CHAPTER 104
MUNICIPAL POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION

Table of Contents

Sec. 7-274. Establishment of town police commissions.
Sec. 7-275. Meetings of commissioners. Vacancies.
Sec. 7-276. Powers of commissioners.
Sec. 7-277. Town to bear expense.
Sec. 7-277a. Police assistance agreements.
Sec. 7-278. Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head. Just cause requirement. Appeal.
Sec. 7-279. Subpoena to appear before municipal police commissioners.
Sec. 7-280. Witness fees.
Sec. 7-281. Execution of criminal process in towns, cities and boroughs. Execution of arrest warrants.
Sec. 7-281a. Free use of COLLECT system.
Sec. 7-282. Municipal accident and police records.
Sec. 7-282a. Reporting of bomb incidents.
Sec. 7-282b. Automatic telephone alarms.
Sec. 7-282c. Filing and dissemination of missing child reports.
Sec. 7-282d. Imposition of traffic ticket quotas prohibited.
Sec. 7-283. Employment of private detectives.
Sec. 7-284. Police protection at places of amusement.
Sec. 7-285. Sale of unclaimed goods by police departments.
Sec. 7-286. Police matrons in certain cities.
Sec. 7-287. Female prisoners under care of police matron.
Sec. 7-288. Duty of police matron.
Sec. 7-289. Qualifications of matron; salary; removal.
Sec. 7-290. Separate station for female prisoners.
Sec. 7-291. Police surgeons.
Sec. 7-292. Adoption of forty-hour week for policemen.
Sec. 7-293. Work week.
Sec. 7-294. Earnings not affected.
Sec. 7-294a. Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Definitions.
Sec. 7-294b. Members of council. Holding of other office.
Sec. 7-294c. Annual report.
Sec. 7-294d. Powers of council. Certification of police officers, police training schools and law enforcement instructors. Refusal to renew, cancellation or revocation of certification. Automatic certification. Exemptions.
Sec. 7-294e. Recertification of police officers. Regulations.
Sec. 7-294f. State and local police training programs to include course on rape crisis intervention.
Sec. 7-294g. State and local police training programs to provide training re domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide intervention procedures.
Sec. 7-294h. State and local police training programs to provide training on the handling of juvenile matters.
Sec. 7-294i.
Sec. 7-294j.
Sec. 7-294k.
Sec. 7-294l. State and local police training programs to provide training on gang-related violence.
Sec. 7-294m. (Formerly Sec. 7-294j). Instruction re new legal developments for municipal chief law enforcement officers.
Sec. 7-294n. State and local police training programs to provide training on crimes motivated by bigotry or bias.
Secs. 7-294o to 7-294w.
Sec. 7-294x. Council to provide training to public school security personnel.
Sec. 7-294y. (Formerly Sec. 7-294i). State and local police policy on the handling and processing of juvenile matters.
Sec. 7-294z. (Formerly Sec. 7-294k). Use of radar devices by state and municipal police officers.
Sec. 7-295. Acceptance of part.
Sec. 7-296. Reserve fund of police department.
Sec. 7-297. Veteran reserve; retirement; death benefits.
Sec. 7-298. Removal of policemen not restricted.
Sec. 7-299. City ordinances.
Sec. 7-300. Establishment of funds in towns and boroughs.
Sec. 7-301. Establishment of fire department.
Sec. 7-302. Hearing prior to dismissal of fire department head. Appeal.
Sec. 7-303. "Municipality", "work" and "duty" defined.
Sec. 7-304. Participation of municipalities.
Sec. 7-305. Work week.
Sec. 7-306. Earnings.
Sec. 7-307. Age requirement for veterans.
Sec. 7-308. Assumption of liability for damages caused by firemen or volunteer ambulance members.
Sec. 7-309. Liability for damage caused by motor vehicle used for fire fighting.
Sec. 7-310. Operation of fire equipment in and provision of personnel and assistance to other municipality.
Sec. 7-311. Liability for delay in reporting fire or other emergency.
Sec. 7-312. Liability as to use of water holes.
Sec. 7-313. Fire police.
Sec. 7-313a. Fire police.
Sec. 7-313b. Authority of fire department officer to order removal of persons.
Sec. 7-313c. Indemnification for educational expenses.
Sec. 7-313d. Local fire department's authority to inspect state facilities.
Sec. 7-313e. Authority of fire officer during emergency.
Sec. 7-314. Definitions. Exemption from Freedom of Information Act.
Sec. 7-314a. Death, disability and injury benefits. Presumption.
Sec. 7-314b. Collection of workers' compensation benefits by volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services.
Sec. 7-314c. Assumption of liability by the state for volunteer firefighters.
Secs. 7-315 to 7-322. Death benefits; payments for injuries, for treatment of injuries and occupational disease and for total disability; insurance to provide payments; notice of claim; investigation of claim; benefits exempt from attachment.
Sec. 7-322a. Benefits for volunteers rendering service to another fire company.
Sec. 7-322b. Volunteers serving in municipality where employed. Fire and ambulance leaves. Enactment by municipality. List of participating members. Benefits.
Sec. 7-323. Application of part.
Sec. 7-323a. Definitions.
Sec. 7-323b. Acceptance of part.
Sec. 7-323c. Benefit fund established.
Sec. 7-323d. Actuarial studies of fund experience.
Sec. 7-323e. Benefits.
Sec. 7-323f. Insurance policies to provide benefits authorized.
Sec. 7-323g. Withdrawal of acceptance.
Sec. 7-323h. Municipal liability for maintaining benefits.
Sec. 7-323i. Administration of fund.
Sec. 7-323j. Definitions.
Sec. 7-323k. Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.
Sec. 7-323l. Duties of Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. Regulations.
Sec. 7-323m. Exceptions, voluntary cooperation.
Sec. 7-323n. Office of State Fire Administration.
Sec. 7-323o. State Fire Administrator, appointment and duties.
Sec. 7-323p. State fire school. Training and education extension account. Auxiliary services account.
Sec. 7-323q. Indemnification of fire service instructors.

PART I
POLICE DEPARTMENTS

Sec. 7-274. Establishment of town police commissions. Any town may, by ordinance, establish a board of police commissioners to be elected, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-201 or to be appointed by the council or board of directors of a town, the common council or other body empowered to make ordinances of a city, the board of burgesses of a borough or the board of selectmen of a town not having a council or board of directors, provided in a town having both a board of selectmen and a representative town meeting such ordinance may designate the representative town meeting as the appointing authority, for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a police department in such town. Such board shall consist of three, five or seven electors, all of whom shall be resident taxpayers of such town. Such commissioners shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties and shall serve without compensation, but their actual expenses and disbursements incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from the town treasury.
(1949 Rev., S. 656; 1953, S. 260d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 19; P.A. 73-138, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-209.)
History: P.A. 73-138 permitted board to be appointed as well as elected; P.A. 74-209 clarified appointment provisions by listing specific appointing authorities.
Cited. 144 C. 21, 27. Cited. 171 C. 553, 563.
Upon establishment of board by town meeting, no vacancy exists when members are to be elected at the "next town election." 19 CS 316. Cited. 31 CS 145. Cited. 38 CS 419−421.

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Sec. 7-275. Meetings of commissioners. Vacancies. The board of police commissioners shall elect one of its number to be chairman and one member to be clerk and shall hold regular meetings and keep records of the same. Meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairman or of a majority of the members of the board. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. In the event of any vacancy upon the board, the board of selectmen shall have authority by majority vote to fill such vacancy until the next town election, at which election a member shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term.
(1949 Rev., S. 658; 1953, S. 261d.)
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
Cited. 144 C. 27.
Cited. 19 CS 316.
Subsec. (6):
Cited. 193 C. 59, 68.

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Sec. 7-276. Powers of commissioners. Such boards shall have all of the powers given by the general statutes to boards of police commissioners, shall have general management and supervision of the police department of such town and of the property and equipment used in connection therewith, shall make all needful regulations for the government thereof not contrary to law and may prescribe suitable penalties for the violation of any such regulation, including suspension or removal from office of any officer or member of such police department. Such board shall have the sole power of appointment, promotion and removal of the officers and members of such police department, under such regulations as it adopts for the purpose, and such appointees shall hold office during good behavior and until removed for cause upon written charges and after hearing. The members of such police department shall have all such authority with respect to the service of criminal process and the enforcement of the criminal laws as is vested by the general statutes in police officers and constables.
(1949 Rev., S. 659.)
Cited. 171 C. 553, 561. Cited. 217 C. 73, 90. Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 375. Cited. 229 C. 703, 707, 713.
Cited. 41 CA 649, 658.
Offices of police commissioner and chief of police are incompatible and, upon acceptance of one, other office is vacated. 21 CS 294. A de novo hearing on the merits does not contravene statute since only the power of appointment, promotion and removal of police officers is exclusively reserved to the commissioners. 31 CS 87. Cited. 31 CS 145.

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Sec. 7-277. Town to bear expense. The expenses, salaries and all costs of maintenance and equipment for such police department shall be paid by such town in the same manner as other expenses of the town government.
(1949 Rev., S. 660.)

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Sec. 7-277a. Police assistance agreements. (a) The chief executive officer of any town, city or borough or his designee may, whenever he determines it to be necessary in order to protect the safety or well-being of his municipality, request the chief executive officer of any other town, city or borough to furnish such police assistance as is necessary to meet such situation and the chief executive officer, or chief of police or board of police commissioners or other duly constituted authority with the approval of the chief executive officer of the municipality receiving such request may, notwithstanding any other provision or requirement of state or local law, assign and make available for duty in such other municipality, under the direction and command of an officer designated for the purpose, such part of the police forces under his control as he deems consistent with the safety and well-being of his municipality. Any policeman so provided, while acting in response to such request, shall have the same powers, duties, privileges and immunities as are conferred on the policemen of the municipality requesting assistance. Unless waived in writing by the chief executive officer of the municipality supplying assistance pursuant to a request under this section, such municipality shall be reimbursed for all expenditures incurred in providing such assistance by the municipality making such request, including payments for death, disability or injury of employees and losses or damages to supplies or equipment incurred in providing such assistance. Any municipality, upon the approval of the chief executive officer and, where required by charter or ordinance, the governing body of such municipality, may enter into an agreement with any other municipality or municipalities, with respect to requesting and supplying such assistance and reimbursing or receiving reimbursement for the same.
(b) The chief executive officer of any institution which maintains a special police force, established under the provisions of section 10a-142, and the chief of police of the Office of State Capitol Police, established under the provisions of section 2-1f, may enter into an agreement with one or more municipalities to furnish or receive police assistance under the same conditions and terms specified in subsection (a) for agreements between municipalities.
(c) The chief executive officer of any town, city or borough which provides police protection solely by a constabulary force may enter into an agreement with one or more municipalities to furnish or receive police assistance under the conditions and terms specified in subsection (a).
(1967, P.A. 198; 1969, P.A. 78; P.A. 83-466, S. 1; P.A. 84-302, S. 1; P.A. 96-219, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act allowed request for assistance to be made when chief executive officer determines it to be necessary rather than "in any emergency" as previously, permitted police chief, police commissioners etc. power to fill request as well as chief executive authority, permitted waiver of reimbursement and provided for agreements between municipalities regarding assistance and reimbursement; P.A. 83-466 added Subsec. (b), which permitted state university special police forces to enter into mutual aid agreements with municipalities and amended Subsec. (a) to permit a municipality's chief executive officer's designee to request police assistance of the chief executive officer of another municipality; P.A. 84- 302 added Subsec. (c), permitting the chief executive officer of any town protected solely by a constabulary force to enter into mutual aid agreements with other municipalities; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to the chief of police of the Office of State Capitol Police, established under Sec. 2-1f.
Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 375.
Cited. 29 CA 207, 213.

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Sec. 7-278. Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head. Just cause requirement. Appeal. No active head of any police department of any town, city or borough shall be dismissed unless there is a showing of just cause by the authority having the power of dismissal and such person has been given notice in writing of the specific grounds for such dismissal and an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally or by counsel, at a public hearing before such authority. Such public hearing, unless otherwise specified by charter, shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days after such notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal within thirty days following such dismissal to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town, city or borough is located. Service shall be made as in civil process. Said court shall review the record of such hearing, and, if it appears upon the hearing upon the appeal that testimony is necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal, it may take evidence or appoint a referee or a committee to take such evidence as it directs and report the same to the court with his or its findings of fact, which report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court, upon such appeal, and after a hearing thereon, may affirm the action of such authority, or may set the same aside if it finds that such authority acted illegally or arbitrarily, or in the abuse of its discretion, with bad faith, malice, or without just cause.
(1949, 1951, 1955, S. 425d; P.A. 74-183, S. 178, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 288, 681; P.A. 82-472, S. 18, 183; P.A. 83-212.)
History: P.A. 74-183 added reference to judicial district; P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-472 deleted obsolete reference to county as venue for superior court; P.A. 83-212 required a showing of just cause for municipal police chief dismissals.
Cited. 209 C. 353, 362. Cited. 223 C. 354, 360, 365, 370. Cited. 229 C. 703, 705−708, 710, 711.
Cited. 44 CA 611.

