Sen. Daniel Biss

Filed: 3/14/2014

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2826

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2826 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
5changing Sections 10-1-7.1, 10-1-7.2, 10-2.1-6.3, and
610-2.1-6.4 as follows:
 
7    (65 ILCS 5/10-1-7.1)
8    Sec. 10-1-7.1. Original appointments; full-time fire
9department.
10    (a) Applicability. Unless a commission elects to follow the
11provisions of Section 10-1-7.2, this Section shall apply to all
12original appointments to an affected full-time fire
13department. Existing registers of eligibles shall continue to
14be valid until their expiration dates, or up to a maximum of 2
15years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
1697th General Assembly.

 

 

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1    Notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, rule, or other law
2to the contrary, all original appointments to an affected
3department to which this Section applies shall be administered
4in the manner provided for in this Section. Provisions of the
5Illinois Municipal Code, municipal ordinances, and rules
6adopted pursuant to such authority and other laws relating to
7initial hiring of firefighters in affected departments shall
8continue to apply to the extent they are compatible with this
9Section, but in the event of a conflict between this Section
10and any other law, this Section shall control.
11    A home rule or non-home rule municipality may not
12administer its fire department process for original
13appointments in a manner that is less stringent than this
14Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of
15Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the
16concurrent exercise by home rule units of the powers and
17functions exercised by the State.
18    A municipality that is operating under a court order or
19consent decree regarding original appointments to a full-time
20fire department before the effective date of this amendatory
21Act of the 97th General Assembly is exempt from the
22requirements of this Section for the duration of the court
23order or consent decree.
24    Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection
25(a), this Section does not apply to a municipality with more
26than 1,000,000 inhabitants.

 

 

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1    (b) Original appointments. All original appointments made
2to an affected fire department shall be made from a register of
3eligibles established in accordance with the processes
4established by this Section. Only persons who meet or exceed
5the performance standards required by this Section shall be
6placed on a register of eligibles for original appointment to
7an affected fire department.
8    Whenever an appointing authority authorizes action to hire
9a person to perform the duties of a firefighter or to hire a
10firefighter-paramedic to fill a position that is a new position
11or vacancy due to resignation, discharge, promotion, death, the
12granting of a disability or retirement pension, or any other
13cause, the appointing authority shall appoint to that position
14the person with the highest ranking on the final eligibility
15list. If the appointing authority has reason to conclude that
16the highest ranked person fails to meet the minimum standards
17for the position or if the appointing authority believes an
18alternate candidate would better serve the needs of the
19department, then the appointing authority has the right to pass
20over the highest ranked person and appoint either: (i) any
21person who has a ranking in the top 5% of the register of
22eligibles or (ii) any person who is among the top 5 highest
23ranked persons on the list of eligibles if the number of people
24who have a ranking in the top 5% of the register of eligibles
25is less than 5 people.
26    Any candidate may pass on an appointment once without

 

 

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1losing his or her position on the register of eligibles. Any
2candidate who passes a second time may be removed from the list
3by the appointing authority provided that such action shall not
4prejudice a person's opportunities to participate in future
5examinations, including an examination held during the time a
6candidate is already on the municipality's register of
7eligibles.
8    The sole authority to issue certificates of appointment
9shall be vested in the Civil Service Commission. All
10certificates of appointment issued to any officer or member of
11an affected department shall be signed by the chairperson and
12secretary, respectively, of the commission upon appointment of
13such officer or member to the affected department by the
14commission. Each person who accepts a certificate of
15appointment and successfully completes his or her probationary
16period shall be enrolled as a firefighter and as a regular
17member of the fire department.
18    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
19person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
20of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
21to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
22a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform
23firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
24the following persons are not included: part-time
25firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
26including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or

 

 

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1other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
2protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
3firefighter duties; and elected officials.
4    (c) Qualification for placement on register of eligibles.
5The purpose of establishing a register of eligibles is to
6identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the mental
7aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties required of
8members of the fire department in order to provide the highest
9quality of service to the public. To this end, all applicants
10for original appointment to an affected fire department shall
11be subject to examination and testing which shall be public,
12competitive, and open to all applicants unless the municipality
13shall by ordinance limit applicants to residents of the
14municipality, county or counties in which the municipality is
15located, State, or nation. Any examination and testing
16procedure utilized under subsection (e) of this Section shall
17be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall
18comply with all applicable state and federal laws.
19Municipalities may establish educational, emergency medical
20service licensure, and other pre-requisites for participation
21in an examination or for hire as a firefighter. Any
22municipality may charge a fee to cover the costs of the
23application process.
24    Residency requirements in effect at the time an individual
25enters the fire service of a municipality cannot be made more
26restrictive for that individual during his or her period of

 

 

