HB126 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Leigh HulseyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Fire-protection personnel and emergency medical services personnel, annual training related to individuals with sensory needs and certain disabilities, required

Summary

HB126 requires annual training for fire-protection personnel, certified volunteer firefighters, and EMS personnel on interacting with individuals with sensory needs or invisible disabilities, to be provided at no cost by a nonprofit starting in 2025.

What This Bill Does

It mandates one-hour training on interacting with people with sensory needs or invisible disabilities for fire-protection personnel and certified volunteer firefighters, with initial training within six months of certification and then every other year. It also requires EMS personnel to complete one hour of similar training annually, beginning January 1, 2025. The training must be provided through a collaboration between the relevant state agencies and a nonprofit organization, delivered at no compensation, and can be in person or online; the nonprofit must keep the training updated. Employees of the Alabama State Forestry Commission are exempt from these training requirements.

Who It Affects

• Fire-protection personnel and certified volunteer firefighters will have to complete annual or biannual one-hour training on interacting with individuals with sensory needs or invisible disabilities.
• Emergency medical services personnel will have to complete one-hour annual training on interacting with individuals with sensory needs or invisible disabilities.

Key Provisions

• Requires annual training for fire-protection personnel, certified volunteer firefighters, and EMS personnel on interacting with individuals with sensory needs or invisible disabilities.
• Fire-protection personnel must complete one hour of training within six months of certification, and then every other year.
• EMS personnel must annually complete one hour of training beginning January 1, 2025.
• The Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission and the Department of Public Health must collaborate with a nonprofit to provide the training without compensation.
• Training may be delivered in person or online and must be updated annually to reflect changes and trends.
• The training requirements apply only if the collaborating nonprofit provides the training without compensation.
• Employees of the Alabama State Forestry Commission are exempt from these training requirements.
• Effective date: January 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Safety & Emergencies