Bill Text: CA SB577 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Insurance.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-2)

Status: (Passed) 2024-09-22 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 444, Statutes of 2024. [SB577 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB577-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 577

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Introduced by Senator Hurtado

February 15, 2023

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An act to amend Sections 13157 and 13159.8 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire safety.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 577, as introduced, Hurtado. California Fire Service Training and Education Program: California Fire and Arson Training Act: fees.

Existing law establishes the California Fire Service Training and Education Program in the office of the State Fire Marshal. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal, with policy guidance and advice from the State Board of Fire Services, to carry out the management of the program. Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to, among other things, establish and collect admission fees and other fees that may be necessary to be charged for seminars, conferences, and specialized training given, as provided. Existing law also authorizes the State Fire Marshal to establish and collect fees to implement the California Fire and Arson Training Act, which requires the State Fire Marshal to, among other things, establish and make recommendations related to minimum standards for fire protection personnel and fire personnel instructors, develop course curricula for arson, fire technology, and apprenticeship training, and promote the California Fire Academy System, as provided.

This bill would instead authorize the State Fire Marshal to establish and collect the admission fees and other fees associated with the California Fire Service Training and Education Program, and to establish the fees to implement the California Fire and Arson Training Act, only to the extent that state appropriations and other funding sources are insufficient to cover the necessary costs of the activities eligible to be paid from those fees.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 13157 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

13157.

 The California Fire Service Training and Education Program is hereby established in the office of the State Fire Marshal.

The State Fire Marshal, with policy guidance and advice from the State Board of Fire Services, shall carry out the management of the California Fire Service Training and Education Program and shall have the authority to:

(a)  Promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary for implementation of the program.

(b)  Establish the courses of study and curriculum to be used in the program.

(c)  Establish prerequisites for the admission of personnel who attend courses offered in the program.

(d)  (1) Establish and collect admission fees and other fees that may be necessary to be charged for seminars, conferences, and specialized training given, which shall not be deducted from state appropriations for the purposes of this program. given, consistent with the terms of paragraph (2).

(2) The State Fire Marshal may establish and collect admission fees and other fees as described in paragraph (1) only to the extent that state appropriations and other funding sources for those seminars, conferences, and specialized training are insufficient to cover the necessary costs of those seminars, conferences, and specialized training.

(e)  Collect such fees as may be established pursuant to subdivision (d) (e) of Section 13142.4. 13159.8.

SEC. 2.

 Section 13159.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

13159.8.

 The State Fire Marshal, with policy guidance and advice from the State Board of Fire Services, shall:

(a)  Establish and validate recommended minimum standards for fire protection personnel and fire protection instructors at all career levels.

(b)  Develop course curricula for arson, fire technology, and apprenticeship training for use in academies, colleges, and other educational institutions.

(c)  Develop, validate, update, copyright, and maintain security over a complete series of promotional examinations based on the minimum standards established pursuant to subdivision (a).

(d)  Have the authority to make the examinations developed pursuant to subdivision (c) available to any agency of the state, to any political subdivision within the state, or to any other testing organization, as he or she the State Fire Marshal deems appropriate.

(e)  (1) Establish any fees which that are necessary to implement this section. section, consistent with the terms of paragraph (2). However, the State Fire Marshal shall not establish or collect any fees for training classes provided by the State Fire Marshal to fire protection personnel relating to state laws and regulation which local fire services are authorized or required to enforce.

(2) The State Fire Marshal may establish fees pursuant to paragraph (1) only to the extent that state appropriations and other funding sources for the purposes of implementing this section are insufficient to cover the necessary costs of implementing this section.

(f)  Promote, sponsor, and administer the California Fire Academy System.

(g)  Establish procedures for seeking, accepting, and administering gifts and grants for use in implementing the intents and purposes of the California Fire and Arson Training Act.

(h)  The recommended minimum standards established pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not apply to any agency of the state or any agency of any political subdivision within the state unless that agency elects to be subject to these standards.