ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 682	By:	Barrington, Halligan, Fields and Simpson of the Senate

			and

		Billy and Armes of the House

An Act relating to fire service training; stating purpose of Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training; providing duties and responsibilities; directing collaboration with the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training; directing adoption and delivery of training programs, curriculum and instructional materials; directing collaboration with technology center schools; providing for maintenance of training records; directing establishment of certification program; specifying source of certain programs; providing for contents and administration of the certification programs; providing for maintenance of trainer list; directing Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training to serve as certain representative; directing submission of certain report; providing for certain construction; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 628.9, which relates to funding for Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training; clarifying provision of certain funds; amending 74 O.S. 2011, Section 325.3, which relates to training programs for certain fire incidents; adding the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training to program development requirement; modifying type of incidents covered by the training; modifying facilities where training is offered; deleting duty to maintain certain training records; directing the Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training to carry out certain duties in certain manner; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

SUBJECT:  Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3401.2 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A.  The purpose of Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training (OSU FST) shall be to develop, deliver, support and evaluate training, education and professional certification programs for fire service in this state to ensure emergency responders may safely and successfully perform their duties.

B.  OSU FST shall:

1.  Deliver and support training and education programs for fire service and other emergency responders in this state to meet local and state needs by:

a.	collaborating with technology center schools and other training providers to ensure training, training support and support of certification testing is readily available to all areas of the state to accomplish the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training (COFT) annual state training plan and regional training plans which are voluntarily developed and adopted, and

b.	collaborating with technology center schools and other training providers to develop and maintain a database of available instructors to teach fire and emergency responder topics.  The database shall be maintained on the OSU FST website and made available to other training providers;

2.  Collaborate with COFT on efforts which shall include, but not be limited to, participation in the activities of the COFT training task force and initiatives intended to accomplish COFT firefighter training goals and the state-specific standards certification program;

3.  Develop or adopt and disseminate curriculum and instructional materials to fire departments and training providers consistent with state and federal statutory requirements for classes, courses and programs for delivery to fire service in this state, with every effort being made to provide the curriculum and materials at minimal or no cost.  Unless required by state or federal regulations, selection, adoption and/or use of the OSU-FST-disseminated curriculum and training materials or instructors shall be at the discretion of each training provider or local fire department;

4.  Maintain and make available by electronic means, in a manner consistent with state and federal regulations, to the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training, fire chiefs, training officers and other agencies as required by law, as requested, all training and certification records of Oklahoma firefighters who participate in training sponsored by OSU FST or records provided to OSU FST by local fire departments or other training agencies.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to state and federal wild-land fire agencies;

5.  Develop, administer and evaluate an accredited certification program available to all firefighters and other emergency responders based on National Fire Protection Association standards and/or state and federal standards.  The program shall:

a.	be accredited through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and/or the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications at levels deemed beneficial to fire service in this state,

b.	provide for dissemination to recognized certification partners and posting to the OSU FST's website a list of qualified proctors and evaluators for use during OSU FST certification events,

c.	develop, as requested, special certifications based on state-specific standards adopted by COFT or other state agencies that are designed for emergency responders in this state, which may not be accredited,

d.	maintain certification records and disseminate certifications of COFT-adopted or -approved Oklahoma state-specific certifications.  The certifications may be jointly labeled as COFT, OSU FST, the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education System or other COFT-approved training providers administering state-specific certifications,

e.	ensure that the Oklahoma state-specific certifications shall not duplicate certifications accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications, or titles of certification levels listed in the National Fire Protection Association professional qualifications standards, and

f.	when requested by an Oklahoma fire department or state agency, facilitate delivery of International Fire Service Accreditation Congress and National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications accredited certification processes which are not currently available through OSU FST; and

6.  Fulfill any other statutory requirements set forth by the Legislature.

C.  OSU FST shall be the Oklahoma state government representative to the United States Fire Administration's National Fire Academy and shall be responsible for delivering and disseminating training courses provided by, or made available through, the National Fire Academy.

D.  Beginning September 15, 2014, and continuing on September 15 every following year, OSU FST shall submit an annual report regarding its programs, activity and accomplishments to the Chair of the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the President of Oklahoma State University and the Dean of the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.

E.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to divert funding from one entity to another.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, preclude or exempt an organization, agency or local department from delivery of training; development, adoption or dissemination of training curriculum or materials; participation in a COFT certification program based on an Oklahoma state-specific standard adopted or approved by COFT; or issuance of a certificate of completion of training.

SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 628.9, is amended to read as follows:

Section 628.9  The State Regents should may provide to Oklahoma State University, in addition to that institution's regular budget allocation for educational and general operating functions, a separate allocation of sufficient funds for underwriting the costs of special programs in fire protection to be carried out through the Department of Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training at the institution; and, the Legislature further expresses its intent that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provide sufficient funds to expand the program of fire training adequate to meet the needs of the State of Oklahoma, since such program is a matter of essential public interest and safety.

SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2011, Section 325.3, is amended to read as follows:

Section 325.3  A.  Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training in conjunction with the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training (COFT) shall develop a program to educate firefighters on a unified command protocol for fire emergency incidents occurring in this state.  This program shall be offered statewide by Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training.  Methods of training may include, but are not limited to:

1.  Live classroom sessions with approved instructors;

2.  Live exercises and drills with approved instructors;

3.  Interactive television;

4.  Independent study; and

5.  Web-based methods.

B.  The training program shall be in compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and shall include provisions consistent with the National Fire Protection Association training courses.

C.  The program shall have curriculum and training materials that are consistently utilized by all training providers at all training locations.

D.  Subject to funding, these programs shall be offered at facilities approved by Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training and shall include, but not be limited to, other institutions of higher education, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education technology center school facilities, local fire departments and other qualified entities.

E.  All firefighter training records for this state shall be maintained by Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training and shall be made available to the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training as requested.  The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to state and federal wild land fire agencies carry out all duties and responsibilities in accordance with Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2013.

Passed the Senate the 1st day of May, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the 15th day of April, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

	_________________________________
	Governor of the State of Oklahoma

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________