Carpino Applauds First Responder Mental Health Assistance

HARTFORD- In an effort to assist our first-responders, teachers and others who suffered psychological trauma from the mass murder of 26 children and women at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation to create a special fund said State Rep. Christie Carpino, who co-sponsored the special legislation.

Backed by private donations, the fund compensate first responders for lost wages, counseling and other expenses caused by mental trauma as result of the December 14th tragedy.

The bill establishes criteria for three groups of people to qualify for financial assistance: (1) those whose employment or volunteer status caused them to be at the affected (2) those who were scheduled, for employment or volunteer purposes, to be at the affected area, and (3) those who performed duties required by events at the affected.

The eligibility within each group depends on (1) a claimant’s relation to the Sandy Hook incident, (2) employment or volunteer position, and (3) mental or emotional impairment cause.

Many have missed time, with the expectation that the trauma of that day will be felt for months and possibly longer. In all, about 150 to 200 people were at the school or responded to the emergency.

Carpino said, “This legislation is a meaningful step taken in a bipartisan manner to help those in need. Our first responders were there for us and now we need to be there for them.”