Section One. The employer recognizes its responsibility to provide relevant training for each new employee and continue on-the-job training.

Section Two. Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund. Effective the contract year commencing July 1, 1995 and each contract year thereafter during the term of this contract the State shall allocate $75,000.00 to a Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund for the purpose of enabling bargaining unit employees to participate in relevant outside training programs, workshops, seminars, vocational training courses or to reimburse employees under the Tuition Reimbursement section of this Article.

The State will honor reimbursement claims submitted by unit employees for the contract year 1994-5, if such claims meet the contractual standards, and to the extent that the aggregate of such claims shall not exceed the permissible limitations. Because there is no identified "fund" for contract year 1994-5, there shall be no roll over of unexpended funds into contract year 1995-6.

(a) There shall be established a Protective Services Education and Training Committee, consisting of six (6) knowledgeable members, with right of substitution, three (3) appointed by the Union and three (3) by the State. Said Committee shall be responsible for identifying relevant training programs, seminars, workshops and vocational training courses which would be beneficial to employees and the State Employer.

(b) Said Education and Training Committee shall meet at least once each month for the purpose of expeditiously processing, approving, rejecting or tabling training requests. The Committee will attempt to accommodate relevant training requests. The Committee shall also assist in scheduling

employees to attend such training programs, seminars, workshops or vocational training courses, as necessary. A quorum at any scheduled meeting of the Protective Services Education and Training Committee shall be four (4) members. A consensus (majority vote) of those Committee members present shall constitute agreement on any issue. Failure to obtain a consensus shall constitute a deadlock. The decision of the Committee shall be binding upon any agency, except that the Employer may deny release time where an emergency staffing situation precludes such attendance and a replacement cannot be obtained for the employee being assigned to the training. Committee members may attend all meetings without loss of pay or benefits, and attendance shall be considered as time worked as a part of the employee’s regular schedule. During the regular monthly meeting day, committee members shall be granted up to one (l) full work day of release time when necessary to accomplish the committee responsibilities.

(c) The parties shall establish a list of mutually acceptable permanent umpires who shall be knowledgeable in Protective Services training needs, who shall act as umpires in the event of a deadlock among Committee members. Said umpire, picked on a rotational basis from the list, will vote to break the deadlock after hearing all arguments pro and con concerning the specific issue. In the event that the umpire is not available within five (5) days, the matter will be referred to the next umpire on the list. The decision of the mutually appointed umpire shall be binding upon both the State and the Union. The umpire’s decision shall be rendered within one (l) day of the presentation of arguments.

Any and all established expenses of the permanent umpire shall be shared equally by the Union and the State.

(d) Bargaining unit members who wish to participate in relevant training programs, workshops, seminars, or vocational training courses, other than those qualifying under the tuition reimbursement program, may apply for such training through their respective Agencies on an approved request form, identifying the program, the date(s), the location and the cost of participation, including fees and relevant expenses. Such employees should indicate the relevancy of the training and the expected benefit to both the employee and the Agency.

(e) Agency representatives designated in advance shall immediately forward such applications and requests to the Protective Services Education and Training Committee for review and approval or disapproval on the basis of the relevancy of the training to the employee’s job, need for such training, agency recommendations, potential benefits and skills to be gained, and equity in distribution of such training programs among bargaining unit employees who submit requests within that specific agency.

(f) When forwarding training request forms to the Protective Services Education and Training Committee, the Agency shall identify the total direct cost to be incurred for the training, including fees, relevant expenses and overtime salary of the replacement, if any, directly attributable to the training, which costs shall be deducted from the training and tuition fund. The Committee shall notify the employee and the Agency immediately in writing of its approval or denial with any necessary explanations. Except as outlined in subsection (b) herein, or in the event of an unforeseen emergency, the Agency, when notified by the Committee, will expeditiously implement and comply with such Committee decision.

(g) Once the training and tuition fund is exhausted, the State shall not be obligated under this Article to fund any additional training or tuition reimbursement. Up to $5,000 of unexpended funds may be carried over and added to the next year’s funding. Additionally, funds committed for training or tuition reimbursement which take place in one fiscal year shall carry over into the next fiscal year in order to allow payment of claims for prior year training. The fund shall end upon expiration of the contract, except previously committed funds shall carry over for one hundred twenty (120) days to allow for final payment. During this carryover period, agencies shall process claims within thirty (30) days of receipt from the Committee.

(h) Sufficient copies of the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund Policy regarding outside training and tuition reimbursement shall be distributed through State Agencies to all bargaining unit employees together with sufficient approved request forms.

