Bill Text: MI SB0264 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Law enforcement; fire personnel; firefighters training council act; modify. Amends secs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 16 of 1966 PA 291 (MCL 29.362 et seq.) & adds secs. 9b & 11a.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-11-07 - Assigned Pa 0144'17 With Immediate Effect [SB0264 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2017-SB0264-Engrossed.html

SB-0264, As Passed House, October 11, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR

 

SENATE BILL NO. 264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1966 PA 291, entitled

 

"Firefighters training council act,"

 

by amending sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9a, 10, 11, 12, 13,

 

14, and 16 (MCL 29.362, 29.363, 29.364, 29.365, 29.366, 29.367,

 

29.368, 29.369, 29.369a, 29.370, 29.371, 29.372, 29.373, 29.374,

 

and 29.376), sections 2, 13, and 14 as amended by 2016 PA 405,

 

sections 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 as amended by 2006 PA 213, section 6 as

 

amended and section 9a as added by 1980 PA 10, and section 9 as

 

amended by 2015 PA 203, and by adding sections 9b and 11a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Airport rescue firefighter" means an employee of or

 

volunteer assigned by a political subdivision to assist an

 

organized fire department or public safety department who is

 


certified under National Fire Protection Association standard no.

 

1003 and meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation

 

Administration under 14 CFR part 139, whose job description,

 

duties, or responsibilities include responding to an aircraft

 

accident.

 

     (b) "Certificate" means a numbered document issued by the

 

state fire marshal to a person who has obtained certification under

 

this act.

 

     (c) "Certification" means either of the following:

 

     (i) A determination by the state fire marshal that a person

 

meets the certification requirements for a position within the fire

 

service, as established by the council under this act. Recognized

 

positions in the fire service include, but are not limited to,

 

firefighter, fire chief, public safety director, fire inspector,

 

plans examiner, fire investigator, fire officer, hazardous

 

materials responder, technical rescue responder, airport rescue

 

firefighter, and fire service instructor. Certifications for each

 

position within the fire service must comply with the Michigan

 

occupational safety and health administration general industry

 

safety standard, R 408.17411 of the Michigan Administrative Code.

 

     (ii) A determination by the state fire marshal that a person

 

was employed as a firefighter before October 1, 1988 and that the

 

person is otherwise authorized under this act to be employed as a

 

firefighter.

 

     (d) "Contested case" means that term as defined in section 3

 

of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL

 

24.203.


     (e) (a) "Council" means the firefighters training council

 

created under section 3.

 

     (f) (b) "Executive secretary" means the executive secretary of

 

the council.

 

     (g) "Felony" means a violation of the laws of this state,

 

another state, or the United States that is designated as a felony.

 

     (h) (c) "Firefighter" means a member , including volunteer

 

members and members paid on call, of an organized fire department

 

or public safety department who is responsible for, or is in a

 

capacity that includes responsibility for, the extinguishment of

 

fires, the directing of the extinguishment of fires, the prevention

 

and detection of fires, and the enforcement of the general fire

 

laws of this state. Firefighter does not include a person whose job

 

description, duties, or responsibilities do not include direct

 

involvement in fire suppression.directing or management of

 

emergency response activities, fire safety prevention inspection,

 

plans examination, fire investigation, hazardous materials

 

response, technical rescue response, airport rescue response,

 

airport rescue firefighting, fire service instruction, and the

 

enforcement of the general fire laws of this state and the

 

community where he or she serves.

 

     (d) "Organized fire department" means that term as defined in

 

section 1 of the fire prevention code, 1941 PA 207, MCL 29.1.

 

     (i) (e) "Firefighter training" means an education or training

 

program including a program eligible to receive grants for

 

firefighter training funding from the fireworks safety fund created

 

in section 11 of the Michigan fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256,


MCL 28.461, and other training programs as approved by the state

 

fire marshal, designed and intended to enhance the ability of an

 

organized fire department or public safety department and the

 

personnel of an organized fire department or public safety

 

department to safeguard life and property from damage from

 

explosion, fire, or disaster, and to deliver fire suppression,

 

emergency medical service, hazardous material response, technical

 

rescue, airport rescue and firefighting, fire inspection, fire

 

investigation, fire safety education, and other related fire

 

services. Firefighter training includes, but is not limited to, the

 

training required for fire fighter I and fire fighter II standards

 

under "standard for fire fighter professional qualifications",

 

National Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001.

