HB05385 • 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY UNDUE DELAY IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS BY POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.

Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Labor and Public Employees Committee
Last action: 2026-06-02
Official status: Signed by the Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as 'from passage' but no specific calendar date for enactment or signing is provided in the excerpt to calculate exact deadlines.

Task Force to Study Delays in Workers' Compensation for Police and Firefighters

This law creates a task force to study why workers' compensation claims by police officers and firefighters face undue delays.

What This Bill Does

Creates a task force to study causes of undue delay in workers' compensation claims made by police officers and firefighters.
Requires the study to examine administrative processing, medical provider availability and schedule limitations, and insurer authorization requirements.
Sets up eight members on the task force appointed by legislative leaders and state officials.
Orders all initial appointments to be made within 30 days of the law taking effect.
Mandates that the first meeting happen no later than 60 days after the effective date.
Requires a final report with findings and recommendations to be submitted by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

Police officers and firefighters who file workers' compensation claims
The Workers' Compensation Commission chairperson or their designee
Legislative leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate
The Labor Commissioner or their designee

Terms To Know

Workers' compensation claims: Requests for benefits when a worker gets hurt on the job.
Task force: A temporary group of people formed to study a specific problem or issue.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not state when it officially takes effect, only that appointments and meetings must happen within set days after the effective date.
The task force ends on January 1, 2027, or immediately upon submitting its report if that happens later.

Bill History

2026-06-02 Connecticut General Assembly
Signed by the Governor
2026-05-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted to the Secretary of State
2026-05-29 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
2026-05-20 LCO
Special Act 26-34
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly
On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 5943
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
2026-05-04 Connecticut General Assembly
Senate Calendar Number 546
2026-03-30 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
2026-03-30 Connecticut General Assembly
House Calendar Number 204
2026-03-30 LCO
File Number 248
2026-03-23 LCO
Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/30/26 12:00 PM
2026-03-13 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-12 LAB
Joint Favorable Substitute
2026-02-27 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/03
2026-02-26 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees

Official Summary Text

To require the Workers' Compensation Commission to study undue delay in workers' compensation claims filed by police officers and firefighters.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Substitute House Bill No. 5385

Special Act No. 26-34

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY UNDUE DELAY
IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS BY POLICE OFFICERS
AND FIREFIGHTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force
to study causes of undue delay in workers' compensation claims made
by police officers and firefighters. Such study shall include, but need not
be limited to, an examination of delays caused by (1) administrative
processing of such claims, (2) medical provider availability and
schedule limitations, and (3) insurer authorization requirements.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of
Representatives;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of
Representatives;
Substitute House Bill No. 5385

Special Act No. 26-34 2 of 2

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
(7) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; and
(8) The chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Commission, or
the chairperson's designee.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1),
(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member
of the General Assembly.
(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later
than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall
be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro
tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from
among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule
the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty
days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and
public employees shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the task force shall submit a report
on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor
and public employees, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-
4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that
it submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later.