Watch CBS News

Conn. St. Rep. Looks To Extend Benefits For Newtown First Responders

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - Newtown police, who were the first to arrive at the scene of the school massacre, may never recover from the horrors they saw.

In Hartford, St. Rep. Steve Dargan is working on a bill that would extend benefits to those first responders.

He is co-chair of the public safety committee and said firefighters, state police, teachers, and other unions want to get on board.

Conn. St. Rep. Looks To Extend Benefits For Newtown First Responders

The question is, of course, how do you fund this? There is no easy answer.

"Some of these local law enforcement people, they used a good part of their sick days and now they're somewhat frustrated," Dargan told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

He said the obstacle is that, under current law, workers compensation can't be extended retroactively to provide benefits to those who first responded to Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14.

He hopes there will be something in Gov. Dan Malloy's budget proposal when it's unveiled this week.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.