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1service for that municipality, or be made a condition of
2promotion, except for the rank or position of fire chief and
3for no more than 2 positions that rank immediately below that
4of the chief rank which are appointed positions pursuant to the
5Fire Department Promotion Act.
6    No person who is 35 years of age or older shall be eligible
7to take an examination for a position as a firefighter unless
8the person has had previous employment status as a firefighter
9in the regularly constituted fire department of the
10municipality, except as provided in this Section. The age
11limitation does not apply to:
12        (1) any person previously employed as a full-time
13    firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department of
14    (i) any municipality or fire protection district located in
15    Illinois, (ii) a fire protection district whose
16    obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21
17    of the Fire Protection District Act, or (iii) a
18    municipality whose obligations were taken over by a fire
19    protection district, or
20        (2) any person who has served a municipality as a
21    regularly enrolled volunteer, paid-on-call, or part-time
22    firefighter for the 5 years immediately preceding the time
23    that the municipality begins to use full-time firefighters
24    to provide all or part of its fire protection service.
25    No person who is under 21 years of age shall be eligible
26for employment as a firefighter.

 

 

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1    No applicant shall be examined concerning his or her
2political or religious opinions or affiliations. The
3examinations shall be conducted by the commissioners of the
4municipality or their designees and agents.
5    No municipality shall require that any firefighter
6appointed to the lowest rank serve a probationary employment
7period of longer than one year of actual active employment,
8which may exclude periods of training, or injury or illness
9leaves, including duty related leave, in excess of 30 calendar
10days. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section,
11the probationary employment period limitation may be extended
12for a firefighter who is required, as a condition of
13employment, to be a certified paramedic, during which time the
14sole reason that a firefighter may be discharged without a
15hearing is for failing to meet the requirements for paramedic
16certification.
17    In the event that any applicant who has been found eligible
18for appointment and whose name has been placed upon the final
19eligibility register provided for in this Division 1 has not
20been appointed to a firefighter position within one year after
21the date of his or her physical ability examination, the
22commission may cause a second examination to be made of that
23applicant's physical ability prior to his or her appointment.
24If, after the second examination, the physical ability of the
25applicant shall be found to be less than the minimum standard
26fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant shall not

 

 

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1be appointed. The applicant's name may be retained upon the
2register of candidates eligible for appointment and when next
3reached for certification and appointment that applicant may be
4again examined as provided in this Section, and if the physical
5ability of that applicant is found to be less than the minimum
6standard fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant
7shall not be appointed, and the name of the applicant shall be
8removed from the register.
9    (d) Notice, examination, and testing components. Notice of
10the time, place, general scope, merit criteria for any
11subjective component, and fee of every examination shall be
12given by the commission, by a publication at least 2 weeks
13preceding the examination: (i) in one or more newspapers
14published in the municipality, or if no newspaper is published
15therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general
16circulation within the municipality, or (ii) on the
17municipality's Internet website. Additional notice of the
18examination may be given as the commission shall prescribe.
19    The examination and qualifying standards for employment of
20firefighters shall be based on: mental aptitude, physical
21ability, preferences, moral character, and health. The mental
22aptitude, physical ability, and preference components shall
23determine an applicant's qualification for and placement on the
24final register of eligibles. The examination may also include a
25subjective component based on merit criteria as determined by
26the commission. Scores from the examination must be made

 

 

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1available to the public.
2    (e) Mental aptitude. No person who does not possess at
3least a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
4education shall be placed on a register of eligibles.
5Examination of an applicant's mental aptitude shall be based
6upon a written examination. The examination shall be practical
7in character and relate to those matters that fairly test the
8capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties
9performed by members of a fire department. Written examinations
10shall be administered in a manner that ensures the security and
11accuracy of the scores achieved.
12    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
13undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
14essential functions included in the duties they may be called
15upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the
16purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
17functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be
18called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The
19frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
20department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
21in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
22for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
23competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
24each applicant's physical abilities in the following
25dimensions:
26        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions

 

 

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1    that may be required in the performance of duties including
2    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
3    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
4    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in
5    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested may be based
6    on standards developed, or approved, by the local
7    appointing authority.
8        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
9    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
10    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
11        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
12    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
13    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
14    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
15    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
16    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
17capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
18industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests
19approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office
20of the State Fire Marshal.
21    Physical ability examinations administered under this
22Section shall be conducted with a reasonable number of proctors
23and monitors, open to the public, and subject to reasonable
24regulations of the commission.
25    (g) Scoring of examination components. Appointing
26authorities may create a preliminary eligibility register. A

 

 

