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HB05456 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Public Safety and Security Committee
Last action
2026-04-01
Official status
File Number 329
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details about the responsibilities assigned to each deputy commissioner beyond confirming their roles in managing divisions within the department.

Act to Increase Deputy Commissioners in Emergency Services

This act increases the number of deputy commissioners that can be appointed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection from two to three.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the maximum number of deputy commissioners for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection from two to three.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection
  • Deputy commissioners within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

Terms To Know

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
A state agency responsible for emergency management, homeland security, and public safety.
Deputy Commissioner
An assistant to the commissioner who helps manage a department or division within an agency.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify additional details about the responsibilities of the third deputy commissioner.
  • There is no information on how these changes will affect current operations and staffing levels in the Department.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-01 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  3. 2026-04-01 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 248

  4. 2026-04-01 LCO

    File Number 329

  5. 2026-03-26 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26 5:00 PM

  6. 2026-03-17 PS

    Joint Favorable Substitute

  7. 2026-03-17 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  8. 2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/12

  9. 2026-03-04 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security

Official Summary Text

To (1) increase to three the number of deputy commissioners of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and (2) establish the responsibilities of such deputy commissioners.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
House of Representatives
sHB5456 / File No. 329 1

General Assembly File No. 329
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5456

House of Representatives, April 1, 2026

The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through
REP. BOYD of the 50th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF DEPUTY
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 29 -1r of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(a) There is established a Department of Emergency Services and 4
Public Protection. Said department shall be the designated emergency 5
management and homeland security agency for the state. The 6
department head shall be the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 7
Public Protection, who shall be appointed by the Governor in 8
accordance with sections 4 -5 to 4 -8, inclusive, with the powers and 9
duties prescribed in said sections. The commissioner shall be 10
responsible for providing a coordinated, integrated program for the 11
protection of life and property and for state -wide emergency 12
management and homeland security. The commissioner shall appoint 13
sHB5456 File No. 329

sHB5456 / File No. 329 2

not more than [two] three deputy commissioners who shall, under the 14
direction of the commissioner, assist in the administration of the 15
department. The commissioner may do all things necessary to apply for, 16
qualify for and accept any federal funds made available or allotted 17
under any federal act for emergency management or homeland security. 18
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 29-1r(a)

PS Joint Favorable Subst.

sHB5456 File No. 329

sHB5456 / File No. 329 3

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection
GF - Cost 150,000 200,000
State Comptroller - Fringe
Benefits1
GF - Cost 62,730 83,640
Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill results in a cost to the state of approximately $212,730 in FY
27 and $283,640 in FY 28 for salary and fringe costs associated with
authorizing a third deputy commissioner within the Department of
Emergency Services and Public Protection. The lower cost in FY 27
reflects partial year expenses due to the October 1, 2026, effective date.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to inflation.

1The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.
sHB5456 File No. 329

sHB5456 / File No. 329 4

OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5456

AN ACT CONCERNING DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC
PROTECTION.

SUMMARY
This bill expands , from two to three, the number of deputy
commissioners the Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection (DESPP) commissioner must appoint.
By law, these deputies must help administer the agency under the
DESPP commissioner’s direction. The commissioner must appoint one
deputy, with the powers and privileges of a state police officer, to head
the Division of State Police and one deputy to head the Division of
Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Safety and Security Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/17/2026)