SECTIONS 13155-13159.4 - California Statutes

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.