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GA SB342

Bill

Status

Passed

7/29/2020

Primary Sponsor

Burt Jones

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2019-2020 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Establishes the Georgia Volunteer Fire Service Council as a 7-member body (3 appointed by the Governor, 2 by the Lieutenant Governor, 2 by the Speaker of the House) to oversee volunteer fire departments separately from the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, with first members taking office January 1, 2021
  • Transfers regulatory authority over volunteer fire departments—including certificates of compliance, training standards, equipment requirements, and certification—from the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to the new Volunteer Fire Service Council
  • Requires volunteer firefighters to be at least 18 years old and to have no felony convictions within ten years prior to volunteering, with a limited exception for those convicted more than five but fewer than ten years prior who completed a Department of Corrections fire training program
  • Grants volunteer firefighters 18 months (rather than 12 months for full-time/part-time firefighters) to complete basic training after appointment, with course content and hours determined by the Volunteer Fire Service Council
  • Revises the definition of "volunteer" to mean not employed on an hourly or salaried basis, and allows the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to overturn Volunteer Fire Service Council rules by a two-thirds vote

Legislative Description

Local Fire Departments; procedures for organization, issuance and revocation of certificates of compliance; provide

Last Action

Effective Date

1/1/2021

Full Bill Text

No bill text available