1(1) 2There is created within the department a Firefighters Employment, Standards, and Training Council of 14 members.18(a) 19The members shall be appointed as follows:261. 27Two fire chiefs appointed by the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.
372. 38Two firefighters, who are not officers, appointed by the Florida Professional Firefighters Association.
513. 52Two firefighter officers, who are not fire chiefs, appointed by the State Fire Marshal.
664. 67One individual appointed by the Florida League of Cities.
765. 77One individual appointed by the Florida Association of Counties.
866. 87One individual appointed by the Florida Association of Special Districts.
977. 98One individual appointed by the Florida Fire Marshals’ and Inspectors’ Association.
1098. 110One employee of the Florida Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services appointed by the director of the Florida Forest Service.
1349. 135One individual appointed by the State Fire Marshal.
14310. 144One director or instructor of a state-certified firefighting training facility appointed by the State Fire Marshal.
16011. 161The remaining member, who shall be appointed by the State Fire Marshal, may not be a member or representative of the firefighting profession or of any local government.
189(b) 190To be eligible for appointment as a member under subparagraph (a)1., subparagraph (a)2., subparagraph (a)3., subparagraph (a)8., or subparagraph (a)10., a person must have had at least 4 years’ experience in the firefighting profession. Members shall serve only as long as they continue to meet the criteria under which they were appointed, or unless a member has failed to appear at three consecutive and properly noticed meetings unless excused by the chair.
262(2) 263Members shall be appointed for 4-year terms and in no event shall a member serve more than two consecutive terms. Any vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remaining time of the term.
302(3) 303The State Fire Marshal, in making her or his appointments, shall take into consideration representation by geography, population, and other relevant factors, in order that the membership on the council will be apportioned to give representation to the state at large rather than to a particular area.
350(4) 351Membership on the council shall not disqualify a member from holding any other public office or being employed by a public entity, except that no member of the Legislature shall serve on the council.
385(5) 386The council shall elect to 1-year terms a chair and a vice chair. A person may not serve more than two consecutive terms in either office.
412(6) 413The council shall meet at the call of the chair, at the request of a majority of its membership, at the request of the department, or at such times as are prescribed by its rules, and a majority of the council shall constitute a quorum.
458(7) 459Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses as provided by s. 484112.061485. 486(8) 487The council may adopt a seal for its use containing the words “Firefighters Employment, Standards, and Training Council.”
505(9) 506The council shall have special powers in connection with the employment and training of firefighters to:522(a) 523Recommend, for adoption by the division, uniform minimum standards for the employment and training of firefighters and training of volunteer firefighters.
544(b) 545Recommend, for adoption by the division, minimum curriculum requirements for schools operated by or for any fire service provider for the specific purpose of training firefighter trainees, firefighters, and volunteer firefighters.
576(c) 577Recommend, for adoption by the division, on matters relating to the funding, general operation, and administration of the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (Florida State Fire College), including, but not limited to, all standards, training, curriculum, and the issuance of any certificate of competency required by this chapter.
626(d) 627Make or support studies on any aspect of firefighting employment, education, and training or recruitment.
642(e) 643Make recommendations concerning any matter within its purview pursuant to this section.
