Chapter 104

Sec. 7-294h. State and local police training programs to provide training on the handling of juvenile matters and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder. On and after January 1, 2017: (1) Each police basic or field training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall provide a minimum of twenty-seven hours of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters which includes, but is not limited to, the following: (A) Techniques for handling incidents involving juveniles; (B) information relative to the processing and disposition of juvenile matters; (C) applicable procedures in the prosecution of cases involving juveniles; (D) information regarding resources of the juvenile justice system in the state; (E) the use of graduated sanctions; (F) techniques for handling trauma; (G) restorative justice practices; (H) adolescent development; (I) risk-assessment and screening tools; (J) emergency mobile psychiatric services; and (K) on and after January 1, 2026, information relative to the blue envelopes designed pursuant to section 14-11j and yellow envelopes designed pursuant to section 14-11l and techniques for handling incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum for such techniques is available at no cost to the division from (i) institutions of higher education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations that are concerned with juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, or (ii) a collaboration of such institutions, professionals or organizations; (2) each police basic or field training program conducted or administered by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall provide a minimum of fourteen hours of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as provided in subdivision (1) of this section; and (3) each police review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall provide a minimum of one hour of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as provided in subdivision (1) of this section.

(P.A. 89-273, S. 12; P.A. 95-108, S. 8; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 16-147, S. 10; P.A. 17-166, S. 1; P.A. 19-147, S. 1; P.A. 25-159, S. 31.)

History: P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 16-147 replaced “July 1, 1990” with “January 1, 2017”, amended Subdiv. (1) to add reference to field training and to add Subparas. (E) to (J) re additional training relative to juvenile matters, and amended Subdiv. (2) to add reference to field training, effective January 1, 2017; P.A. 17-166 amended Subdiv. (1) by adding Subpara. (K) re techniques for handling incidents involving juveniles with autism spectrum disorder or nonverbal learning disorder; P.A. 19-147 amended Subdiv. (1)(K) by replacing “January 1, 2018” with “January 1, 2020” and adding references to adults and cognitive impairment, effective January 1, 2020; P.A. 25-159 amended Subdiv. (1)(K) by changing January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2026, and adding provision re blue and yellow envelopes, effective January 1, 2026.

Sec. 7-294p. Connecticut Police Academy. Maintenance and operation. Municipal police officer training and education extension account. (a) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, in consultation with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, maintain and operate the Connecticut Police Academy to offer training for municipal police officers. The department, in consultation with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, shall fix tuition and fees for training, education programs and sessions and for such other purposes as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection deems necessary for the operation and support of the academy. Such fees shall be used solely for training and educational purposes.

(b) The department may establish and maintain a municipal police officer training and education extension account, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. The account shall be used for the operation of such training and education programs and sessions as the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, may establish. All proceeds derived from the operation of the training and education programs and sessions shall be deposited in the General Fund and shall be credited to and become a part of the resources of the account. All direct expenses incurred in the conduct of the training and education programs and sessions shall be charged and any payments of interest and principal of bonds or any sums transferable to any fund for the payment of interest and principal of bonds and any cost of equipment for such operations may be charged, against the account on order of the State Comptroller. Any balance of receipts above expenditures shall remain in the account to be used for training and education programs and sessions.

(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 40; P.A. 11-51, S. 149; 11-61, S. 97; P.A. 25-110, S. 19.)

History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 11-51 replaced former provisions re recovering costs of providing training at Connecticut Police Academy from municipalities with Subsecs. (a) and (b) re maintenance and operation of Connecticut Police Academy, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 added “in consultation with the Police Officer Standards and Training Council” re department's duties and deleted provision re approval of Office of Policy and Management, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 25-110 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to General Fund, effective July 1, 2025.

Sec. 7-294vv. Credit toward basic or review training given to police officers or probationary candidates who receive training in bleeding control. (a) As used in this section, “basic training”, “review training” and “probationary candidate” have the same meanings as provided in section 7-294a.

(b) A police officer or probationary candidate who receives training in bleeding control from an individual who is qualified as a bleeding control trainer through the trainer qualification program administered pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-453b shall be given credit for such training toward the basic or review training required by subsection (a) of section 7-294d.

(P.A. 25-160, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 25-160 effective July 1, 2025.

