There are now dozens of bills directly or indirectly related to the Fire Service that we are tracking this legislative session. Several of these proposed bills concern issues that are priorities for CSFA and its member organizations this session (e.g., funding for Regional Fire Schools, bonding for Regional Fire School building projects, Post Traumatic Stress). I urge everyone to read my House Bill Status Report to review not only bills related to our priority issues but to also become familiar with the wide range of issues for which legislators have proposed legislation. At this point, a lot of bills only have a line or two of description and we should be on the lookout for changes and more information that will be added to bills in the coming weeks as some of them move forward.

Download the rest of the update and the House Bill Tracking below.

First, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend the meeting of the Fire EMS Caucus earlier this week. The focus of this second meeting this session was EMS issues and people who have given me feedback feel the meeting went well. Unfortunately, the meeting was not recorded on the Connecticut Network, so I do have a link to share if you missed it.

A date and time have not yet been set for the next meeting but I will announce that information as soon as it is available.

Please see the list of bills that are either directly or indirectly related to the Fire Service that have come out this week in the update and bill travking document below.

In accordance with state statute, fire service training is coordinated by the State Fire Administrator who is appointed by the Commission of Fire Prevention and Control. Fire Service training is progressive and is based on a four-step, professional development model that begins locally with recruitment of qualified applicants and culminates nationally with strategic programs and training for future executive leaders. All initial firefighter training generally begins either at a Regional Fire School for volunteer firefighters or the Connecticut Fire Academy [CFA] for career firefighters. Once initial training is completed, all firefighters return to their local fire departments for daily training, skills development and practice.

Connecticut’s nine regional fire schools serve as a vital bridge between the CFA and the local fire departments. Training is focused on ensuring competency by providing ongoing hands on skills development required by OSHA including: a) annual live fire training, b) vehicle and technical rescue, c) annual flammable liquid firefighting, d) Hazardous Materials response and e) supporting volunteer recruitment and retention. Regional fire schools serve as host sites for CFA firefighter, officer and instructor certification programs as well as serve as the practical skills evaluation locations for the CFA to conduct standardized testing. As fires and emergencies are not scheduled or planned, the regional fire schools keep responders and their equipment close to the communities they may be called to protect at a moments notice.

Everyone,
The session began this past Wednesday and proposed bills are already slowly emerging daily at the LOB. Representatives Pat Boyd and Ben McGorty, the co-chairs of the Fire/EMS Caucus, hope to be able to give us a date for the next caucus meeting by the end of next week. There are legislators who still don’t offices yet, and legislators are also still organizing their schedules with respect to committees and other responsibilities. I will post the next Fire/EMS Caucus meeting date and agenda in this weekly update as soon as it becomes available.

I have also begun for the 2019 legislative session to track proposed bills that might either directly or indirectly affect the Fire Service. Please download the complete Update below, as well as the House Bill Tracking, for bills that have come out this week, and bills we are watching:

Happy New Year!

We ask all of our CSFA members to continue to urge their respective legislators (especially the newlyelected) to join the Fire/EMS Caucus and attend the meetings during the 2019 session. The goal of the bipartisan caucus co-chairs is to pull together greater support for us and to create better understanding of issues related to the Fire Service among legislators. All legislators are welcome to participate and caucus meetings are open to the public.

The Legislative Session for the Connecticut General Assembly begins on January 9th, 2019.

Please also find attached the list of our legislative priorities contained in the minutes of our annual CSFA Legislative Meeting held this past November. I remind everyone that inevitably other issues concerning the Fire Service will arise during the coming weeks, however, we should make every effort to stay focused on the priorities that we have already agreed are our most important issues.

Click the links below to download then entire update, and the minutes of the November Legislative Committee meeting.

Everyone,

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of the son of Representative Linda Orange, Matthew Orange, 41, of Colchester. Matt fought a tough battle against cancer and died December 21st, 2018.

For more details, the following link will take you to the obituary provided by the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home: https://www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com/notices/Matthew-Orange

Representative Orange, a veteran legislator from the 48th District and Deputy Speaker of the House, was a chief proponent of Public Act 16-10 that was passed into law and paved the way for compensation for volunteer and career firefighters who suffer from job-related cancers. Representative Orange has also fought every year for increased funding for the Fire Service, particularly for our Regional Fire Schools.

CSFA President John Carew, Legislative Chairman Lew Clark and the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company ask that our association membership make an effort to show support for the Orange family at
this difficult time.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 from 1 – 2:30 PM at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester. A memorial service and celebration of his life will follow immediately at the funeral home at 2:30. Burial will be private in the Marlboro Center Cemetery.

Donations in Matt’s memory may be made to the Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Co., 52, Old Hartford Rd., Colchester 06415. For online condolences and flowers and gifts, please visit: https://www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com/notices/Matthew-Orange

Sincerely,
Leon Collins
Legislative Representative

This week’s CSFA Legislative update from Leon Collins has a summary of the Fire/EMS Caucus meeting that was held earlier this week. Also attached is the full list of CSFA legislative priorities for the upcoming 2019 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.