OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5549

AN ACT CONCERNING LEAVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY CALLS

SUMMARY:

This bill entitles state employees who are volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance company members to receive full pay for any regular work hours spent responding to a fire or ambulance call. It also requires the employee, at the request of his appointing authority, to provide written verification from the volunteer fire chief or ambulance company head stating the date, time, and duration of the fire or call and confirming the employee's response. The written verification is required in order for the employee to receive pay for hours missed. The bill eliminates the requirement that an employee can only respond to fires and calls during regular work hours if he received permission to do so from his appointing authority.

The bill also prohibits the loss of vacation time, sick leave, or accumulated overtime. Under current law, the loss of vacation time, sick leave, or accumulated overtime is barred only if the employee has received permission to respond to calls on work time.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2003

BACKGROUND

State Appointing Authority

Under the State Personnel Act, "appointing authority" means a state board, commission, officer, commissioner, person or group of people having the power to make job appointments by virtue of a statute or by lawfully delegated authority.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Labor and Public Employees Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Report