Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 344-S.F.No. 624 
                  An act relating to public safety; establishing the 
                  board of firefighter training and education; proposing 
                  coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299N.
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [299N.01] [DEFINITIONS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] The terms used in this chapter 
        have the meanings given them in this section. 
           Subd. 2.  [FIRE DEPARTMENT.] "Fire department" means a 
        regularly organized fire department, fire protection district, 
        or fire company, as defined in the Uniform Fire Code adopted 
        under section 299F.011, regularly charged with the 
        responsibility of providing fire protection to the state or a 
        local government and includes a private nonprofit fire 
        department directly serving a local government.  It does not 
        include industrial fire brigades. 
           Subd. 3.  [FIREFIGHTER.] "Firefighter" means a volunteer, 
        paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter serving a general 
        population within the boundaries of the state. 
           Sec. 2.  [299N.02] [BOARD OF FIREFIGHTER TRAINING AND 
        EDUCATION.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [MEMBERSHIP.] Notwithstanding any provision 
        of chapter 15 to the contrary, the board of firefighter training 
        and education consists of the following members: 
           (1) five members representing the Minnesota state fire 
        department association, four of whom must be volunteer 
        firefighters and one of whom may be a career firefighter, 
        appointed by the governor; 
           (2) two members representing the Minnesota state fire 
        chiefs association, one of whom must be a volunteer fire chief, 
        appointed by the governor; 
           (3) two members representing the Minnesota professional 
        firefighters association, appointed by the governor; 
           (4) two members representing Minnesota home rule charter 
        and statutory cities, appointed by the governor; 
           (5) two members representing Minnesota towns, appointed by 
        the governor; 
           (6) the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's 
        designee; and 
           (7) one public member not affiliated or associated with any 
        member or interest represented in clauses (1) to (6), appointed 
        by the governor. 
           The Minnesota state fire department association shall 
        recommend five persons to be the members described in clause 
        (1), the Minnesota state fire chiefs association shall recommend 
        two persons to be the members described in clause (2), the 
        Minnesota professional firefighters association shall recommend 
        two persons to be the members described in clause (3), the 
        league of Minnesota cities shall recommend two persons to be the 
        members described in clause (4), and the Minnesota association 
        of townships shall recommend two persons to be the members 
        described in clause (5).  In making the appointments the 
        governor shall try to achieve representation from all geographic 
        areas of the state. 
           Subd. 2.  [TERMS; CHAIR; COMPENSATION.] Members of the 
        board shall serve for terms of four years and annually elect a 
        chair from among the members.  Terms and filling of vacancies 
        are subject to section 15.0575, subdivisions 3 to 5.  Members 
        serve without compensation.  
           Subd. 3.  [POWERS AND DUTIES.] (a) The board shall: 
           (1) review fire service training needs and make 
        recommendations on training to Minnesota fire service 
        organizations; 
           (2) establish standards for educational programs for the 
        fire service and develop procedures for continuing oversight of 
        the programs; and 
           (3) establish qualifications for fire service training 
        instructors in programs established under clause (2). 
           (b) The board may: 
           (1) contract for technical or professional services 
        according to section 15.061; 
           (2) pay expenses necessary to carry out its duties; 
           (3) apply for, receive, and accept grants, gifts, devises, 
        and endowments that any entity may make to the board for the 
        purposes of this chapter and may use any money given to it 
        consistent with the terms and conditions under which the money 
        was received and for the purposes stated; 
           (4) make recommendations to the legislature to improve the 
        quality of firefighter training; 
           (5) collect and provide data, subject to section 13.03; 
           (6) conduct studies and surveys and make reports; and 
           (7) conduct other activities necessary to carry out its 
        duties. 
           Sec. 3.  [INITIAL TERMS OF BOARD MEMBERS.] 
           Of the members of the board of firefighter training and 
        education initially appointed by the governor, five members must 
        be appointed for two-year terms, five appointed for three-year 
        terms, and five appointed for four-year terms. 
           Sec. 4.  [EXPIRES.] 
           Sections 1 to 3 expire effective December 31, 2003. 
           Presented to the governor April 3, 2000 
           Signed by the governor April 6, 2000, 4:00 p.m.