Bill Text: FL S1084 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Firefighters

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-28 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 465 (Ch. 2017-106) [S1084 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S1084-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1084
       
       
        
       By Senator Stargel
       
       
       
       
       
       22-00746C-17                                          20171084__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to firefighter certifications;
    3         amending s. 633.414, F.S.; authorizing certain
    4         firefighters to complete specified continuing
    5         education training in lieu of a specified instruction
    6         requirement; exempting firefighters holding current
    7         Firefighter Certificates of Compliance from certain
    8         periodic requirements under specified circumstances;
    9         exempting volunteer firefighters holding current
   10         Volunteer Firefighter Certificates of Completion from
   11         certain periodic requirements under specified
   12         circumstances; authorizing the Division of State Fire
   13         Marshal within the Department of Financial Services to
   14         investigate, in a specified manner, certain reports or
   15         complaints against firefighters claiming such
   16         exemptions; providing an effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
   21  633.414, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is
   22  added to that section, to read:
   23         633.414 Retention of firefighter and volunteer firefighter
   24  certifications.—
   25         (1) In order for a firefighter to retain her or his
   26  Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, every 4 years he or she
   27  must meet the requirements for renewal provided in this chapter
   28  and by rule, which must include at least one of the following:
   29         (b)1. Maintain a current and valid fire service instructor
   30  certificate; and,
   31         2. Instruct or complete at least 40 hours of approved
   32  continuing education during the 4-year period, and provide proof
   33  of such instruction or training to the division, which proof
   34  must be registered in an electronic database designated by the
   35  division.
   36         (8)(a) Notwithstanding this section, a firefighter holding
   37  a current Firefighter Certificate of Compliance is exempt from
   38  the requirements, every 4 years, of subparagraph (1)(b)2. and
   39  paragraphs (1)(c) and (d) if he or she:
   40         1. Has completed at least 20 years of service, and so
   41  attests;
   42         2. Has been employed with a fire service provider as
   43  defined in s. 633.102(13) and appears on the fire service
   44  provider’s roster as recorded in the division’s online
   45  electronic database;
   46         3. Is vested and in good standing in a firefighter pension
   47  plan, and so attests, or has been determined to have a
   48  disability in line of duty as defined in s. 121.021(13) for the
   49  duration of such disability; and
   50         4. Has not been convicted of a felony under s. 633.412(2),
   51  and so attests.
   52         (b) Notwithstanding this section, a volunteer firefighter
   53  holding a current Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of
   54  Completion is exempt from the requirement, every 4 years, of
   55  paragraph (2)(b) if he or she:
   56         1. Has completed at least 20 years of service, and so
   57  attests;
   58         2. Has volunteered with a fire service provider as defined
   59  in s. 633.102(13) and is in good standing with his or her most
   60  recent fire service provider, and so attests; or has been
   61  determined to have a disability in line of duty as defined in s.
   62  121.021(13) for the duration of such disability; and
   63         3. Has not been convicted of a felony under s. 633.412(2),
   64  and so attests.
   65         (c) The division may investigate any reports or complaints
   66  of a felony conviction of a firefighter claiming an exemption
   67  from renewal or retention requirements under this subsection in
   68  the same manner as the investigative procedures provided in s.
   69  633.426 for other firefighters holding a Firefighter Certificate
   70  of Compliance or a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of
   71  Completion.
   72         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.