Sec. 7-294ww. Youth diversion policy and training curriculum. Not later than February 1, 2026, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b, the chairpersons of the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee established pursuant to section 46b-121n and representatives of the community expertise subcommittee of said committee shall develop (1) a state-wide uniform youth diversion policy for proposed adoption by said council, and (2) a youth diversion training curriculum for proposed inclusion in minimum basic training programs requiring satisfactory completion for purposes of obtaining certification as a police officer.

(P.A. 25-168, S. 249.)

History: P.A. 25-168 effective June 30, 2025.

PART III

FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Sec. 7-313c. Indemnification for educational expenses. (a) Any town, city or borough subject to the approval of its legislative body, shall indemnify any paid or volunteer member of its fire department who, after October 1, 1969, has commenced and has successfully completed a course or courses in fire technology and administration offered by the Connecticut State Community College. Such indemnification shall be limited to expenses incurred by such member for tuition and textbook charges.

(b) This section shall not apply to any member of a fire department of a town, city or borough receiving educational benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any Connecticut fire department association.

(1969, P.A. 703, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-260, S. 6, 41; P.A. 92-126, S. 39, 48; P.A. 18-72, S. 19; P.A. 25-22, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 89-260 in Subsec. (a) substituted “regional technical colleges” for “state technical colleges”; P.A. 92-126 changed a reference to technical colleges to community-technical colleges in Subsec. (a); P.A. 18-72 amended Subsec. (b) to replace “Veterans' Administration” with “United States Department of Veterans Affairs”; P.A. 25-22 replaced reference to regional community-technical colleges with Connecticut State Community College in Subsec. (a), effective June 9, 2025.

Sec. 7-313g. “Firefighter” defined. For purposes of this section and sections 3-123, 7-313h to 7-313k inclusive, and 29-303, “firefighter” shall include any (1) local fire marshal, deputy fire marshal, fire investigator, fire inspector and such other classes of inspectors and investigators for whom the State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee, acting jointly, have adopted minimum standards of qualification pursuant to section 29-298; and (2) uniformed member of a paid municipal, state or volunteer fire department or of the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Tweed-New Haven Airport and any entity that contracts with the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority.

(P.A. 16-10, S. 2; P.A. 25-168, S. 410.)

History: P.A. 16-10 effective February 1, 2017; P.A. 25-168 amended Subdiv. (2) by adding provisions re Connecticut Airport Authority and Tweed-New Haven Airport.

Sec. 7-313h. Firefighters cancer relief account. (a) There is established an account to be known as the “firefighters cancer relief account”, which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by (1) the cancer relief subcommittee of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, established pursuant to section 7-313i, for the purposes of providing wage replacement benefits to firefighters who are diagnosed with a condition of cancer described in section 7-313j, and (2) by the State Treasurer for purposes of providing reimbursement to municipal employers and state employers that provide compensation and benefits to firefighters diagnosed with a condition of cancer in accordance with section 7-313p.

(b) The State Treasurer shall invest the moneys deposited in the firefighters cancer relief account in a manner reasonable and appropriate to achieve the objectives of such account, exercising the discretion and care of a prudent person in similar circumstances with similar objectives. The State Treasurer shall give due consideration to rate of return, risk, term or maturity, diversification of the total portfolio within such account, liquidity, the projected disbursements and expenditures, and the expected payments, deposits, contributions and gifts to be received. The moneys in such account shall be continuously invested and reinvested in a manner consistent with the objectives of such account until disbursed in accordance with sections 3-123, 7-313i and 7-313p.

(c) The moneys in the firefighters cancer relief account shall be used solely for the purposes of (1) providing wage replacement benefits to firefighters who are diagnosed with a condition of cancer described in section 7-313j, (2) providing reimbursement to municipal employers and state employers for payment of compensation and benefits as described in section 7-313p, and (3) to fund the expenses of administering the firefighters cancer relief program established pursuant to sections 7-313j and 7-313p.

(P.A. 16-10, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 219; P.A. 23-204, S. 162; P.A. 25-110, S. 20; 25-168, S. 409.)

History: P.A. 16-10 effective February 1, 2017; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to moneys deposited pursuant to Sec. 16-256g, effective October 31, 2017; P.A. 23-204 amended Subsec. (a) by dividing into Subdivs. and adding Subdiv. (2) re reimbursement to municipalities providing compensation and benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer and amended Subsec. (c) by dividing into Subdivs. and adding Subdiv. (2) re reimbursement to municipalities for payment of compensation and benefits; P.A. 25-110 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to General Fund and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing “municipalities” with “municipal employers and state employers”.

