Minnesota Legislature
SF 1597
2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 09/16/2015 03:58pm
Bill Text Versions
| Engrossments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Posted on 03/10/2015 | |
| 1st Engrossment | Posted on 03/18/2015 | |
| 2nd Engrossment | Posted on 04/30/2015 |
Current Version - 2nd Engrossment
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; firefighters; modifying licensure requirements; providing
for license reciprocity; making technical changes; amending Minnesota Statutes
2014, sections 299N.03, subdivisions 3, 5, 6, 7; 299N.04, subdivision 3; 299N.05,
subdivisions 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 299N; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 3.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Chief firefighting officer.
"Chief firefighting officer" means the highest
ranking employee or appointed official of a fire departmentnew text begin , or the highest ranking
employee or appointed official's designee for the purposes of this chapternew text end .
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.03, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Full-time firefighter.
A "full-time firefighter" means a person who is
employed and charged with the prevention and suppression of fires within the boundaries
of the state on a full-time, salaried basis and who is directly engaged in the hazards of
firefighting or is in charge of a designated fire company or companies that are directly
engaged in the hazards of firefighting. Full-time firefighter does not include a volunteer,
part-timenew text begin ,new text end or deleted text begin paid, on-calldeleted text end new text begin paid-on-callnew text end firefighter.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.03, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Licensed firefighter.
"Licensed firefighter" means a full-time firefighter,
to include a fire department employee, member, supervisor, or appointed official, who is
licensed by the board and deleted text begin who isdeleted text end charged with the prevention or suppression of fires within
the boundaries of the state. Licensed firefighter may also include a volunteer firefighter.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7.
Volunteer firefighter.
A "volunteer firefighter" means a person who is
charged with the prevention or suppression of fires within the boundaries of the state
on a volunteer, part-timenew text begin ,new text end or deleted text begin paid, on-calldeleted text end new text begin paid-on-callnew text end basis. Volunteer firefighter does
not include a full-time firefighter.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.04, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Certain baccalaureate or associate degree holders eligible to take
certification examination.
A person with a baccalaureate degreedeleted text begin ,deleted text end or deleted text begin withdeleted text end an associate
degree in applied fire science technologydeleted text begin ,deleted text end from an accredited college or universitynew text begin ,new text end who
has successfully completed the skills-oriented basic training course under subdivision 2,
clause (2), is eligible to take the firefighter certification examination notwithstanding the
requirements of subdivision 2, clause (1).
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Licensure requirement.
A deleted text begin full-timedeleted text end firefighter employed deleted text begin on or after
July 1, 2011,deleted text end new text begin full timenew text end by a fire department is not eligible for permanent employment
without being licensed deleted text begin as a firefighterdeleted text end by the board.
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Newly employed firefighters.
Any full-time firefighter employed by a fire
department deleted text begin on or after July 1, 2011,deleted text end must obtain a license from the board. To obtain a
license, an individual deleted text begin not covered by subdivision 3deleted text end must provide the board with a statement
signed by the chief firefighting officer of the fire department that employs the full-time
firefighter that the individual has met the certification requirements of section 299N.04.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
deleted text begin Issuance ofdeleted text end new text begin Obtaining a firefighternew text end license.
deleted text begin The board shall license
any individual who meets the requirements of subdivision 3 or 4.deleted text end new text begin To obtain a license, a
firefighter must complete the board application process and meet the requirements of section
299N.04.new text end A license is valid for deleted text begin three years from the date of issuancedeleted text end new text begin a three-year period
determined by the boardnew text end , and the fee for the license is $75.new text begin Fees under this subdivision
may be prorated by the board for licenses issued with a three-year licensure period.
new text end
Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
License renewalnew text begin ; expiration and reinstatementnew text end .
new text begin (a) new text end A license shall be
renewed so long as the firefighter and the chief firefighting officer provide evidence to the
board that the licensed firefighter has had deleted text begin at leastdeleted text end 72 hours ofnew text begin approvednew text end firefighting training
in the deleted text begin previous three-year perioddeleted text end new text begin preceding three years andnew text end new text begin the firefighter completes the
renewal applicationnew text end . The fee for renewing a firefighter license is $75, and the license is
valid for an additional three years.
new text begin
(b) If a license expires, a firefighter may apply to have it reinstated. In order to
receive reinstatement, the firefighter must:
new text end
new text begin
(1) complete a reinstatement application;
new text end
new text begin
(2) satisfy all prior firefighter training requirements;
new text end
new text begin
(3) pay any outstanding renewal fees; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) pay the delayed renewal fee set by the board.
new text end
new text begin
(c) In lieu of a reinstatement application under paragraph (b), a firefighter may
complete a new application for licensure under section 299N.04.
new text end
Sec. 10.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7.
