ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2786

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 5, 1997

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2786.

      Assembly Bill No. 2786 requires paid, career-service, entry-level firefighters appointed after enactment of this act to satisfactorily complete a basic training program approved by the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs before being assigned to suppression or rescue duty.

      The training program must include at least 84 hours of instruction and utilize a curriculum providing one-time initial training. Firefighters are required to satisfactorily complete the program within one-year of appointment. Modules of the program that are initially failed, however, may be retaken until passed. The course must be offered at central locations, such as county fire academies or State facilities.

      The committee amended the bill to provide that expenses directly attributable to the training program are to be annually reimbursed by the Division of Fire Safety in an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year. The amendments also clarify that the training is to be made available to volunteer firefighters, but is not mandatory.

      As amended, regulations governing the curriculum of the training program are to be based on the standards set forth in chapter 18C of Title Five of the New Jersey Administrative Code or on any recognized national standard incorporated by reference. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, however, may make modifications to any regulations that are based on incorporated standards.