Representative McGorty Outlines Legislative Priorities for the 2021 Session
SHELTON — State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122) on Thursday announced a slate of bills he’s introduced for consideration during the 2021 legislative session. These include legislation to provide personal income tax relief to public safety volunteers and to protect first responders from being sold faulty equipment by unlicensed vendors.
A career fire serviceman and member of the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee, McGorty has been a tireless advocate for the state’s volunteer and professional public safety personnel during his time in the state legislature. He says his career experience, his close relationships with others who work in emergency management, and his conversations with other lawmakers as Co-Chair of the Fire and EMS Caucus have allowed him to identify issues affecting first responders that others might not be aware of.
Two of his proposals would address frequently overlooked aspects of the job for volunteer and professional first responders. The first, introduced with other members of the Fire and EMS Caucus, would exempt the stipends paid to volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance personnel from the state personal income tax. The second, co-sponsored by State Representative J.P. Sredzinski (R-112), would require any entity that sells or repairs new emergency equipment to be a licensed dealership.
McGorty says the stipends paid to volunteers are usually only given to a handful of firefighters at each department that handle tasks like storm watches, hose testing, vehicle maintenance, and custodial tasks. “We’re not talking about a significant amount of money here. It’s not as if the state is keeping the lights on based off whether or not it collects this specific tax, and many towns usually offer a property tax abatement on these payments,” McGorty said.
He also says the dealers who sell or repair the emergency equipment used by firefighters, EMS, and other first responders ought to be able meet certain statewide quality standards and show that they are licensed. “The one thing you should always be able to control in an emergency is the quality of the equipment you use. Having standards in place can prevent accidents or equipment failures that put the lives of personnel or bystanders in harm’s way,” McGorty concluded.
Representative Ben McGorty serves the 122nd General Assembly District including residents of Shelton, Stratford, and Trumbull.