Comptroller Sean Scanlon Joins Fire Service Leaders To Celebrate Legislative Wins
(HARTFORD, CT) – Comptroller Sean Scanlon and fire service leaders issued the following statements applauding the Connecticut General Assembly’s passage of H.B. No. 5003: An Act Concerning Workforce Development and Working Conditions in the State and H.B. No. 5460: An Act Concerning State-wide Fire Protection.
“As the grandson of a firefighter and the person who oversees the largest health and retirement plans for firefighters in the state, I’ve been proud to work with the fire service and legislature to ensure that they have the benefits and support they need to continue keeping Connecticut safe. The new benefits provided and data gleaned from these legislative initiatives will empower us to plan for the future of firefighting in Connecticut,” said Comptroller Scanlon. “I applaud Labor and Public Employees Committee Chairs Senator Julie Kushner and Representative Manny Sanchez, and Public Safety Security Chairs Senator Herron Gaston and Representative Pat Boyd for their work to protect and provide for our first responders. I’m looking forward to Governor Lamont signing these bills into law, so we can get to work.”
“Since I took over as commissioner more than two years ago, we have worked closely with firefighters, legislators and Governor Lamont to provide more resources and assistance for the Fire Service,” said Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins. “We are grateful for the work by public safety leaders in the General Assembly this session who, along with the governor, have shown that we are all committed to supporting first responders now and in the years to come.”
“The passage of H.B. 5003 and H.B. 5460 are major victories for Connecticut’s firefighters and the communities we proudly serve. At a time when departments across our state are facing serious recruitment and retention challenges, this legislation makes meaningful investments in the future of the fire service and recognizes the sacrifices made by our first responders every day,” said President of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association Peter Brown. “I want to thank our legislative leadership and the many lawmakers from both parties who worked collaboratively to move this bill forward. We are especially grateful to Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon for making the needs of Connecticut’s first responders a priority this legislative session.”
“I’m tremendously thankful for my colleagues on the Joint Council and throughout the CT fire service for their continued collaboration and ability to articulate the needs and opportunities facing our profession. This year has resulted in the passage of several significant pieces of legislation that will help move the fire service forward and strengthen our future in a number of critical areas,” said Joint Council of Connecticut Fire Service Organizations Chair Greg Priest. “I am very appreciative for the unwavering support from Governor Lamont, Comptroller Scanlon, Representative Boyd, Commissioner Higgins, Commissioner Gilman, and many others in the legislature and elsewhere who have worked alongside us to skillfully address these important issues.”
“It has been a distinct privilege to work hand-in-hand with Comptroller Scanlon and the dedicated leaders of Connecticut’s fire service to craft this forward-looking legislation,” said State Representative Pat Boyd. “True progress happens when we bring the experts to the table, and by listening directly to those who staff our stations and respond to our emergencies, we’ve developed a roadmap that addresses the very real challenges of recruitment and retention. This isn’t just about today; it’s about modernizing our systems and building a sustainable pipeline so that the next generation of firefighters, both volunteer and career, are prepared to protect our state.”
Key provisions included in the legislation include:
- Expanding eligibility for the Fallen Hero Fund administered by the Office of the State Comptroller
- Implementing the mortgage assistance and tuition waivers proposed by Governor Lamont
- Building a first-ever registry of firefighters in Connecticut
- Initiating the analysis of 911 call data to track geographic trends
- Planning for the future of recruitment and retention in our state, with the potential of mirroring the Connecticut resident state trooper program
- Requiring municipalities to create a fire protection plan
- Directing the Office of Workforce Strategy to develop a plan to establish a police officer and firefighter career pipeline program.