 

     (j) "Fire chief" means the individual who serves as the

 

administrative head of an organized fire department.

 

     (k) "Fire inspector" means an employee of or volunteer

 

assigned by a political subdivision to assist an organized fire

 

department or public safety department whose job description,

 

duties, or responsibilities include, or who is in a capacity that

 

includes responsibility for, inspecting property for fire code

 

violations and enforcing the general fire codes of the jurisdiction

 

that he or she serves.

 

     (l) "Fire instructor" means an employee of or volunteer

 

assigned by a political subdivision to assist an organized fire

 

department or public safety department, or other individual who is

 

certified to instruct 1 or more council-approved fire service

 

training programs.


     (m) "Fire investigator" means an employee of or volunteer

 

assigned by a political subdivision to assist an organized fire

 

department or public safety department who is certified under

 

National Fire Protection Association standard no. 1033, whose job

 

description, duties, or responsibilities include investigating the

 

origin and cause of fires, and who has obtained the skills and

 

knowledge necessary to conduct, coordinate, and complete a fire

 

investigation. Fire investigator does not include a fire

 

investigator who is employed by a law enforcement agency as that

 

term is defined in section 2 of the Michigan commission on law

 

enforcement standards act, 1965 PA 203, MCL 28.602, other than a

 

public safety department, or a professional investigator licensed

 

under the professional investigator licensure act, 1965 PA 285, MCL

 

338.821 to 338.851.

 

     (n) "Fire officer" means a current member of an organized fire

 

department or public safety department assigned a rank above

 

firefighter who is responsible for, or is in a capacity that

 

includes responsibility for, performing supervisory or management

 

responsibilities of an emergency or nonemergency nature within his

 

or her organized fire department or public safety department. Fire

 

officer includes titles such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and

 

chief officer.

 

     (o) "Fire service" means the engaging in the directing or

 

management of emergency response activities, fire safety prevention

 

inspection, plans examination, fire investigation, hazardous

 

material response, technical rescue response, airport rescue

 

response, airport rescue firefighting, fire service instruction,


and the enforcement of the general fire laws of this state and the

 

communities therein by fire service members and organized fire

 

departments and public safety departments.

 

     (p) "Fire service course" means a training course or activity

 

that is approved by the council and meets the standard for

 

firefighter training in subdivision (i).

 

     (q) "Fire service discipline" means each of the respective

 

certifiable fire service positions included under this act. Fire

 

service discipline includes fire chief, fire inspector, fire

 

instructor, fire investigator, fire officer, public safety

 

director, plans examiner, firefighter, hazardous materials

 

responder, technical rescue responder, and airport rescue

 

firefighter.

 

     (r) "Fire service member" or "member" means a person described

 

in subdivision (a), (h), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (u), (z), (cc),

 

(ee), or (hh).

 

     (s) "Full-time" means employment during which an individual

 

works scheduled shifts, is paid for all hours he or she works, and

 

works sufficient hours weekly to be classified as a full-time

 

employee by the applicable employing political subdivision.

 

     (t) "Hazardous materials" means any chemical, substance,

 

compound, mixture, or other material defined as, designated as,

 

listed as, or having the same characteristics as any chemical

 

substance, compound, mixture, or material defined as, designated

 

as, or listed as hazardous under federal or state law or

 

regulations.

 

     (u) "Hazardous materials responder" means an employee of or


volunteer assigned by a political subdivision to assist an

 

organized fire department or public safety department who is

 

certified under National Fire Protection Association standard no.

 

1072 and who is trained to or whose responsibilities include,

 

responding to and being actively involved with the mitigation of a

 

hazardous materials incident including a weapon of mass destruction

 

event.

 

     (v) "Hazardous materials response" means any response to an

 

event involving any chemical, substance, compound, mixture, or

 

other material defined as, designated as, listed as, or having the

 

same characteristics as any substance, compound, mixture, or

 

material defined as, designated as, or listed as hazardous under

 

federal or state law or regulation.

