07 SB44/CA/1
Senate
Bill 44
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Tolleson of the 20th, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th,
Thomas of the 2nd, Smith of the 52nd and others
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire
protection and safety, so as to provide a short title; to provide definitions;
to provide for the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to develop
and offer fire officer development training through the Georgia Fire Academy; to
provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as the "2007 Georgia Fire Officer
Development Act."
SECTION
2.
Title
25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and
safety, is amended by revising Code Section 25-4-2, relating to definitions, as
follows:
"25-4-2.
As
used in this chapter, the term:
(1)
'Airport' means any airport located in this state which has regularly scheduled
commercial air carrier service or commuter airline service as required for
certification under Section 139.49 of the Federal Aviation Administration
regulations.
(2)
'Airport firefighter' means any person assigned to any airport located in this
state who performs the duties of aircraft fire fighting or rescue.
(3)
'Candidate' means a prospective firefighter who has not yet been certified by
the council as having met the requirements of this chapter.
(4)
'Certified firefighter' or 'state certified firefighter' means any firefighter
who has been certified by the council as having met the requirements of this
chapter.
(5)
'Council' means the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training
Council.
(6)
'Fire
department' shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section
25-3-21.
(7)
'Fire officer' means an individual who is a full-time employee, part-time
employee, or volunteer for a municipal, county, state, or private incorporated
fire department who has responsibility for supervision of firefighters and fire
department support personnel or responsibility for system management for the
fire department.
(8)
'Firefighter' means a trained individual who is a full-time employee, part-time
employee, or volunteer for a municipal, county, state, or private incorporated
fire department and as such has duties of responding to mitigate a variety of
emergency and nonemergency situations where life, property, or the environment
is at risk, which may include without limitation fire suppression; fire
prevention activities; emergency medical services; hazardous materials response
and preparedness; technical rescue operations; search and rescue; disaster
management and preparedness; community service activities; response to civil
disturbances and terrorism incidents; nonemergency functions including training,
preplanning, communications, maintenance, and physical conditioning; and other
related emergency and nonemergency duties as may be assigned or required;
provided, however, that a firefighter´s assignments may vary based on
geographic, climatic, and demographic conditions or other factors including
training, experience, and ability.
(7)(9)
'Full-time' means employed for compensation on a basis of at least 40 hours per
week by any municipal, county, state, or private incorporated fire
department.
(8)(10)
'Part-time' means employed for compensation on less than a full-time basis by
any municipal, county, state, or private incorporated fire
department.
(9)(11)
'Volunteer' means not employed for compensation by but appointed and regularly
enrolled to serve as a firefighter for any municipal, county, state, or private
incorporated fire department."
SECTION
3.
Said
title is further amended by revising paragraphs (10) and (11) of Code Section
25-4-7, relating to the functions and powers of the Georgia Firefighter
Standards and Training Council, and adding a new paragraph (12) as
follows:
"(10)
To certify any person satisfactorily complying with the training program
established in accordance with paragraph (9) of this Code section and the
qualifications for employment covered in this chapter;
and
(11)
To issue a certificate to any person who has received training in another state
or who has received training as a federal firefighter by the United States
government, when the council has determined that the training was at least
equivalent to that required by the council for approved firefighter education
and training programs in this state and when the person has satisfactorily
complied with all other requirements of this
chapter;
and
(12)
To develop and offer in conjunction with the Georgia Fire Academy a program of
training for fire officers and firefighters who desire to become fire officers
to include, but not be limited to, instruction in the subjects of leadership
development; planning; and skills development in personnel supervision, oral and
written communication, business management, succession management, collaboration
with public officials, and public information
dissemination."
SECTION
4.
Said
title is further amended by adding a new Code Section 25-7-9 to read as
follows:
"25-7-9.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'fire officer' means an individual who is
a full-time employee, part-time employee, or volunteer for a municipal, county,
state, or private incorporated fire department who has responsibility for
supervision of firefighters and fire department support personnel or
responsibility for system management for the fire department.
(b)
The Georgia Fire Academy is authorized to develop and offer in conjunction with
the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council a program of training for
fire officers and firefighters who desire to become fire officers to include,
but not be limited to, instruction in the subjects of leadership development;
planning; and skills development in personnel supervision, oral and written
communication, business management, succession management, collaboration with
public officials, and public information dissemination."
SECTION
5.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2007.
SECTION
6.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.