Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Training Credit Firefighter 1 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to credit employment fire-suppression training toward Firefighter 1 hours
Summary
Senate Bill 466 would allow work-required fire-suppression training to count toward Firefighter 1 certification hours, codify portions of a grant program into Title 35 and require PEMA reporting; the committee advanced the bill unanimously and asked staff to follow up on reporting frequency.
Senate Bill 466, authored by Sen. Brooks, was moved unanimously from the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee to the Senate floor after members said the bill would streamline certification for employees who already receive workplace fire-suppression training.
Mike, committee staff, explained the bill allows individuals required by their employment to receive fire-suppression training to have that training considered by the state fire commissioner toward hours required for Firefighter 1 certification. The bill also requires certain reports from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and would recodify portions of the fire company and EMS grant program out of the fiscal code and back into Title 35.
Representative Stender asked about the reports PEMA would be asked to provide and how often some grant programs function; staff said they would “ask PEMA and get back to you” with details. Chairman Gillan said he supported the bill as a way to speed Firefighter 1 certification and praised the streamlining aspects.
No member recorded a negative vote; the chairman announced that Senate Bill 466 moves unanimously to the floor for consideration. The committee did not set reporting frequencies in the meeting record; staff committed to follow up with PEMA to provide that information.
