Connecticut HB 5276: AN ACT CONCERNING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEFINITION OF EMPLOYER UNDER THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT.

Bill Text

LCO 1104 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5276
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1104

Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES

Introduced by:
(LAB)

AN ACT CONCERNING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE
DEFINITION OF EMPLOYER UNDER THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 31-367 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(d) "Employer" means the state and any political subdivision thereof 4
and, except as provided in section 31-369, as amended by this act, any 5
volunteer fire department and any volunteer ambulance company; 6
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 31-369 of the general statutes is 7
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 8
1, 2026): 9
(a) This chapter applies to all employers, employees and places of 10
employment in the state except the following: (1) Employees of the 11
United States government; [and] (2) working conditions of employees 12

Raised Bill No. 5276

LCO 1104 2 of 2

over which federal agencies other than the United States Department of 13
Labor exercise statutory authority to prescribe or enforce standards or 14
regulations affecting occupational safety and health; and (3) any 15
volunteer fire department or volunteer ambulance company that is 16
regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 USC 17
651, et seq., as amended from time to time. 18
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 31-367(d)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 31-369(a)

LAB Joint Favorable