Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Crisco, Hartley hail approval of firefighters' 'boot drive' bill


HARTFORD – State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. , D-Woodbridge and state Sen. Joan V. Hartley, D-Waterbury, Senate chair of the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee, today urged Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to sign a bill to allow special event permits for fundraising ‘boot drives’ held by firefighters statewide.
 
The bill received unanimous Senate approval last week after it cleared the House May 15.
 
Hartley and Crisco said these charitable ‘fill-the-boot’ events had been held regularly for many years by volunteer fire departments to raise much-needed, supplemental funds until recently, when local law enforcement agencies and the state Department of Transportation raised concerns about them.
 
“Firefighters across Connecticut had come to rely upon these boot drives to raise money for special equipment they need or to provide direct monetary assistance to fire victims,” Crisco said. “Provisions of this bill require state officials to issue the necessary, one-day, special event permit to lawfully hold these fundraisers when requested by appropriate local authorities.”
 
Crisco and Hartley said specifics of the bill limit the allowable locations for these boot drives to intersections where there’s a stop sign or traffic light, and to where the speed limit is 30 miles per hour or less.
 
“The best part of this bill is that it restores to local fire departments the ability to hold these ‘fill-the-boot’ events while adding a layer of public safety protocol and common sense,” Hartley said. “Going forward, now everyone understands these fundraisers must be conducted where traffic controls are already in place and where no firefighter is at unreasonable risk.”
 
Hartley and Crisco said after final legislative action on the measure last week, the bill was advanced to the governor’s office earlier today and they hope for his favorable consideration.
 
 
This information is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.
 

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