 

     (w) "Organized fire department" means that term as defined in

 

section 1 of the fire prevention code, 1941 PA 207, MCL 29.1.

 

     (x) "Paid on-call" means employment during which an individual

 

works on an on-call basis, is paid for all hours he or she works,

 

and only occasionally works scheduled shifts.

 

     (y) "Part-time" means employment during which an individual is

 

paid for all hours he or she works and works scheduled shifts but

 

works fewer hours weekly than the hours necessary to be classified

 

as a full-time employee by the applicable employing political

 

subdivision.

 

     (z) "Plans examiner" means an employee of or volunteer

 

assigned by a political subdivision to assist an organized fire

 

department or public safety department who is certified under

 

National Fire Protection Association standard no. 1031 and whose


job description, duties, or responsibilities include conducting

 

plan reviews of construction documents for compliance with the

 

general fire codes of the community that he or she serves.

 

     (aa) "Political subdivision" means a county, municipality,

 

school district, or any other local governmental unit, agency,

 

body, board, or commission but does not include a state department,

 

board, commission, or agency of state government.

 

     (bb) "Public safety department" means a department of a

 

political subdivision providing both law enforcement and fire

 

services either separately or utilizing a combined response force

 

with personnel trained and certified as both firefighters under

 

this act and law enforcement officers under the Michigan commission

 

on law enforcement standards act, 1965 PA 203, MCL 28.601 to

 

28.615, under the direction and administration of a single

 

director.

 

     (cc) "Public safety director" means the individual who serves

 

as the administrative head of a public safety department.

 

     (dd) "Rule" means a rule promulgated under the administrative

 

procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

 

     (ee) "Technical rescue responder" means an employee of or

 

volunteer assigned by a political subdivision to assist an

 

organized fire department or public safety department who is

 

certified under National Fire Protection Association standard no.

 

1006 and who has received training in the application of special

 

knowledge, skills, and equipment to safely resolve unique and

 

complex rescue situations.

 

     (ff) "Technical rescue response" means those aspects of saving


life or property that employ the use of tools and skills that

 

exceed those normally reserved for firefighting, medical emergency,

 

and rescue. These disciplines include, but are not limited to, rope

 

rescue, confined space rescue, trench and excavation rescue, and

 

building collapse rescue.

 

     (gg) "Volunteer" means appointment or employment for which an

 

individual receives no compensation for work provided, or

 

appointment or employment for which an individual receives

 

compensation in the form of reasonable expenses incurred during the

 

course of his or her appointment or employment or other reasonable

 

benefits, including, but not limited to, length of service awards

 

or nominal fees.

 

     (hh) "Volunteer firefighter" or "paid on-call firefighter"

 

means an individual who is charged with the prevention or

 

suppression of fires and who is directly engaged in the hazards of

 

firefighting or in charge of a designated fire company or companies

 

that are directly engaged in the hazards of firefighting on a

 

volunteer or paid on-call basis. Volunteer or paid on-call

 

firefighter does not include a full-time firefighter.

 

     Sec. 3. (1) The firefighters training council is created in

 

the bureau of fire services in the department of labor and economic

 

growth licensing and regulatory affairs and shall consist consists

 

of 7 9 members selected as follows:

 

     (a) The state fire marshal, or his or her designated

 

representative, shall be ex-officio ex officio a member.

 

     (b) Eight members appointed by the governor as follows:

 

     (i) (b) Two members appointed to the council by the governor


from a list of 5 or more members submitted by the Michigan

 

association of fire chiefs.Association of Fire Chiefs or its

 

successor organization.

 

     (ii) (c) One member appointed to the council by the governor

 

from a list of 3 or more members submitted by the Michigan

 

professional fire fighters union.Professional Fire Fighters Union

 

or its successor organization.

 

     (iii) (d) One member appointed to the council by the governor

 

from a list of 3 or more names submitted by the Michigan state

 

firemen's association.State Firemen's Association or its successor

 

organization.

 

     (iv) (e) One member appointed to the council by the governor

 

from a list of 3 or more names submitted by the Michigan fire

 

service instructors association.Fire Service Instructors

 

Association or its successor organization.

 

     (v) One member from a list of 3 names submitted by the

 

Michigan Fire Inspectors Society or its successor organization.

