Malloy signs law creating Newtown responders' fund

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The first state law in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook has been signed into law by Governor Malloy. It's a law to help first responders traumatized by what they witnessed that day.

Mental health experts say it will be at least a year before they really know the full psychological impact of the tragedy at Sandy Hook on the people of Newtown.
       
However, for the first responders that arrived at the school that day, the impact for many has been extreme already.
       
Newtown Police Captain Joe Rios was among the first to enter the school.

"There's been several officers that have been in and out of work related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder type symptoms," said Capt. Joe Rios, Newtown Police Department.

Existing labor law in Connecticut for things like workers compensation insurance and the heart and hypertension law never anticipated an event like Sandy Hook. 

"No, I don't believe so," Capt. Rios said, "I mean the tragic events that took place on 12/14 have certainly changed all of us."

With first responders, labor and legislative leaders present, the Governor signed into law the 'Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund.' 
 
"The big worry was; where the resources going to come from to fund the gap, you know, the wage laws," said Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra.

"There's no existing law that would cover this," asked News 8's Mark Davis.

"That's correct," said Llodra.

The bill passed unanimously by the House and Senate last week. It facilitates a private donation fund to help the first responders and not just the police officers.

"The intention is to provide those resources for any of the members,anybody that was affected, any first responder, which would be the teachers, the firefighters, police officers, nurses," said Llodra, "anybody that was on the front lines of this event."

"Coming together and doing the right thing for people who have been adversely impacted as a result of what transpired on December 14th," said Governor Malloy.          

In praising the work on this by members of both political parties, the Governor is hoping that further cooperation between the two parties will lead to other measures being passed in the weeks ahead.