PRINTER'S NO. 329

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

331

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, COSTA, BROWNE AND BREWSTER,

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Municipal

Firefighter Education and Training Program Act.

Section 2. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commissioner." The State Fire Commissioner appointed under

35 Pa.C.S. Ch. 73 Subch. F (relating to State Fire

Section 3. Municipal Firefighter Education and Training

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner shall establish a

Municipal Firefighter Education and Training Program in

accordance with the provisions of this act. The administration

of this program shall be the responsibility of the Office of the

State Fire Commissioner. The commissioner, in consultation with

the Fire Safety Advisory Committee established under 35 Pa.C.S.

Ch. 73 Subch. F (relating to State Fire Commissioner), shall

develop basic course criteria and guidelines for the program.

The parameters developed by the commissioner shall be consistent

all members of its fire department hired by it after the

effective date of this section, under this act.

political subdivision or group of political subdivisions

acting in concert after the effective date of this section

shall be, at the end of one year from the date of the

person's employment, ineligible to receive salary,

compensation or other consideration or thing of value for the

performance of the person's duties as a municipal firefighter

unless:

firefighter is granted additional time to complete the

training by the commissioner.

given a grace period of two years from the effective date of

this section before the person becomes ineligible to receive

salary, compensation or other consideration of things of

value.

(b) Penalty.--An official of a political subdivision who

orders, authorizes or pays a salary to a person in violation of

provide reimbursement to each political subdivision of 100%

of the allowable tuition and the ordinary and necessary

living and travel expenses incurred by the political

subdivision's firefighters while attending certified

municipal firefighter basic training school, provided the

political subdivision adheres to the training standards,

employment longevity provisions and program guidelines

established by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

school approved under this act shall be paid by the employing

shall be reimbursed by the commissioner to the employing

political subdivision.

(b) Grants.--The commissioner shall provide grants as a

reimbursement for actual expenses incurred by political

subdivisions for municipal firefighters who have successfully

completed the required basic course of instruction established

by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

(c) Application.--A political subdivision of the

Commonwealth or a group of political subdivisions acting in

concert may make application to the commissioner for funding

under this act. The application must be accompanied by a

may request.

(d) Limitation.--Grants may be awarded on a pro rata basis

if the total dollar amount of approved applications exceeds the

amount of funds allocated for this program.

Section 6. Construction.

This act may not be construed to exempt a municipal

firefighter from the provisions of the existing civil service or

laws relating to tenure.

Section 7. Effective date.