FL S0550

Defines "volunteer rural firefighter" as an individual holding a Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion who provides fire services through a provider in municipalities with populations under 12,000 or counties with populations under 150,000.

Authorizes the Division of State Fire Marshal to award a Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion and establish training courses not exceeding 160 hours that must include emergency medical responder training.

Allows the division to award credit toward the certificate for approved courses successfully completed on or after July 1, 1970 that were creditable toward fire service certification at the time of completion.

Requires volunteer rural firefighters to remain active or complete a minimum 40-hour refresher course every 4 years to retain their certificate.

Permits fire service providers in rural areas to retain volunteer firefighters holding either a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate or Volunteer Rural Firefighter Certificate of Completion, and requires providers to notify the division within 10 days of hiring, retaining, or releasing volunteer firefighters.