Bills Creating Fallen Officer Fund, Expansion of Line of Duty Death Declarations Signed Into Law

This is National Police Week, a recognition of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Wednesday, May 15 was National Peace Officers Memorial Day and Governor Lamont signed a bill into law I cosponsored establishing a Fallen Officer Fund to provide payments to the surviving family of a police officer killed in the line of duty. This been a priority issue for the House Republican Caucus. The fund provides a lump-sum, non-taxable payment totaling $100k to surviving family members or beneficiaries of any Connecticut local or state police officer killed in the line of duty or who sustained injuries that cause an officer’s death. The legislation also creates a path for surviving family members to maintain health insurance coverage.

He also signed a bill I cosponsored expanding the period of time when the death of an officer or firefighter is considered in the line of duty to include 24 hours after attending training or engaging in duties. It also expands the presumption of workers’ compensation coverage for the death or disability of a police officer or firefighter to include deaths or disabilities resulting from a cerebrovascular incident or pulmonary embolism.

A bill was also signed that I backed that waives the driver’s license “Q” endorsement for any veteran or member of the armed forces who has military fire department training and experience related to operation of fire apparatus. This will make it less onerous for veterans with necessary experience to protect our communities.

I cosponsored other bills that made it out of the House and Senate, and sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

We passed a bill extending telehealth provisions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic until June 30, 2027, one requiring participation in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network in place of operating the firearms evidence database, and promoting nursing home resident quality of life.

I was proud to support a bill championed by a fellow member of the Newtown delegation and Aging Committee colleague, Representative Mitch Bolinsky. With his leadership, we were able to craft a bill making it easier to age-in-place. HB 5001 passed the Senate unanimously and gained approval in the House with nearly every member voting for it. This legislation is aimed at protecting seniors and providing meaningful changes to elder care.

I also backed a bill about standards for the spraying of herbicides along railroad right-of-ways. This measure, if signed into law, would require railroad company vegetation management plans to be consistent with Massachusetts requirements.