Sec. 7-313p. Benefits for firefighters with cancer diagnosis resulting in death or disability. (a) For purposes of this section and section 7-313h:

(1) “Firefighter” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-313g;

(2) “Compensation” has the same meaning as provided in section 31-275;

(3) “Municipal employer” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-467;

(4) “Interior structural firefighter” means an individual who performs fire suppression, fire rescue, or both, either inside of buildings or in closed structures that are involved in a fire station beyond the incident stage;

(5) “State employer” means the state of Connecticut, including any agency or department of the state, any board of trustees of a state-owned or supported college or university and branches thereof, the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Tweed-New Haven Airport and any entity that contracts with the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority; and

(6) “Administrative law judge” has the same meaning as provided in section 31-275.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 568, a firefighter diagnosed with any condition of cancer affecting the skin, brain, skeletal system, digestive system, endocrine system, respiratory system, lymphatic system, reproductive system, urinary system or hematological system resulting in such firefighter's death or temporary or permanent total or partial disability, or such firefighter's dependents, as the case may be, shall receive (1) compensation and benefits from the account, established pursuant to section 7-313h, in the same amount and in the same manner that would be provided under chapter 568 if such death or disability was caused by an occupational disease which arose out of and in the course of such firefighter's employment and was suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of such firefighter's employment, and (2) (A) the same retirement or survivor benefits, from the municipal or state retirement system under which such firefighter is covered, or (B) the disability benefits available from the Connecticut State Firefighters Association pursuant to section 3-123, that would have been paid under such system if such death or disability was caused by an occupational disease which arose out of and in the course of such firefighter's employment and was suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of such firefighter's employment, provided such firefighter has:

(i) Submitted to a physical examination subsequent to such member's entry into service that failed to reveal any evidence of such cancer;

(ii) Has not used cigarettes, as defined in section 12-285, during the fifteen-year period prior to such diagnosis;

(iii) Was employed for at least five years in any combination as (I) an interior structural firefighter by a municipal employer or state employer or by a volunteer fire department, or (II) a local fire marshal, deputy fire marshal, fire investigator, fire inspector or such other class of inspectors or investigators for whom the State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee, acting jointly, have adopted minimum standards of qualification pursuant to section 29-298; and

(iv) Has submitted to annual medical health screenings as recommended by such firefighter's medical provider.

(c) Any individual who is no longer actively serving as a firefighter but who otherwise would be eligible for compensation or benefits pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section may apply for such benefits or compensation not more than five years from the date such individual last served as a firefighter.

(d) To apply for compensation or benefits pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a firefighter shall provide notice to the Workers' Compensation Commission and the municipal employer or state employer of such firefighter, in the same manner as workers' compensation claims under chapter 568.

(e) (1) The municipal employer or state employer that employs the firefighter applying for compensation and benefits shall administer claims submitted pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section in the same manner as workers' compensation claims under chapter 568. Such municipal employer or state employer shall (A) pay to the firefighter the compensation or benefits such firefighter is entitled to, and (B) submit, in a form and manner provided by the State Treasurer, an application for reimbursement from the firefighters cancer relief account. Payments for reimbursement shall be processed not later than forty-five days after such application is received.

(2) Any costs associated with a firefighter's treatment of cancer that are not covered by such firefighter's personal or group health insurance shall be reimbursed, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, from the firefighters cancer relief account to the municipal employer or state employer who applied for reimbursement pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, provided such treatment complies with the provisions of section 31-294d.

(3) If the firefighters cancer relief account becomes insolvent, no municipal employer or state employer shall be obligated to continue providing compensation and benefits pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and subsection (c) of this section.

(f) A firefighter may request that a denial of compensation or benefits made pursuant to subsection (e) of this section be reconsidered, and an administrative law judge shall have the authority to adjudicate such claim in accordance with the provisions of section 31-278, in the same manner as workers' compensation claims under chapter 568.

(g) If a physical examination was required by an employer at the time of the firefighter's employment, as a condition for such employment, or required annually for means of continued employment, a firefighter shall not be required to show proof of such examination in the maintenance of a claim under subsection (b) or (c) of this section or under such municipal or state retirement system.

