HB 7053, An Act Establishing A Working Group To Develop Uniform Statutory Definitions Of “First Responder” And “Essential Worker

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE

Thursday, February 27, 2025

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 7053, An Act Establishing A Working Group To Develop Uniform Statutory Definitions Of “First Responder” And “Essential Worker.” CHA has concerns about the bill as drafted.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems care for patients, strengthen the state’s economy, and support vulnerable communities across the state. Every day, they work to improve healthcare access, affordability, and health equity. Even as they face ongoing challenges, hospitals provide world-class care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals also support an exemplary workforce as the largest collective employer in the state, contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and invest in their communities addressing social drivers of health.

HB 7053 would establish a working group to develop “uniform statutory definitions” for the terms “first responder” and “essential worker” when used in Connecticut law. The working group would submit a report to the General Assembly with its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2026.

The working group would consist of four agency heads (or their designees) comprising the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. The chairs of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security may also appoint others they believe might serve as “sources of information and data to accomplish the purposes of the working group.”

CHA has the following concerns with the bill.

First, it is important to highlight that the term first responder is used in current law in more areas than contemplated by this bill, including in the areas of education, social services, courts, and criminal matters, and the working group lacks the relevant stakeholder input from the areas that would be impacted by the new “recommended” definitions. Additionally, the working group constituency appears highly focused on safety and security, which is again too narrow a context to ensure that the correct stakeholders are engaged.

Second, this bill as drafted provides insufficient direction to the working group on what legislative goals they should consider when making recommendations to revise existing legal terminology already in use in a variety of statutes and regulations. This type of review would impact dozens of statutes and regulations and seems better suited for a study, rather than a working group, with broad stakeholder participation that should examine:

  • How the terms are used now
  • What improvements could be made or gained from standardization
  • How those changes could best be accomplished without creating confusion or unintended consequences

We urge the Committee to reject HB 7053, or if the bill moves forward, that it be a study with clearly set goals and include opportunities for broader stakeholder engagement.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.