HB 7199 — AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

House of Representatives General Assembly FileSubstitute Bill No.

4167199 January Session, 2025 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillCONCERNING No.FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

7199 House of Representatives, April 1, 2025 The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through REP.

BOYD of the 50th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

sHB7199(d) /Said Fileboard of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time LCO 1 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 1such sHB7199child Fileis accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military serviceacademy,whichveteranhasbeenacceptedforadmissiontosuch institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut State Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident ofthe state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid LCO 2 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 (d)or Saidvolunteer boardfire ofdepartment, trusteeswho, shallas waivedocumented theby payment of tuition at any of the regionalchief community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armeddepartment, forces after January 1, 1960, which child has beenserved acceptedas for admission to such institution and is a residentmember ofin the state atfor thenot timeless suchthan childtwoyears,(11)foranydependentchildofauniformedmemberofapaid isor acceptedvolunteer forfire admissiondepartment, towho, suchas institution,documented (2)by subject to the provisionschief of subsectionsuch (e)department, ofhas thisserved section, for any veteran, as definedsuch in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a militarymember serviceacademy,whichveteranhasbeenacceptedforadmissiontosuch institution and is domiciled in thisthe state at the time such veteran is accepted for admissionnot toless such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than thosefive residentsyears, eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there(12) is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticutstate Statefire Policeschool, Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academyschool offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college whichthat accredits courses taken in suchsuchprogram.Ifanypersonwhoreceivesatuitionwaiverinaccordance program,with (5) for any active member of the Connecticutprovisions Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of thethis guard,subsection andalso (B)receives iseducational enrolledreimbursement orfrom acceptedan foremployer, admission to such institutionwaiver onshall abe full-timereduced orby part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the lineamount of duty,such (7)educational forreimbursement. any resident ofthe state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was sHB7199 / File No.

416 2 sHB7199 File No.

416 killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than twoyears,(11)foranydependentchildofauniformedmemberofapaid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college that accredits courses taken in suchprogram.Ifanypersonwhoreceivesatuitionwaiverinaccordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.

(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted sHB7199for /admission Fileto such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and LCO 3 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 3is sHB7199domiciled Filein this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than two years, (11) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, asdocumented by thechiefofsuchdepartment,hasservedassuch LCO 4 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a militarymember service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admissionnot toless such institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other than thosefive residentsyears, eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there(12) is space available in such course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticutstate Policefire Academyschool, who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said academyschool offered in coordination with the university whichthat accredits courses taken in such program,program. (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or sHB7199 / File No.

416 4 sHB7199 File No.

416 after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than two years, (11) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, asdocumented by thechiefofsuchdepartment,hasservedassuch a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with the university that accredits courses taken in such program.

(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forcesoftheUnitedStateshasdeclaredto bemissing inactionor tohave been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, sHB7199which /veteran Filehas been accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the LCO 5 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 5courseasufficientnumberofstudentsotherthanthose sHB7199residentseligible Filefor No.waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such courseafteraccommodating allsuchstudents,(4)for anyactivemember of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (9) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than two years, and (10) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years.

416If which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, (3) for any residentperson of the state sixty-two years of age or older who hasreceives been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-grantingtuition program,waiver or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in theaccordance courseasufficientnumberofstudentsotherthanthose residentseligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such courseafteraccommodating allsuchstudents,(4)for anyactivemember of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armedprovisions forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state,subsection (9)also forreceives aeducational uniformedreimbursement memberfrom ofan aemployer, paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department,waiver hasshall servedbe asreduced such a member in the state for not less than two years, and (10) for any dependent child of a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chiefamount of such department,educational hasreimbursement. served as such a member in the state for not less than five years.

If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this sHB7199 / File No.

416 6 sHB7199 File No.

416 subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.

Notwithstanding the provisions of sectionLCO 10a-30,6 asof used14 inSubstitute thisBill subsection,No. "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one year.

7199 section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one year.

sHB7199(7) /"Qualified Fileservice" No.has the same meaning as provided in Section 457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time.

