OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6541 (as amended by House “A”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER I CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires fire police officers directing traffic to wear at all times, not just after dark or in inclement weather, a traffic vest, orange or lime green raincoat, or other reflectorized orange or lime green outer clothing that meets national, state, and local safety standards. It (1) allows such officers to wear headgear that meets national, state, and local safety standards, as an alternative to the currently required helmet or regulation fire-police dress uniform cap and (2) eliminates the requirement that the helmet be white.

The bill specifically allows a fire chief to appoint fire department members as fire police officers. Under current law, the chief may, within available appropriations, appoint “such number of persons” he or she deems necessary to perform fire police functions. The bill allows officers functioning in their official capacity to exercise their powers and carry out their duties in any town, instead of just adjoining towns. Fire police officers direct traffic and have other responsibilities at fire scenes.

*House Amendment “A” replaces the original bill, which required certification in adult, child, and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use as a condition of Firefighter I certification, and changes the effective date from July 1, 2009 to October 1, 2009.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Safety and Security Committee

Joint Favorable