HB270 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Demetrius C. Newton

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Juandalynn GivanRod ScottJohn W. RogersAllen TreadawayJack WilliamsPatricia ToddMary MooreOliver RobinsonJim Carns

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Firefighters, exempt certain firefighters from certification by the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission, Sec. 36-32-7 am'd

Summary

HB270 would allow private companies with in-house fire departments that meet certain standards to have their firefighters certified by the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission, instead of through the normal public-agency process.

What This Bill Does

Amends the fire minimum standards law to let the Commission certify firefighters employed by private companies that run their own fire departments and meet specified criteria. The company must have at least 15 full-time firefighters, provide at least 160 hours of annual training per firefighter, and maintain a Class A pumping engine, a certified/state-licensed ambulance, and a hazardous materials or emergency response team (or both). Training must be conducted by a Commission-certified instructor and total 160 hours within 12 months, though it can be scheduled in intervals. The Commission would then certify those company-employed firefighters under this program.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters employed by private companies that maintain their own fire departments and meet the specified criteria would be certified by the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission instead of through the standard public-agency process.
• The Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission and private companies with in-house departments would gain new certification responsibilities and must ensure training is provided by Commission-certified instructors (160 hours per year) and that the company meets all listed equipment and team requirements.

Key Provisions

• The Commission shall certify each person employed by a private company if the company maintains its own fire department and meets criteria: at least 15 full-time firefighters, at least 160 hours of annual training per firefighter, at least one Class A pumping engine, at least one certified/state-licensed ambulance, and a hazardous materials or emergency response team (or both).
• Training for these company-employed firefighters must be conducted by an instructor certified by the Commission and totaling 160 hours, scheduled within a 12-month period.
• This certification arrangement applies notwithstanding existing subsections for public agency trainees and shifts certification responsibility to the Commission for qualifying private-company firefighters.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Firefighters