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Firefighter definition amended

Published (4/15/2010)
By Mike Cook
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For the purposes of the firefighter certification statute, the definition of a full-time firefighter has been modified.

Sponsored by Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), a new law clarifies that a full-time firefighter is charged with the prevention and suppression of fires. Previous law used “or” instead of “and.” A full-time firefighter is defined in law as someone “directly engaged in the hazards of firefighting or is in charge of a designated fire company or companies that are directly engaged in the hazards of firefighting.”

A 2009 law required that full-time firefighters be licensed, but a technical change is needed to properly define a firefighter. Atkins said the law tries to clarify that fire personnel, such as those solely engaged in fire prevention, do not have to go through all the training required to obtain firefighter certification.

Signed April 10 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the law is effective April 11, 2010.

HF2701/ SF2267*/CH229

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