERM DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY. (PS)

11. H.B. No. 6375 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS. (PS)

12. H.B. No. 6376 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. (PS)

House Bill Status Report

If anytone needs any further information about a specific bill, do not hesitate to email or call. If anyone wishes to provide any testimony on any specific bill, you can fax that directly to the specific committee or email the text to me, and I will deliver that information to the committee for you.

Ted Schroll Jr., Legislative Representative

Connecticut State Firefighters Association

703 Ridge Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109-2634

FAX 860-529-7106

CELL 860-402-3865

Email thschroll@snet.net

Find CSFA Legislative Updates for 2013 faster!

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:10:46 +0000

New Category on our website for “CSFA 2013 Legislative Updates”

A quick heads up:

To quickly find the latest Connecticut legislative news from our lobbyist in Hartford, just click on the new “CSFA 2013 Legislative Updates” category on the right side of our webpage, or click on the “CSFA News” category.

These posts and categories will be updated on csfa.org regularly throughout the 2013 legislative session with information from the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s representative Ted Schroll, Jr.

CSFA Online 2013

CSFA announces Firefighters Convention Weekend for 2013 – South Windsor, September 20-22, 2013

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:32:34 +0000

Annual Meeting, Elections & Parade – Save the Dates!!!

Please make plans to join CSFA for the celebration of the upcoming 130th State Firefighter Convention to be hosted this year by the South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department.

This year’s event also marks the 75th Anniversary of the South Windsor Fire Department. The convention committees from both CSFA and South Windsor are working hard to make this a very special weekend for Fire Service in Connecticut.

CSFA welcomes all Firefighters, families, friends and communities across the state to participate in the festivities and fun!

Please click on the following link for more details and information for the 2013 Connecticut State Firefighter Convention in South Windsor, CT Friday, September 20th through Sunday, September 22nd, 2013.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the celebration!

CSFA Online 2013