Duties of chief firefighting officer.
new text begin (a) new text end deleted text begin It shall be the duty ofdeleted text end Every chief
firefighting officernew text begin has a dutynew text end to ensure that deleted text begin alldeleted text end new text begin everynew text end full-time deleted text begin firefighters havedeleted text end new text begin firefighter
hasnew text end a license deleted text begin fromdeleted text end new text begin issued bynew text end the board deleted text begin beginning July 1, 2011deleted text end . deleted text begin Each full-time firefighter,
volunteer firefighter, and chief firefighting officer may apply for licensure after January 1,
2011.
deleted text end
new text begin
(b) Every chief firefighting officer, provider, and individual licensee has a duty to
ensure proper training records and reports are retained. Records must include, for the
three-year period subsequent to the license renewal date:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the dates, subjects, and duration of programs;
new text end
new text begin
(2) sponsoring organizations;
new text end
new text begin
(3) fire training hours earned;
new text end
new text begin
(4) registration receipts to prove attendance at training sessions; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) other pertinent information.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The board may require a licensee, provider, or fire department to provide the
information under paragraph (b) to demonstrate compliance with the 72-hour firefighting
training requirement under subdivision 6, paragraph (a).
new text end
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8.
Revocation; suspension; denial.
new text begin (a) new text end The board may revoke, suspend,
or deny a license issued or applied for under this section to a firefighter or applicant if
the firefighter or applicant has been convicted ofnew text begin any arson-related charge ornew text end a felony
recognized by the board as a crime that would disqualify the licensee from participating
in the profession of firefighting.
new text begin
(b) Each applicant, licensee, or fire department must notify the board, in writing,
within ten days if the applicant or licensee has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo
contendere to a felony, any arson-related charge, or another offense arising from the
same set of circumstances.
new text end
Sec. 12.
new text begin
[299N.06] ELIGIBILITY FOR RECIPROCITY EXAMINATION
BASED ON RELEVANT MILITARY EXPERIENCE.
new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section:
new text end
new text begin
(1) "active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) "relevant military experience" means:
new text end
new text begin
(i) four years' cumulative service experience in a military firefighting occupational
specialty;
new text end
new text begin
(ii) two years' cumulative service experience in a military firefighting occupational
specialty, and completion of at least a two-year degree from a regionally accredited
postsecondary education institution; or
new text end
new text begin
(iii) four years' cumulative experience as a full-time firefighter in another state
combined with cumulative service experience in a military firefighting occupational
specialty.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A person is eligible to take the reciprocity examination and does not have to
otherwise meet the requirements of section 299N.04, subdivisions 2 and 3, if the person has:
new text end
new text begin
(1) relevant military experience; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) been honorably discharged from military active service as evidenced by the most
recent form DD-214 or is currently in active service, as evidenced by:
new text end
new text begin
(i) active duty orders providing service time in a military firefighting specialty;
new text end
new text begin
(ii) a United States Department of Defense Manpower Data Center status report
pursuant to the Service Members Civil Relief Act, active duty status report; or
new text end
new text begin
(iii) Military Personnel Center assignment information.
new text end
new text begin
(c) A person who passed the examination under paragraph (b), clause (2), shall not
be eligible to be licensed as a firefighter until honorably discharged as evidenced by the
most recent form DD-214.
new text end
new text begin
(d) To receive a firefighter license, a person who passed the reciprocity certification
examination must meet the requirements of section 299N.05, subdivision 4.
new text end
Sec. 13. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end
new text begin
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 299N.05, subdivision 3,
new text end
new text begin
is repealed.
new text end