OLR Bill Analysis

HB 5116

AN ACT PROVIDING PORTAL TO PORTAL WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND CONSERVATION OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

SUMMARY:

This bill extends portal-to-portal workers' compensation coverage to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conservation officers and DEP employees appointed as special conservation officers. This means these employees would receive round-trip coverage from their place of abode (i. e. , home) to work and back home (in addition to coverage while at work). This coverage already exists for police officer and firefighters.

With one exception, a workers' compensation claim cannot be based on an employee's mental or emotional impairment due to job-related stress unless the mental impairment is a result of a physical injury that occurred on the job. The exception is for state or local police officers who used deadly force in the line of duty or were the subjects of the attempted use of deadly force.

The bill also extends this deadly force exception to any police officer under the Police Officer Standards and Training Council definition. This includes DEP conservation officers and state university police officers.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2008

BACKGROUND

Place of Abode (Conn. Agencies Reg. , § 31-275-1(2))

State regulation includes, but does not limit, an employee's “place of abode” to:

Conservation Officers

DEP conservation officers are specifically empowered to enforce all parks, forest, wildlife, and natural resources law, and they have the authority of a police officer, including the power to make arrests (CGS § 26-6).

COMMITTEE ACTION

Labor and Public Employees Committee

Joint Favorable Change of Reference

Environment Committee

Joint Favorable