Connecticut HB 5385: AN ACT ENSURING FAIR AND EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

Bill Text

Substitute House Bill No. 5385

Special Act No. 26-34

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY UNDUE DELAY
IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS BY POLICE OFFICERS
AND FIREFIGHTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force
to study causes of undue delay in workers' compensation claims made
by police officers and firefighters. Such study shall include, but need not
be limited to, an examination of delays caused by (1) administrative
processing of such claims, (2) medical provider availability and
schedule limitations, and (3) insurer authorization requirements.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
Representatives;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives;

Substitute House Bill No. 5385

Special Act No. 26-34 2 of 2

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
(7) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; and
(8) The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission, or
the chairperson's designee.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member
of the General Assembly.
(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall
be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and
public employees shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the task force shall submit a report
on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor
and public employees, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-
4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that
it submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later.

Governor's Action:
Approved June 2, 2026