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1person shall be placed on the list based upon his or her
2passage of the written examination or the passage of the
3written examination and the physical ability component.
4Passage of the written examination means attaining the minimum
5score set by the commission a score that is at or above the
6median score for all applicants participating in the written
7test. Minimum scores should be set by the commission so as to
8demonstrate a candidate's ability to perform the essential
9functions of the job. The minimum score set by the commission
10shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall
11comply with all applicable state and federal laws. The
12appointing authority may conduct the physical ability
13component and any subjective components subsequent to the
14posting of the preliminary eligibility register.
15    The examination components for an initial eligibility
16register shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
17position on the list shall be determined by the following: (i)
18the person's score on the written examination, (ii) the person
19successfully passing the physical ability component, and (iii)
20the person's results on any subjective component as described
21in subsection (d).
22    In order to qualify for placement on the final eligibility
23register, an applicant's score on the written examination,
24before any applicable preference points or subjective points
25are applied, shall be at or above the minimum score set by the
26commission be at or above the median score. The local

 

 

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1appointing authority may prescribe the score to qualify for
2placement on the final eligibility register, but the score
3shall not be less than the minimum score set by the commission
4median score.
5    The commission shall prepare and keep a register of persons
6whose total score is not less than the minimum score for
7passage fixed by this Section and who have passed the physical
8ability examination. These persons shall take rank upon the
9register as candidates in the order of their relative
10excellence based on the highest to the lowest total points
11scored on the mental aptitude, subjective component, and
12preference components of the test administered in accordance
13with this Section. No more than 60 days after each examination,
14an initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission.
15The list shall include the final grades of the candidates
16without reference to priority of the time of examination and
17subject to claim for preference credit.
18    Commissions may conduct additional examinations, including
19without limitation a polygraph test, after a final eligibility
20register is established and before it expires with the
21candidates ranked by total score without regard to date of
22examination. No more than 60 days after each examination, an
23initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission
24showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
25priority of time of examination and subject to claim for
26preference credit.

 

 

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1    (h) Preferences. The following are preferences:
2        (1) Veteran preference. Persons who were engaged in the
3    military service of the United States for a period of at
4    least one year of active duty and who were honorably
5    discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members
6    on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval
7    service, shall be preferred for appointment to and
8    employment with the fire department of an affected
9    department.
10        (2) Fire cadet preference. Persons who have
11    successfully completed 2 years of study in fire techniques
12    or cadet training within a cadet program established under
13    the rules of the Joint Labor and Management Committee
14    (JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department
15    Promotion Act, may be preferred for appointment to and
16    employment with the fire department.
17        (3) Educational preference. Persons who have
18    successfully obtained an associate's degree in the field of
19    fire service or emergency medical services, or a bachelor's
20    degree from an accredited college or university may be
21    preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire
22    department.
23        (4) Paramedic preference. Persons who have obtained
24    certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
25    (EMT-P) may be preferred for appointment to and employment
26    with the fire department of an affected department

 

 

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1    providing emergency medical services.
2        (5) Experience preference. All persons employed by a
3    municipality who have been paid-on-call or part-time
4    certified Firefighter II, certified Firefighter III, State
5    of Illinois or nationally licensed EMT-B or EMT-I, licensed
6    paramedic, or any combination of those capacities may be
7    awarded up to a maximum of 5 points. However, the applicant
8    may not be awarded more than 0.5 points for each complete
9    year of paid-on-call or part-time service. Applicants from
10    outside the municipality who were employed as full-time
11    firefighters or firefighter-paramedics by a fire
12    protection district or another municipality may be awarded
13    up to 5 experience preference points. However, the
14    applicant may not be awarded more than one point for each
15    complete year of full-time service.
16        Upon request by the commission, the governing body of
17    the municipality or in the case of applicants from outside
18    the municipality the governing body of any fire protection
19    district or any other municipality shall certify to the
20    commission, within 10 days after the request, the number of
21    years of successful paid-on-call, part-time, or full-time
22    service of any person. A candidate may not receive the full
23    amount of preference points under this subsection if the
24    amount of points awarded would place the candidate before a
25    veteran on the eligibility list. If more than one candidate
26    receiving experience preference points is prevented from

 

 

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1    receiving all of their points due to not being allowed to
2    pass a veteran, the candidates shall be placed on the list
3    below the veteran in rank order based on the totals
4    received if all points under this subsection were to be
5    awarded. Any remaining ties on the list shall be determined
6    by lot.
7        (6) Residency preference. Applicants whose principal
8    residence is located within the fire department's
9    jurisdiction may be preferred for appointment to and
10    employment with the fire department.
11        (7) Additional preferences. Up to 5 additional
12    preference points may be awarded for unique categories
13    based on an applicant's experience or background as
14    identified by the commission.
15        (8) Scoring of preferences. The commission shall give
16    preference for original appointment to persons designated
17    in item (1) by adding to the final grade that they receive
18    5 points for the recognized preference achieved. The
19    commission shall determine the number of preference points
20    for each category except (1). The number of preference
21    points for each category shall range from 0 to 5. In
22    determining the number of preference points, the
23    commission shall prescribe that if a candidate earns the
24    maximum number of preference points in all categories, that
25    number may not be less than 10 nor more than 30. The
26    commission shall give preference for original appointment

