January 23, 2009





SENATE BILL No. 322

_____


DIGEST OF SB 322 (Updated January 20, 2009 12:45 pm - DI 71)



Citations Affected: IC 36-8.

Synopsis: Firefighter training. Provides that a full-time firefighter employed after December 31, 2009, must complete the training for Firefighter I and Firefighter II during the firefighter's first year of employment as a full-time firefighter. Allows the education board of the division of preparedness and training of the department of homeland security (board) to grant six month extensions of time to complete the training requirements for any reason. Requires a fire department to request the extension on behalf of a firefighter employed by the department. Requires a fire department to report to the board when a firefighter employed by the department has completed the training requirements.

Effective: January 1, 2010.





Charbonneau , Wyss, Arnold




    January 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Homeland Security, Transportation & Veterans Affairs.
    January 22, 2009, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.






January 23, 2009

First Regular Session 116th General Assembly (2009)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

SENATE BILL No. 322



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 36-8-10.5-7; (09)SB0322.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 36-8-10.5-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.148-2007, SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010]: Sec. 7. (a) The education board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing minimum basic training requirements for full-time firefighters and volunteer firefighters, subject to subsection (b) and section 7.5 of this chapter. The requirements must include training in the following areas:
        (1) Orientation.
        (2) Personal safety.
        (3) Forcible entry.
        (4) Ventilation.
        (5) Apparatus.
        (6) Ladders.
        (7) Self-contained breathing apparatus.
        (8) Hose loads.
        (9) Streams.
        (10) Basic recognition of special hazards.
    (b) A person who fulfills the certification requirements for:
        (1) Firefighter I, as described in 655 IAC 1-2.1-4; or
        (2) Firefighter II, as described in 655 IAC 1-2.1-5;
is considered to comply with the requirements established under subsection (a).
    (c) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (d), the minimum basic training requirements for full-time firefighters and volunteer firefighters must include successful completion of a basic or inservice course of education and training on sudden infant death syndrome that is certified by the emergency medical services commission (created under IC 16-31-2-1) in conjunction with the state health commissioner.
    (d) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (c), the minimum basic training requirements for full-time and volunteer firefighters must include successful completion of an instruction course on vehicle emergency response driving safety. The education board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to operate this course.
SOURCE: IC 36-8-10.5-7.5; (09)SB0322.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 36-8-10.5-7.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010]: Sec. 7.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual whose employment by a fire department as a full-time firefighter begins after December 31, 2009, must complete the training for Firefighter I (as described in 655 IAC 1-2.1-4) and Firefighter II (as described in 655 IAC 1-2.1-5) during the firefighter's first year of employment. The fire department that employs a firefighter shall report to the education board when the firefighter has completed the training requirements established by this subsection.
    (b) The education board may grant a firefighter any number of extensions of six (6) months to complete the training required under subsection (a). An extension must be requested by the fire department that employs the firefighter. An extension may be requested for any reason, including the following:
        (1) The firefighter has been attending training in accordance with section 8 of this chapter in any of the following:
            (A) Hazardous materials.
            (B) Paramedic training.
            (C) Emergency medical technician training.
            (D) Technical training.
        (2) The firefighter was unable to complete the training due to economic reasons.
    (c) The education board shall determine whether a firefighter

receives an extension under this section.