 

     (vi) (f) One member appointed to the council by the governor

 

from a list of 2 or more names submitted by the Michigan townships

 

association Townships Association and 2 or more names submitted by

 

the Michigan municipal league.Municipal League or a respective

 

successor organization.

 

     (vii) One member from a list of 3 names submitted by the state

 

fire marshal. The 3 individuals whose names are submitted under

 

this subparagraph shall be active fire service members.

 

     (2) All appointments made by the governor shall must be with

 

the advice and consent of the senate.


     Sec. 4. A member of the council appointed before January 1,

 

2007 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. A member of the

 

council appointed after December 31, 2006 shall be appointed for a

 

term of 4 years. A vacancy created other than by expiration of a

 

term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member who is

 

to succeed in the same manner as the original appointment.

 

Beginning with the members first appointed after the effective date

 

of the amendatory act that added section 9b, a member of the

 

council must be appointed for a term of 4 years. A vacancy created

 

by the expiration of a term or in any other manner must be filled

 

in the same manner as the original appointment. Any member may be

 

reappointed for additional terms.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) The governor may designate shall appoint a member

 

of the council to serve as chairperson of the council at the

 

pleasure of the governor.

 

     (2) The council may designate shall appoint a member of the

 

council to serve as vice-chairperson to serve for 1 year. for 2

 

years. The vice-chairperson may be reelected. Membership on the

 

council does not constitute holding a public office.reappointed.

 

     (3) Members of the council are not required to take and file

 

oaths of office before serving on the council. The council shall

 

not exercise any portion of the sovereign power of this state.

 

     (4) A member of the council is not disqualified from holding

 

any public office or employment by reason of his or her appointment

 

to membership on the council, nor shall he or she forfeit any such

 

office or employment by reason of his or her appointment,

 

notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special, or local


laws or ordinances or city charters.

 

     Sec. 6. (1) The council shall meet at least not fewer than 4

 

times each year and shall hold special meetings when called by the

 

chairperson or, in the absence of the chairperson, by the vice-

 

chairperson. or when A special meeting of the council must be

 

called by the chairperson upon the written request of 4 members of

 

the council.

 

     (2) The business which the council may perform shall be

 

conducted council shall conduct its business at a public meeting of

 

the council held in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts

 

of 1976, as amended, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws. the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL

 

15.261 to 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the

 

meeting shall must be given in the manner required by Act No. 267

 

of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended. the open meetings act, 1976

 

PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. The council shall establish its own

 

procedures and requirements with respect to quorum, place, and

 

conduct of its meetings and other matters.

 

     Sec. 7. The council shall make provide an annual report to the

 

governor and each house of the legislature which will include that

 

includes pertinent data regarding the standards established and the

 

degree of participation of municipalities in the training

 

program.organized fire departments and public safety departments in

 

the training programs established under this act.

 

     Sec. 8. The members of the council shall serve without

 

compensation, but shall be are entitled to their actual expenses in

 

attending meetings and in the performance of their duties. ,


subject to available appropriations.

 

     Sec. 9. (1) The state fire marshal, with the approval of a

 

majority of the council, shall prepare and publish rules that

 

establish minimum standards with due consideration to varying

 

factors and special requirements of organized fire departments in

 

the following areas:for certification as a fire service member. The

 

standards established under this section must comply with the

 

Michigan occupational safety and health administration general

 

industry safety standard, R 408.17411 of the Michigan

 

Administrative Code. To maintain compliance with the Michigan

 

occupational safety and health administration general industry

 

safety standard, R 408.17411 of the Michigan Administrative Code,

 

the employer of a fire service member shall provide initial and

 

continued training to the member commensurate with and specific to

 

the duties that the member is expected to perform. The training

 

described in this section must be provided before the member is

 

permitted to perform emergency operations.

 

     (a) Advisory standards of physical, educational, mental and

 

moral fitness, which shall govern the recruitment, selection, and

 

appointment of firefighters.

 

     (b) The approval by the council of firefighter training

 

schools. The standards shall address, at least, the following

 

issues:

 

     (i) The qualification and certification of instructors.

 

     (ii) The courses of study, attendance, record-keeping

 

requirements, equipment, and facilities.

 

     (iii) The visitation and evaluation of instructors and


schools.

 

     (c) The establishment of subordinate regional training centers

 

in strategic geographic locations in order to serve the greatest

 

number of organized fire departments that are unable to support

 

their own training programs.

 

     (2) Each organized fire department shall file a statement with

 

the council designating at least 1 training officer or training

 

coordinator for the fire department. If a training officer or

 

training coordinator is changed, the organized fire department,

 

within 7 days of the change, shall file a statement notifying the

 

council of the change.

 

     (3) The council shall develop and provide to each organized

 

fire department, upon request of the organized fire department and

 

at no charge, as proposed by the state fire marshal, training

 

material in an electronic format to be used in training

 

firefighters. The electronic training material shall be based on

 

the standards for fire fighter I and fire fighter II set forth in

 

"Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications", National

 

Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001.

 

     (4) The state fire marshal, with the approval of the council,

 

shall develop and administer an examination, which shall include a

 

practical demonstration, a written or oral test, or a combination

 

thereof, to determine a person's competency in regard to the

 

knowledge and skill requirements set forth in standards for fire

 

fighter I and fire fighter II set forth in "Standard for Fire

 

Fighter Professional Qualifications", National Fire Protection

 

Association standard no. 1001. The council, upon the request of an


organized fire department, shall administer the examination in each

 

county at least once every year. The examination shall be

 

administered in 2 parts. Part 1 shall test the knowledge and skill

 

requirements set forth in fire fighter I, and part 2 shall test the

 

knowledge and skill requirements set forth in fire fighter II. The

 

examination may be retaken, as necessary, upon request from an

 

organized fire department.

 

     (5) Except as provided in subsections (7) and (9), by 12

 

months after a person's hiring date as a full-time firefighter, the

 

person must pass both part 1 and part 2 of the examination to be

 

eligible for continued or permanent full-time employment as a

 

firefighter.

 

     (6) Except as provided in subsections (7) and (9), by 24

 

months after a person's appointment date as a volunteer or paid on-

 

call firefighter, a person must pass part 1 of the examination to

 

be eligible for continued volunteer or paid on-call service as a

 

firefighter.

 

     (7) The examination requirements under this section do not

 

apply to a person who is employed or under appointment as a

 

firefighter on October 1, 1988, unless the person subsequently

 

changes his or her status from a volunteer or paid on-call

 

firefighter to a full-time firefighter. The state fire marshal may

 

waive the examination requirements under this section for a veteran

 

who served in and is separated from the armed forces and provides a

 

form DD214 or DD215 or any other form that is satisfactory to the

 

department that demonstrates that he or she was separated from

 

service with an honorable character of service or under honorable


conditions (general) character of service, upon verification that

 

the veteran completed firefighter training that meets the standards

 

for fire fighter I and fire fighter II set forth in "Standard for

 

Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications", National Fire Protection

 

Association standard no. 1001, while serving in the armed forces of

 

the United States. As used in this subsection, "armed forces" means

 

that term as defined in section 2 of the veteran right to

 

employment services act, 1994 PA 39, MCL 35.1092.

 

     (8) The state fire marshal, with the approval of the council,

 

shall review and monitor the state and federal standards relating

 

to live fire training exercises in structures and make

 

recommendations to the general industry safety standards commission

 

for any new or modified standards necessary for the protection of

 

firefighter trainees.

 

     (9) The state fire marshal shall waive the examination

 

requirements under this section and extend reciprocity

 

certification to a firefighter from another state who seeks to work

 

as a firefighter in this state if the firefighter was certified in

 

the other state after successfully completing a program that meets

 

or exceeds the standards for fire fighter I and fire fighter II set

 

forth in "Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications",

 

National Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001 by an

 

international accreditation fire service organization.

 

     (10) The presentation of records evidencing certification

 

under subsection (9) shall automatically result in certification by

 

this state.

 

     (2) The state fire marshal, with the approval of a majority of


the council, shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Create advisory standards of physical, criminal history,

 

and educational fitness that govern the recruitment, selection, and

 

certification of a person as a fire service member.

 

     (b) Develop and administer certification examinations, testing

 

procedures, and reciprocity recognition for credentialing in the

 

various fire service disciplines recognized under this act. The

 

requirements for each fire service discipline must meet the

 

respective professional qualifications in the current and

 

appropriate National Fire Protection Association standard.

 

     (c) Establish subordinate regional training centers in

 

strategic geographic locations in order to serve the greatest

 

number of organized fire departments and public safety departments

 

that are unable to support their own training programs.

 

     (d) Develop and administer certification examinations that

 

include a practical demonstration and a written or oral test to

 

determine a person's competency in regard to the knowledge and

 

skill requirements in the current edition of the National Fire

 

Protection Association standards for each of the fire service

 

disciplines recognized under this act. The state fire marshal, or

 

his or her designee, shall, upon request, administer the

 

examination in each county of this state not less than once

 

annually. The examination may be administered in 2 parts. If the

 

examination is administered in 2 parts, part 1 of the examination

 

must test the knowledge and skill requirements set forth in the

 

standards for fire fighter I in the current edition of the

 

standards for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, National


Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001, and part 2 of the

 

examination must test the knowledge and skill requirements set

 

forth in the standards for fire fighter II in the current edition

 

of the standards for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications,

 

National Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001. The

 

examination may also be administered as a combined fire fighter I

 

and fire fighter II examination if a combined examination is

 

requested by a county training committee or regional training

 

center.

 

     (e) Establish eligibility criteria for students to retake a

 

failed written, oral, or practical certification examination.

 

     (3) A person who is hired or appointed as a full-time or part-

 

time firefighter shall pass both part 1 and part 2 of the

 

certification examination described in subsection (2)(d) not more

 

than 12 months after he or she is hired or appointed as a full-time

 

or part-time firefighter to be eligible to continue his or her

 

employment or appointment as a full-time or part-time firefighter.

 

     (4) A person who is hired or appointed as a volunteer or paid

 

on-call firefighter shall pass part 1 of the certification

 

examination described in subsection (2)(d) not more than 24 months

 

after he or she is hired or appointed as a volunteer or paid on-

 

call firefighter to be eligible to continue his or her employment

 

or appointment as a volunteer or paid on-call firefighter, as

 

applicable.

 

     (5) The certification examination requirement under this

 

section does not apply to a person who was employed or under

 

appointment as a firefighter on or before October 1, 1988, unless


the person subsequently seeks to change his or her status from a

 

volunteer or paid on-call firefighter to a part-time or full-time

 

firefighter.

 

     (6) The state fire marshal may waive the examination

 

requirements under this section for a veteran who served in and is

 

separated from the armed forces and provides a form DD214, a form

 

DD215, or any other form that is satisfactory to the department of

 

licensing and regulatory affairs that demonstrates that he or she

 

was separated from service with an honorable character of service

 

or under honorable conditions (general) character of service, upon

 

verification that the veteran completed firefighter training that

 

meets the standards for fire fighter I and fire fighter II in the

 

standards for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, National

 

Fire Protection Association standard no. 1001, while serving in the

 

Armed Forces of the United States. As used in this subsection,

 

"armed forces" means the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast

 

Guard, or other military force designated by Congress as part of

 

the Armed Forces of the United States.

 

     (7) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the state

 

fire marshal shall waive the examination requirements under this

 

section and extend reciprocity certification to a person from

 

another state who seeks to become employed or volunteer in the fire

 

service in this state if the person was certified in the other

 

state after successfully completing a program that meets or exceeds

 

the National Fire Protection Association standards for the

 

applicable fire service discipline recognized under this act. The

 

state fire marshal shall not waive the certification examination


for a person who was certified in another state if either of the

 

following applies:

 

     (a) The person's out-of-state certification was revoked by

 

that state or another issuing organization.

 

     (b) The person has been convicted of a felony under the laws

 

of this state, another state, or the United States.

 

     (8) Certification as a fire service member granted to a person

 

under this act is valid unless or until the council revokes the

 

certification as part of a disciplinary action.

 

     (9) The state fire marshal shall issue a certificate to a

 

person who is certified under this act not more than 30 days after

 

the person becomes certified. A certificate issued under this act

 

remains the property of the state fire marshal.