 

 

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1    to persons designated in items (2) through (7) by adding
2    the requisite number of points to the final grade for each
3    recognized preference achieved. The numerical result thus
4    attained shall be applied by the commission in determining
5    the final eligibility list and appointment from the
6    eligibility list. The local appointing authority may
7    prescribe the total number of preference points awarded
8    under this Section, but the total number of preference
9    points shall not be less than 10 points or more than 30
10    points.
11    No person entitled to any preference shall be required to
12claim the credit before any examination held under the
13provisions of this Section, but the preference shall be given
14after the posting or publication of the initial eligibility
15list or register at the request of a person entitled to a
16credit before any certification or appointments are made from
17the eligibility register, upon the furnishing of verifiable
18evidence and proof of qualifying preference credit. Candidates
19who are eligible for preference credit shall make a claim in
20writing within 10 days after the posting of the initial
21eligibility list, or the claim shall be deemed waived. Final
22eligibility registers shall be established after the awarding
23of verified preference points. All employment shall be subject
24to the commission's initial hire background review including,
25but not limited to, criminal history, employment history, moral
26character, oral examination, and medical and psychological

 

 

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1examinations, all on a pass-fail basis. The medical and
2psychological examinations must be conducted last, and may only
3be performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
4extended.
5    Any person placed on an eligibility list who exceeds the
6age requirement before being appointed to a fire department
7shall remain eligible for appointment until the list is
8abolished, or his or her name has been on the list for a period
9of 2 years. No person who has attained the age of 35 years
10shall be inducted into a fire department, except as otherwise
11provided in this Section.
12    The commission shall strike off the names of candidates for
13original appointment after the names have been on the list for
14more than 2 years.
15    (i) Moral character. No person shall be appointed to a fire
16department unless he or she is a person of good character; not
17a habitual drunkard, a gambler, or a person who has been
18convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
19However, no person shall be disqualified from appointment to
20the fire department because of the person's record of
21misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-6,
2211-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 12-2, 12-6,
2312-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1,
2431-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, 32-8, and subsections
251, 6, and 8 of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
26Criminal Code of 2012, or arrest for any cause without

 

 

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1conviction thereon. Any such person who is in the department
2may be removed on charges brought for violating this subsection
3and after a trial as hereinafter provided.
4    A classifiable set of the fingerprints of every person who
5is offered employment as a certificated member of an affected
6fire department whether with or without compensation, shall be
7furnished to the Illinois Department of State Police and to the
8Federal Bureau of Investigation by the commission.
9    Whenever a commission is authorized or required by law to
10consider some aspect of criminal history record information for
11the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and
12responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in
13conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the
14State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois,
15the Department of State Police is authorized to furnish,
16pursuant to positive identification, the information contained
17in State files as is necessary to fulfill the request.
18    (j) Temporary appointments. In order to prevent a stoppage
19of public business, to meet extraordinary exigencies, or to
20prevent material impairment of the fire department, the
21commission may make temporary appointments, to remain in force
22only until regular appointments are made under the provisions
23of this Division, but never to exceed 60 days. No temporary
24appointment of any one person shall be made more than twice in
25any calendar year.
26    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test

 

 

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1questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
2knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,
3commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
4charges for official misconduct.
5    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information
6in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
7examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
8was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
9disciplinary actions.
10(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12;
1197-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
12    (65 ILCS 5/10-1-7.2)
13    Sec. 10-1-7.2. Alternative procedure; original
14appointment; full-time firefighter.
15    (a) Authority. The Joint Labor and Management Committee
16(JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department
17Promotion Act, may establish a community outreach program to
18market the profession of firefighter and firefighter-paramedic
19so as to ensure the pool of applicants recruited is of broad
20diversity and the highest quality.
21    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
22person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
23of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
24to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
25a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform

 

 

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1firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
2the following persons are not included: part-time
3firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
4including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or
5other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
6protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
7firefighter duties; and elected officials.
8    (b) Eligibility. Persons eligible for placement on the
9master register of eligibles shall consist of the following:
10        Persons who have participated in and received a passing
11    total score on the mental aptitude, physical ability, and
12    preference components of a regionally administered test
13    based on the standards described in this Section. The
14    standards for administering these tests and the minimum
15    passing score required for placement on this list shall be
16    as is set forth in this Section.
17        Qualified candidates shall be listed on the master
18    register of eligibles in highest to lowest rank order based
19    upon their test scores without regard to their date of
20    examination. Candidates listed on the master register of
21    eligibles shall be eligible for appointment for 2 years
22    after the date of the certification of their final score on
23    the register without regard to the date of their
24    examination. After 2 years, the candidate's name shall be
25    struck from the list.
26        Any person currently employed as a full-time member of

