CT State Firefighter Association Honors Rep. Rutigliano as “Legislator of the Year”
EAST LYME- State Representative David Rutigliano (R-Trumbull) has been named the 2016 “Legislator of the Year” by the Connecticut State Firefighter Association.
Rutigliano was honored at the 133rd annual Convention of the Connecticut State Firefighter Association in East Lyme on Saturday September 17th.
Rep. Rutigliano said, “I am particularly grateful with this honor from the CT State Firefighter Association. We made it a priority to protect both volunteer and professional firefighters in our legislation. Our volunteer forces are our neighbors and friends and are the back bone of any local small town fire department and they should be cared for when they get sick on the job.”
The Connecticut State Firefighter Association has 26,625 members representing most than 80% of the firefighters in each of Connecticut’s eight counties. Approximately, 22,225 of their members are volunteers and the remaining 4400 members are career firefighters.
This award recognizes Rep. Rutigliano’s efforts and dedication in Crafting legislation that provides all of Connecticut’s firefighters, both career and volunteer with wage replacement coverage in the event that they are diagnosed with cancer.
Rep. Rutigliano was part of a year-long firefighter working group which consisted of legislators from across the aisle, Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM), Council of Small Towns (COST), municipal leaders and the firefighters union.
The proposal would permit the use of existing resources to fund a new account that will provide wage replacement benefits to eligible firefighters who suffer from certain types of cancer. The bill also establishes certain uniform safety and reporting measures to help protect firefighters.
The Firefighters Cancer Relief Program would be available to the uniformed members of paid municipal, state, or volunteer fire department, local fire marshal, deputy fire marshals, fire investigators and fire inspectors.
The Firefighters Cancer Relief Program, under the new law, would provide the wage replacement benefits, for eligible firefighter cancer victims.