(h) Any benefits provided under subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be offset by any other benefits a firefighter or such firefighter's dependents may be entitled to receive from such firefighter's municipal employer or state employer under the provisions of chapter 568 or the municipal or state retirement system under which they are covered as a result of any condition or impairment of health caused by occupational cancer resulting in such firefighter's death or permanent total or partial disability.

(i) The State Treasurer shall have the authority to audit reimbursements provided by the account pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(j) No payment of compensation made under this section shall be used as evidence in support of any future claim under chapter 568.

(k) Except as provided in subsections (l) and (m) of this section, any firefighter that receives compensation under this section shall be prohibited from filing a claim under chapter 568 for a diagnosis of cancer.

(l) If the firefighters cancer relief account becomes insolvent, a firefighter that was receiving compensation under this section may file a claim under chapter 568, within one year of receiving notice from such firefighter's municipal employer or state employer of the firefighters cancer relief account becoming insolvent, for continuation of compensation.

(m) (1) Any surviving dependents of a firefighter who has died from cancer and was receiving compensation or benefits or has applied for compensation or benefits under this section may file a claim under chapter 568 within one year of such firefighter's death. Until such claim is approved, such survivor shall continue to receive benefits from the firefighters cancer relief account.

(2) If the surviving dependents of a firefighter who has died from cancer and was receiving compensation or benefits or has applied for compensation or benefits under this section do not file a claim under chapter 568 within one year of such firefighter's death, such survivors may continue to receive benefits from the firefighters cancer relief account.

(P.A. 23-204, S. 159; P.A. 25-4, S. 1; 25-168, S. 408.)

History: P.A. 25-4 added Subsec. (a)(5) defining “state employer”, added Subsec. (a)(6) defining “administrative law judge”, amended Subsec. (b) by adding skin cancer to types of cancer covered and replacing “a personal injury” with “an occupational disease”, amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i) by deleting “or propensity for”, amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii) by adding “in any combination”, amended Subsecs. (d), (e), (h), (l) and (m) by adding provisions re state employers, amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision re administrative law judge authority, amended Subsec. (m) by replacing “survivors” with “surviving dependents” and replacing “under” with “or benefits or has applied for compensation or benefits under” and made technical changes; P.A. 25-168 amended Subsec. (a)(5) by adding provisions re Connecticut Airport Authority and Tweed-New Haven Airport, amended Subsec. (e)(2) by adding provisions re municipal and state employers that applied for reimbursement and made technical changes.

PART VI

COMMISSION ON FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
STATE FIRE ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 7-323j. Definitions. As used in this part, “commission” means the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control; “municipality” means town, city, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, borough, school district, fire district, fire and sewer district, sewer district, lighting district or any other municipal corporation or taxing district upon which is placed the duty of, or which has itself assumed the duty of, protecting its inhabitants from loss by fire; “fire fighting duties” means and includes duties performed in connection with the suppression and prevention of fires, fire training and rescue, fire investigation, arson investigation, details and assignments to protect the public safety against fire and other related work; “firefighter” means any person who is regularly employed and paid by any municipality or by a contractor which is a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of performing fire fighting duties for a municipality on an average of not less than thirty-five hours per week or any volunteer who performs fire fighting duties.

(P.A. 73-649, S. 1, 5; P.A. 75-617, S. 1, 8; P.A. 83-566, S. 2, 6; P.A. 24-136, S. 11; P.A. 25-159, S. 34.)

History: P.A. 75-617 substituted commission on fire prevention and control for commission on fire fighting personnel standards and education, redefined “fire fighting duties” to include training and rescue and redefined firefighters to include volunteer firemen who elect to cooperate with commission; P.A. 83-566 amended the definition of “firefighters” to exclude persons paid by contractors organized for profit; P.A. 24-136 redefined “firefighters” to delete provision re electing to cooperate with commission in accordance with Sec. 7-323m, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 25-159 changed “firefighters” to “firefighter”, effective January 1, 2026.

Sec. 7-323k. Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. (a) There is established a Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two members of The Connecticut State Firefighter's Association, one of whom is the chairperson of the association's education committee, appointed by the Governor;

(2) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, appointed by the Governor;

(3) Two members of the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs' Association, appointed by the Governor;

(4) Two members of the Uniformed Professional Firefighters of the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, appointed by the Governor;

(5) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, appointed by the Governor;

(6) Two members of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association, appointed by the Governor;

(7) A representative of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns, appointed by the Governor;

(8) A representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, appointed by the Governor;

(9) A representative of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns, appointed by the House chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security;

(10) A representative of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security;

(11) A member of the Connecticut Fire Equipment Mechanics Association, appointed by the House ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security;

(12) A representative of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board, appointed by the Senate ranking member of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security;

(13) The State Fire Marshal, or the marshal's designee;

(14) The forest protection supervisor within the Forestry Division of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or such supervisor's designee; and

(15) The commanding officer of the Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or such officer's designee.

