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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