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Sec. 7-279. Subpoena to appear before municipal police commissioners. The chief executive officer of any municipality, the clerk of the board of police commissioners in any municipality or any justice of the peace may sign and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses before the board of police commissioners in such municipality at any lawful meeting of such board. Any such subpoena may be served in the same manner as by law provided for witnesses in civil causes, except that no fees shall be tendered to any witness at the time of such service. Any person upon whom such process has been legally served shall appear before such board in obedience to such process and testify as to any matters lawfully pending before such board. If any person upon whom such a subpoena has been served refuses to attend before such board, the clerk of such board, by direction of the board, may issue a capias, directed to some proper officer, to arrest such witness and bring him before the board to testify; and, in case such person refuses to testify, the board shall have the power to adjudge such person to be in contempt and may issue a mittimus, signed by its clerk, and commit such person to a community correctional center for not more than thirty days.
(1949 Rev., S. 661; 1969, P.A. 297; P.A. 77-178, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act replaced jails with community correctional centers; P.A. 77-178 replaced "city" with "municipality" and "mayor" with "chief executive officer".
This is an exercise of the police power, and is not a judicial proceeding. 65 C. 33. Cited. 180 C. 243, 249. Cited. 222 C. 799, 815.

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Sec. 7-280. Witness fees. The same fees as provided by law for witnesses in civil causes shall be paid out of the treasury of the municipality to any witnesses, except policemen, who attend and testify under the provisions of section 7-279, the amount of such fees to be certified by the mayor or clerk of such board to the proper auditing officers of the municipality.
(1949 Rev., S. 662; P.A. 77-178, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 77-178 replaced references to "city" with references to "municipality".
See Sec. 52-260 re witness fees.

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Sec. 7-281. Execution of criminal process in towns, cities and boroughs. Execution of arrest warrants. Active members of any legally organized police force in a town, city or borough shall have the same authority to execute criminal process in their respective towns, cities or boroughs as constables have in their respective towns, and, in addition, any such member having a warrant of arrest arising out of an offense allegedly committed in the town, city or borough in which such police force is located may execute such warrant in any part of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 663; 1967, P.A. 20, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act included towns and added provision concerning execution of warrants.
Police officers appointed by our municipalities are officers as fully as the sheriff of the county, charged with the execution of a trust. 67 C. 310; 70 C. 121. Cited. 181 C. 562, 589. Cited. 210 C. 333, 342. Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 372, 375.

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Sec. 7-281a. Free use of COLLECT system. Each municipal police department shall have access to, and use of, the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing System without charge.
(P.A. 87-427, S. 1, 2.)

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Sec. 7-282. Municipal accident and police records. The police department of any city, town or borough having or receiving any memoranda, sketches, charts, written statements, reports or photographs made in the investigation of any accident wherein any person has been injured or property damaged shall preserve and retain the same for a period of at least ten years from the date of such accident. Subsequent to the final disposition of any criminal action arising out of an accident, the records hereinbefore specified and the information contained therein shall be open to public inspection, except that such records shall be available to any person involved in the accident subsequent to the issuance of a warrant or summons in such action.
(1949 Rev., S. 676; 1957, P.A. 248; P.A. 80-61.)
History: P.A. 80-61 raised period during which accident records must be maintained from three to ten years and added provision that records be available to persons involved in accidents after warrant or summons issued.
See Sec. 29-10c re state police accident records.
Cited. 33 CA 727, 736.

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Sec. 7-282a. Reporting of bomb incidents. Section 7-282a is repealed, effective October 1, 1997.
(P.A. 76-89; P.A. 85-613, S. 86, 154; P.A. 97-162, S. 5.)

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Sec. 7-282b. Automatic telephone alarms. No person shall install or connect any telephone device in his residence or place of business which device is capable of automatically calling and relaying recorded messages to a Division of State Police, or municipal police or fire department telephone number unless such person has given ten days' notice of such connection or installation, in writing, to the state police troop commander, or chief law enforcement or fire safety officer, as the case may be, of the municipality where such residence or place of business is located.
(P.A. 79-466; P.A. 80-5.)
History: P.A. 80-5 included division of state police under provisions of section.

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Sec. 7-282c. Filing and dissemination of missing child reports. Any municipal police department which receives a report of a missing child under fifteen years of age shall immediately accept such report for filing and inform all on-duty police officers of the existence of the missing child report and communicate the report to other appropriate law enforcement agencies.
(P.A. 85-278.)

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Sec. 7-282d. Imposition of traffic ticket quotas prohibited. No municipal police department may impose any quota with respect to the issuance of summonses for motor vehicle violations upon any policeman in such department. Nothing in this section shall prohibit such department from using data concerning the issuance of summonses in the evaluation of an individual's work performance provided such data is not the exclusive means of evaluating such performance. As used in this section, "quota" means a specified number of summonses for motor vehicle violations to be issued within a specified period of time.
(P.A. 91-222, S. 2, 3.)

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Sec. 7-283. Employment of private detectives. No municipal corporation shall employ private detectives in the investigation or detection of crime at an expense of more than five hundred dollars unless a specific appropriation therefor has been made, nor unless the authorities thereof have first applied to the state police for assistance in such investigation and waited a reasonable time for said state police to act. Any municipal official who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars and shall be liable to such municipality in a civil action for the amount expended in excess of such sum as has been appropriated for such investigation.
(1949 Rev., S. 664; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)
History: P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 made state police a division within the department of public safety rather than a separate department, effective January 1, 1979.
Cited. 104 C. 15.

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Sec. 7-284. Police protection at places of amusement. When police protection is necessary or required at any boxing bout or wrestling match, place of public amusement, sport contest or hockey, baseball or basketball game, or any other exhibition or contest, which is being held or is to be held in any municipality, the amount of such protection necessary shall be determined and shall be furnished by (1) the chief or superintendent of the police department in any municipality having an organized or paid police department or (2) the commanding officer of the state police troop having jurisdiction over the municipality in any municipality having a resident state trooper. Any such protection shall be paid for by the person or persons operating, conducting or promoting such game, exhibition or contest.
(1949 Rev., S. 704; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 82-193, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-21.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted division of state police within the department of public safety for state police department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-193 clarified provisions dealing with the determination and provision of police protection at places of amusement and added Subsec. (b) dealing with traffic control at certain pari-mutuel facilities; P.A. 85-21 deleted former Subsec. (b), which had permitted associations licensed under chapter 226 which conduct jai alai or racing to employ persons to control traffic near pari-mutuel facilities.
Cited. 213 C. 269−274. Section was applied to plaintiff in a manner consistent with first amendment. 236 C. 781−783, 786−791, 794, 799−807.
Inapplicable to restaurants and dances at restaurants. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 631.

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Sec. 7-285. Sale of unclaimed goods by police departments. The Commissioner of Public Safety, the board of police commissioners, the chief of police, superintendent of police or other authority having charge of a police department may sell by public auction any and all articles found and which have remained in the possession thereof for one year or more. Before such sale, such authority shall cause the time and place thereof, and a description of such of the articles as are of the appraised value of fifty dollars or more, to be advertised at least once a week, for two successive weeks, at least two weeks prior to the actual sale date, in a daily newspaper published in the county in which such articles were found or recovered. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the expenses thereof, shall be paid to the State Treasurer or the treasurer of the municipality, who shall keep the same as a separate fund to be used and applied for the relief of sick, injured or disabled policemen, to be expended under the sole direction of such commissioners or other authority in charge and upon their orders only. In any municipality where such a fund is otherwise provided for, such proceeds shall be deposited in its general fund.
(1949 Rev., S. 667; 1961, P.A. 586; P.A. 75-530, S. 21, 35; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 93-65.)
History: 1961 act broadened section formerly applicable only to city departments to include all police departments and added provision governing deposit of proceeds in general fund; P.A. 75-530 deleted provision allowing sale of stolen articles; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of public safety for commissioner of state police, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-65 amended section to increase the value of property which must be noticed prior to its auction from five to fifty dollars and provided for its advertisement at least two weeks prior to the sale.
See Sec. 7-296 re reserve funds of police departments.
See Secs. 50-9 to 50-14, inclusive, re towns' adoption of procedure with regard to lost goods.

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Sec. 7-286. Police matrons in certain cities. In each city of this state having a population of twenty thousand or more, as shown by the last-preceding United States census, the board of police commissioners or police committee shall appoint a police matron, whose duty it shall be to take charge of all women arrested and held by the police of the city.
(1949 Rev., S. 668.)

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Sec. 7-287. Female prisoners under care of police matron. The board of police commissioners or the police committee in each such city shall assign a certain part of the central police station of the city for female prisoners, which part shall be under the care and control of the police matron, subject to the orders of the chief of police. There shall also be provided by each such city a convenient private room for the use of the police matron, either within the station or in its neighborhood.
(1949 Rev., S. 669.)

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Sec. 7-288. Duty of police matron. The police matron shall take charge of that part of the station so assigned for female prisoners and keep the same in proper condition; and shall, at all times when there are no female prisoners at the station, be within easy call and attend day or night upon such call.
(1949 Rev., S. 670.)

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Sec. 7-289. Qualifications of matron; salary; removal. Each police matron shall be (1) a female police officer or (2) a woman at least eighteen years of age. The hiring authority may establish other qualifications for the employment of police matrons and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. Such matron shall receive such salary as the common council of the city determines and may be removed by the board of police commissioners or police committee if, in its judgment, the public interest requires it. The officer in charge of the station shall, whenever it is necessary, order policemen to assist the matron upon her request for such assistance.
(1949 Rev., S. 671; P.A. 87-39, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-2; P.A. 91-171, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 87-39 reduced minimum age of matrons from thirty to eighteen; P.A. 89-2 authorized female police officer to be qualified as a police matron; P.A. 91-171 eliminated from the qualifications for a matron that a woman at least eighteen years of age be "of good moral character, recommended in writing by at least five men and five women of good standing, who have been for five years residents of the city", and added provision authorizing the hiring authority to establish other qualifications and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications.

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Sec. 7-290. Separate station for female prisoners. Any city, required by section 7-286 to have a police matron, may provide a separate station for the detention of female prisoners. In any city which has no board of police commissioners or board charged with its general duties, the powers and duties hereby given and assigned to such a board may be exercised and discharged by the mayor of the city.
(1949 Rev., S. 672.)

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Sec. 7-291. Police surgeons. Section 7-291 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 673; P.A. 82-327, S. 12.)

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Sec. 7-292. Adoption of forty-hour week for policemen. (a) Any municipality may, by ordinance, adopt an average work week of forty hours for permanent paid policemen as provided in sections 7-293 and 7-294 and this section.
(b) The legislative body of such municipality may, by ordinance, or shall, upon petition of the electors of such municipality in number not less than five per cent of the total number of electors on the last-completed registry list, submit the question of adopting the provisions of said sections to a vote of the electors thereof at the next general election or at a special election or meeting called for such purpose. Any such petition shall contain the ordinance to be voted upon by the electors. Such election or meeting shall be called and held, and the vote on such question canvassed and the result determined and certified, as nearly as may be in accordance with the provisions of the laws governing the election of civil officers in such municipality. The notice or warning for such election or meeting shall state that a purpose of such election or meeting is to ascertain whether or not such municipality shall adopt an average work week of forty hours for permanent paid policemen and that such election or meeting is called under the provisions of this section. The vote on such question shall be by voting machine, and the voting machine ballot label, which shall bear the words "For a forty-hour week for policemen" and "Against a forty-hour week for policemen", shall be provided for use in accordance with the provisions of section 9-250. If, upon the official determination of the result of such vote, it appears that a majority of those voting on the question are in favor of the adoption of the provisions of sections 7-293 and 7-294 and this section, said sections shall take effect as to such municipality no later than ninety days thereafter, provided, where the fiscal year of any such municipality begins within ninety days thereafter, the effective date of said sections for such municipality shall not be later than the first day of the fiscal year next following the expiration of the ninety-day period.
(1951, S. 431d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 50.)

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Sec. 7-293. Work week. The work week for all permanent paid members of the uniformed police force for municipalities adopting sections 7-292 to 7-294, inclusive, shall be an average work week of not more than forty hours, computed over a period of one fiscal or calendar year, as the municipality elects; provided, unless otherwise prescribed by regulation or ordinance, any time spent in an emergency in excess of any regularly assigned or scheduled work week in connection with any actual police duty, including time spent going to, working at or returning from any actual police duty, or any other work or duty classified as an act of emergency shall not be included in computing such average work week.
(1951, S. 432d.)