 

 

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1    a fire department or any person who has experienced a
2    non–voluntary (and non-disciplinary) separation from the
3    active workforce due to a reduction in the number of
4    departmental officers, who was appointed pursuant to this
5    Division, Division 2.1 of Article 10 of the Illinois
6    Municipal Code, or the Fire Protection District Act, and
7    who during the previous 24 months participated in and
8    received a passing score on the physical ability and mental
9    aptitude components of the test may request that his or her
10    name be added to the master register. Any eligible person
11    may be offered employment by a local commission under the
12    same procedures as provided by this Section except that the
13    apprenticeship period may be waived and the applicant may
14    be immediately issued a certificate of original
15    appointment by the local commission.
16    (c) Qualifications for placement on register of eligibles.
17The purpose for establishing a master register of eligibles
18shall be to identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the
19mental aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties
20required of members of the fire department in order to provide
21the highest quality of service to the public. To this end, all
22applicants for original appointment to an affected fire
23department through examination conducted by the Joint Labor and
24Management Committee (JLMC) shall be subject to examination and
25testing which shall be public, competitive, and open to all
26applicants. Any examination and testing procedure utilized

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 22 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1under subsection (e) of this Section shall be supported by
2appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all
3applicable state and federal laws. Any subjective component of
4the testing must be administered by certified assessors. All
5qualifying and disqualifying factors applicable to examination
6processes for local commissions in this amendatory Act of the
797th General Assembly shall be applicable to persons
8participating in Joint Labor and Management Committee
9examinations unless specifically provided otherwise in this
10Section.
11    Notice of the time, place, general scope, and fee of every
12JLMC examination shall be given by the JLMC or designated
13testing agency, as applicable, by publication at least 30 days
14preceding the examination, in one or more newspapers published
15in the region, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in
16one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the
17region. The JLMC may publish the notice on the JLMC's Internet
18website. Additional notice of the examination may be given as
19the JLMC shall prescribe.
20    (d) Examination and testing components for placement on
21register of eligibles. The examination and qualifying
22standards for placement on the master register of eligibles and
23employment shall be based on the following components: mental
24aptitude, physical ability, preferences, moral character, and
25health. The mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference
26components shall determine an applicant's qualification for

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 23 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1and placement on the master register of eligibles. The
2consideration of an applicant's general moral character and
3health shall be administered on a pass-fail basis after a
4conditional offer of employment is made by a local commission.
5    (e) Mental aptitude. Examination of an applicant's mental
6aptitude shall be based upon written examination and an
7applicant's prior experience demonstrating an aptitude for and
8commitment to service as a member of a fire department. Written
9examinations shall be practical in character and relate to
10those matters that fairly test the capacity of the persons
11examined to discharge the duties performed by members of a fire
12department. Written examinations shall be administered in a
13manner that ensures the security and accuracy of the scores
14achieved. Any subjective component of the testing must be
15administered by certified assessors. No person who does not
16possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
17education shall be placed on a register of eligibles. Local
18commissions may establish educational, emergency medical
19service licensure, and other pre-requisites for hire within
20their jurisdiction.
21    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
22undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
23essential functions included in the duties they may be called
24upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the
25purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
26functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 24 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The
2frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
3department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
4in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
5for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
6competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
7each applicant's physical abilities in each of the following
8dimensions:
9        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions
10    that may be required in the performance of duties including
11    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
12    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
13    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in
14    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested are to be
15    based on industry standards developed by the JLMC by rule.
16        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
17    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
18    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
19        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
20    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
21    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
22    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
23    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
24    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
25capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
26industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 25 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office
2of the State Fire Marshal.
3    (g) Scoring of examination components. The examination
4components shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
5position on the master register of eligibles shall be
6determined by the person's score on the written examination,
7the person successfully passing the physical ability
8component, and the addition of any applicable preference
9points.
10    Applicants who have achieved at least the minimum median
11score on of all applicants participating in the written
12examination, as set by the JLMC at the same time, and who
13successfully pass the physical ability examination shall be
14placed on the initial eligibility register. Minimum scores
15should be set by the JLMC so as to demonstrate a candidate's
16ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The
17minimum score set by the JLMC shall be supported by appropriate
18validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable state
19and federal laws. Applicable preference points shall be added
20to the written examination scores for all applicants who
21qualify for the initial eligibility register. Applicants who
22score at or above the minimum passing score as set by the JLMC
23in the top 70th percentile or higher, including any applicable
24preference points, shall be placed on the master register of
25eligibles by the JLMC.
26    These persons shall take rank upon the register as

