Rep. Zawistowski Attends Bill Signing for “An Act Concerning Training for Certain Public Safety and Emergency Services Personnel”

HARTFORD – State Representative Tami Zawistowski (R-61) joined fellow special needs advocates in Gov. Lamont’s office this week for a ceremonial bill signing of Public Act 19-147, “An Act Concerning Training for Certain Public Safety and Emergency Services Personnel.”

P.A. 19-147 provides training opportunities for firefighters and EMS personnel on techniques to deal with those on the autism spectrum, with cognitive impairment or nonverbal learning disorder. The training is optional but can be used for continuing education credit, and will be available at no cost to municipalities.

“I introduced HB5156 (later incorporated into HB7000) at the suggestion of Jill Caron, one of the founders of the Foundation for Exceptional Children of Suffield (FECS). She and Amy Scott Rucci came to testify in support of this bill before the Public Safety and Security Committee in February,” said Rep. Zawistowski.

During Jill Caron’s public testimony, she stated, “Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) react to an emergency first responder in a way that seems combative and may run away from the very person who was sent to help them; it is crucial to teach first responders how to identify someone with autism and how to best help them in an emergency situation.”

The milestone bill was the result of work by Foundation for Exceptional Children of Suffield (FECS), Jill Caron, Susan Mercik Davis and many others who have developed Project Keep Me Safe, an ID program for those at risk, plus training programs that are currently in use by law enforcement and some fire and rescue groups. It builds on a similar bill that passed in 2017 that made training available to law enforcement personnel.

“With the support and advocacy from FECS and the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, the bill survived after the committee process by combining it with another bill. Thank you to Rep. Liz Linehan and members of the Children’s Committee who were instrumental in getting this bill brought to the House floor where it received unanimous support,” said Rep. Zawistowski. The bill advanced to the Senate where it also passed unanimously.

Part of the final bill passage included the creation of a communication aid tool that will help non-verbal individuals communicate with first responders in an emergency.

Staff from the UCONN Center For Excellence In Developmental Disabilities brought their communication aid tool prototype to the bill signing. The tool will soon be required in all first responder vehicles.

(L-R) Rep. Linehan, Gov. Lamont, Rep. Zawistowski