Bill Text: FL S0550 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Volunteer Rural Firefighting

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-11 - Died on Calendar [S0550 Detail]

Download: Florida-2016-S0550-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 550
       
       
        
       By Senator Dean
       
       
       
       
       
       5-00274A-16                                            2016550__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to volunteer rural firefighting;
    3         amending s. 633.102, F.S.; defining the term
    4         “volunteer rural firefighter”; amending s. 633.406,
    5         F.S.; authorizing the Division of State Fire Marshal
    6         within the Department of Financial Services to award a
    7         Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion;
    8         amending s. 633.408, F.S.; requiring 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 courses for the
   12         certificate; requiring the division to award credit
   13         for certain approved courses successfully completed by
   14         a certain date; amending s. 633.414, F.S.; specifying
   15         the requirements for the retention of the certificate;
   16         amending s. 633.416, F.S.; revising the circumstances
   17         under which a fire service provider may retain the
   18         services of a volunteer firefighter; requiring a fire
   19         service provider to provide notice to the division
   20         regarding a decision to retain or not retain a
   21         volunteer rural firefighter; providing an effective
   22         date.
   23          
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. Subsection (36) is added to section 633.102,
   27  Florida Statutes, to read:
   28         633.102 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   29         (36) “Volunteer rural firefighter” means an individual who
   30  holds a current and valid Volunteer Rural Firefighter
   31  Certificate of Completion issued by the division under s.
   32  633.408 and provides fire extinguishment or fire prevention
   33  services through a fire service provider that:
   34         (a) Is in existence on July 1, 2016, or that was in
   35  existence at any time between July 1, 2000, and July 1, 2016,
   36  and is subsequently reestablished after July 1, 2016; and
   37         (b) Provides services in a municipality with a population
   38  of fewer than 12,000 or a county with a population of fewer than
   39  150,000.
   40         Section 2. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of
   41  section 633.406, Florida Statutes, to read:
   42         633.406 Classes of certification.—
   43         (1) The division may award one or more of the following
   44  certificates:
   45         (h) Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion.
   46  A Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion may be
   47  awarded to a person who has satisfactorily completed the
   48  training requirements as prescribed by rule for a volunteer
   49  rural firefighter.
   50         Section 3. Present paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of
   51  section 633.408, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
   52  (d), a new paragraph (c) is added to that subsection, and
   53  subsection (5) of that section is amended, to read:
   54         633.408 Firefighter and volunteer firefighter training and
   55  certification.—
   56         (1) The division shall establish by rule:
   57         (c) Courses and course examinations to provide training
   58  required to obtain a Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of
   59  Completion. The required courses may not exceed 160 hours and
   60  must include emergency medical responder training. The division
   61  shall award credit toward a certificate under this paragraph, as
   62  provided by rule adopted by the division, for any approved
   63  course successfully completed on or after July 1, 1970, which
   64  was creditable at the time of completion toward a certification
   65  under this chapter.
   66         (5) The division shall issue:
   67         (a) A Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion to
   68  any individual who satisfactorily completes the course
   69  established under paragraph (1)(b).
   70         (b) A Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion
   71  to any individual who satisfactorily completes the course
   72  established under paragraph (1)(c).
   73         Section 4. Present subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
   74  633.414, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4),
   75  (5), and (6), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to
   76  that section, and present subsection (4) is amended, to read:
   77         633.414 Retention of firefighter certification.—
   78         (3) In order for a volunteer rural firefighter to retain
   79  her or his Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of
   80  Completion, every 4 years he or she must:
   81         (a) Be active as a volunteer rural firefighter; or
   82         (b) Successfully complete a refresher course consisting of
   83  a minimum of 40 hours of training as prescribed by rule.
   84         (5)(4) For the purposes of this section, the term “active”
   85  means being employed as a firefighter or providing service as a
   86  volunteer firefighter or volunteer rural firefighter for a
   87  cumulative 6 months within a 4-year period.
   88         Section 5. Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection
   89  (4) of section 633.416, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   90         633.416 Firefighter employment and volunteer firefighter
   91  service; saving clause.—
   92         (2) A fire service provider may not retain the services of
   93  an individual volunteering to extinguish fires for the
   94  protection of life or property or to supervise individuals who
   95  perform such services only if:
   96         (a) unless The individual holds a current and valid
   97  Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion; or
   98         (b) The services will be performed in a municipality with a
   99  population of fewer than 12,000 or a county with a population of
  100  fewer than 150,000 and the individual holds a current and valid
  101  Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion or a
  102  current and valid Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of
  103  Completion.
  104  
  105  This subsection does not apply to a volunteer who provides only
  106  support services.
  107         (4)(a) A fire service provider must notify the division
  108  electronically, as directed by rule by the division, within 10
  109  days after:
  110         1. The hiring of a firefighter.
  111         2. The retention of a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer
  112  rural firefighter.
  113         3. The cessation of employment of a firefighter.
  114         4. A decision not to retain a volunteer firefighter or a
  115  volunteer rural firefighter.
  116         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.