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Sec. 7-294. Earnings not affected. There shall be no diminution in the weekly earnings of any police in municipalities adopting the provisions of sections 7-292 to 7- 294, inclusive, nor shall there be any lessening of any of their existing rights and privileges, as the result of the adoption of the work week provided therein.
(1951, S. 433d.)

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Sec. 7-294a. Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 7-294b to 7-294e, inclusive, "academy" means the Connecticut Police Academy; "applicant" means a prospective police officer who has not commenced employment or service with a law enforcement unit; "basic training" means the minimum basic law enforcement training received by a police officer at the academy or at any other certified law enforcement training academy; "certification" means the issuance by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to a police officer, police training school or to a law enforcement instructor of a signed instrument evidencing satisfaction of the certification requirements imposed by section 7-294d, and signed by the council; "council" means the Police Officer Standards and Training Council; "Governor" includes any person performing the functions of the Governor by authority of the law of this state; "review training" means training received after minimum basic law enforcement training; "law enforcement unit" means any agency, organ or department of this state or a subdivision or municipality thereof, whose primary functions include the enforcement of criminal or traffic laws, the preservation of public order, the protection of life and property, or the prevention, detection or investigation of crime; "police officer" means a sworn member of an organized local police department, an appointed constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a special policeman appointed under section 29-18, 29-18a or 29-19 or any member of a law enforcement unit who performs police duties; "probationary candidate" means a police officer who, having satisfied preemployment requirements, has commenced employment with a law enforcement unit but who has not satisfied the training requirements provided for in section 7-294d; "school" means any school, college, university, academy or training program approved by the council which offers law enforcement training and includes a combination of a course curriculum, instructors and facilities.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 684; 1971, P.A. 571; 1972, P.A. 119, S. 2; P.A. 81-426, S. 2.; P.A. 82-357, S. 1, 8; P.A. 87-560, S. 1; P.A. 95-108, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act included constables in definition of "police officer"; 1971 act excluded supervisory personnel from definition of "police officer"; 1972 act included members of special police force at The University of Connecticut, Storrs in definition of "police officer"; P.A. 81-426 redefined "police officer", deleted the definition of "municipality" and added the following definitions: "Academy", "applicant", "basic training", "certification", "in-service training", "law enforcement unit", "probationary candidate" and "school"; P.A. 82-357 changed "in-service training" to "review training", and redefined "police officer" to clearly distinguish between "part-time" and all other officers; P.A. 87-560 amended the definition of (1) "certification" to include the issuance of a signed instrument evidencing satisfaction of certification requirements to a police training school or a law enforcement instructor, (2) "police officer" to delete reference to performance of police duties "twenty or more hours per week", (3) "probationary candidate" to delete reference to having commenced "full-time" employment and deleted the definition of "part-time"; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294b. Members of council. Holding of other office. (a) There shall be a Police Officer Standards and Training Council which shall be within the Division of State Police of the Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only and which shall consist of the following members appointed by the Governor: (1) A chief administrative officer of a town or city in Connecticut; (2) the chief elected official or chief executive officer of a town or city in Connecticut with a population under twelve thousand which does not have an organized police department; (3) a member of the faculty of The University of Connecticut; (4) eight members of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association who are holding office or employed as chief of police or the highest ranking professional police officer of an organized police department of a municipality within the state; (5) the Chief State's Attorney; (6) a member of the Connecticut Coalition of Police and Corrections Officers; and (7) five public members. The Commissioner of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent-in-charge in Connecticut or their designees shall be voting ex-officio members of the council. Any nonpublic member of the council shall immediately upon the termination of his holding the office or employment which qualified him for appointment cease to be a member of the council. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed in the same manner as the original appointment. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson and the council shall appoint a vice- chairperson and a secretary from among the members. The members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to actual expenses involved in the performance of their duties.
(b) Membership on the council shall not constitute holding a public office. No member of the council shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment by reason of his appointment to or membership on the council nor shall any member forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his appointment to the council, notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, special act or local law, ordinance or charter.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 2, 4; P.A. 77-290; 77-614, S. 487, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 9, 136; P.A. 79-560, S. 34, 39; P.A. 82-357, S. 2, 8; P.A. 87-477, S. 3; P.A. 89-376, S. 2; P.A. 93-43; P.A. 95-108, S. 3; P.A. 97-5.)
History: P.A. 77-290 added to provision concerning appointment the phrase calling for service until successors are appointed in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 placed council within the department of public safety for administrative purposes, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of public safety for commissioner of state police to fulfill requirements of P.A. 77-614, S. 486; P.A. 79-560 added requirement that there be five public members; P.A. 82-357 put the council within the division of state police for administrative purposes only and made provisions for the appointment of a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary; P.A. 87-477 added chief state's attorney as member of council; P.A. 89- 376 amended Subsec. (a) to permit public safety commissioner and FBI special agent-in-charge to have designees and to be voting ex-officio members of council; P.A. 93-43 amended Subsec. (a) to insert new Subdiv. (3) extending membership to chief elected official or chief executive officer of a town with a population under twelve thousand which does not have an organized police department; P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (a) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council; P.A. 97-5 amended Subsec. (a) to insert new Subdiv. (6) extending membership on council to a member of the Connecticut Coalition of Police and Corrections Officers, and renumbered the remaining Subdiv. accordingly.
See title 2c re termination under "Sunset Law."
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only."
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294c. Annual report. The council shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly which shall include pertinent data regarding the comprehensive municipal police training plan and an accounting of all grants, contributions, gifts, donations or other financial assistance.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 3; P.A. 82-357, S. 5, 8.)
History: P.A. 82-357 broadened the scope of the annual report to include accounting of grants, contributions and other financial assistance.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294d. Powers of council. Certification of police officers, police training schools and law enforcement instructors. Refusal to renew, cancellation or revocation of certification. Automatic certification. Exemptions. (a) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council shall have the following powers:
(1) To develop and periodically update and revise a comprehensive municipal police training plan;
(2) To approve, or revoke the approval of, any police training school and to issue certification to such schools and to revoke such certification;
(3) To set the minimum courses of study and attendance required and the equipment and facilities to be required of approved police training schools;
(4) To set the minimum qualifications for law enforcement instructors and to issue appropriate certification to such instructors;
(5) To require that all probationary candidates receive the hours of basic training deemed necessary before being eligible for certification, such basic training to be completed within one year following the appointment as a probationary candidate, unless the candidate is granted additional time to complete such basic training by the council;
(6) To require the registration of probationary candidates with the academy within ten days of hiring for the purpose of scheduling training;
(7) To issue appropriate certification to police officers who have satisfactorily completed minimum basic training programs;
(8) To require that each police officer satisfactorily complete at least forty hours of certified review training every three years in order to maintain certification, unless the officer is granted additional time not to exceed one year to complete such training by the council;
(9) To renew the certification of those police officers who have satisfactorily completed review training programs;
(10) To establish uniform minimum educational and training standards for employment as a police officer in full-time positions, temporary or probationary positions and part-time or voluntary positions;
(11) To visit and inspect police basic training schools and to inspect each school at least once each year;
(12) To consult with and cooperate with universities, colleges and institutes for the development of specialized courses of study for police officers in police science and police administration;
(13) To consult with and cooperate with departments and agencies of this state and other states and the federal government concerned with police training;
(14) To employ an executive director and any other personnel that may be necessary in the performance of its functions;
(15) To perform any other acts that may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the functions of the council as set forth in sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive;
(16) To accept contributions, grants, gifts, donations, services or other financial assistance from any governmental unit, public agency or the private sector;
(17) To conduct any inspection and evaluation that may be necessary to determine if a law enforcement unit is complying with the provisions of this section;
(18) At the request and expense of any law enforcement unit, to conduct general or specific management surveys;
(19) To develop objective and uniform criteria for granting any waiver of regulations or procedures established by the council;
(20) To recruit, select and appoint candidates to the position of probationary candidate, as defined in section 7-294a, and provide recruit training for candidates of the Connecticut Police Corps program in accordance with the Police Corps Act, 42 USC 14091 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(b) No person may be employed as a police officer by any law enforcement unit for a period exceeding one year unless he has been certified under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section or has been granted an extension by the council. No person may serve as a police officer during any period when his certification has been cancelled or revoked pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the council may establish other qualifications for the employment of police officers and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. The certification of any police officer who is not employed by a law enforcement unit for a period of time in excess of two years, unless such officer is on leave of absence, shall be considered lapsed. Upon reemployment as a police officer, such officer shall apply for recertification in a manner provided by the council. The council shall certify any applicant who presents evidence of satisfactory completion of a program or course of instruction in another state equivalent in content and quality to that required in this state, provided he passes an examination or evaluation as required by the council.
(c) (1) The council may refuse to renew any certificate if the holder fails to meet the requirements for renewal of his certification.
(2) The council may cancel or revoke any certificate if: (A) The certificate was issued by administrative error, (B) the certificate was obtained through misrepresentation or fraud, (C) the holder falsified any document in order to obtain or renew any certificate, (D) the holder has been convicted of a felony, (E) the holder has been found not guilty of a felony by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13, (F) the holder has been convicted of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 29-9, (G) the holder has been refused issuance of a certificate or similar authorization or has had his certificate or other authorization cancelled or revoked by another jurisdiction on grounds which would authorize cancellation or revocation under the provisions of this subdivision, or (H) the holder has been found by a law enforcement unit, pursuant to procedures established by such unit, to have used a firearm in an improper manner which resulted in the death or serious physical injury of another person. Whenever the council believes there is a reasonable basis for cancellation or revocation of the certification of a police officer, police training school or law enforcement instructor, it shall give an adequate opportunity for a hearing prior to such cancellation or revocation. Any police officer or law enforcement instructor whose certification is cancelled or revoked pursuant to this section may reapply for certification no sooner than two years after the date on which the cancellation or revocation order becomes final. Any police training school whose certification is cancelled or revoked pursuant to this section may reapply for certification at any time after the date on which such order becomes final.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), any police officer, except a probationary candidate, who is serving under full-time appointment on July 1, 1982, shall be deemed to have met all certification requirements and shall be automatically certified by the council in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 7-294e.
(e) The provisions of this section shall apply to any person who performs police functions. As used in this subsection, "performs police functions" for a person who is not a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, means that in the course of his official duties, such person carries a firearm and exercises arrest powers pursuant to section 54- 1f or engages in the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, as defined in section 53a-24. The council shall establish criteria by which the certification process required by this section shall apply to police officers.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) any state police training school or program, (2) any sworn member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, (3) Connecticut National Guard security personnel, when acting within the scope of their national guard duties, who have satisfactorily completed a program of police training conducted by the United States Army or Air Force, (4) employees of the Judicial Department, (5) sheriffs or deputy sheriffs trained by the Sheriffs' Advisory Board pursuant to section 6-32b, (6) municipal animal control officers appointed pursuant to section 22-331 or (7) fire police appointed pursuant to section 7-313a. The provisions of this section with respect to renewal of certification upon satisfactory completion of review training programs shall not apply to any chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice who has satisfactorily completed a program of police training conducted by the division.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 5; 1967, P.A. 669; P.A. 77-289; P.A. 81-426, S. 3; P.A. 82-357, S. 3, 8; P.A. 87-99; 87- 560, S. 2; P.A. 91-186; P.A. 92-128, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-271, S. 1, 3; 93-435, S. 1, 95; P.A. 94-44, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-6, S. 10, 28; P.A. 95-108, S. 4; P.A. 00-51, S. 1, 2.)
History: 1967 act inserted new Subdiv. (k) re personnel and relettered former Subdiv. (k) as Subdiv. (l); P.A. 77-289 added Subdiv. (m) re acceptance of contributions etc.; P.A. 81-426 expanded the authority of the council to all police training programs, except the state police, and enlarged the scope of its powers to include requiring a minimum of four hundred eighty hours of basic training for all probationary candidates and setting requirements of in-service training programs and certification; P.A. 82-357 broadened the powers of the council and added provisions dealing with certification of police officers, cancellation or revocation of certificates, automatic certification and part-time police officers; P.A. 87- 99 amended Subsec. (f), exempting certain Connecticut national guard security personnel from training requirements; P.A. 87-560 amended (1) Subsec. (a) to delete requirement in Subdiv. (7) re any police officer hired on a part-time basis, renumbering all remaining subdivisions; to require issuance of "certification" in lieu of "certificates of approval" or "certificates"; to clarify that each police officer complete forty hours of review training every three years "in order to maintain his certification"; to require the renewal of certification for those officers who have satisfactorily completed review training and to require the establishment of "uniform" minimum educational and training standards for all police officers; (2) Subsec. (c) to authorize council to refuse to renew any certificate if holder thereof fails to meet requirements for certification renewal; to require council to give adequate opportunity for a hearing whenever it believes there is reasonable basis for cancellation or revocation of a police training school or law enforcement instructor certification; to permit a law enforcement instructor to reapply for certification two years after date cancellation or revocation order becomes final and to permit a police training school to reapply for certification at any time after date on which order becomes final; and (3) Subsec. (e) to specifically provide that section applies to any person who performs police functions, deleting reference to "twenty or more hours per week"; P.A. 91-186 amended Subsec. (f) to exempt any chief inspector or inspector in division of criminal justice who has completed division training program from requirements re renewal of certification; P.A. 92-128 amended Subsec. (c) to authorize council to cancel or revoke any certificate if holder falsified any document in order to obtain or renew any certificate, has been found not guilty of a felony due to mental disease or defect, has been convicted of a violation of Sec. 21a-279(c) or 29-9, has been refused issuance of a certificate or has had certificate revoked by another jurisdiction or has been found to have used a firearm in an improper manner which resulted in death or serious physical injury of another person; P.A. 93-271 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement in Subdiv. (5) that probationary candidates receive a minimum of four hundred eighty hours of basic training and substitute requirement that such candidates receive the hours of basic training deemed necessary and to eliminate obsolete provision in Subdiv. (8) relating to police officers who have completed basic training on or before July 1, 1982, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 93-435 made a technical change in Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 94-44 amended Subdiv. (8) of Subsec. (a) to authorize council to grant additional time not to exceed one year to a police officer to complete his certified review training, effective May 24, 1994; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-6 amended Subsec. (f) to add the exception for employees of the judicial department, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council, amended Subsec. (e) to add definition of "performs police functions" and amended Subsec. (f) to explicitly exempt from the section's training requirements sworn members of the state police, trained sheriffs or deputy sheriffs, municipal animal control officers and fire police; P.A. 00-51 amended Subsec. (a) to add management of Connecticut Police Corps program to powers of council and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective May 16, 2000.
See Sec. 7-294f re requirement that police basic training programs include course on rape crisis intervention.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 125, 128, 129.

