The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5276, aims to amend the definition of "employer" under the State Occupational Health and Safety Act to include volunteer fire departments and volunteer ambulance companies. Specifically, it replaces the existing definition in subsection (d) of section 31-367, stating that "employer" now encompasses the state, its political subdivisions, and these volunteer organizations, except as outlined in section 31-369. This change is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill modifies subsection (a) of section 31-369 by excluding volunteer fire departments and volunteer ambulance companies from the chapter's applicability only if they are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This amendment clarifies the jurisdiction of CONN-OSHA over these volunteer organizations, ensuring they are subject to state occupational safety and health regulations. The effective date for these changes is also October 1, 2026.