(i) It is understood that any employee who attends a training program, seminar, workshop or vocational training course on any day in which he/she is normally scheduled to work, will be paid his regular normal rate of pay for all hours normally worked for such training day and said normal pay will not be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund. Travel time experienced when engaged in training shall be considered as time worked where the commute exceeds the normal commute for the employee, however only the travel in excess of thirty (30) minutes shall be considered as time worked. Training during any day shall mean the full day off without loss of pay or benefits regardless of the shift assigned provided that the training is of at least four (4) hours duration. An employee who is assigned on an unscheduled workweek will receive one (l) days pay as time worked for each day of attendance at any training program, seminar, workshop or vocational training course, provided that the training is of at least four (4) hours duration on any such day; if less than four (4) hours duration, sufficient time off will be granted. The regular pay shall not be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund.

(j) The cost of any employer required training, including training for entry level or new employees, shall not be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund.

(k) Except as specifically provided herein, nothing shall prohibit an agency from continuing to fund relevant training or to carry out its obligation to properly train personnel as is current practice. This Section is not intended to have any effect upon or impact upon any Special Act, Statute, or Agency Training budget which is current practice.

(l) It shall be the obligation of the Protective Services Education and Training Committee to encourage and promote the access and availability of federal or private funds whenever possible and to work with agency personnel with responsibility in this area toward this goal.

(m) Where vehicles are available, employees who are attending training programs within the State of Connecticut shall be allowed to use the vehicles. Use of vehicles for outside the State of Connecticut shall be at the discretion of the employer. No costs under this subsection will be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund.

(n) Tuition Reimbursement. The Employer shall pay up to seventy-five (75%) percent of the cost for tuition, books, and lab fees for any bargaining unit employee who attends any accredited institution of higher education, such reimbursements to be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund. It is understood that the employee must successfully complete the course in order to be reimbursed. Requests for payment to the employee under this subsection shall be processed upon submission of receipts and/or records to the Protective Services Education and Training Committee.

(o) Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted as precluding advance payment of conference and training fees and expenses in accordance with existing State Travel Rules and Regulations.

Section Three. (a) Law enforcement personnel who are issued weapons by their employer or have access to State-provided weapons shall have access to the firearms range on an annual basis for the purpose of practicing and qualifying for firearms use. The employer shall provide sufficient ammunition, sixty (60) rounds for practice and sixty (60) rounds for qualification. Such employees shall be granted time off to obtain this training.

(b) In addition, time off shall be granted to all law enforcement personnel assigned rifles and/or shotguns for the purpose of practice and familiarization with such weapon, on an annual basis. The employer shall provide sufficient ammunition, twelve (12) rounds per weapon for each employee for the purpose of practice and qualifying.

(c) Additionally, the employer, in cooperation with the Protective Services Education and Training Committee, shall provide night time or nightfire training on a bi-annual basis for all law enforcement personnel who are assigned to carry weapons by their employer or who have access to agency weapons. The employer shall provide sufficient ammunition, thirty-six (36) rounds for practice and thirty-six (36) rounds for familiarization for such training. Such employees shall be granted time off to obtain this training. It is understood that any additional costs incurred by the employer by providing this training shall be deducted from the Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund.

(d) All law enforcement personnel may have access to the firearms range at other times for practice at their own expense, provided that: (l) space is available; (2) a State Police Range Officer is present for the purpose of supervision; and (3) at a firearms range other than State Police, a Protective Services Range Officer must be present.

Section Four. Both the State of Connecticut and the Union recognize the need for continuous in-service training as being beneficial to the employer, the employees and the public; therefore, except as outlined under the "Protective Services Training and Tuition Fund", the employer retains the right to determine training needs, programs, procedures, and to select employees for training. The employer agrees to endeavor to provide relevant in-service training in the following areas:

(a) Send all new Motor Vehicle Inspectors through a course of instruction appropriate to meet the inspection, examination and law enforcement responsibilities of said classification;

(b) Provide Department of Environmental Protection personnel assigned to fire fighting duties an annual training course;

(c) Send all new full-time fire fighters to the Connecticut Fire Academy for required and appropriate training. New hires who have achieved this training or equivalent training shall not be required to attend the Academy program. However, where there is a legitimate issue over the qualifications of a newly hired firefighter a skills assessment shall be required. Said assessment will be conducted by the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control (CFPC). The CFPC will render an opinion on the training need for the new hire (whether the Recruit Training Program is needed). The agency will implement said recommendation.

(d) Establish an in-service training program for Conservation Enforcement Officers which shall attempt to include search and seizure, wildlife identification, interpretation of pertinent laws, law enforcement surveillance and investigative techniques;

(e) Make every effort to send Protective Services Trainees (Police) to the Police Academy within eight (8) months of their employment;

(f) Provide in-service training for fire fighters which attempts to encompass National Fire Protection Association Standards;

(g) Provide in-service training for other law enforcement personnel which attempts to include where appropriate, search and seizure, interpretation of pertinent laws, accident investigation, defensive tactics, investigative techniques and law enforcement surveillance.

The Union may make recommendations in this area and shall have these recommendations expeditiously investigated.

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