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Bill would add fire chief to county school safety commissions
Summary
House Bill 1016 would add a county fire chief or a fire chief designee to local school safety committees. Supporters said fire chiefs bring incident command and emergency coordination experience; witnesses from the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association backed the change.
Representative Commons presented House Bill 1016 to add a fire chief or a fire chief designee to existing school safety committees. The sponsor said fire chiefs and their designees are often among the first responders to school emergencies and can help coordinate traffic control, casualties and incident command.
Steve Arusa, representing the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and a retired chief with decades of experience, told the committee the change would strengthen coordination between schools, law enforcement and emergency medical services. "Including a fire chief on a countywide school safety commission provides collaborative partnerships ensuring a holistic approach to safety," he said.
Committee members asked practical questions about how a single chief would be selected where multiple fire departments respond in a county or school district. The sponsor said the bill specifies appointment by the school corporation with the largest ADM in the district (per language on the bill’s first page) and that the detail could be refined in follow‑up drafting.
No formal vote was taken during the hearing; lawmakers asked the sponsor to continue discussions about selection and representation in counties with overlapping jurisdictions.
Ending: The committee accepted testimony and sought clarifying language for possible amendment in later drafting.
