Authorizing schools to offer an elective junior fire fighter program to students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve

This bill authorizes school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to offer to students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 an elective junior fire fighter program, either by establishing the program and using the curriculum of a national organization that provides a similar program or by partnering with a local fire department, that satisfies requirements established in the bill. If a school offers the junior fire fighter program, the school is required to coordinate with the fire service training bureau and a local fire department to ensure students are provided with the appropriate materials and skills training to successfully complete all components necessary for firefighter I certification. The junior fire fighter program may be offered as an extracurricular activity or as part of the career and technical education curriculum. The bill requires a student to submit an executed waiver of liability to the school prior to participation in the junior fire fighter program. The bill requires the administrator of the fire service training bureau to allow a student who has successfully completed the junior fire fighter program, submitted all necessary certification registration and local verification forms, and paid all applicable registration fees to sit for certification testing for firefighter I certification. If a student attains passing scores on all examinations necessary for firefighter I certification prior to the date the student turns 18 years of age, then the administrator is prohibited from issuing firefighter I certification to the student until the student turns 18 years of age.