CHAPTER 157
HB 1410 – FINAL VERSION
05Mar2008… 0632h
2008 SESSION
09/10
HOUSE BILL 1410
AN ACT relative to youth training and employment in firefighting.
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
This bill clarifies the conditions and requirements for persons who are 16 and 17 years of age to train and be employed as firefighters.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05Mar2008… 0632h
08-2031
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT relative to youth training and employment in firefighting.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
157:1 New Subdivision: Youth Training and Employment in Firefighting. Amend RSA 276-A by inserting after section 22 the following new subdivision:
Youth Training and Employment in Firefighting
276-A:23 Limitations on Youth Training and Employment.
I. Except when enrolled in an explorer program approved by the New Hampshire department of labor under rules adopted by the commissioner, no youth under 16 years of age shall be employed or permitted to work in firefighting.
II. Fire organizations shall follow the requirements of this subdivision and federal orders regulating youth employment in hazardous occupations, as referenced in rules adopted by the commissioner, when any youth is employed or permitted to work in support of firefighting at all times and in all places.
III. The supervising person responsible for following the requirements of this subdivision shall be the chief authority of the fire organization or his or her designee.
IV. Youths shall not be employed at any task or duty in support of firefighting prior to completing training pursuant to RSA 276-A:24, I.
V. Fire organizations shall follow the requirements of RSA 276-A:4, VIII and RSA 276-A:24 and rules adopted by the commissioner when employing or permitting 16 or 17 year old youths to work in support of firefighting.
276-A:24 Minimum Training Requirements.
I. Youths shall successfully complete an initial course of basic wild land fire training as outlined by the National Fire Protection Association and as offered by the department of resources and economic development, division of forest and lands, along with training on the use of communications equipment and fire extinguishers.
II. Upon the successful completion of the training requirements under paragraph I, the youth shall complete the fire standards and training firefighter level 1 course in accordance with rules adopted by the department of safety.
III. Initial training shall qualify a youth to perform non-hazardous firefighting duties such as scouting on the ground, fire line construction, mopping up, and permitted use of non-motorized equipment such as back pack pumps, hand tools, hoses, and radio equipment. This training shall not qualify a youth to perform hazardous duties, including operation of motorized equipment such as motor vehicles, bulldozers, tractors and pumps, or serving as a traffic director.
276-A:25 Advanced Training. For so long as a youth remains by age subject to this subdivision, advanced training shall be the firefighter level 1 training program as administered by the fire standards and training commission. Youths who have completed this course with at least 70 percent in practical and academic testing shall be certified by the commission as junior firefighters.
276-A:26 Identification Card. A youth employed in support of firefighting shall carry an identification card, signifying completion of training with at least 70 percent in practical and academic testing, and signed by the chief authority within the fire organization.
157:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 6, 2008
Effective Date: June 6, 2008