General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7199 aims to improve firefighter recruitment and retention in Connecticut by establishing a mortgage assistance program for both paid and volunteer firefighters, effective July 1, 2025. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority will oversee this program, providing financial assistance for home purchases in the communities where firefighters serve, which may include down payment support and housing subsidies. Additionally, the bill modifies existing tuition waiver provisions for regional community-technical colleges and the Connecticut State University System, introducing new eligibility criteria that include uniformed firefighters with at least two years of service and their dependents. The bill also repeals certain subsections related to tuition waivers and clarifies that any educational reimbursement received will reduce the waiver amount accordingly.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-Service Award Program, managed by the State Retirement Commission, to recognize volunteer firefighters for their service through a trust fund. This program will allow participants to earn service credit, which cannot be forfeited, and mandates annual crediting of length-of-service awards starting July 1, 2026. The bill also creates a task force to study the shortage of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, with findings due by January 1, 2026. Additionally, it introduces a reimbursement requirement for municipalities hiring firefighters within two years of their training completion, while ensuring that existing agreements regarding training cost reimbursements remain unaffected. The bill amends various existing laws and emphasizes support for municipalities in managing firefighter training costs.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 3-13c
PS Joint Favorable: 3-13c
File No. 416: 3-13c
APP Joint Favorable: 3-13c