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 26 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1candidates in the order of their relative excellence based on
2the highest to the lowest total points scored on the mental
3aptitude and physical ability components, plus any applicable
4preference points requested and verified by the JLMC, or
5approved testing agency.
6    No more than 60 days after each examination, a revised
7master register of eligibles shall be posted by the JLMC
8showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
9priority of time of examination.
10    (h) Preferences. The board shall give military, education,
11and experience preference points to those who qualify for
12placement on the master register of eligibles, on the same
13basis as provided for examinations administered by a local
14commission.
15    No person entitled to preference or credit shall be
16required to claim the credit before any examination held under
17the provisions of this Section. The preference shall be given
18after the posting or publication of the applicant's initial
19score at the request of the person before finalizing the scores
20from all applicants taking part in a JLMC examination.
21Candidates who are eligible for preference credit shall make a
22claim in writing within 10 days after the posting of the
23initial scores from any JLMC test or the claim shall be deemed
24waived. Once preference points are awarded, the candidates
25shall be certified to the master register in accordance with
26their final score including preference points.

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 27 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    (i) Firefighter apprentice and firefighter-paramedic
2apprentice. The employment of an applicant to an apprentice
3position (including a currently employed full-time member of a
4fire department whose apprenticeship may be reduced or waived)
5shall be subject to the applicant passing the moral character
6standards and health examinations of the local commission. In
7addition, a local commission may require as a condition of
8employment that the applicant demonstrate current physical
9ability by either passing the local commission's approved
10physical ability examination, or by presenting proof of
11participating in and receiving a passing score on the physical
12ability component of a JLMC test within a period of up to 12
13months before the date of the conditional offer of employment.
14Applicants shall be subject to the local commission's initial
15hire background review including criminal history, employment
16history, moral character, oral examination, and medical
17examinations which may include polygraph, psychological, and
18drug screening components, all on a pass-fail basis. The
19medical examinations must be conducted last, and may only be
20performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
21extended.
22    (j) Selection from list. Any municipality or fire
23protection district that is a party to an intergovernmental
24agreement under the terms of which persons have been tested for
25placement on the master register of eligibles shall be entitled
26to offer employment to any person on the list irrespective of

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 28 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1their ranking on the list. The offer of employment shall be to
2the position of firefighter apprentice or
3firefighter-paramedic apprentice.
4    Applicants passing these tests may be employed as a
5firefighter apprentice or a firefighter-paramedic apprentice
6who shall serve an apprenticeship period of 12 months or less
7according to the terms and conditions of employment as the
8employing municipality or district offers, or as provided for
9under the terms of any collective bargaining agreement then in
10effect. The apprenticeship period is separate from the
11probationary period.
12    Service during the apprenticeship period shall be on a
13probationary basis. During the apprenticeship period, the
14apprentice's training and performance shall be monitored and
15evaluated by a Joint Apprenticeship Committee.
16    The Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall consist of 4
17members who shall be regular members of the fire department
18with at least 10 years of full-time work experience as a
19firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. The fire chief and the
20president of the exclusive bargaining representative
21recognized by the employer shall each appoint 2 members to the
22Joint Apprenticeship Committee. In the absence of an exclusive
23collective bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
24the remaining 2 members who shall be from the ranks of company
25officer and firefighter with at least 10 years of work
26experience as a firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. In the

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 29 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1absence of a sufficient number of qualified firefighters, the
2Joint Apprenticeship Committee members shall have the amount of
3experience and the type of qualifications as is reasonable
4given the circumstances of the fire department. In the absence
5of a full-time member in a rank between chief and the highest
6rank in a bargaining unit, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee
7shall be reduced to 2 members, one to be appointed by the chief
8and one by the union president, if any. If there is no
9exclusive bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
10the second member of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee from
11among qualified members in the ranks of company officer and
12below. Before the conclusion of the apprenticeship period, the
13Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall meet to consider the
14apprentice's progress and performance and vote to retain the
15apprentice as a member of the fire department or to terminate
16the apprenticeship. If 3 of the 4 members of the Joint
17Apprenticeship Committee affirmatively vote to retain the
18apprentice (if a 2 member Joint Apprenticeship Committee
19exists, then both members must affirmatively vote to retain the
20apprentice), the local commission shall issue the apprentice a
21certificate of original appointment to the fire department.
22    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test
23questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
24knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,
25commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
26charges for official misconduct.

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 30 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information
2in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
3examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
4was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
5disciplinary actions.
6    (l) Applicability. This Section does not apply to a
7municipality with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants.
8(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12.)
 
