Bill Text: FL S0244 | 2015 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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

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Bill Title: Volunteer Rural Firefighting

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Failed) 2015-05-01 - Died in Fiscal Policy [S0244 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S0244-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2015                              CS for SB 244
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and Senator Dean
       
       
       
       
       
       597-02735-15                                           2015244c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to volunteer rural firefighting;
    3         amending 633.102, F.S.; defining the term “volunteer
    4         rural firefighter”; amending 633.406, F.S.;
    5         authorizing the Division of State Fire Marshal within
    6         the Department of Financial Services to award a
    7         Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion;
    8         amending s. 633.408, F.S.; authorizing the division to
    9         establish by rule courses and course examinations to
   10         provide training required to obtain the certificate;
   11         providing requirements for the issuance of the
   12         certificate; requiring the division to award credit
   13         for certain courses as provided by rule adopted by the
   14         division; amending s. 633.412, F.S.; exempting
   15         applicants for certification as a volunteer rural
   16         firefighter from certain qualifications for
   17         firefighter certification; amending s. 633.414, F.S.;
   18         specifying requirements for the retention of the
   19         certificate; amending s. 633.416, F.S.; specifying the
   20         circumstances under which a fire service provider may
   21         retain the services of a volunteer firefighter;
   22         requiring a fire service provider to provide notice to
   23         the division regarding a decision to retain or not
   24         retain a volunteer rural firefighter; providing an
   25         effective date.
   26          
   27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   28  
   29         Section 1. Subsection (36) is added to section 633.102,
   30  Florida Statutes, to read:
   31         633.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   32         (36) “Volunteer rural firefighter” means an individual who
   33  holds a current and valid Volunteer Rural Firefighter
   34  Certificate of Completion issued by the division under s.
   35  633.408 and provides fire extinguishment or fire prevention
   36  services through a fire service provider that:
   37         (a) Is in existence on July 1, 2015, or that was in
   38  existence at any time between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2015, and
   39  is subsequently reestablished after July 1, 2015; and
   40         (b) Provides services in a municipality with a population
   41  of fewer than 12,000 or a county with a population of fewer than
   42  150,000.
   43         Section 2. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of
   44  section 633.406, Florida Statutes, to read:
   45         633.406 Classes of certification.—
   46         (1) The division may award one or more of the following
   47  certificates:
   48         (h) Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion.
   49  A Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion may be
   50  awarded to a person who has satisfactorily completed the
   51  training requirements as prescribed by rule for a volunteer
   52  rural firefighter.
   53         Section 3. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of
   54  section 633.408, Florida Statutes, present paragraph (c) of that
   55  subsection is redesignated as paragraph (d), and subsection (5),
   56  is amended, to read:
   57         633.408 Firefighter and volunteer firefighter training and
   58  certification.—
   59         (1) The division shall establish by rule:
   60         (a) A Minimum Standards Course and course examination to
   61  provide the training required to obtain a Firefighter
   62  Certificate of Compliance.
   63         (b) Courses and course examinations to provide training
   64  required to obtain a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of
   65  Completion or a Special Certificate of Compliance.
   66         (c) Courses and course examinations to provide training
   67  required to obtain a Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of
   68  Completion. The required courses may not exceed 160 hours and
   69  must include emergency medical responder training. The division
   70  shall award credit toward a certificate under this paragraph, as
   71  provided by rule adopted by the division, for any approved
   72  course successfully completed on or after July 1, 1970, which
   73  was creditable at the time of completion toward a certification
   74  under this chapter.
   75         (5) The division shall issue a:
   76         (a) Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion to any
   77  individual who satisfactorily completes the course established
   78  under paragraph (1)(b).
   79         (b) Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion
   80  to any individual who satisfactorily completes the course
   81  established under paragraph (1)(c).
   82         Section 4. Subsection (3) is added to section 633.412,
   83  Florida Statutes, to read:
   84         633.412 Firefighters; qualifications for certification.—
   85         (3) The requirements of paragraphs (1)(e) and (1)(f) do not
   86  apply to an individual applying for certification as a volunteer
   87  rural firefighter.
   88         Section 5. Subsection (3) is added to section 633.414,
   89  Florida Statutes, present subsections (3) and (5) of that
   90  section are redesignated as subsections (4) and (6), and present
   91  subsection (4) is amended, to read:
   92         633.414 Retention of firefighter certification.—
   93         (3) In order for a volunteer rural firefighter to retain
   94  her or his Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of
   95  Completion, every 4 years he or she must:
   96         (a) Be active as a volunteer rural firefighter; or
   97         (b) Successfully complete a refresher course consisting of
   98  a minimum of 40 hours of training to be prescribed by rule. 
   99         (5)(4) For the purposes of this section, the term “active”
  100  means being employed as a firefighter or providing service as a
  101  volunteer firefighter or volunteer rural firefighter for a
  102  cumulative 6 months within a 4-year period.
  103         Section 6. Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection
  104  (4) of section 633.416, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  105         633.416 Firefighter employment and volunteer firefighter
  106  service; saving clause.—
  107         (2)(a) A fire service provider may not retain the services
  108  of an individual volunteering to extinguish fires for the
  109  protection of life or property or to supervise individuals who
  110  perform such services unless the individual holds a current and
  111  valid Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion.
  112         (b) A fire service provider may not retain the services of
  113  an individual volunteering to extinguish fires for the
  114  protection of life or property or to supervise individuals who
  115  perform such services only in a municipality with a population
  116  of fewer than 12,000 or a county with a population of fewer than
  117  150,000 unless the individual holds a current and valid
  118  Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion or a
  119  current and valid Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of
  120  Completion. This paragraph does not apply to volunteers who
  121  provide only support services.
  122         (4)(a) A fire service provider must notify the division
  123  electronically, as directed by rule by the division, within 10
  124  days after:
  125         1. The hiring of a firefighter.
  126         2. The retention of a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer
  127  rural firefighter.
  128         3. The cessation of employment of a firefighter.
  129         4. A decision not to retain a volunteer firefighter or a
  130  volunteer rural firefighter.
  131         Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.