Sen. Hwang Honored for Bipartisan Legislation to Help Firefighters with Cancer
During a Sep. 6 ceremony in New Britain, Sen. Tony Hwang was recognized as the 2016 Co-Legislator of the Year by the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut.
The award recognizes Sen. Hwang’s efforts in helping craft legislation which provides wage replacement benefits to all eligible paid and volunteer firefighters diagnosed with specified cancers.
Sen. Hwang, the ranking Republican senator on the Labor and Public Employees Committee, was part of a firefighter working group which consisted of Republican and Democrat legislators, the Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM), the Council of Small Towns (COST), municipal leaders and the firefighter unions.
“This is a groundbreaking proposal which protects the men and women who ensure our safety,” Sen. Hwang said. “It was an honor for me to have been asked by critical shareholders to participate in the year-long bipartisan working group which led to the crafting of this important policy. We are helping Connecticut firefighters who are diagnosed and recovering from job-related cancers, and we are doing so without adding new financial burdens on cities, towns, and local property taxpayers.”
Peter Carozza, President of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters of CT (UPFFA-CT) who represents 65 locals and over 4,000 firefighters in Connecticut, presented the award. “This legislation finally gives protection to Connecticut’s firefighters and is long overdue,” Carozza said. Carozza praised the work of the ‘Cancer Legislation Committee’ who worked for months on drafting this legislation and specifically thanked Sen. Hwang and Reps. Michelle Cook and David Rutigliano, who were key members of the working committee.
“With this law in place, firefighters won’t have to worry about losing their insurance or losing their house,” said UPFFA-CT Legislative Director Rick Hart. “This truly was a bipartisan effort and we feel it is a great example of what can be accomplished when labor and municipalities work together to protect their common interests.”
“This legislation is the product of many hours of productive discussions on how to tackle a public policy problem,” Sen. Hwang said. “Our talks brought together different viewpoints in order to bring about common sense solutions. With this proposal, we have accomplished that goal. This legislation is a great example of working together to find valued solutions to help our community.”
Attached photo, left to right: Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut President Peter Carozza, Sen. Hwang and Fairfield Firefighters Association Local 1426 Executive Board President Bob Smith. The Fairfield Fire Fighters Association (www.iaff1426.org) represents the career fire fighters, fire mechanics, and fire master mechanics of the Fairfield Fire Department and the career fire fighters of the Easton Fire Department. Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. He can be reached at 800 842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.
Sen. Tony Hwang Working to Raise Awareness of CT’s Distracted Driving Laws
Noting that motor vehicles fatalities in Connecticut increased 45 percent during the first six months of 2016, Sen. Tony Hwang is working to raise awareness of Connecticut’s distracted driving laws.
“That 45 percent increase in fatalities is shocking and should serve as a wake-up call to everyone who gets behind the wheel,” Sen. Hwang said. “Especially now that school is back in session, we need to make sure that people of all ages are aware of the law. We can prevent senseless tragedies, but we’ve got to talk about the dangers. We’ve got to spread the word that texting while driving – and distracted driving in all its forms – is a recipe for disaster.”
Sen. Hwang will be organizing future community forums to discuss the issue and ways to prevent distracted driving.
Under Connecticut law:
- No person shall text message or use a hand-held phone while driving.
- Drivers under 18 are subject to a complete ban on cell phone and mobile electronic device use.
- Drivers are prohibited from engaging in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the vehicle’s safe operation.
- School bus drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone while driving except in emergencies
- Each distracted driving or use of cell phone while driving ticket comes with DMV points (2 points per ticket) and fines:
- $150 for a first offense
- $300 for a second offense
- $500 for a third or subsequent offense
- A doubled penalty in a construction/work zone
- It can also result in an increase in insurance.
Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. He can be reached at 800 842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .
On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com .
(Listen) Raising awareness about distracted driving can prevent senseless tragedies. Sen. Hwang updates WICC AM 600’s Mike Bellamy.
(Listen) Raising awareness about distracted driving can prevent senseless tragedies. Sen. Hwang updates WICC AM 600’s Mike Bellamy.
Sen. Hwang Honored for Legislative Efforts to Help Firefighters With Cancer
Sen. Tony Hwang has been recognized as the 2016 Co-Legislator of the Year by the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut.
The award recognizes Sen. Hwang’s efforts in helping craft legislation which provides wage replacement benefits to all of Connecticut’s firefighters diagnosed with cancer.
The award will be presented on Sept. 6 during a ceremony in New Britain.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition of our bipartisan legislative efforts within the General Assembly,” Sen. Hwang said. “This is a groundbreaking proposal which protects the men and women who protect us. We are helping all Connecticut firefighters who are diagnosed with job-related cancers, and in collaboration with municipal leaders we are doing so without adding new financial burdens on cities, towns, and local property taxpayers.”
Sen. Hwang, the ranking Republican senator on the Labor and Public Employees Committee, was part of a firefighter working group which consisted of Republican and Democrat legislators, the Connecticut Council of Municipalities, the Council of Small Towns, municipal leaders and the firefighters union.
Throughout the legislative session, Sen. Hwang co-sponsored “An Act Establishing A Firefighters Cancer Relief Program” Public Act 16-10, which establishes a relief fund used for wage replacement of those who are diagnosed with certain conditions of cancer as a result of their service as paid municipal or volunteer firefighters.
In addition to providing wage benefits, this bill also requires firefighters to take preventative measures to avoid contracting cancer. Eligibility for the relief fund requires firefighters to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular pre-screening for cancer.
“This legislation is the product of many hours of productive discussions on how to tackle a public policy problem,” Sen. Hwang said. “Our talks brought together different viewpoints from major stakeholders in order to bring about common sense solutions. With this new law, we have accomplished that goal. For everyone working on this important legislation, one mutual goal existed: we were working together to fight cancer and support our firefighters and their families.”
Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. He can be reached at 800 842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .
On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.