9    (65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.3)
10    Sec. 10-2.1-6.3. Original appointments; full-time fire
11department.
12    (a) Applicability. Unless a commission elects to follow the
13provisions of Section 10-2.1-6.4, this Section shall apply to
14all original appointments to an affected full-time fire
15department. Existing registers of eligibles shall continue to
16be valid until their expiration dates, or up to a maximum of 2
17years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
1897th General Assembly.
19    Notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, rule, or other law
20to the contrary, all original appointments to an affected
21department to which this Section applies shall be administered
22in the manner provided for in this Section. Provisions of the
23Illinois Municipal Code, municipal ordinances, and rules
24adopted pursuant to such authority and other laws relating to
25initial hiring of firefighters in affected departments shall

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 31 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1continue to apply to the extent they are compatible with this
2Section, but in the event of a conflict between this Section
3and any other law, this Section shall control.
4    A home rule or non-home rule municipality may not
5administer its fire department process for original
6appointments in a manner that is less stringent than this
7Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of
8Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the
9concurrent exercise by home rule units of the powers and
10functions exercised by the State.
11    A municipality that is operating under a court order or
12consent decree regarding original appointments to a full-time
13fire department before the effective date of this amendatory
14Act of the 97th General Assembly is exempt from the
15requirements of this Section for the duration of the court
16order or consent decree.
17    Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection
18(a), this Section does not apply to a municipality with more
19than 1,000,000 inhabitants.
20    (b) Original appointments. All original appointments made
21to an affected fire department shall be made from a register of
22eligibles established in accordance with the processes
23established by this Section. Only persons who meet or exceed
24the performance standards required by this Section shall be
25placed on a register of eligibles for original appointment to
26an affected fire department.

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 32 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    Whenever an appointing authority authorizes action to hire
2a person to perform the duties of a firefighter or to hire a
3firefighter-paramedic to fill a position that is a new position
4or vacancy due to resignation, discharge, promotion, death, the
5granting of a disability or retirement pension, or any other
6cause, the appointing authority shall appoint to that position
7the person with the highest ranking on the final eligibility
8list. If the appointing authority has reason to conclude that
9the highest ranked person fails to meet the minimum standards
10for the position or if the appointing authority believes an
11alternate candidate would better serve the needs of the
12department, then the appointing authority has the right to pass
13over the highest ranked person and appoint either: (i) any
14person who has a ranking in the top 5% of the register of
15eligibles or (ii) any person who is among the top 5 highest
16ranked persons on the list of eligibles if the number of people
17who have a ranking in the top 5% of the register of eligibles
18is less than 5 people.
19    Any candidate may pass on an appointment once without
20losing his or her position on the register of eligibles. Any
21candidate who passes a second time may be removed from the list
22by the appointing authority provided that such action shall not
23prejudice a person's opportunities to participate in future
24examinations, including an examination held during the time a
25candidate is already on the municipality's register of
26eligibles.

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 33 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    The sole authority to issue certificates of appointment
2shall be vested in the board of fire and police commissioners.
3All certificates of appointment issued to any officer or member
4of an affected department shall be signed by the chairperson
5and secretary, respectively, of the board upon appointment of
6such officer or member to the affected department by action of
7the board. Each person who accepts a certificate of appointment
8and successfully completes his or her probationary period shall
9be enrolled as a firefighter and as a regular member of the
10fire department.
11    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
12person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
13of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
14to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
15a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform
16firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
17the following persons are not included: part-time
18firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
19including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or
20other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
21protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
22firefighter duties; and elected officials.
23    (c) Qualification for placement on register of eligibles.
24The purpose of establishing a register of eligibles is to
25identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the mental
26aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties required of

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 34 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1members of the fire department in order to provide the highest
2quality of service to the public. To this end, all applicants
3for original appointment to an affected fire department shall
4be subject to examination and testing which shall be public,
5competitive, and open to all applicants unless the municipality
6shall by ordinance limit applicants to residents of the
7municipality, county or counties in which the municipality is
8located, State, or nation. Any examination and testing
9procedure utilized under subsection (e) of this Section shall
10be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall
11comply with all applicable state and federal laws.
12Municipalities may establish educational, emergency medical
13service licensure, and other pre-requisites for participation
14in an examination or for hire as a firefighter. Any
15municipality may charge a fee to cover the costs of the
16application process.
17    Residency requirements in effect at the time an individual
18enters the fire service of a municipality cannot be made more
19restrictive for that individual during his or her period of
20service for that municipality, or be made a condition of
21promotion, except for the rank or position of fire chief and
22for no more than 2 positions that rank immediately below that
23of the chief rank which are appointed positions pursuant to the
24Fire Department Promotion Act.
25    No person who is 35 years of age or older shall be eligible
26to take an examination for a position as a firefighter unless

