2005 Vermont Code - § 3153. — Powers and duties

§ 3153. Powers and duties

(a) The council shall:

(1) conduct and administer training schools and courses for firefighters;

(2) establish by rules adopted pursuant to chapter 25 of Title 3 (Administrative Procedure Act):

(A) minimum basic training courses for full-time firefighters and minimum basic training courses which shall be made available, on a voluntary basis, to other firefighters. Courses for persons who are not full-time firefighters shall be reasonable in terms of length, cost, location and availability in light of the rural nature of the state and the high percentage of volunteer participation in fire service. They shall incorporate any distinct or limited functions performed by such firefighters;

(B) standards for approval of fire service training schools and courses, certification of instructors, and the grounds for revocation of approval or certification;

(C) the equipment and facilities to be required at approved fire service training schools;

(D) categories or classifications of in-service training schools and courses;

(E) training requirements for certification and recertification of full-time firefighters;

(F) standards for recertification of full-time firefighters who have not been actively involved in fire service for a three-year period;

(G) standards relating to waivers of the training requirements of section 3155 of this title;

(3) encourage local governmental units to participate in the training programs established under this chapter and aid in the establishment of adequate training facilities;

(4) serve as the lead agency for hazardous chemical or substance incident training provided to fire service personnel statewide. All state agencies providing such training to fire service personnel shall coordinate the training with the Vermont fire service training council;

(5) charge participants or employers of participants in fire service training programs as follows:

(A) No fee for the minimum basic training required pursuant to section 3155 of this title;

(B) Fifty-five percent of the cost for the continuing training required pursuant to section 3155 of this title;

(C) Actual costs for courses by the National Fire Academy or the U.S. Fire Administration;

(D) Negotiated rates for other specifically requested courses.

(b) The council may:

(1) subject to the provisions of section 5 of Title 32, accept contributions, capital grants, gifts, services and funds from any source; and

(2) sell hats, shirts and other memorabilia. Proceeds from these sales shall be retained by the council to support the purposes of this chapter; and

(3) perform such acts as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (Added 1987, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. June 14, 1994; 1995, No. 63, § 73, eff. May 4, 1995; 1997, No. 74 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1999, No. 49, § 195.)