Section 141.40  Requirements for Participation in Training, Certification and Reimbursement

All local governmental agencies and individuals may elect to participate in the training and certification program of the Office, subject to this Part.  Units of local government and individuals may elect to participate for certification only, or for certification and reimbursement for training expenses as described in the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act [50 ILCS 740].

a)         The local government agency must pass an ordinance agreeing to participate if reimbursement funding is to be sought.

1)         The Office will provide the governing body with a copy of a model ordinance upon request.

2)         For participation for reimbursement, each local governmental agency must pass an ordinance requiring trainees to be certified at the Firefighter II level by the end of the probationary period.  The ordinance must state the length of the probationary period.  A certified copy of the required ordinance must be sent to the Office.

A)        Local governmental agencies under the Illinois Municipal Code [65 ILCS 5] are limited to probationary periods not to exceed one year for all firefighters except those having paramedic duties.

B)        All local governmental agencies that participate for reimbursement and file a certified copy of the required ordinance shall be eligible for reimbursement from the date a certified copy of the ordinance is received by the Office.  Reimbursement for trainees and permanent fire protection personnel will be paid only for courses begun after the date of the receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance.

C)        Failure of any trainee to complete the prescribed basic training and certification within the required period will render that individual and local governmental agency ineligible for reimbursement for basic training for that individual in the year in which his/her probationary period ends.  The individual may later become certified without reimbursement.

3)         Personnel who are department members prior to the date of the ordinance are not required by the Office to become certified as Firefighter II but may do so on a voluntary basis.  Reimbursement is available for such training for three years from the date that a certified copy of the ordinance is filed with the Office.

4)         Individuals may receive reimbursement for training costs if employed by a unit of local government that participates for reimbursement and the individual is otherwise eligible.  Such reimbursement is limited to out-of-pocket expenses not paid or reimbursed, in whole or in part, by a local governmental agency.

5)         Individual firefighters and departments may participate in all aspects of the programs for certification without passage of a local governmental ordinance.  The ordinance is required, however, to qualify an agency and its individual firefighters to receive reimbursement.

6)         The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, or the Civil Service Commission, or the local department of personnel or any other department or commission charged with the authority to make rules and regulations concerning Firefighter II certification must file with the Office a copy of its rules requiring certification prior to commencing regular employment as a firefighter.  Any subsequent changes to the rules must be sent to the Office.

b)         Facility Approval

1)         A training facility must have a Provisionally Approved Training Facility to offer Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials First Responder – Operations, Fire Service Vehicle Operator and all Awareness training.  (See Section 141.100.)

2)         A training facility must have an Unlimited Approved Training Facility to offer all other levels of training.  (See Section 141.110.)

3)         A training facility must have a Facility Approval to operate as a regional training center.

4)         A training facility may use the facilities of a regional training center or the Illinois Fire Service Institute for approved firefighter training.

c)         Instructor Certification.  The Fire Service Instructors must meet the requirements of Section 141.115(c).

d)         Course Approval.  Courses must be approved in accordance with Section 141.115 of this Part.