HB5787 Summary: Examination of Firefighter Applicants

• Establishes alternative procedures for original appointments to full-time fire departments in municipalities and fire protection districts, requiring creation of registers of eligibles based on competitive examinations of mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference points.

• Specifies examination components including written tests, physical ability tests (muscular strength, ladder climbing, problem-solving under stress), moral character review, and health screening, with passing scores set at mean score plus 20%.

• Provides preference points (5 points each) for military veterans, fire cadets, and those with educational degrees or paramedic certification, plus experience preferences up to 5 points for prior firefighting service.

• Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to establish regional or statewide master registers of eligibles through intergovernmental agreements, allowing municipalities to hire from either local registers or the master register.

• Limits probationary periods to one year of actual active employment for firefighters, except those required to obtain paramedic certification, and denies home rule powers that conflict with these appointment procedures.