2010 Tennessee Code
Title 4 - State Government
Chapter 24 - Firefighting Training and Standards
Part 1 - Commission on Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education
4-24-112 - Minimum training requirements.

4-24-112. Minimum training requirements.

(a)  Any full-time, part-time or volunteer firefighter hired or accepted as a firefighter on or after July 1, 2009, by a fire department recognized under title 68, chapter 102, part 3 must meet the following minimum training requirements:

     (1)  The firefighter must have previously completed or must complete after joining the fire department a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of initial training developed by the Tennessee fire service and codes enforcement academy in firefighting procedures and techniques or complete equivalent training approved by the Tennessee commission on firefighting personnel standards and education before being allowed to actively fight a fire; and

     (2)  Within thirty-six (36) months after hire or acceptance date as a firefighter, the firefighter must have completed, or must complete after joining the fire department, the basic and live firefighting course offered by the Tennessee fire service and codes enforcement academy or an equivalent course.

(b)  The following firefighters are exempt from the training requirements of subsection (a):

     (1)  Any firefighter in the fire service on July 1, 2009, and who entered the fire service before June 30, 2004; and

     (2)  Any firefighter who is certified by a medical doctor as medically or physically unable to complete the training requirements; however, the fire department may not allow these firefighters to engage in active firefighting operations.

(c)  Any firefighter who is certified by the fire department's chief officer that they will not operate within an environment determined to be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) is exempt from the live firefighting portion of the training referenced in subdivision (a)(2).

(d)  Any firefighter in the fire service on July 1, 2009, and who was hired or accepted as a firefighter between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2009, has until July 1, 2012, to show proof of completion of the minimum training requirements of this section.

(e)  The commission on firefighting personnel standards and education may issue any rules and take any other administrative action necessary to implement this section.

(f)  The governmental unit, person, organization, agency or entity that obtained a certificate of recognition from the state fire marshal's office for the fire department is authorized to determine whether it or the firefighter shall be responsible for paying any fees charged for or associated with obtaining the training required under this section.

(g)  (1)  This section shall not apply in counties having the following populations, according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, nor to municipalities located within such counties:

Click to view table.

unless the governing body of any such county or of a municipality located in any such county adopts a resolution of its governing body to apply such requirements within the jurisdictional boundaries of their respective municipality or county, as appropriate; provided, that any action by the county legislative body concerning the implementation of this subdivision (g)(1) shall be limited to the jurisdictional boundaries outside any municipality located within the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

     (2)  The governing body of any such county or of a municipality located in any such county that has taken the action pursuant to subdivision (g)(1) is authorized to reverse such action by adopting a resolution to exempt their municipality or county from the application of this section within the jurisdictional boundaries of the municipality or county, as appropriate; provided, that any action by the county legislative body concerning its actions shall be limited to the jurisdictional boundaries outside any municipality located within the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

(h)  (1)  This section shall not apply in the unincorporated areas, outside the municipal boundaries of any municipality, in counties having a population of not less than eighty seven thousand nine hundred (87,900) nor more than eighty-eight thousand (88,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, unless the governing body of any such county adopts a resolution to apply such requirements within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county outside any municipality located within the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

     (2)  The governing body of any such county that has taken the action pursuant to subdivision (h)(1) is authorized to reverse such action by adopting a resolution to exempt their county from the application of this section within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county outside any municipality located within the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

(i)  This section shall not apply in counties having the following populations, according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, nor to municipalities located within such counties:

Click to view table.

(j)  (1)  Except as provided in subdivision (j)(2), this section shall not apply in the unincorporated areas, outside the municipal boundaries of any municipality in any county having a population of not less than twenty-eight thousand three hundred fifty (28,350) nor more than twenty-eight thousand four hundred fifty (28,450), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

     (2)  This section shall not apply to any city having a population of not less than two thousand twenty (2,020) nor more than two thousand thirty (2,030), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census.

(k)  (1)  This section shall not apply in the unincorporated areas, outside the municipal boundaries of any municipality, in counties having the following populations, according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census:

Click to view table.

unless the governing body of any such county adopts a resolution of its governing body to apply such requirements within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

     (2)  The governing body of any such county that has taken the action pursuant to subdivision (k)(1) is authorized to reverse the action by adopting a resolution to exempt the county from the application of this section within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

(l)  (1)  This section shall not apply in any county having a population of not less than forty-nine thousand (49,000) nor more than forty-nine thousand one hundred (49,100), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, unless the governing body of any such county adopts by a two-thirds (2/3) vote a resolution to apply such requirements within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

     (2)  The governing body of any such county that has taken the action pursuant to subdivision (l )(1) is authorized to reverse such action by adopting a resolution to exempt their county from the application of this section. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

(m)  (1)  This section shall not apply in counties having the following populations, according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census:

Click to view table.

unless the governing body of any such county adopts a resolution of its governing body to apply the requirements within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

     (2)  The governing body of any such county that has taken the action pursuant to subdivision (m)(1) is authorized to reverse such action by adopting a resolution to exempt the county from the application of this section within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

(n)  This section shall not apply in counties having a population, according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, of:

Click to view table.

(o)  The legislative body of any municipality or county that has been exempted from this section may adopt a resolution by a two-thirds (2/3) vote to make this section applicable within the jurisdictional boundaries of their respective municipality or county, as appropriate; provided, that any action by the county legislative body concerning the action shall be limited to the jurisdictional boundaries outside any municipality located within the county. The presiding officer of the governing body shall notify the state fire marshal of the approval of the resolution.

[Acts 2009, ch. 512, §§ 1, 3-5.]