Connecticut

An individual who has completed an approved first aid course or has been trained by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse in the use of an epinephrine injector and who, voluntarily, without compensation, and outside the ordinary course of the person's employment, provides emergency care by using an epinephrine injector will not be held legally responsible for acting, or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An individual who owns or controls real estate or other premises and, voluntarily and without compensation, allows a city or the State to use the real estate for the purpose of sheltering people during an actual, impending, or mock disaster or attack will not be held legally responsible for causing the death or injury to a person on the real estate or the loss or damage to a person's property while on their real estate. Click to Learn More

At the request of the appropriate authority of a town or city, law enforcement, firefighters, and preparedness forces who aid the town or city will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as if they were in their home town or city. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith, respondes to the intrastate mutual aid system will not be held legally responsible for injury or death of another person or damage to property. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section is limited to the intrastate mutual aid system and actual requested aid by another entity. Click to Learn More

A firefighter, law enforcement officer, teacher or school personnel on school grounds, ski patrol member, lifeguard, conservation officer, patrol officer, special law enforcement officer of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or emergency medical service personnel who, after completion of an approved first aid course, provides emergency first aid will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. A firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency medical personnel who forcibly enters the residence of a person they reasonably believe needs immediate emergency first aid will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A licensed physician, licensed dentist, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, medical technician, a person trained in CPR, or a person operating an AED who, voluntarily, without compensation, and outside the ordinary course of the person's employment, provides emergency medical care will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section extends legal protections to a person or entity who provides or maintains an AED. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

When a public health emergency declaration is in effect, an individual working within the scope of their duties on behalf of the state will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A certified emergency medical services instructor by the Department of Public Health who provides emergency medical training or instructions will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a licensed professional engineer who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides services at the request of a public official will not be held legally responsible. The services provided must be completed with reasonable care and within professionally recognized standards. Click to Learn More

When a civil preparedness emergency or a public health emergency declaration is in effect, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health can suspend requirements for renewal of licenses that would otherwise be required. This suspension can extend for up to 6 months after the emergency is declared over. No license will expire during the suspension but after the end of the emergency these license will be required to be renewed. Click to Learn More

A physician assistant who is part of the Connecticut Disaster Medical Assistance Team, the Medical Reserve Corps, or the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Team or an out-of-state physician assistant who is part of an equivalent organization and is participating in civil preparedness duties or training can provide patient services under the supervision, control, responsibility, and direction of a licensed physician. This licensed physician is not required to be the registered supervising physician the physician assistant normally works with. Click to Learn More

An out-of-state licensed ambulance service is not required to be licensed by Connecticut when transporting a patient from outside to inside the state, from inside to outside the state, or during times of mutual aid or disaster situations. Click to Learn More

When a civil preparedness emergency or a public health emergency declaration is in effect, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health can suspend requirements for inspections that would otherwise be required. This suspension can extend for up to 6 months after the emergency is declared over. An inspection which was suspended will be required after the end of the emergency. Click to Learn More

When a public health emergency declaration is in effect, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health can issue an order to allow out-of-state licensed emergency medical service personnel, physicians, physical therapists, nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory care practitioners, psychologists, professional counselors, dietitians, nutritionists, embalmers, funeral directors, sanitarians, asbestos contractors, and pharmacists to practice in Connecticut if they work within their scope of practice while aiding in the public health emergency. The order cannot not be active for more than 60 consecutive days. Click to Learn More

An individual holding a license, certificate, or permit for professional, mechanical, or other skills issued by a participating political subdivision or Connecticut, will be considered licensed, certified, or permitted in the political subdivision requesting aid for the duration of the declared emergency. The chief executive of the political subdivision requesting aid can add limitations or conditions to the license, certificate, or permit. This section is limited to the intrastate mutual aid system and actual requested aid by another entity. Click to Learn More

At the request of the appropriate authority of a town or city, law enforcement, firefighters, and preparedness forces who aid the town or city will receive the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as if they were in their home town or city. Click to Learn More

A physician assistant who is part of the Connecticut Disaster Medical Assistance Team, the Medical Reserve Corps, or the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Team or an out-of-state physician assistant who is part of an equivalent organization and is participating in civil preparedness duties or training can provide patient services under the supervision, control, responsibility, and direction of a licensed physician. This licensed physician is not required to be the registered supervising physician the physician assistant normally works with. Click to Learn More

An emergency medical technician or paramedic who is part of the Connecticut Disaster Medical Assistance Team, the Medical Reserve Corps, or the Connecticut Urban Search and Rescue Team will be under the surveillance, medical oversight, and direction of the chief medical officer of such team while they are providing their services for these teams. Click to Learn More

When a public health emergency declaration is in effect, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health can authorize a qualified person to administer vaccinations. This includes, but is not limited to, dentists, veterinarians, and emergency medical services personnel. Click to Learn More

A municipal employee, who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross, is entitled to leave without loss of pay, seniority, or benefits to participate in disaster relief operations upon request of the American Red Cross. This is limited to 14 days in a year either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Click to Learn More

An active member of a volunteer fire company who offers their services to another fire company that is actively engaged in fire duties and their services are accepted can receive workers' compensation if injured while providing services to the other fire company. The firefighter is also entitled to the benefits from their home fire company. Click to Learn More

A state employee, who is an active volunteer firefighter, ambulance service, canine search and rescue, or a certified disaster relief volunteer of the American Red Cross, is entitled to leave without loss of pay, seniority, or benefits. This is limited to 15 days in a 12 month period either consecutively or nonconsecutively . Click to Learn More

An active member of a paid fire company who offers their services to another fire company that is actively engaged in fire duties and the services are accepted is entitled to workers' compensation if injured while providing services to the other fire company. The firefighter is entitled the benefits as if they are a member of the fire department. Click to Learn More

An active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer ambulance service is entitled to workers' compensation for an injury that occurred while engaging in fire duties or volunteer ambulance service. Click to Learn More

An auxiliary law enforcement officer, auxiliary firefighter, state employee who is a member of civil preparedness forces, or a person who is a member of civil preparedness forces and has employment separate from civil preparedness is entitled to workers' compensation from the State if they are injured or killed while engaging in or training for civil preparedness. Click to Learn More

An employee who is a member of an organization engaged in civil preparedness will not be discharged because of this membership. Click to Learn More

An individual who is a member of a volunteer organization who participates in a homeland security drill and is injured, disabled, or killed in the course of the drill is entitled to workers' compensation from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Click to Learn More