416LCO 7 sHB7199of File14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 (7)(b) "QualifiedThe service"State hasRetirement theCommission, same meaning as provided in Sectionconsultation 457(e)(11)with of the InternalCommission Revenueon CodeFire ofPrevention 1986,and orControl anyand subsequentthe correspondingState internalFire revenueAdministrator, codeshall ofestablish thea Unitedvolunteer States,firefighter aslength-of-service amendedaward fromprogram. time to time.

(b) The State Retirement Commission, in consultation with the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and the State Fire Administrator, shall establish a volunteer firefighter length-of-service award program.

(2) An eligible firefighter may decline to become a participant in the sHB7199program /if Filesuch firefighter files with the commission, prior to such firefighter satisfying such service credit requirements to become a participant in the program, an irrevocable waiver of participation that is signed by the eligible firefighter and the chief of the volunteer fire LCO 8 of 14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 8company sHB7199or Filedepartment No.of which such firefighter is a member.

416 program if such firefighter files with the commission, prior to such firefighter satisfying such service credit requirements to become a participant in the program, an irrevocable waiver of participation that is signed by the eligible firefighter and the chief of the volunteer fire company or department of which such firefighter is a member.

(2) Has twenty years of service credit, except the participant may, sHB7199prior /to Fileattaining No.such twenty years of service credit, file a written election with the commission to defer payment of the accrued service award until the participant attains the age of sixty-five;

416LCO 9 sHB7199of File14 Substitute Bill No.

4167199 prior(3) toIs attainingvested suchand twentyhas yearsnot ofbeen servicean credit,eligible filefirefighter afor writtenat electionleast withthirty- thesix commissionconsecutive tomonths; defer payment of the accrued service award until the participant attains the age of sixty-five;

(3) Is vested and has not been an eligible firefighter for at least thirty- six consecutive months;

Such regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions regarding (1) earning service credits and determining the amount of awards, which may include a point-based system that requires earning points for responding to calls, attending meetings and trainings or other factors, (2) documentation for earning such credits, including a system to permit volunteer fire companies and departments to comply with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and (3) contesting sHB7199determinations /of Fileservice No.credits awarded to a participant.

416 10 sHB7199 File No.

416 determinations of service credits awarded to a participant.

AsLCO used10 in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b, "trust funds" includes the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund A, the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B, the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund, the State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, the Teachers' Annuity Fund, the Teachers' Pension Fund, the Teachers' Survivorship and Dependency Fund, the School Fund, the State Employees Retirement Fund, the Hospital Insurance Fund, the Policemen and Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in subdivision (1) of subsection14 (b)Substitute ofBill sectionNo. 7-450 that is administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust, any Climate Change andCoastalResiliency Reserve Fundcreated pursuant to section 7-159d, the Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service AwardProgramTrustFund andallothertrust fundsadministered,held or invested by the State Treasurer.

7199 As used in sections 3-13 to 3-13e, inclusive, and 3-31b, "trust funds" includes the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund A, the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B, the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund, the State's Attorneys' Retirement Fund, the Teachers' Annuity Fund, the Teachers' Pension Fund, the Teachers' Survivorship and Dependency Fund, the School Fund, the State Employees Retirement Fund, the Hospital Insurance Fund, the Policemen and Firemen Survivor's Benefit Fund, any trust fund described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-450 that is administered, held or invested by the State Treasurer, the Connecticut Baby Bond Trust, any Climate Change andCoastalResiliency Reserve Fundcreated pursuant to section 7-159d, the Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service AwardProgramTrustFund andallothertrust fundsadministered,held or invested by the State Treasurer.

(2) Study ways to alleviate such shortage, which shall include, but is not limited to, an examination of (A) providing an income tax credit for volunteer firefighters, (B) developing a pipeline from colleges and universities into firefighting and emergency medical services, (C) offering tuition incentives for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, (D) streamlining certification and sHB7199recertification /processes Filefor No.firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, and (E) providing sustainable and consistent state funding for training of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel;