Bill Text: NJ S1555 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mandates basic training for certain newly-appointed entry-level firefighters and supervisory training for full-time firefighters promoted to certain positions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1555 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1555-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Mandates basic training for certain newly-appointed entry-level firefighters and supervisory training for full-time firefighters promoted to certain positions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the promotion and training of certain firefighters and supplementing chapter 14 of Title 40A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A person appointed after the effective date of this act to a Firefighter I or similar title, for career service as a paid member of a paid or part-paid fire department or force or of a fire district maintained and controlled by a board of fire commissioners and supported by the municipal taxpayers, shall be required to satisfactorily complete a basic training program approved by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs as a prerequisite for assignment to suppression or rescue duty.
Regulations promulgated pursuant to this act specifying the curriculum of the training program shall be primarily based on standards set forth in the regulations promulgated pursuant to P.L.1983, c.382 (C.52:27D-25a et seq.) and the "Uniform Fire Safety Act," P.L.1983, c.383 (C.52:27D-192 et. seq.) concerning standards for service training and certification, or any recognized national standard which may be adopted by reference. Regulations adopted by reference may be modified as deemed necessary by Commissioner of Community Affairs. A municipality or fire district shall provide the firefighter with the opportunity to participate in the program.
The training program shall:
a. Consist of this State's Firefighter I training hours, completed over a minimum period of time to be established by rule and regulation;
b. Utilize a curriculum which shall provide one-time initial training;
c. Take place at central locations in the State, including county fire academies or State facilities;
d. Require that the firefighter either pass or fail the program within one year of appointment. If the person fails one or more modules of the program, he shall retake the failed module and pass at the appropriate level of performance; and
e. Be available to, but not mandatory for, volunteer firefighters.
2. Expenses incurred in furnishing the programs in fire fighting to firefighters referred to in section 1 of this act that are directly attributable to training shall be annually reimbursed by the Division of Fire Safety in an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year.
3. Upon a promotion resulting in a permanent appointment to a first or second level title, or to lieutenant or captain, any full-time paid member of a paid or part-paid fire department or force of fire district maintained and controlled by a board of fire commissioners and supported by the municipal taxpayers shall be required, within one year of appointment at the new level, to satisfactorily complete a training program formulated or approved by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs. Regulations promulgated pursuant to this act specifying the curriculum of the training program shall be primarily based on appropriated standards established by the National Fire Protection Association and any other recognized national standard which may be adopted by reference. Regulations adopted by reference may be modified as deemed necessary by Commissioner of Community Affairs. A municipality or fire district shall provide the fire officer with the opportunity to participate in the program.
The training program shall:
a. Consist of minimum of 160 hours of instruction completed over a minimum of four weeks;
b. Utilize a curriculum which shall provide one-time initial training for persons promoted to a first or second level title, or to lieutenant or captain;
c. Take place out of State, or in central locations in the State, including county fire academies or State facilities;
d. Require that the fire officer either pass or fail the program. If the officer fails one or more modules of the program, he shall retake the failed module and pass at the appropriate level of performance; and
e. Be available to, but not mandatory for, volunteer fire officers.
4. Upon a promotion resulting in a permanent appointment to a third or fourth level title, or to battalion chief or deputy chief, any full-time paid member of a paid or part-paid fire department or force or fire district maintained and controlled by a board of fire commissioners and supported by the municipal taxpayers shall be required, within one year of appointment to the new level, to satisfactorily complete a training program formulated or approved by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs. Regulations promulgated pursuant to this act specifying the curriculum of the training program shall be primarily based on appropriated standards established by the National Fire Protection Association and any other recognized national standard which may be modified as deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. A municipality or fire district shall provide the fire officer with the opportunity to participate in the program. The training program shall:
a. Consist of minimum of 160 hours of instruction completed over a minimum of four weeks;
b. Utilize a curriculum which shall provide one-time initial training for persons promoted to a third or fourth level title, or to battalion chief or deputy chief;
c. Take place out of State, or in central locations in the State, including county fire academies or State facilities;
d. Require that the fire officer either pass or fail the program. If the officer fails one or more modules of the program, he shall retake the failed module and pass at the appropriate level of performance; and
e. Be available to, but not mandatory for, volunteer fire officers.
5. In addition to the supervisory training program required for fire officers pursuant to section 4 of this act, full-time fire officers promoted to battalion chief or deputy chief shall posses within one year of appointment a valid certificate of satisfactory completion of a nationally-recognized hazardous materials on-scene incident command course, including any prerequisites therefore.
6. The training programs required under sections 4 and 5 of this act shall be available to, but not required for, newly-promoted volunteer fire officers.
7. Expenses incurred in furnishing the programs in fire supervision under sections 3 through 6 of this act that are directly attributable to training shall be reimbursed annually by the Division of Fire Safety in an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year.
8. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implement of this act.
9. This act shall take effect on the first day of the thirteenth month after enactment and apply only to initial firefighter appointments and fire officer promotions that occur after the effective date.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish basic training requirements for paid entry-level firefighters. The bill also would require training for paid firefighters promoted to supervisory positions and hazardous materials training for battalion and deputy chiefs. Only initial firefighter appointments and firefighter promotions that occur after the bill is enacted are affected by the new training requirements.
The basic training program for entry-level firefighters would be a prerequisite for any assignment to suppression or rescue duty, would consist of this State's Firefighter I training hours, and utilize a curriculum providing one-time initial training. The training program would be approved by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs, and be primarily based upon the standards set forth for fire service training and certification in the New Jersey Administrative Code, or any recognized national standard which may be adopted by reference (see N.J.A.C.5:73-1.1 et seq.).
Fire officers promoted to a first or second level title, or to lieutenant or captain, also would have to complete a training program formulated or approved by the Division of Fire Safety within one year of the promotion. The program would consist of at least 160 hours of instruction over four weeks which is offered at out-of-State locations or at central locations throughout the State, and would provide one-time initial training for these persons. This training program would be primarily based on appropriate standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and any other recognized national standard which may be adopted by reference.
Under the bill, fire officers promoted to a third or fourth level title, or to battalion or deputy chief, also would have to complete a training program formulated or approved by the Division of Fire Safety. The program would consist of at least 160 hours of instruction over four weeks which is offered at out-of-State locations or at central locations throughout the State, and would provide one-time initial training for these persons.
Additionally, any full-time fire officers promoted to battalion or deputy chief would be required to complete a nationally recognized hazardous materials on-scene incident command course.
The training programs required by the bill would have to be satisfactorily completed within one year of the person's appointment or promotion. If an entry-level or supervisory firefighter in any of the fails any module, or segment, they would be required to retake that failed module and pass at the appropriate level of performance in order to satisfactorily complete the program.
Also, expenses incurred in furnishing any training program that is directly attributable to training would be annually reimbursed by the Division of Fire Safety. The total level of reimbursement by the division would be an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year for entry-level firefighter training, and an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year for fire officer training.
Finally, the training programs would be made available, but not mandatory, for volunteer firefighters and newly-promoted volunteer fire officers.
