1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public safety; establishing a committee to 
  1.3             plan training programs for firefighters; appropriating 
  1.4             money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [FIREFIGHTER TRAINING STUDY COMMITTEE.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP; CHAIR.] (a) The firefighter 
  1.8   training study committee consists of: 
  1.9      (1) two representatives of the Minnesota state fire chiefs 
  1.10  association, appointed by the president of the association; 
  1.11     (2) two representatives of the Minnesota professional 
  1.12  firefighters, appointed by the president of the organization; 
  1.13     (3) two representatives of the Minnesota state fire 
  1.14  department association, appointed by the president of the 
  1.15  organization; 
  1.16     (4) two representatives of the league of Minnesota cities, 
  1.17  appointed by the president of the league; 
  1.18     (5) the director of the Minnesota state colleges and 
  1.19  universities FIRE/EMS center, or the director's designee; 
  1.20     (6) a public member, appointed by the governor; 
  1.21     (7) an employee of the department of labor and industry 
  1.22  whose responsibilities include fire-related occupational safety 
  1.23  and health activities, appointed by the commissioner of labor 
  1.24  and industry; and 
  1.25     (8) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's 
  2.1   designee. 
  2.2      (b) The committee shall elect a chair from the members. 
  2.3      Subd. 2.  [ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.] The commissioner of 
  2.4   public safety shall provide necessary administrative and staff 
  2.5   support to the committee. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [COMPENSATION.] Committee members who are not 
  2.7   public officials or employees are entitled to reimbursement for 
  2.8   expenses in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
  2.9   subdivision 6. 
  2.10     Subd. 4.  [DUTIES.] (a) The committee shall: 
  2.11     (1) review findings and recommendations of the joint 
  2.12  advisory training committee formed by the Minnesota state fire 
  2.13  department association, the Minnesota state fire chiefs 
  2.14  association, and the Minnesota professional firefighters; 
  2.15     (2) conduct further study of firefighter training needs and 
  2.16  options; 
  2.17     (3) consider current funding for firefighter training, 
  2.18  determine any need for additional funding, and recommend 
  2.19  possible sources of the funding; 
  2.20     (4) consider the current delivery system for firefighter 
  2.21  training, including statewide coordinating of training, and any 
  2.22  needed improvements; 
  2.23     (5) consider the selection and evaluation of training 
  2.24  instructors and any needed improvements; 
  2.25     (6) study levels of service delivery and any need for 
  2.26  standardized training; 
  2.27     (7) consider federal and state laws and standards that 
  2.28  affect firefighter training; 
  2.29     (8) determine a fair system for reimbursing local 
  2.30  jurisdictions for training programs; and 
  2.31     (9) consider the need for centralized administrative 
  2.32  direction of training programs. 
  2.33     (b) The committee shall conduct public meetings around the 
  2.34  state to gather public input relevant to paragraph (a).  Before 
  2.35  submitting the report required by subdivision 5, the committee 
  2.36  shall prepare and disseminate a draft report and seek public 
  3.1   comment on it.  A record of comment received must be kept and 
  3.2   submitted along with the report required by subdivision 5. 
  3.3      Subd. 5.  [REPORT.] The committee shall submit a report and 
  3.4   its recommendations to the legislature by February 1, 1998.  The 
  3.5   report must identify any changes in statutes required to 
  3.6   implement the committee's recommendations.  The committee 
  3.7   expires upon submission of the report. 
  3.8      Subd. 6.  [LOCAL COOPERATION.] Local government units shall 
  3.9   cooperate with the committee in the preparation of the report 
  3.10  required by subdivision 5. 
  3.11     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.12     $49,500 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  3.13  commissioner of public safety for purposes of implementing 
  3.14  section 1 and is available until February 1, 1998. 
  3.15     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.16     Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
  3.17  enactment.