OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6461

AN ACT CONCERNING WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the environmental protection commissioner to recertify a class I, II, III, or IV wastewater treatment facility operator if that operator, for any time from January 1, 2004, to January 1, 2010, stopped being employed due to a work-related compensable injury for two or more years and applies for recertification before January 1, 2012. It specifies the operator will be recertified at his or her previously held class.

Current regulation states that an operator's certificate becomes inactive two years after the date his or her operator's employment terminated (Conn. Agencies Reg. § 22a-416-5(c)(3)).

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

BACKGROUND

Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator Classifications

By law and regulation, class I, II, III, and IV wastewater treatment operator applicants must meet certain educational and experience criteria in order to qualify to take a class I, II, III, or IV exam. The higher the class level the greater the experience and education requirements necessary to qualify.

A class I operator must have (1) at least one year of experience in the operation of a wastewater facility, (2) a high school diploma or G. E. D. , (3) successfully completed the basic wastewater treatment facility operation course, and (4) passed the class I exam. A class II operator must have (1) at least three years experience in the operation of a wastewater facility, (2) a high school diploma or G. E. D. , (3) successfully completed at least 30 continuing education units (CEU) in a field the commissioner determines to be related to wastewater facility operation, of which at least 18 CEUs are directly related to wastewater facility operation, and (4) passed the class II exam.

The requirements for classes III and IV are progressively more rigorous with additional years of experience and additional CEUs required. The commissioner can permit individuals to work as “operators in training,” which means they have satisfied all the requirements except for facility work experience.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Labor and Public Employees Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Environment Committee

Joint Favorable