Tennessee Firefighting Commission adds rulemaking to address accreditation gaps

The Tennessee Firefighting Commission on Nov. 4 added a rulemaking item to its business agenda after staff said a recent draft rewrite of the commission''s education rules could leave the state out of compliance with Pro Board and IFSAC accreditation requirements.

Staff told commissioners the commission now has two paths: reactivate the existing rule subcommittee and review the full rewrite before resubmitting it, or authorize staff to open specific chapters and subsections now and proceed with rule filing so the statutory 52-day public comment period begins. Staff described the latter as the faster option for preserving accreditation while the subcommittee would be the more thorough path.

Commission staff said the issues are mostly language and definition changes identified by the accreditation manager: some terms (for example, how the commission lists itself in rule text) and certain training designations would have to be corrected before routing the rules to the Secretary of State for rulemaking. Staff also noted that chapter 6 had already been opened but chapters 1, 3 and 4 require additional subsections and definitions (including how the commission defines and references "accreditation") so the commission must authorize opening those subsections before staff can file rule changes.

Commissioners did not decide the detailed path at the work session but moved to add the rules item to the business agenda so it could be debated and voted on during the formal meeting. The agenda addition was approved by voice vote.

Staff said the intent is to maintain accreditation and to use the rulemaking hearing (with red-line documents and the 52-day public comment window) to collect written comments and public testimony. They asked the commission to consider whether to resume the rule subcommittee or to permit targeted openings that staff would then bring back for commission review and a formal vote to proceed to the rule hearing.