(b) On or before July fifteenth, annually, each organization to be represented on said commission shall submit to the appropriate appointing authority a list of nominees for appointment to said commission, which list the appointing authority may use when making appointments to said commission. Appointing authorities shall appoint members to said commission to serve for three years, or until a successor is appointed. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term. Persons appointed to said commission shall be qualified, by experience or education, in the fields of fire protection, fire prevention, fire suppression, fire fighting and related fields.

(c) The commission shall meet at such times and at such places as it deems proper. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission from the commission's membership, and the commission shall elect from its membership a vice chairperson and secretary, who shall serve one year terms, provided nothing contained herein shall prevent their reelection to such office. No member of said commission shall receive compensation for such member's services.

(d) Members of the commission shall not be considered as holding public office solely by virtue of their membership on said commission.

(e) The members of the education committee of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Inc., shall serve as a subcommittee of the commission on matters relating to fire schools.

(f) The commission shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

(P.A. 73-649, S. 2, 5; P.A. 75-617, S. 2, 8; P.A. 80-169, S. 1; P.A. 82-432, S. 1, 19; P.A. 89-260, S. 7, 41; P.A. 96-190, S. 6, 8; P.A. 11-48, S. 274; 11-51, S. 150; P.A. 16-15, S. 13; P.A. 24-22, S. 10; 24-136, S. 2; P.A. 25-157, S. 11.)

History: P.A. 75-617 substituted commission on fire prevention and control for commission on fire fighting personnel standards and education, substituted executive secretary of state technical colleges board of trustees or his designee for secretary of the state board of education, increased membership from nine to twelve members, increased from one to two the representatives of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association and the Connecticut Conference of Mayors, amended appointment provisions in Subsec. (b) and made term three rather than two years and made executive secretary of technical colleges board of trustees, rather than director, responsible for providing facilities which no longer were required to be at Hartford State Technical College; P.A. 80-169 substituted director of technical colleges board of trustees for executive secretary and Connecticut Conference of Municipalities for Conference of Mayors in Subsec. (a) and deleted Subsec. (d), relettering Subsec. (e) accordingly; P.A. 82-432 added Subsec. (e) placing the commission in the department of public safety for administrative purposes only; P.A. 89-260 in Subsec. (a) substituted the “executive secretary of the board of trustees of community-technical colleges” for the “director of the board of trustees of the state technical colleges”; P.A. 96-190 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to secretary of community-technical colleges board of trustees with “chancellor” of community-technical colleges, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes and replace “chancellor of the community-technical colleges” with “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (a) by changing “Firemen's” to “Firefighter's” and adding “Professional”, amended Subsec. (e) by removing commission from Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only and placing commission in Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 16-15 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities”, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 24-22 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities” with “chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities” and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2024; P.A. 24-136 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), end term of members on June 30, 2025, and add Subdiv. (2) re membership on and after July 1, 2025, amended Subsec. (b) to replace references to Governor with appointing authority, allow members to serve until successor is appointed, provide that appointing authority fills vacancy for unexpired term and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to revise provisions re appointment of officers, added new Subsec. (e) re education committee of Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Inc. and redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), effective June 6, 2024; P.A. 25-157 redesignated existing provisions in Subsec. (a)(1) and (2) as Subsec. (a), redesignated existing provisions in Subsec. (a)(2)(A) and (B) as Subsec. (a)(1) and (2) and existing provisions in Subsec. (a)(2)(C) to (O) as Subsec. (a)(3) to (15), deleted provisions in Subsec. (a) re members of commission until June 30, 2025, deleted references to July 1, 2025, in Subsecs. (a), (c) and (e), deleted references to “who shall be a nonvoting member” in Subsec. (a)(13) to (15), added “or such marshal's designee” in Subsec. (a)(13), deleted provisions in Subsec. (c) re chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary elected on and before June 30, 2025, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2025 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a)(13), the words “such marshal's” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “the marshal's” for clarity).