 

     (10) The state fire marshal and the council shall review and

 

monitor the state and federal standards relating to live fire

 

training exercises in structures and make recommendations regarding

 

the general industry safety standards for any new or modified

 

standards necessary for the protection of firefighter trainees

 

under part 74 of the Michigan occupational safety and health

 

administration general industry safety standard, R 408.17401 to R

 

408.17464 of the Michigan Administrative Code.

 

     Sec. 9a. A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession

 

of, or retained by the council in the performance of an official

 

function shall must be made available to the public in compliance

 

with Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended, being

 

sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.the freedom

 

of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.


     Sec. 9b. An organized fire department or public safety

 

department shall maintain an employment history record for each

 

fire service member employed by the organized fire department or

 

public safety department.

 

     Sec. 10. (1) The council may enter into agreement with other

 

agencies, colleges and universities to carry out the intent of this

 

act.Each organized fire department or public safety department or

 

local government clerk shall file a statement with the council

 

designating the chief or director of the department and providing

 

contact information for the organized fire department or public

 

safety department. If the department chief or director changes, the

 

organized fire department or public safety department shall notify

 

the council in writing by filing a statement of the change not more

 

than 7 days after the change.

 

     (2) The council shall develop and provide to each organized

 

fire department or public safety department, upon request of the

 

organized fire department or public safety department and at no

 

charge, a digital video disc or other electronic form of video

 

display to be used in training firefighters. The digital video disc

 

or other electronic form of video display must be based upon the

 

council-approved training programs. The council may impose a

 

reasonable fee for loss, damage, or late return of a digital video

 

disc or other electronic form of video display provided to an

 

organized fire department or public safety department under this

 

section. The council shall have available not fewer than 2 copies

 

of each digital video disc or other electronic form of video

 

display for an organized fire department's or public safety


department's use.

 

     (3) The council shall make recommendations with respect to

 

both of the following:

 

     (a) The category or classification of advanced in-service

 

training programs for all fire service disciplines and minimum

 

courses of study and attendance requirements for the category or

 

classification needed for certification under this act.

 

     (b) The standards required under this act for certification in

 

each of the fire service disciplines.

 

     Sec. 11. (1) The Under the direction of the state fire

 

marshal, or the council may do all of the following:

 

     (a) Visit and inspect any firefighter training school, or

 

examine the curriculum or training procedures, for which

 

application for approval has been made.

 

     (b) Issue certificates to firefighter training schools

 

qualifying under the regulations promulgated under this act.

 

     (c) Authorize the issuance of certificates of graduation or

 

diplomas by approved firefighter training schools to firefighters

 

students who have satisfactorily completed the minimum courses of

 

study.requirements in each of the fire service courses.

 

     (d) Cooperate with state, federal, and local fire agencies in

 

establishing and conducting local or area schools or regional

 

training centers for instruction and training of firefighters of

 

this state and its cities, counties, townships, and villages.

 

     (e) Make recommendations to the state fire marshal, the

 

governor, and the legislature on matters pertaining to

 

qualification and training of firefighters.fire service members.


     (f) Establish preservice basic training programs at high

 

schools, colleges, community colleges, and universities.

 

     (g) Require an examination in order to pass each of the fire

 

service courses qualifying under the standards set forth in this

 

act.

 

     (h) Establish continuing education requirements for

 

maintaining certification under this act.

 

     (i) Establish the requisite level of fire instructor activity

 

to maintain certification as a fire instructor.

 

     (j) Establish and charge a fee to recover the cost of testing

 

and training provided to a person who is not employed by an

 

organized fire department or public safety department of this state

 

and who is seeking to be employed as a fire service member.

 

     (k) Promulgate rules for the development, conduct, and

 

responsibilities of a county training committee in each county in

 

this state.

 

     (2) The council may allow 2 or more counties to form and

 

jointly operate a regional training committee charged with the

 

oversight of training needs in those counties.

 

     (3) Fees collected under subsection (1)(j) must be deposited

 

into the fireworks safety fund created in section 11 of the

 

Michigan fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256, MCL 28.461.

 

     Sec. 11a. The fire marshal, with the approval of the council,

 

shall promulgate rules establishing a disciplinary process for the

 

suspension or revocation of certification and any necessary

 

retraining requirements to maintain or restore certification after

 

a suspension or revocation for a fire service member for 1 or more


of the following:

 

     (a) Conviction of a felony.