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Sec. 7-294e. Recertification of police officers. Regulations. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute or special act or local law, ordinance or charter to the contrary, each police officer shall forfeit his appointment and position unless recertified by the council according to procedures and within the time frame established by the council.
(b) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council may adopt any regulations it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of section 7-294a, subsection (a) of section 7-294b, sections 7-294c, 7-294d and this section in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, giving due consideration to the varying factors and special requirements of law enforcement units. Such regulations shall be binding upon all law enforcement units, except the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 6; P.A. 81-426, S. 4; P.A. 82-357, S. 4, 8; P.A. 91-73, S. 2, 4; P.A. 95-108, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 81-426 provided that after October 1, 1981, every person who is appointed a police officer, except a state police officer, must complete a basic training program and be awarded a certificate by the council or lose his position; P.A. 82-357 provided for recertification procedures effective July 1, 1982 and deleted obsolete provision which had allowed fifteen-year grace period for police officers serving without certification on October 1, 1966; P.A. 91-73 deleted obsolete provisions in Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (b) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-26 re training at State Police Training School.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294f. State and local police training programs to include course on rape crisis intervention. Each police basic training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or municipal police department in the state shall include a course on rape crisis intervention and each review training program conducted by such agencies shall make provision for such a course.
(P.A. 82-60; P.A. 95-108, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294g. State and local police training programs to provide training re domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide intervention procedures. (a) Each police basic or review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, 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 two hours of training on the subject of domestic violence that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Enforcement of criminal laws applicable in cases involving domestic violence; (2) techniques for handling incidents of domestic violence which promote the safety of the victim and the officer and which reduce the likelihood of recurrence; (3) organizations in the state that offer aid or shelter to victims of domestic violence; (4) applicable procedures in the prosecution of cases involving domestic violence; (5) orders issued by a court pursuant to chapter 815a. The Division of State Police, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council or municipal police departments, in consultation with the Connecticut Task Force on Abused Women, shall develop a program curriculum and shall submit such curriculum to the task force for approval. Individual shelter programs in the task force may also conduct domestic violence training in conjunction with any police training program.
(b) Each police basic training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall include a course on the recognition and management of child abuse and suicide intervention procedures.
(P.A. 85-581; P.A. 89-172; P.A. 95-108, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 89-172 added Subsec. (b) to include in each police basic training program a course on the recognition and management of child abuse and suicide prevention procedures; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council (Note: The word "by" preceding references to "the Police Officer Standards and Training Council" in Subsecs. (a) and (b) was added editorially by the Revisors for grammatical correctness and conformity with wording of Sec. 7-294h).
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.

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Sec. 7-294h. State and local police training programs to provide training on the handling of juvenile matters. On and after July 1, 1990: (1) Each police basic training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety 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, and (D) information regarding resources of the juvenile justice system in the state; (2) each police basic 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 Public Safety, 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.)
History: P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.

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Sec. 7-294i. Transferred to Sec. 7-294y.

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Sec. 7-294j. Transferred to Sec. 7-294m.

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Sec. 7-294k. Transferred to Sec. 7-294z.

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Sec. 7-294l. State and local police training programs to provide training on gang-related violence. Each police basic or review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or a municipal police department in the state shall include training on gang-related violence.
(P.A. 93-416, S. 4, 10; P.A. 95-108, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 93-416 effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-7n(a) re definition of "gang".

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Sec. 7-294m. (Formerly Sec. 7-294j). Instruction re new legal developments for municipal chief law enforcement officers. (1) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b, in conjunction with the office of the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and (2) the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the office of the Chief State's Attorney, shall provide instruction on the subject of new legal developments which affect police policies and practices concerning the investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal matters, each year to the chief law enforcement officer of each municipality and any person designated by him to serve in such capacity in his absence. Each such officer may be given credit for such course of instruction toward the certified review training required by subsection (a) of section 7-294d.
(P.A. 90-120, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-63; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 7, 130; P.A. 95-108, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 93-63 deleted requirement that instruction be provided for a minimum of four hours in two sessions to police officers who have managerial duties, substituting requirement that instruction be provided to chief law enforcement officer of each municipality and any person designated to serve in such capacity in his absence and authorized credit for such instruction toward certified review training; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made technical grammatical change, effective July 1, 1994; Sec. 7-294j transferred to Sec. 7-294m in 1995; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-2a re legal review of state police policies and practices.

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Sec. 7-294n. State and local police training programs to provide training on crimes motivated by bigotry or bias. Each police basic or review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or a municipal police department in the state shall include training relative to crimes motivated by bigotry or bias.
(P.A. 00-72, S. 6, 12.) Effective July 1, 2001.
History: P.A. 00-72 effective July 1, 2001.

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Secs. 7-294o to 7-294w. Reserved for future use.

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Sec. 7-294x. Council to provide training to public school security personnel. The Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b shall provide training to security personnel employed in the public schools by a local or regional board of education. Such training shall include drug detection and gang identification.
(P.A. 93-416, S. 5, 10; P.A. 95-108, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 93-416 effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-7n(a) re definition of "gang".

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Sec. 7-294y. (Formerly Sec. 7-294i). State and local police policy on the handling and processing of juvenile matters. Not later than July 1, 1990, the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety and each municipal police department in the state shall establish a written policy or update its current policy with respect to the handling and processing of juvenile matters including, but not limited to, procedures concerning the arrest, referral, diversion and detention of juveniles. The Division of State Police and each municipal police department shall inform its police officers of such policy not later than July 1, 1990.
(P.A. 89-273, S. 13.)
History: Sec. 7-294i transferred to Sec. 7-294y in 1995.

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Sec. 7-294z. (Formerly Sec. 7-294k). Use of radar devices by state and municipal police officers. (a) On and after July 1, 1992, no hand-held radar device that emits nonionizing radiation may be used in this state by any state or municipal police officer in the course of his employment for the purpose of preventing or detecting any violation of any law relating to motor vehicles.
(b) On and after July 1, 1992, no speed monitoring radar device that emits nonionizing radiation may be used within the confines of a patrol vehicle by any state or municipal police officer in the course of his employment for the purpose of preventing or detecting any violation of any law relating to motor vehicles.
(P.A. 92-141, S. 1, 3.)
History: Sec. 7-294k transferred to Sec. 7-294z in 1995.

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PART II
POLICE RESERVE FUND

Sec. 7-295. Acceptance of part. The provisions of this part shall apply to any municipality having a police department under the management of a commissioner, superintendent, board of police commissioners or police committee, which accepts the provisions of this part by an affirmative vote of the electors of such municipality at a referendum warned and held for the purpose of accepting the same in the manner prescribed in section 9-369. In any such referendum election, the designation of the question on the voting machine ballot label shall be "Shall a Police Reserve Fund be established?". The provisions hereof shall not apply to cities authorized by special charter to establish a police benefit or reserve fund.
(1949 Rev., S. 904; 1953, S. 417d; P.A. 86-170, S. 5, 13.)
History: P.A. 86-170 required that designation on ballot label be in form of question.
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.

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Sec. 7-296. Reserve fund of police department. There shall be in each city a fund to be known as the "reserve fund of the police department" and said fund shall consist of: (1) All property specially devised or given for the benefit of disabled policemen and all property given to the department on account of service rendered; (2) all lost or abandoned money, in charge of the board of police commissioners or police committee of such city, and all moneys arising from the sale of abandoned or lost property, in charge of such board, available for the purpose by the laws of the state; (3) all rewards, fees, gifts, testimonials and emoluments presented to any member of the police force on account of special services, except such as are allowed by such board or committee to be retained by such member, and all moneys collected from members of the police force by way of fines or forfeiture of pay imposed or ordered by such board and all money deducted or withheld from the pay of members of the police force on account of lost time; (4) the income and interest from all property and moneys belonging to said fund, and (5) such moneys as are from time to time appropriated for that purpose by the common council of such city. The board of police commissioners or the police committee shall be a board of trustees of the reserve fund and the treasurer of the city shall be the treasurer of said fund. The president of such board or committee shall be president of such board of trustees and shall draw all orders upon said fund, which shall be countersigned by the secretary of such board of trustees, who shall be designated by the board. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board of trustees and of all action taken by it with regard to said fund. The board of trustees shall have general charge of said fund and may, by a majority vote, direct the treasurer to invest any portion of the same in any securities authorized by the laws of the state as investments for trust funds or to deposit the same or any portion thereof in any of the savings banks of the state. The board of trustees shall report to the common council yearly the condition of the reserve fund, with the items of all the receipts and disbursements on account of the same. If the reserve fund is found at any time insufficient to meet all requirements upon it, the common council, upon application of the board of trustees, may make an appropriation to make good such deficiency, and any prospective deficiency in said fund may be provided for by the common council in its annual appropriation for the police department.
(1949 Rev., S. 905; P.A. 75-530, S. 22, 35.)
History: P.A. 75-530 deleted references to unclaimed or stolen money or property.
See Sec. 7-285 re sales of unclaimed goods by police departments.
See Sec. 50-14 re disposition of lost goods after expiration of time for making claim.
Does not prohibit by implication deductions from pay of policemen. 137 C. 43.

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Sec. 7-297. Veteran reserve; retirement; death benefits. In addition to the supernumerary and regular police force in each city, there shall be an honorary grade, known as the veteran reserve, to which the police commissioners or police committee may, at its discretion, by a unanimous vote, with the approval of the mayor, transfer any member of the regular force who, through age, or physical disabilities incurred in the discharge of perilous duty, or in long and faithful service, becomes permanently disqualified for the more active duties of the regular grade; provided the pay of the members of the veteran reserve shall be regulated by the police commissioners or police committee in accordance with the amount of duty performed and shall not be more than one-half nor less than one-fourth of the rate of compensation previously received by such members while in the regular grade; and provided any member of the veteran reserve may be removed in the same manner as a member of the regular force. The board of police commissioners or police committee may, at its discretion, by the affirmative vote of the whole number of its members and with the approval of the mayor, as a reward for conspicuously meritorious service, permanently retire from duty any member of the regular force or of the veteran reserve, after twenty years of continuous service in the department, upon certificate of the surgeon of the department or of a board of surgeons to be designated by such board or such committee, showing that such member is permanently disabled, physically or mentally, so as to be unfit for any police duty; provided such surgeon or board of surgeons shall further certify that, in his or their opinion, such disability is due either to the natural infirmities of old age or to injury received or exposure endured in the performance of duty in such department; and such member so retired shall be entitled to receive from said fund, during his lifetime, unless such vote is annulled by a unanimous vote of the members of such board or committee, with the approval of the mayor, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars annually or, in case of officers other than patrolmen, not exceeding one-half the pay of such officers when retired, such sum to be payable in monthly installments. Such board or such committee may, by the affirmative vote of the whole number of its members, with the approval of the mayor, permanently retire any member of the supernumerary or regular police force who, while in the actual performance of police duty and by reason of the performance of such duty and without fault or misconduct on his part, has become permanently disabled, physically or mentally, so as to be entirely unfitted to perform such duty; and such member so retired shall be entitled to receive from said fund, during his lifetime, unless such vote is annulled by the unanimous vote of the members of such board or committee, with the approval of the mayor, an annual sum payable monthly, not exceeding one-half nor less than one-fourth of his previous compensation per annum; or, in the case of a member of the supernumerary force, not exceeding one-half nor less than one-fourth of the compensation of a patrolman of the regular force. Whenever such board or committee annuls a vote placing a policeman on the retired list, such board or committee shall file with the trustees of the reserve fund a written statement of the causes which determined them in annulling such vote. When any member of the police force has been killed while in the actual performance of duty or has died from the effects of any injury received while in the actual discharge of such duty, such board or committee may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of its members, with the approval of the mayor, direct a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars a year, payable in installments, as such board or committee directs, to be paid from said fund to the widow of such policeman; or, if he has no widow, to his child or children not over eighteen years of age, and to his child or children being under eighteen years of age, after the death or marriage of his widow; provided such annual payment shall cease if such widow marries again, and shall cease when all of such children attain the age of eighteen years, and may at any time be stopped or the amount of the payment changed by the vote of a majority of the whole number of the members of such board or committee, with the approval of the mayor, and shall in no case be continued for a longer period than ten years.
(1949 Rev., S. 906.)

