OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5178 (as amended by House "A")*

AN ACT EXTENDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE TO REMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSES OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS

SUMMARY:

Under current law, state health insurance coverage is provided for surviving spouses and dependent children, under age 18, of local police officers who die from injuries received in the course of their employment, and the coverage ends if the spouse remarries.

This bill:

1. requires coverage after remarriage;

2. adds spouses and children of paid firefighters and state police to the group entitled to such coverage;

3. specifies that the coverage is provided following work-related deaths occurring before, on, or after the bill's effective date; and

4. specifies that the surviving spouse and dependent children must not be otherwise eligible for another health insurance plan.

Also under current law, the surviving spouse and dependent children of any municipal worker who dies on or after October 1, 2000, as a result of injuries received while on the job, gets state health insurance coverage. This provision covers paid firefighters, but the bill places them in the group where coverage is not tied to a specific death date.

The bill also requires fire police to use hand-held or portable traffic control devices while directing traffic in the performance of their duties. It removes the mandate that municipalities and fire districts supply the fire police with identifying badges, safety helmets, caps, vests, raincoats or other outer clothing, and flashlights and instead permits them to supply the fire police with these items. It makes several other changes regarding the clothing fire police must wear while performing their duties. Fire police are designated by municipalities or fire districts to control traffic around the site of a fire.

*House Amendment "A" adds the provisions regarding the equipment and clothing for municipal fire police when they perform their duties.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

SURVIVOR HEALTH INSURANCE

Plan Coverage Provisions

Under existing law and the bill, the state comptroller is required to provide this insurance, which must include group hospitalization, medical, and surgical plan coverage. The comptroller has the statutory authority to procure health insurance coverage for all state employees.

Firefighter Defined

The bill defines "firefighter" as any person regularly employed and paid by any municipality to perform firefighting duties for on average at least 35 hours a week.

FIRE POLICE PROVISIONS

Requirements

The bill requires municipal or district fire police to use hand-held or portable traffic control devices while directing traffic in the performance of their duties. The bill specifies that the traffic control device must be appropriate for the time of day, weather, and traffic flow.

It also requires that, after dark or in inclement weather, all fire police wear a traffic safety vest, orange or lime green raincoat, or any reflectorized orange or lime green outer clothing and that these items must meet national, state, and local traffic safety standards. Under current law, only fire police wearing a regulation fire-police dress uniform cap must wear the vest, raincoat, or reflectorized outer clothing after dark or in bad weather (those wearing a white helmet with the words "fire police" on the front are not required to wear the additional clothes).

Lastly, the bill allows the flashlight that fire police must carry to have either a red or orange wand for directing traffic. Current law allows only a red wand.

Provision of Equipment

Under current law, the town or fire district must provide the fire police with badges, helmets, caps, vests, raincoats or outer clothing, and flashlights. The bill instead allows towns or districts to supply these items, but does not require it. The bill also adds the hand-held or portable traffic control device to the list of things a town or district may provide.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Labor and Public Employees Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Report