 

     (b) Making a materially false statement, causing a materially

 

false statement to be made, or otherwise committing fraud during

 

the application for certification process.

 

     (c) Violating council and fire marshal-adopted policies

 

regarding a fire service member's use of the fire marshal's

 

training information network because the fire service member

 

wrongfully disclosed exam information from the fire marshal's

 

information network.

 

     Sec. 12. There The council shall be an appoint an executive

 

secretary of the council who shall be appointed by the council, and

 

who shall hold office during at the pleasure of the council. He The

 

executive secretary shall perform such the functions and duties as

 

may be assigned to him by the council. He The executive secretary

 

shall receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses within

 

the amounts available by appropriation.

 

     Sec. 13. (1) Firefighter training provided under this act

 

shall must be funded by the money collected from fireworks safety

 

fees imposed under section 8 of the Michigan fireworks safety act,

 

2011 PA 256, MCL 28.458, and the fees collected under section 11 of

 

this act and deposited in the fireworks safety fund created in

 

section 11 of the Michigan fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256, MCL

 

28.461. The fund shall must be distributed to fund firefighter

 

training programs as provided in section 11 of the Michigan

 

fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256, MCL 28.461.

 

     (2) Firefighter training provided under this act may also be


funded by any additional funding sources identified by the council

 

or state fire marshal.

 

     Sec. 14. (1) From the amount annually deposited in and

 

appropriated to the fireworks safety fund for firefighter training

 

under section 11 of the Michigan fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256,

 

MCL 28.461, the council may request and the state fire marshal may

 

approve annual training expenditures for the purposes of payments

 

to counties to reimburse organized fire departments for firefighter

 

training and other activities required under this act. The state

 

fire marshal may deny requests not meeting the requirements of this

 

act.the designated fiduciary of each county's training committee to

 

fund firefighter training and provide for firefighter training

 

equipment and other related activities required under this act. The

 

state fire marshal may deny requests not meeting the requirements

 

of this act.

 

     (2) The money approved under subsection (1) shall must be

 

disbursed to counties county training committees using a formula

 

composed 70% of county population and 30% of square miles within

 

the county. A minimum disbursement to each county training

 

committee may be requested by the council and approved by the state

 

fire marshal.

 

     (3) The chairperson of a firefighter training committee

 

established in each county shall survey the training needs of

 

organized fire departments and public safety departments in the

 

county and shall distribute the money received by the county under

 

this section expend money for firefighter training, firefighter

 

training equipment, or other activities required under this act as


prioritized by the organized fire departments or public safety

 

departments in the county. If money distributed to a county under

 

this section for a fiscal year is not designated by the chairperson

 

for distribution to organized fire departments in expenditure as

 

provided in this subsection by the county by January 1 of the

 

fiscal year, the undesignated money shall must be returned to the

 

council and may be redistributed by the council through the

 

application process under section 15. The state fire marshal may

 

deny requests for redistribution that do not meet the requirements

 

of this act. The council shall deposit undesignated money that is

 

not redistributed through an application under section 15 into the

 

fireworks safety fund created in section 11 of the Michigan

 

fireworks safety act, 2011 PA 256, MCL 28.461.

 

     (4) Money shall must be distributed under this section only to

 

support training for personnel from an organized fire department or

 

public safety department that has adhered to the standards

 

established under this act for personnel recruited or trained by

 

the organized fire department or public safety department during

 

the current and prior fiscal years and that has complied with the

 

incident reporting requirements under section 4 of the fire

 

prevention code, 1941 PA 207, MCL 29.4, during the 12 months

 

preceding an application made under this act.

 

     Sec. 16. The council shall adopt rules and regulations in

 

accordance with the provisions of Act No. 88 of the Public Acts of

 

1943, as amended, being sections 24.71 to 24.82 of the Compiled

 

Laws of 1948, and subject to Act No. 197 of the Public Acts of

 

1952, as amended, being sections 24.101 to 24.110 of the Compiled


Laws of 1948.administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306,

 

MCL 24.201 to 24.328, to carry out its duties under this act.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.

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