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Sec. 7-298. Removal of policemen not restricted. Nothing in this part shall be construed as limiting the power of removal of policemen vested in the board of police commissioners or police committee by the charter of any city, except that no member of the retired list shall be removed until he has had an opportunity to be heard in his own behalf before such board or committee. Such board or committee may, at its discretion, order any member on the retired list to be examined or reexamined by the surgeon of the department or by a board of surgeons to be designated by such board or committee, and, if such member is reported capable of performing duty, such board or committee may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of its members, with the approval of the mayor, restore such member to either the regular or veteran reserve force and may, in like manner, transfer any member of the veteran reserve to the regular force.
(1949 Rev., S. 907.)

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Sec. 7-299. City ordinances. Each city shall have authority, by ordinance, to make regulations, not inconsistent herewith, for giving full effect to the provisions of this part.
(1949 Rev., S. 908; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 6.)
History: 1963 act substituted word "part" for "chapter."

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Sec. 7-300. Establishment of funds in towns and boroughs. In any town or borough which has established a police reserve fund under the provisions of this part, the powers and duties vested in and imposed upon the mayor or common council of a city shall, in the case of a town, be vested in and imposed upon the board of selectmen thereof, and, in the case of a borough, be vested in and imposed upon the warden or burgesses thereof, except that, in the case of a borough or a town, all appropriations shall be made by the body authorized to make appropriations therein.
(1949 Rev., S. 909.)

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PART III
FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Sec. 7-301. Establishment of fire department. Any town may provide by ordinance for the protection of property within its limits from fire and for the establishment of a town fire department and for the management, discipline and control thereof by the board of selectmen or, if there is a town council, by the town council, or by a board of fire commissioners of such number, chosen in such manner and for such terms as the ordinance provides. The board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners may make regulations for the conduct of the fire department and may appoint, discipline and remove for cause shown all employees of the department and purchase supplies and equipment necessary for its operation; provided, if the ordinance so provides, the board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners shall enter into an agreement with any volunteer fire company or companies within the town for the protection thereof from fire on such conditions as to financial assistance and the observance of the regulations of the board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners as such ordinance prescribes; and provided no town fire department established under the provisions of this section shall supersede any volunteer fire company which is the owner of any building, fire apparatus or other property without having first come to an agreement with such company with regard to the disposition of and compensation for such building, apparatus or other property. Such town may, at any meeting specially warned for the purpose, make appropriations and lay taxes for the support thereof; but this section shall not be operative within the limits of any city, borough or incorporated fire district which has an established fire department. Nothing in this section shall prevent any town, city, borough or incorporated fire district from appropriating funds to a volunteer fire company or companies for services rendered or to be rendered within the confines of such town, city, borough or district by such fire company or companies, provided such town, city, borough or incorporated fire district shall deem it in the public interest to do so.
(1949 Rev., S. 677; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 18; 1959, P.A. 606, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act added provision protecting town's, city's or borough's power to appropriate funds to volunteer fire companies for services.
See Sec. 29-297 re appointment of local fire marshals and deputies.
Firemen perform governmental acts and municipality is not liable for their negligence. 38 C. 368. See 80 C. 386. Cited. 196 C. 192, 198, 200.

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Sec. 7-302. Hearing prior to dismissal of fire department head. Appeal. No active head of any fire department of any town, city or borough shall be dismissed unless he has been given notice in writing of the specific grounds for such dismissal and an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally or by counsel, at a public hearing before the authority having the power of dismissal. Such public hearing, unless otherwise specified by charter, shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days after such notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal within thirty days following such dismissal to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town, city or borough is located. Service shall be made as in civil process. Said court shall review the record of such hearing, and, if it appears upon the hearing upon the appeal that testimony is necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal, it may take evidence or appoint a referee or a committee to take such evidence as it directs and report the same to the court with his or its findings of fact, which report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court, upon such appeal, and after a hearing thereon, may affirm the action of such authority, or may set the same aside if it finds that such authority acted illegally or arbitrarily, or in the abuse of its discretion, or with bad faith or malice.
(1949, 1951, 1955, S. 425d; P.A. 76-436, S. 289, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common pleas and added judicial district reference, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties.
Cited. 209 C. 352, 362.

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Sec. 7-303. "Municipality", "work" and "duty" defined. The following words as used in sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, shall have the following meanings: "Municipality" includes each town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, school district, fire, sewer and other district, improvement association or any other political subdivision of the state upon which is placed, or which has assumed, the duty of extinguishing fires and protecting its inhabitants from loss by fire. "Work" or "duty" includes the time spent and duties performed while at fires, answering alarms, returning from fires, attending fire drills or classes, conducting tests or trials of any of the apparatus or equipment normally used by a fire department, instructing or being instructed in fire duties, and any other duty which is ordered to be performed by a superior or commanding officer in the fire department.
(1949, S. 426d.)
Legislature may enact laws relative to hours of service of firemen without infringing on municipality's right of home rule or local self-government. 149 C. 528.

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Sec. 7-304. Participation of municipalities. (a) Any municipality may by ordinance adopt an average work week of fifty-six hours for permanent paid fire personnel as provided in sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive.
(b) The legislative body of such municipality may, by ordinance, or shall, upon petition of electors of such municipality in number not less than five per cent of the total number of electors on the last-completed registry list, submit the question of adopting the provisions of said sections in the fire department of such municipality to a vote of the electors thereof at the next general election or at a special election or meeting called for such purpose. Any such petition shall contain the ordinance to be voted upon by the electors. Such election or meeting shall be called and held, and the vote on the question canvassed and the result determined and certified, as nearly as may be in accordance with the provisions of the laws governing the election of civil officers therein. The notice or warning for such election or meeting shall state that a purpose of such election or meeting is to ascertain whether or not such municipality shall adopt an average work week of fifty-six hours for permanent paid fire personnel and that such election or meeting is called under the provisions of this section. The vote on such question shall be taken by a "YES" and "NO" vote on the voting machine, and the voting machine ballot label, which shall bear the words "Shall a fifty-six hour work week for permanent paid fire personnel be adopted?", shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of section 9-250. If, upon the official determination of the result of such vote, it appears that a majority of those voting on the question are in favor of the adoption of the provisions of sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, said sections shall take effect as to such municipality no later than ninety days thereafter, provided, when the fiscal year of any such municipality begins within ninety days thereafter, the effective date for such municipality shall be no later than the first day of the fiscal year next following the expiration of the ninety- day period.
(1949, S. 427d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 49; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 4; P.A. 86-170, S. 6, 13.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting section 7-306; P.A. 86-170 required that designation on ballot label be in form of question and substituted term "fire personnel" for "firemen".
Does not permit adoption of average work week of fewer than fifty-six hours. 149 C. 528.

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Sec. 7-305. Work week. The work week for all permanent paid members of the uniformed firefighter force for municipalities adopting sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, shall be an average work week of not more than fifty-six hours, computed over a period of one fiscal or calendar year, as the municipality elects; provided, unless otherwise prescribed by regulation or ordinance, any time spent in an emergency in excess of any regularly assigned or scheduled work week in connection with any actual fire or conflagration, including time spent going to, working at or returning from any actual fire, or any other work or duty classified as an act of mercy shall not be included in computing such average work week.
(1949, S. 428d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 5.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting reference to section 7-306.
Must be read in conjunction with section 7-304 and does not permit adoption of average work week of fewer than fifty- six hours. 149 C. 528. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.

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Sec. 7-306. Earnings. There shall be no diminution in the weekly earnings of the employees concerned, nor shall there be any lessening of any of their existing rights and privileges, as the result of the adoption of the work week provided in sections 7- 303 to 7-306, inclusive.
(1949, S. 429d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 6.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting reference to section 7-306.
Cited. 149 C. 527. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.

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Sec. 7-307. Age requirement for veterans. Section 7-307 is repealed.
(1949, S. 430d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 14; 1959, P.A. 247.)

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Sec. 7-308. Assumption of liability for damages caused by firemen or volunteer ambulance members. (a) As used in this section, "municipality" shall have the meaning ascribed to it by section 7-314; "fire duties" means those duties the performance of which is defined in said section; "ambulance service" means "ambulance service" as defined in section 7-314b; and "volunteer ambulance member" means "active member of an organization certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180" as defined in section 7-314b.
(b) Each municipality of this state, notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of law, general, special or local, or any limitation contained in the provisions of any charter, shall pay on behalf of any paid or volunteer fireman or volunteer ambulance member of such municipality all sums which such fireman or volunteer ambulance member becomes obligated to pay by reason of liability imposed upon such fireman or volunteer ambulance member by law for damages to person or property, if the fireman or volunteer ambulance member, at the time of the occurrence, accident, injury or damages complained of, was performing fire or volunteer ambulance duties and if such occurrence, accident, injury or damage was not the result of any wilful or wanton act of such fireman or volunteer ambulance member in the discharge of such duties. This section shall not apply to damages to person caused by an employee to a fellow employee while both employees are engaged in the scope of their employment for such municipality if the employee suffering such damages or, in the case of his death, his dependent has a right to benefits or compensation under chapter 568 by reason of such damages. If a fireman or, in the case of his death, his dependent has a right to benefits or compensation under chapter 568 by reason of injury or death caused by the negligence or wrong of a fellow employee while both employees are engaged in the scope of their employment for such municipality, such fireman or, in the case of his death, his dependent shall have no cause of action against such fellow employee to recover damages for such injury or death unless such wrong was wilful and malicious. The municipality may arrange for and maintain appropriate insurance or may elect to act as a self-insurer to maintain such protection. No action or proceeding instituted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be prosecuted or maintained against the municipality or fireman unless at least thirty days have elapsed since the demand, claim or claims upon which such action or special proceeding is founded were presented to the clerk or corresponding officer of such municipality. No action for personal injuries or damages to real or personal property shall be maintained against such municipality and fireman unless such action is commenced within one year after the cause of action therefor has arisen nor unless notice of the intention to commence such action and of the time when and the place where the damages were incurred or sustained has been filed with the clerk or corresponding officer of such municipality and with the fireman within six months after such cause of action has accrued. No action for trespass shall lie against any fireman crossing or working upon lands of another to extinguish fire or for investigation thereof. No action for trespass shall lie against any volunteer ambulance member crossing or working upon lands of another while performing ambulance services. Governmental immunity shall not be a defense in any action brought under this section. In any such action the municipality and the fireman, or the municipality and the volunteer ambulance member, may be represented by the same attorney if the municipality, at the time such attorney enters his appearance, files a statement with the court, which shall not become part of the pleadings or judgment file, that it will pay any verdict rendered in such action against such fireman or volunteer ambulance member. No mention of any kind shall be made of such statement by any counsel during the trial of such action.
(1955, S. 266d; 1957, P.A. 401, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 446, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 355; February, 1965, P.A. 596; P.A. 98-108, S. 2.)
History: 1959 act substituted reference to Sec. 7-314 for reference to Sec. 7-309 and defined "fire duties"; 1961 act added provisions re damages caused employee by fellow employee; 1965 act added provisions re representation of municipality and fireman by same attorney; P.A. 98-108 divided existing section into Subsecs. (a) and (b) and added provisions re volunteer ambulance members (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a) the phrase " `fire duties' mean ..." was changed editorially by the Revisors to " `fire duties' means ..." for grammatical correctness).
Cited. 148 C. 27. Because reference in this section to an action by a "fireman" includes an action by that fireman's administratrix, trial court did not err in concluding that statute applied to bar the action. 187 C. 53 et seq. Section is capable of a reasonable interpretation; notwithstanding an inaccurate reference in it to a cause of action on the part of a deceased's "dependent" it is not unconstitutionally void for vagueness. Id. Section is not superseded by Sec. 31-293a which permits an action against a fellow employee for injuries arising out of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Id. Because the purpose of this section, which is to prevent double liability on the part of a municipality for the negligence of municipal firemen, bears a rational relationship to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not violate principles of equal protection. Id. Cited. 189 C. 550, 552. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200. Cited. 209 C. 273−278.
Cited. 12 CA 538−540, 542, 544−547; judgment reversed, see 209 C. 273−278.
To establish liability of municipality, plaintiff must allege and prove that conduct of employees was not wilful or wanton and that they were engaged in fire duties as defined in section 7-314. 23 CS 149. Necessity of allegation of presentation to municipality of demand is not satisfied by an allegation that required notice of injury was given municipality. Id. Cited. 22 CS 240; 23 CS 229. Cause of action against a fireman and a municipality is not limited to a living fireman but extends to his executor or administrator in case he dies. This section must be read in conjunction with section 52-599. 23 CS 321. Identity of unknown fireman can be ascertained for purpose of instituting action by invoking section 52-156 re depositions. 24 CS 452. Cited. 28 CS 507. Suit by firemen against another prohibited, when. 29 CS 420. Cited. 44 CS 230.

