AN ACT CONCERNING FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

HB 6624 aims to improve firefighter recruitment and retention in Connecticut by targeting both paid and volunteer firefighters. Key provisions include requiring an advertising campaign to attract applicants (especially women), creating a high school public safety curriculum and training tracks, providing tuition coverage at state colleges for firefighters and their children, offering mortgage assistance for uniformed firefighters, and establishing a volunteer service award program. The bill also mandates training facilities for physical ability tests, increases funding for fire training schools, and requires a study on firefighter certification levels. These changes directly affect firefighters, their families, high school students, and local fire departments across the state.