Sec. 7-323l. Duties of Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. Regulations. (a) The commission shall:

(1) Recommend minimum standards of education and physical condition for candidates for any firefighter position;

(2) Establish standards for fire service training and education programs, and develop and conduct an examination program to certify those fire service personnel who satisfactorily demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the fire service training and education program standards;

(3) Establish an optional fire service training and education program that provides information relative to the blue envelopes designed pursuant to section 14-11j and yellow envelopes designed pursuant to section 14-11l and techniques for the handling of incidents, such as wandering, that involve juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, provided the curriculum for such techniques is made available at no cost from (A) institutions of higher education, health care professionals or advocacy organizations that are concerned with juveniles and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder, or (B) collaborations of such institutions, professionals or organizations;

(4) Conduct fire fighting training and education programs designed to assist firefighters in developing and maintaining their skills and keeping abreast of technological advances in fire suppression, fire protection, fire prevention and related fields;

(5) Recommend standards for promotion to the various ranks of fire departments;

(6) Be authorized, with the approval of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, to apply for, receive and distribute any state, federal or private funds or contributions available for training and education of fire fighting personnel;

(7) Recommend that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection approve or reject the establishment of, or, when appropriate, suspend or revoke the approval of, regional fire schools in accordance with section 7-323u;

(8) Advise the Division of Fire Services Administration within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection on the management of the Statewide Fire Service Disaster Response Plan;

(9) Implement the recommendations of the study of the fire service authorized pursuant to subdivision (36) of subsection (b) of section 41 of public act 23-204*; and

(10) Submit to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection an annual report (A) relating to the activities, recommendations and accomplishments of the commission, and (B) making recommendations on the funding necessary for the operation of, the maintenance of and capital improvements to the state fire school and regional fire schools.

(b) The commission may recommend, and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may adopt, regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 as necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(P.A. 73-649, S. 3, 5; P.A. 75-617, S. 3, 8; P.A. 80-169, S. 2; P.A. 83-566, S. 3, 6; P.A. 98-226, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 151; 11-243, S. 4; P.A. 19-147, S. 2; P.A. 24-136, S. 3; P.A. 25-159, S. 32.)

*Note: Section 41 of public act 23-204 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.

History: P.A. 75-617 deleted reference to standards of temperament in Subsec. (a) and changed effective date of standards for use in hiring from January 1, 1975, to January 1, 1976; P.A. 80-169 replaced provisions of Subsec. (a) with requirement to recommend minimum standards of education and physical condition, replaced provisions for in-service training with new provisions for voluntary training and education program and reworded Subsecs. (c) and (d), removing from Subsec. (d) requirement for consultation with technical colleges' committee of fire technology and administration; P.A. 83-566 amended Subsec. (b), replacing references to “fire fighting” with “fire service” and amended Subsec. (e), authorizing commission to receive and distribute private funds or contributions for training and education of fire fighting personnel; P.A. 98-226 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), replacing alphabetic Subdivs. (a) to (f) with Subdivs. (1) to (6) and added Subsec. (b) giving the commission authority to adopt regulations; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “with the approval of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection” in Subdiv. (5) and by requiring annual report to be submitted to Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in Subdiv. (6), amended Subsec. (b) by removing commission's authority to adopt regulations, authorizing Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to adopt regulations, and authorizing commission to recommend regulations, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-243 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “state,” re funds available for training and education of fire fighting personnel in Subdiv. (5), adding new Subdiv. (6) re recommendation of approval or rejection of regional fire schools and redesignating existing Subdiv. (6) as Subdiv. (7); P.A. 19-147 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (3) re optional fire service training and education program and redesignating existing Subdivs. (3) to (7) as Subdivs. (4) to (8), effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 24-136 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “required of each candidate” with “for candidates” in Subdiv. (1), eliminating reference to “voluntary basis” in Subdiv. (2), adding new Subdiv. (8) re advising on Statewide Fire Service Disaster Response Plan, adding Subdiv. (9) re implementing recommendations of fire service study, redesignating existing Subdiv. (8) as Subdiv. (10) and amending same to require submission of report to committee with cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security instead of Joint Legislative Management Committee and to designate existing report requirements as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re recommendations on funding for fire schools, effective July 1, 2025; P.A. 25-159 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding provision re blue and yellow envelopes, effective January 1, 2026.