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Sec. 7-309. Liability for damage caused by motor vehicle used for fire fighting. Section 7-309 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 680; 1959, P.A. 446, S. 2.)

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Sec. 7-310. Operation of fire equipment in and provision of personnel and assistance to other municipality. Any city, town, borough, fire district, independent fire department or independent fire company may locate, use, man and operate fire stations, fire apparatus, ambulances, rescue trucks, radio and fire-alarm systems and other fire equipment and provide personnel and other assistance for the investigation of the cause and origin of fires, in any other city, town, borough or fire district, upon such terms respecting the location, use, management and operation as may be mutually agreed upon between the boards of fire commissioners or other persons having the management and control of the fire departments or fire companies. Any officer or member of a fire department or fire company while operating outside the jurisdictional limits of his fire department or fire company in accord with such an agreement shall have the same rights, privileges and immunities that are granted him when operating within the jurisdictional limits of his fire department or fire company.
(1949 Rev., S. 679; 1963, P.A. 136; P.A. 73-58.)
History: 1963 act extended section to independent fire departments or companies, included ambulances, rescue trucks, radio systems and other fire equipment and extended rights, privileges and immunities to firemen operating outside their jurisdiction in accord with agreement; P.A. 73-58 added provision re investigations of fires.
Cited. 140 C. 414. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.

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Sec. 7-311. Liability for delay in reporting fire or other emergency. No person, corporation, partnership or association which is authorized by any town, city or borough fire department or by any volunteer fire company to receive any report of fire or other emergency, including but not limited to requests for an ambulance or rescue equipment and which agrees to receive and transmit such report to such fire department, volunteer fire company or other appropriate municipal agency or department shall be liable in any civil action for damage to persons or property caused by delay in reporting such fire or other such emergency, unless such delay is the result of the gross negligence of such person, corporation, partnership or association.
(1953, S. 267d; P.A. 80-140.)
History: P.A. 80-140 added reports of other emergencies, including requests for ambulance or rescue equipment to provisions of section.

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Sec. 7-312. Liability as to use of water holes. Any municipality, as defined in section 7-314, or any property owner on behalf of any such municipality, may construct or maintain open water holes for the purpose of providing fire protection for such municipality, and no such municipality or property owner shall incur any liability as a result of injury to any person arising out of the maintenance of such water hole, provided such water hole has been approved by the fire-fighting organization and the municipality within whose jurisdiction such water hole is situated and provided such approval has been communicated, in writing, to the property owner on whose premises such water hole is situated.
(1953, S. 268d.)

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Sec. 7-313. Fire police. Section 7-313 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 666; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 7.)
See Sec. 7-313a.

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Sec. 7-313a. Fire police. The authorities having the supervision of the fire department of any town, city, borough or district may appoint such number of persons, within available appropriations, as they deem necessary to be fire policemen of such municipality or district, who shall have the powers and perform the duties in such municipality or district as designated and authorized by the fire chief of such municipality or district, and such fire policemen may exercise such powers and duties in any adjoining municipality or district while on duty with the fire department or with a cooperating fire department, where the department is engaged in mutual assistance. Such powers and duties shall include traffic control and regulation and may be exercised by such fire police during any fire drill or fire call or at any other time when such fire police are serving with the fire department, with any other fire department in an adjoining municipality or district or with any fire department rendering mutual assistance. Each such fire policeman shall, while in the performance of his duties as such, wear his badge of office in plain view of any observer. Each such fire policeman, while directing traffic, shall wear a white helmet with the words "Fire Police" in red letters on the front thereof or regulation fire-police dress uniform cap, provided any such fire policeman, wearing such cap after dark or in inclement weather, shall also wear a traffic safety vest, orange raincoat or any reflectorized orange outer clothing, and in each case shall carry a flashlight, which shall have a red wand and be capable of projecting a clear light for the purpose of illumination at nighttime. Such helmet, cap, vest, raincoat or outer clothing, badge and flashlight shall be supplied by the appointing municipality or district.
(1961, P.A. 444; February, 1965, P.A. 172, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 83; 1971, P.A. 80; P.A. 88-142, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-115.)
History: 1965 act added provisions concerning helmet, badge and flashlight as required accoutrements during performance of duties; 1967 act allowed appointment of fire police in numbers deemed necessary, removing former limit of twelve; 1971 act deleted provision limiting term of appointment to one year and added provisions concerning wearing of dress uniform caps and safety vests or orange raincoats; P.A. 88-142 allowed appointment of fire police within available appropriations and provided that they have the powers and duties designated by the fire chief, instead of the powers and duties of special constables; P.A. 91-115 permitted fire policemen to wear reflectorized orange outer clothing and required such policemen to carry a flashlight with a red wand while directing traffic after dark or in inclement weather.

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Sec. 7-313b. Authority of fire department officer to order removal of persons. The officer of a fire company or a fire department in charge of directing the activities at a fire or other emergency to which his company or department responds shall have the authority to order any person to leave any building or place in the vicinity of such fire or emergency for the purpose of protecting such person from injury. Any person, upon being so ordered, who wilfully refuses to leave the vicinity of a fire or other emergency situation shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than seven days or both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who has been issued a press card by the state police.
(1961, P.A. 131; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610.)
History: P.A. 77-614 made state police a division within the department of public safety rather than a separate department, effective January 1, 1979.
See Sec. 7-313e re authority of fire officer during emergency.
See Secs. 53a-167a and 53a-167b re interference with fireman in performance of his duties and re failure to assist fireman in execution of his duties, respectively.
Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.
Cited. 24 CA 598, 599, 608.

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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 state regional community-technical colleges. 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 Veterans' Administration 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.)
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).
Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.
Cited. 44 CS 230.

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Sec. 7-313d. Local fire department's authority to inspect state facilities. Each local fire department or company shall have the authority to annually inspect, for fire protection purposes, any building or facility owned, operated or leased by the state and located within the jurisdiction of such local fire department or company. In the event of structural modification of such building or facility or the addition, removal or relocation of fire protection devices or equipment within, or in the immediate vicinity of, such building or facility, such local fire department or company shall be given written notice of such alteration within ten days after its completion by the person in charge of such building or facility, and shall have the authority to inspect such building or facility within thirty days after receipt of such notice, notwithstanding the fact that it may have already made its annual inspection of such building or facility.
(P.A. 75-307, S. 1, 2.)

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Sec. 7-313e. Authority of fire officer during emergency. Notwithstanding any provision in the general statutes or a municipal ordinance to the contrary, the fire chief of the municipality, or any member serving in the capacity of fire officer-in-charge, shall, when any fire department or company is responding to or operating at a fire, service call, or other emergency, within such municipality, have the authority to: (a) Control and direct emergency activities at such scene; (b) order any person to leave any building or place in the vicinity of such fire for the purpose of protecting such person from injury; (c) blockade any public highway, street, or private right-of-way temporarily while at such scene; (d) at any time of the day or night, enter any building, including a private dwelling, or upon any premises where a fire is in progress or near the scene of any fire, or where there is reasonable cause to believe a fire is in progress, for the purpose of extinguishing the fire or preventing its spread; (e) inspect for the purposes of preventing fires and preplanning the control of fire all buildings, structures or other places in their fire district, except the interior of private dwellings, where any combustible material, including but not limited to waste paper, rags, shavings, waste, leather, rubber, crates, boxes, barrels or rubbish, that is or may become dangerous as a fire menace to such buildings, structures or other places has been allowed to accumulate or where such chief or his designated representative has reason to believe that such material has accumulated or is liable to be accumulated; (f) order disengagement or discouplement of any convoy, caravan or train of vehicles, craft or railway cars for the purpose of extinguishing a fire or preventing its spread; and (g) take command of any industrial fire brigade or fire chief when such fire company or department has been called to such industry.
(P.A. 75-599; P.A. 77-232.)
History: P.A. 77-232 clarified authority of fire officers, extending authority to time when responding to call and including emergencies and service calls as well as fire, deleting authority to trespass without liability and adding authority to make inspections and to order disbanding of convoys, caravans etc.
See Secs. 7-313b, 53a-167a, 53a-167b.
Cited. 24 CA 598, 599, 607, 608.

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PART IV
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN

Sec. 7-314. Definitions. Exemption from Freedom of Information Act. (a) Wherever used in this section and sections 7-314a and 7-322a, the word "municipality" includes each town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, city, borough, school district, fire district, fire and sewer district, sewer district, lighting district, improvement association 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; the term "fire duties" includes duties performed while at fires, while answering alarms of fire, while answering calls for mutual aid assistance, while returning from calls for mutual aid assistance, while directly returning from fires, while at fire drills or parades, while going directly to or returning directly from fire drills or parades, while at tests or trials of any apparatus or equipment normally used by the fire department, while going directly to or returning directly from such tests or trials, while instructing or being instructed in fire duties, while answering or returning from ambulance calls where the ambulance service is part of the fire service, while answering or returning from fire department emergency calls and any other duty ordered to be performed by a superior or commanding officer in the fire department; the term "active member of a volunteer fire company" includes all active members of said fire company, fire patrol or fire and police patrol company, whether paid or not paid for their services, except firemen who, because of contract of employment, come under the Workers' Compensation Act.
(b) The records and meetings of a volunteer fire department which is established by municipal charter or constituted as a not-for-profit Connecticut corporation shall not be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1- 200, if such records and meetings concern fraternal or social matters. Records and meetings concerning matters of public safety, expenditures of public funds or other public business shall be subject to disclosure under said sections.
(1949 Rev., S. 910; 1959, P.A. 567, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 19; 1967, P.A. 892, S. 1; P.A. 79-376, S. 9; P.A. 86-408, S. 3, 4; P.A. 89-22, S. 1, 3; P.A. 96-83, S. 2, 3; P.A. 97-47, S. 15.)
History: 1959 act included members of fire patrol or fire and police patrol companies in definition of "active member of a volunteer fire company"; 1963 act included going to and returning from fire drills or parades and tests or trials of apparatus in definition of "fire duties"; 1967 act made technical changes; P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation"; P.A. 86-408 added Subsec. (b) exempting operational meetings of active members of volunteer fire department from requirements of freedom of information act; P.A. 89-22 added answering and returning calls for mutual aid assistance to the definition of fire duties; P.A. 96-83 amended Subsec. (b) by exempting from the Freedom of Information Act the records and meetings of a volunteer fire department established by municipal charter or constituted as a not-for-profit Connecticut corporation if such records and meetings concern fraternal or social matters and specified that records and meetings concerning public safety, expenditures of public funds or other public business are not exempt, effective May 8, 1996; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in Sec. 1-18a" for list of sections.
Cited. 159 C. 53. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200. Cited. 209 C. 268, 270, 271.
Cited. 15 CA 84−89.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 44 CS 230.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 212 C. 100−102. Cited. 221 C. 393, 399.
Cited. 44 CS 230.

