13155-13159.4
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 13155-13159.4
13155. This article shall be known and may be cited as the California Fire Service Training and Education Program Act. 13156. The Legislature finds and declares that the purposes of this article are as follows: (a) To reduce the costs in suffering and property loss resulting from fire through standardized fire training and education programs. (b) To provide professional fire service training and education programs to personnel in fire departments that rely extensively on volunteers. (c) To develop new methods and practices in the area of fire protection. (d) To disseminate information relative to fires, techniques of firefighters, and other related subjects to all interested agencies and individuals throughout the state. (e) To enhance the coordination of fire service training and education. (f) To develop a coordinated and standardized plan for the control of fires and the safety of firefighters where hazardous materials are involved. 13157. The California Fire Service Training and Education Program is hereby established in the office of the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal, with policy guidance and advice from the State Board of Fire Services, shall carry out the management of the California Fire Service Training and Education Program and shall have the authority to: (a) Promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary for implementation of the program. (b) Establish the courses of study and curriculum to be used in the program. (c) Establish prerequisites for the admission of personnel who attend courses offered in the program. (d) Establish and collect admission fees and other fees that may be necessary to be charged for seminars, conferences, and specialized training given, which shall not be deducted from state appropriations for the purposes of this program. (e) Collect such fees as may be established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 13142.4. 13158. The State Fire Marshal shall employ under civil service a program manager and staff as necessary to perform the functions for which the program has been established. All personnel of the State Fire Training Program with the Department of Education shall be eligible to transfer to appropriate positions in the California Fire Service Training and Education Program provided they meet the qualifications for those positions. 13159. The State Fire Marshal, with policy guidance and advice from the State Board of Fire Services, shall have the following responsibilities: (a) To make fire service training and education programs, including training and education in the use of heavy rescue equipment, available on a voluntary basis to fire departments that rely extensively on volunteers. (b) Cooperate with the State Board of Fire Services in the development of a minimum standards program for fire service personnel and fire service instructors. (c) Assist and cooperate with State Board of Fire Services pursuant to Section 13142.4. (d) Verify that minimum curriculum requirements, facilities, and faculty standards for schools, seminars, or workshops operated by or for the state for the specific purpose of training fire service personnel are being met. (e) Make or encourage studies of any aspect of fire service training and education. (f) Determine the need for and recommend locations of regional training sites. (g) Develop a model plan or system for use by fire departments for the control of fires and the safety of firefighters where hazardous materials are involved. (h) Study the feasibility of establishing within the office of the State Fire Marshal, a depository of information on hazardous material characteristics for use by local fire departments and other entities that respond to emergencies. 13159.4. The State Fire Marshal shall annually review, revise as necessary, and administer the California Fire Service Training program, shall establish priorities for the use of state and federal fire service training and education funds applicable to statewide programs, other than those funds administered by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and shall approve the expenditure of these funds in accordance with the established priorities. This section shall not restrict local entities from independently seeking and utilizing state and federal funds for local fire training and education needs.