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Sec. 7-314a. Death, disability and injury benefits. Presumption. (a) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section, active members of volunteer fire departments and active members of organizations certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180 shall be construed to be employees of the municipality for the benefit of which volunteer fire services or such ambulance services are rendered while in training or engaged in volunteer fire duty or such ambulance service and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Workers' Compensation Commission and shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of chapter 568 for death, disability or injury incurred while in training for or engaged in volunteer fire duty or such ambulance service.
(b) For the purpose of this section, the average weekly wage of a volunteer fireman or volunteer ambulance service member shall be construed to be the average production wage in the state as determined by the Labor Commissioner under the provisions of section 31-309.
(c) For the purpose of this section, there shall be no prorating of compensation benefits because of other employment by a volunteer fireman or volunteer ambulance service provider.
(d) For the purpose of adjudication of claims for the payment of benefits under the provisions of chapter 568, any condition of impairment of health occurring to an active member of a volunteer fire department or organization certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180 while such member is in training for or engaged in volunteer fire duty or such ambulance service, caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in death or temporary or permanent total or partial disability, shall be presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of his employment, provided such member had previously successfully passed a physical examination by a licensed physician appointed by such department or ambulance service which examination failed to reveal any evidence of such condition.
(e) Any member of a volunteer fire company or department or organization certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180 performing fire duties or such ambulance service pursuant to a mutual aid understanding between municipalities shall be entitled to all benefits pursuant to this section and shall be construed to be an employee of the municipality in which his fire company or department or such ambulance service is located.
(f) Any member of a volunteer fire company or department and any person summoned by the State Forest Fire Warden or by any state forest fire personnel or district or deputy fire warden under the supervision of the State Forest Fire Warden pursuant to section 23-37, who performs fire duties under the direction of such personnel or warden pursuant to section 23-37, shall be construed to be an employee of the state for the purpose of receiving compensation in accordance with the provisions of chapter 568 for death, disability or injury incurred while performing such fire duties under such direction.
(1967, P.A. 892, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 464, S. 1; P.A. 79-376, S. 10; P.A. 89-22, S. 2, 3; P.A. 95-243, S. 1; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 84, 88; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10, S. 4, 7.)
History: 1969 act deleted provision distinguishing state and municipal employees acting as volunteer firemen from others in Subsec. (a) and added Subsecs. (c) and (d) prohibiting prorating of compensation benefits and making provisions concerning hypertension and heart disease; P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation"; P.A. 89-22 added Subsec. (e) concerning liability for workers' compensation coverage for firemen injured while performing duties pursuant to a mutual aid agreement, amending Subsec. (a) to reflect its inclusion; P.A. 95-243 added Subsec. (f) to include members of a volunteer fire company or department and any person summoned by the State Forest Fire Warden who performs fire fighting duty under such authority as an employee of the state for workers'compensation purposes and amended Subsec. (a) to refer to said subsection; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 added volunteer and municipal ambulance service members as employees, effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10 deleted references to municipal ambulance service members as employees, effective July 1, 1997.
Workmen's compensation commissioners have jurisdiction over claims arising under statute. 159 C. 53, 61. Volunteer firemen injured on duty come within this section, not section 31-310, although regularly employed in an industry. Id. Section "... speaks to the conduct of towns". 209 C. 268−272. Cited. 220 C. 739, 748. Cited. 223 C. 911. Cited. 224 C. 479, 480, 482, 483.
Cited. 15 CA 84, 85, 87−89. Cited. 37 CA 835, 842.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (2) cited. 224 C. 479, 482.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 224 C. 479, 482.
Cited. 38 CA 754, 759−761.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 224 C. 479, 483.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 224 C. 479, 483.
Cited. 37 CA 835, 843.
Cited. 44 CS 230.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 224 C. 479, 483.

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Sec. 7-314b. Collection of workers' compensation benefits by volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services. (a) Any active member of a volunteer fire company or department engaged in volunteer fire duties or any active member of an organization certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180 may collect benefits under the provisions of chapter 568 based on the salary of his employment or the amount specified in subsection (b) of section 7- 314a, whichever is greater, if said firefighter or volunteer ambulance service provider is injured while engaged in fire duties or volunteer ambulance service.
(b) As used in this section, the terms "fire duties" includes duties performed while at fires, answering alarms of fire, answering calls for mutual aid assistance, returning from calls for mutual aid assistance, at fire drills or training exercises, and directly returning from fires, "active member of a volunteer fire company or department" includes all active members of said fire company or department, fire patrol or fire and police patrol company, whether paid or not paid for their services, "ambulance service" includes answering alarms, calls for emergency medical service or directly returning from calls for the emergency situations, duties performed while performing transportation or treatment services to patients under emergency conditions, while at any location where emergency medical service is rendered, while engaged in drills or training exercises, while at tests or trials of any apparatus or equipment normally used in the performance of such medical service drills, and "active member of an organization certified as a volunteer ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180" includes all active members of said ambulance service whether paid or not paid for their services.
(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall only apply if the volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance service provider is unable to perform his regular employment duties.
(P.A. 95-243, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S 85, 88; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10, S. 5, 7.)
History: June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 added volunteer and municipal ambulance service members as employees, and defined the terms "ambulance service" and "active member of an organization certified as a volunteer or municipal ambulance service in accordance with section 19a-180", effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10 deleted references to municipal ambulance service members as employees and in Subsec. (b) included fire drills or training exercises in definition of "fire duties", effective July 1, 1997.

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Sec. 7-314c. Assumption of liability by the state for volunteer firefighters. The liability of a municipality shall not be affected by the implementation of sections 7- 314a and 7-314b due to the assumption of liability by the state for benefits paid pursuant to the provisions of chapter 568 for volunteer firefighters.
(P.A. 95-243, S. 3.)

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Secs. 7-315 to 7-322. Death benefits; payments for injuries, for treatment of injuries and occupational disease and for total disability; insurance to provide payments; notice of claim; investigation of claim; benefits exempt from attachment. Sections 7-315 to 7-322, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 911−S. 918; 1949, 1953, S. 419d−S. 421d, S. 423d; 1955, S. 422d; 1957, P.A. 175; 1959, P.A. 567, S. 2−5; February, 1965, P.A. 353, 354, 387, 485; 1967, P.A. 892, S. 4.)

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Sec. 7-322a. Benefits for volunteers rendering service to another fire company. Any active member of a volunteer fire company who offers his services to an officer or person in charge of another fire company which is actively engaged in fire duties, and whose services are accepted by such officer or person, shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable under the provisions of sections 7-314 and 7-314a. Such payments shall be made by the municipality in which the fire company of which such a fireman is a member is located.
(February, 1965, P.A. 264; 1967, P.A. 892, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 464, S. 2.)
History: 1967 act made technical changes; 1969 act deleted provision restricting offer of services to other volunteer fire companies by removing word "volunteer".
Applies to conduct of individuals. 209 C. 268−272.
Cited. 15 CA 84, 87.

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Sec. 7-322b. Volunteers serving in municipality where employed. Fire and ambulance leaves. Enactment by municipality. List of participating members. Benefits. (a) Any active member of a volunteer fire company, as defined in section 7-314, or any emergency medical technician, as defined in section 19a-175, who is a member of an emergency medical service organization and employed between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. in a municipality other than the municipality in which the volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization to which the individual belongs is located, may serve as a member of any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization located in the municipality where such individual is employed during such hours, subject to the provisions of this section. Nothing herein shall be construed to require any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization to accept the services of persons who are available for service pursuant to this section.
(b) Upon the request of a volunteer fire company or an emergency medical service organization, a municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, provide that the municipality and any person, firm or corporation located within such municipality which employs ten or more persons at one location shall allow any active member of a volunteer fire company, as defined in section 7-314, or any emergency medical technician, as defined in section 19a-175, to leave his place of employment, without loss of pay, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation, to respond to an emergency to which a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization of the municipality is responding, subject to such conditions and regulations as the municipality may provide by ordinance. No employer shall (1) discharge, discipline or reduce the wages, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation of any employee because such employee is a member in a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization or (2) require refusal to respond to an emergency as a condition of continued employment. The requirements of this section shall not be altered by any collective bargaining agreement.
(c) Any such member or technician who participates pursuant to this section shall register with the volunteer fire department or emergency medical service organization in the municipality in which such person is employed. Each volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization shall maintain a list of individuals employed within the municipality where such volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization is located and available to respond to an emergency between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m.
(d) The services of a member of a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization who leaves a place of employment to respond to an emergency shall be provided in accordance with any internal operating procedures established by the volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization.
(e) Any member of a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization who responds to an emergency pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable under the provisions of sections 7-314 and 7- 314a. Such payments shall be made by the municipality in which the fire company or the emergency medical service organization of which such a fireman or technician is a member is located.
(f) Any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization may request the municipality where such company or organization is located to enact the provisions of this section. Such a request shall be made to the chief executive officer of the municipality and shall be considered by the legislative body.
(P.A. 89-379, S. 1; P.A. 96-180, S. 6, 166; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 86, 88.)
History: P.A. 96-180 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Subsec. (e) of Sec. 19a-175, effective June 3, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting references to Secs. 19a-191 and 19a-192, effective July 1, 1997.

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Sec. 7-323. Application of part. Section 7-323 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 919; 1967, P.A. 892, S. 4.)

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PART V
POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN SURVIVORS' BENEFIT FUND

Sec. 7-323a. Definitions. As used in this part: "Municipality" and "legislative body" shall each have the same meaning ascribed to it in section 7-425; "participating municipality" means any municipality which votes to accept the provisions of this part; "fund" means the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund established by this part; "Retirement Commission" means the State Retirement Commission created by chapter 66; "member" means any active uniformed policeman or active uniformed fireman receiving pay from a participating municipality who has been included by such municipality under the provisions of this part, and "compensation" means one-twelfth of the annual rate of pay of a full-time paid policeman or fireman of a participating municipality who is in active service and one-twelfth of the annual rate of pay immediately prior to the retirement of a full-time paid policeman or fireman of a participating municipality who is retired.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 1; P.A. 75-293, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 75-293 added definition of "member".

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Sec. 7-323b. Acceptance of part. Any municipality may, by ordinance, accept the provisions of this part, as to its policemen or firemen, or both, but such acceptance shall not repeal, amend or replace, or affect the continuance of, any pension system established in such municipality by or under the authority of any special act or charter provision and all such special acts or charter provisions shall remain in full force and effect until repealed or amended by the General Assembly or as provided by chapter 99. When such ordinance has been adopted by the legislative body of any municipality, a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Retirement Commission by the clerk of such municipality. The effective date of participation shall be the first day of July at least ninety days subsequent to the receipt by the Retirement Commission of the certified copy of such ordinance or resolution. The Retirement Commission shall furnish to any municipality contemplating acceptance of this part, at the expense of such municipality, an estimate of the probable cost to such municipality of such acceptance. If any municipality accepts the provisions of this part as to its policemen or firemen, or both, and such municipality provides survivors' benefits for such policemen or firemen, or both, under authority of any special act or charter provision, any such policeman or fireman of such municipality for whom such benefits are provided may elect to be covered under the provisions of this part, provided such election shall be made within ninety days from the date upon which the municipality accepts the provisions of this part for such policeman or fireman and such election shall be in writing and filed with the clerk of the municipality and with the Retirement Commission. Upon such election, the survivors' benefits for such policeman or fireman provided under special act or charter provision shall cease, and only those benefits provided under the provisions of this part shall be available.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 197, S. 1.)
History: 1965 act specified section may be applied either to policemen or firemen or both instead of only to both and added provisions concerning election of benefits under policemen and firemen survivors' benefit fund rather than benefits provided under special act or charter provision.

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Sec. 7-323c. Benefit fund established. There is established a fund which shall be known as the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund. The fund shall consist of contributions received from the following sources:
(a) Each full-time paid policeman and fireman covered by a municipality's acceptance of this part who does not enjoy survivors' benefits provided by special act or charter provision or who does enjoy survivors' benefits provided by special act or charter provision but who elected to be covered under this section, shall contribute one per cent of his compensation, to be deducted by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund.
(b) Each participating municipality shall be liable to the fund for an initial payment in an amount to be determined by the Retirement Commission, which amount is necessary, in conjunction with the policemen and firemen's contribution, to start the fund on a sound actuarial basis.
(c) Each participating municipality shall pay annually to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund such amounts fixed by said commission as shall, in conjunction with the policemen and firemen's contribution, maintain the fund on a sound actuarial basis.
(d) Each participating municipality shall also pay annually a proportionate share of the costs of the administration of the fund as determined by the commission on the basis of the number of employees covered by this part in such municipality.
(e) The rates of contribution referred to in subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be proportions of the pay of members, which shall each be uniform for each participating municipality; except that, if any error or omission in the data furnished to the commission by any municipality causes the contribution rate fixed by the commission for any year under subsection (c) to be insufficient, the entire amount of any required increase shall be charged to the municipality or municipalities by which such errors or omissions were made.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 3, 7; February, 1965, P.A. 197, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 400.)
History: 1965 act amended Subsec. (a) to limit coverage to persons who do not enjoy survivors' benefits under special act or charter or who do enjoy such benefits but elect to be covered under this section; 1967 act required that necessary increase resulting from errors and omissions be charged to municipality which made error or omission under Subsec. (e).

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Sec. 7-323d. Actuarial studies of fund experience. The Retirement Commission shall make a complete actuarial study of the experience of the fund at intervals of not more than five years and shall thereupon readjust the contributions to be made by municipalities.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 4.)

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Sec. 7-323e. Benefits. When any full-time paid policeman or fireman who was covered by the provisions of this part dies, either before or after retirement, the surviving spouse of such policeman or fireman shall, until the death or remarriage of such spouse, receive out of the fund a monthly sum equal to twenty-five per cent of the compensation of such policeman or fireman. During any period in which such spouse has one dependent child under eighteen years of age, provided such child was dependent on such policeman or fireman at the time of death, such spouse shall receive from the fund an additional monthly sum equal to twelve and one-half per cent of the compensation of such policeman or fireman. During any period in which such spouse has two or more dependent children under eighteen years of age, provided such children were dependent on such policeman or fireman at the time of his or her death, such spouse shall receive from the fund an additional monthly sum equal to twenty-five per cent of the compensation of such policeman or fireman. If no spouse survives such policeman or fireman who, at death, has one or more dependent children under eighteen years of age, or upon the death or remarriage of the spouse while receiving monthly payments with respect to one or more dependent children as hereinbefore described, the Retirement Commission shall cause to be paid to the legal guardian of such dependent child or children under eighteen years of age, or in its discretion to the spouse if such spouse remarries, for the sole use and benefit of such child or children a monthly sum equal to twenty-five per cent of compensation in the case of one such child and thirty-seven and one-half per cent of compensation in the case of two or more children. In any case where payments under this section are being made with respect to one or two such children, as each such child reaches eighteen years of age payment as to such child shall cease. If no spouse or no dependent child or children under eighteen years of age survive such policeman or fireman, and such policeman or fireman is survived by a dependent father or mother, they shall receive, in a manner determined by the Retirement Commission, a monthly sum from the fund equal to that herein provided to be received by a spouse without dependent children, provided, no child or children shall be entitled to receive double benefits by reason of the death of both parents and such child or children shall receive the highest benefit payable by reason of the death of either parent. If no spouse or no dependent child or children under eighteen years of age and no dependent father or mother survive such policeman or fireman, and such policeman or fireman is survived by a beneficiary designated by such policeman or fireman prior to death on a form prescribed by the Retirement Commission, such beneficiary shall receive an amount equal to the deceased's contributions under section 7-323c without interest. If no named beneficiaries survive such policeman or fireman the aforesaid contributions, without interest, shall be paid to the executor or administrator of such deceased policeman or fireman, or, at the option of the Retirement Commission, in accordance with the terms of section 45a-273.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 5; February, 1965, P.A. 197, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 217; 1972, P.A. 50.)
History: 1965 act specified policemen and firemen for whom benefits will be paid are those who were covered under the provisions of this part rather than any full-time policeman or fireman "of a participating municipality"; 1971 act provided for payments to beneficiaries other than widow or children or to executor or administrator of estate; 1972 act made changes to remove references to specific gender, replacing "widow" with "surviving spouse", etc. and prohibited children from receiving double benefits in cases where both parents die.
Cited. 218 C. 610, 620.

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Sec. 7-323f. Insurance policies to provide benefits authorized. (a) All contributions received by the Retirement Commission in accordance with this part shall be paid over daily to the State Treasurer, who shall be the custodian of the fund with power to invest and reinvest as much of said fund as is not required for current disbursement in accordance with the provisions of part I of chapter 32. All benefits, allowances and other payments authorized by this part shall be made from the fund upon vouchers approved by the Retirement Commission.
(b) The Retirement Commission in its discretion may direct that the Comptroller, with the approval of the Attorney General and the Insurance Commissioner, shall obtain a policy or policies of group insurance or a group annuity contract or contracts from one or more insurance companies licensed to do business in this state, which shall provide the benefits specified in section 7-323e in lieu of payment of such benefits from the fund. The premiums payable under any such policy or contract shall be paid from the fund. Any experience credit or dividend paid in connection with any such policy or policies or contract or contracts shall be added to such fund.
(1963, P.A. 390, S. 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 163, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 13, 348; P.A. 99-70, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 77-614 made insurance department a division within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 restored insurance division as independent department and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 99-70 designated existing section as Subsec. (b) and added new Subsec. (a) requiring contributions to be paid over to the State Treasurer, effective May 27, 1999.

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Sec. 7-323g. Withdrawal of acceptance. A municipality may withdraw its acceptance of the provisions of this part, for either its policemen or firemen or both, by the same procedure as provided in section 7-323b for acceptance of this part, provided, if survivors' benefits are, at the time of withdrawal, being paid or due to be paid to survivors of policemen or firemen, or both, of the withdrawing municipality, the withdrawing municipality shall be liable to the fund for any additional sums necessary to continue payment of the survivors' benefits throughout the period when any such survivor shall be entitled to benefits under the terms of this part.
(February, 1965, P.A. 197, S. 4.)

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Sec. 7-323h. Municipal liability for maintaining benefits. Each municipality participating in the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund established by this part shall be liable to the fund for the cost of maintaining for its employees the benefits herein, including all contributions collected from employees. The liability of a municipality under this part shall be enforceable by the Retirement Commission against such municipality through appropriate action in the Superior Court.
(1967, P.A. 480, S. 1.)

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Sec. 7-323i. Administration of fund. The administration of said fund, except as the same relates to the custody and investment of the fund, shall be entrusted to the Retirement Commission, which may employ actuarial, clerical and other assistance necessary for the purpose and which may make reasonable regulations for carrying out the provisions of this part including designation of the times at and manner in which the participating municipalities shall make the several payments required by this part. Each participating municipality shall furnish, at such times and in such manner as the Retirement Commission directs, information concerning the names, ages, length of service and pay of members employed by such municipality and any other data which the Retirement Commission determines to be necessary for the proper execution of this part and to give prompt notice of all appointments, removals, deaths, resignations, leaves of absence and changes in pay of members.
(1967, P.A. 480, S. 2.)

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PART VI
COMMISSION ON FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.Ë 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; "firefighters" 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 and who elects to cooperate with the commission in accordance with section 7-323m.
(P.A. 73-649, S. 1, 5; P.A. 75-617, S. 1, 8; P.A. 83-566, S. 2, 6.)
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 fire fighters to include volunteer firemen who elect to cooperate with commission; P.A. 83-566 amended the definition of "fire fighters" to exclude persons paid by contractors organized for profit.

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Sec. 7-323k. Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. (a) There is established a Commission on Fire Prevention and Control to consist of twelve members appointed by the Governor. The State Fire Marshal or his designee and the chancellor of the community-technical colleges or his designee shall serve as ex-officio, voting members of said commission. Of the twelve members appointed by the Governor, two shall represent The Connecticut State Firemen's Association, two shall represent the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, two shall represent the Uniformed Firefighters of the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, two shall represent the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, two shall represent the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association and two shall represent the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
(b) On or before July fifteenth, annually, each organization to be represented on said commission shall submit to the Governor a list of nominees for appointment to said commission, which list the Governor may use when making his appointments to said commission. On or before September 1, 1975, the Governor shall appoint eight members of said commission to serve for a term of three years and on or before September 1, 1976, he shall appoint four members for a term of one year. Thereafter he shall appoint members to said commission, to replace those whose terms have expired, to serve for three years. 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. Said commission shall elect from its membership a chairman, vice chairman and secretary who shall serve a one year term commencing on October first of the year in which they are elected, provided nothing contained herein shall prevent their reelection to such office. No member of said commission shall receive compensation for his 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 commission shall be within the Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only.
(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.)
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.
See title 2c re termination under "Sunset Law."
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".

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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 required of each candidate for any firefighter position;
(2) Establish standards for a fire service training and education program, on a voluntary basis, 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) 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;
(4) Recommend standards for promotion to the various ranks of fire departments;
(5) Be authorized to apply for, receive and distribute any federal or private funds or contributions available for training and education of fire fighting personnel; and
(6) Submit to the Governor and Joint Legislative Management Committee of the General Assembly an annual report relating to the activities, recommendations and accomplishments of the commission.
(b) The commission may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as are 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.)
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.

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Sec. 7-323m. Exceptions, voluntary cooperation. This part shall not apply to any municipality which employs fewer than six paid firefighters or to any volunteer fire department or its employees or members. Any such municipality or volunteer fire department may elect to cooperate with the commission with regard to any provision of this part.
(P.A. 73-649, S. 4, 5; P.A. 75-617, S. 4, 8; P.A. 76-435, S. 43, 82.)
History: P.A. 75-617 specified applicability only with respect to departments having at least six "paid" firefighters; P.A. 76-435 made technical changes.

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Sec. 7-323n. Office of State Fire Administration. There is established an Office of State Fire Administration, which office shall: (a) Carry out the provisions of this part; (b) administer the state's responsibilities under federal laws relevant to fire service; (c) develop a master plan for fire prevention and control; and (d) carry out any other function which the commission may devise. Subject to the provisions of chapter 67, the commission may appoint such clerical and other assistants as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 75-617, S. 5, 8.)

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Sec. 7-323o. State Fire Administrator, appointment and duties. There is established the position of State Fire Administrator who shall be appointed by the commission and who shall: (1) Carry out the requirements of section 7-323n; (2) administer federal funds and grants allocated to the fire services of the state; (3) provide technical assistance and guidance to fire fighting forces of any state or municipal agency; (4) develop a centralized information and audiovisual library regarding fire prevention and control; (5) accumulate, disseminate and analyze fire prevention data; (6) recommend specifications of fire service materials and equipment and assist in the purchasing thereof; (7) assist in mutual aid coordination; (8) coordinate fire programs with those of the other states; (9) assist in communications coordination; (10) establish and maintain a fire service information program, and (11) review the purchase of fire apparatus or equipment at state institutions, facilities and properties and, on and after July 1, 1985, coordinate the training and education of fire service personnel at such institutions, facilities and properties. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to forest fire prevention and control programs administered by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection pursuant to sections 23-33 to 23-57, inclusive.
(P.A. 75-617, S. 6, 8; P.A. 80-169, S. 3; P.A. 84-357, S. 2; P.A. 86-97, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 80-169 included fire control information as subject of concern for centralized library; P.A. 84-357 added Subdiv. (k), expanding the duties of administrator re fire equipment and personnel at state institutions, facilities and properties; P.A. 86-97 added provision clarifying the authority of the commissioner of environmental protection and substituted numeric Subdiv. indicators for alphabetic Subdiv. indicators.

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Sec. 7-323p. State fire school. Training and education extension account. Auxiliary services account. (a) The Office of State Fire Administration shall maintain and operate a state fire school which shall serve as the training and education arm of the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. The use of any hazardous material, as defined in section 29-307a, except a virgin fuel, is prohibited in the simulation of any fire. The office shall fix fees for training and education programs and sessions and for such other purposes deemed necessary for the operation and support of the school, subject to the approval of the commission. Such fees shall be used solely for training and education purposes.
(b) The commission may establish and maintain a state fire school training and education extension account, which shall be a separate account within the General Fund. The account may be used for the operation of such training and education extension programs and sessions as the Office of State Fire Administration may establish and for the purchase of such equipment as is required for use in the operation of such programs and sessions. All proceeds derived from the operation of the training and education extension 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 its training and education programs and sessions, and for the acquisition, as provided by section 4b-21, alteration and repairs of real property for educational facilities, except such sums as may be required to be transferred from time to time to any fund for the redemption of bonds and payment of interest on bonds, provided repairs, alterations or additions to educational facilities costing fifty thousand dollars or less shall require the approval of the Commissioner of Public Works, and capital projects costing over fifty thousand dollars shall require the approval of the General Assembly or, when the General Assembly is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee.
(c) The commission may establish and maintain a state fire school auxiliary services account, which shall be a separate account within the General Fund. The account shall be used for the operation, maintenance and repair of auxiliary service facilities and for such other auxiliary activities of the state fire school as the Office of State Fire Administration determines. The proceeds of such activities 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 of operation, maintenance and repair of facilities, food services and other auxiliary activities 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 the improvement and extension of such activities, except such sums as may be required to be transferred from time to time to any fund for the redemption of bonds and payment of interest on bonds, provided repairs, alterations or additions to auxiliary service facilities costing fifty thousand dollars or less shall require the approval of the Commissioner of Public Works, and capital projects costing over fifty thousand dollars shall require the approval of the General Assembly or, when the General Assembly is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. The commission, with the approval of the Finance Advisory Committee, may borrow from the resources of the General Fund at any time such sum or sums as it deems advisable, to establish or continue auxiliary services activities, such sums to be repaid in accordance with such schedule as the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall establish.
(P.A. 83-566, S. 1, 6; P.A. 84-546, S. 14, 173; P.A. 86-312, S. 1, 21; 86-373, S. 2, 3; P.A. 87-496, S. 45, 110.)
History: P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 86-312 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to change training and education extension "fund" and auxiliary services "fund" to separate "accounts" within the general fund; P.A. 86-373 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit use of any hazardous material in fire simulation; P.A. 87-496 replaced administrative services commissioner with public works commissioner.

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Sec. 7-323q. Indemnification of fire service instructors. The state shall save harmless and indemnify any person certified as a fire service instructor by the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control under section 7-323l from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other act resulting in personal injury or property damage, which acts are not wanton, reckless or malicious, provided such person at the time of the acts resulting in such injury or damage was acting in the discharge of his duties in providing fire service training and instruction.
(P.A. 89-278, S. 1.)

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