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 35 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1the person has had previous employment status as a firefighter
2in the regularly constituted fire department of the
3municipality, except as provided in this Section. The age
4limitation does not apply to:
5        (1) any person previously employed as a full-time
6    firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department of
7    (i) any municipality or fire protection district located in
8    Illinois, (ii) a fire protection district whose
9    obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21
10    of the Fire Protection District Act, or (iii) a
11    municipality whose obligations were taken over by a fire
12    protection district, or
13        (2) any person who has served a municipality as a
14    regularly enrolled volunteer, paid-on-call, or part-time
15    firefighter for the 5 years immediately preceding the time
16    that the municipality begins to use full-time firefighters
17    to provide all or part of its fire protection service.
18    No person who is under 21 years of age shall be eligible
19for employment as a firefighter.
20    No applicant shall be examined concerning his or her
21political or religious opinions or affiliations. The
22examinations shall be conducted by the commissioners of the
23municipality or their designees and agents.
24    No municipality shall require that any firefighter
25appointed to the lowest rank serve a probationary employment
26period of longer than one year of actual active employment,

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 36 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1which may exclude periods of training, or injury or illness
2leaves, including duty related leave, in excess of 30 calendar
3days. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section,
4the probationary employment period limitation may be extended
5for a firefighter who is required, as a condition of
6employment, to be a certified paramedic, during which time the
7sole reason that a firefighter may be discharged without a
8hearing is for failing to meet the requirements for paramedic
9certification.
10    In the event that any applicant who has been found eligible
11for appointment and whose name has been placed upon the final
12eligibility register provided for in this Section has not been
13appointed to a firefighter position within one year after the
14date of his or her physical ability examination, the commission
15may cause a second examination to be made of that applicant's
16physical ability prior to his or her appointment. If, after the
17second examination, the physical ability of the applicant shall
18be found to be less than the minimum standard fixed by the
19rules of the commission, the applicant shall not be appointed.
20The applicant's name may be retained upon the register of
21candidates eligible for appointment and when next reached for
22certification and appointment that applicant may be again
23examined as provided in this Section, and if the physical
24ability of that applicant is found to be less than the minimum
25standard fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant
26shall not be appointed, and the name of the applicant shall be

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 37 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1removed from the register.
2    (d) Notice, examination, and testing components. Notice of
3the time, place, general scope, merit criteria for any
4subjective component, and fee of every examination shall be
5given by the commission, by a publication at least 2 weeks
6preceding the examination: (i) in one or more newspapers
7published in the municipality, or if no newspaper is published
8therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general
9circulation within the municipality, or (ii) on the
10municipality's Internet website. Additional notice of the
11examination may be given as the commission shall prescribe.
12    The examination and qualifying standards for employment of
13firefighters shall be based on: mental aptitude, physical
14ability, preferences, moral character, and health. The mental
15aptitude, physical ability, and preference components shall
16determine an applicant's qualification for and placement on the
17final register of eligibles. The examination may also include a
18subjective component based on merit criteria as determined by
19the commission. Scores from the examination must be made
20available to the public.
21    (e) Mental aptitude. No person who does not possess at
22least a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
23education shall be placed on a register of eligibles.
24Examination of an applicant's mental aptitude shall be based
25upon a written examination. The examination shall be practical
26in character and relate to those matters that fairly test the

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 38 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties
2performed by members of a fire department. Written examinations
3shall be administered in a manner that ensures the security and
4accuracy of the scores achieved.
5    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
6undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
7essential functions included in the duties they may be called
8upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the
9purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
10functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be
11called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The
12frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
13department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
14in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
15for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
16competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
17each applicant's physical abilities in the following
18dimensions:
19        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions
20    that may be required in the performance of duties including
21    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
22    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
23    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in
24    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested may be based
25    on standards developed, or approved, by the local
26    appointing authority.

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 39 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
2    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
3    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
4        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
5    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
6    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
7    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
8    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
9    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
10capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
11industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests
12approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office
13of the State Fire Marshal.
14    Physical ability examinations administered under this
15Section shall be conducted with a reasonable number of proctors
16and monitors, open to the public, and subject to reasonable
17regulations of the commission.
18    (g) Scoring of examination components. Appointing
19authorities may create a preliminary eligibility register. A
20person shall be placed on the list based upon his or her
21passage of the written examination or the passage of the
22written examination and the physical ability component.
23Passage of the written examination means attaining the minimum
24score set by the commission a score that is at or above the
25median score for all applicants participating in the written
26test. Minimum scores should be set by the commission so as to

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 40 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1demonstrate a candidate's ability to perform the essential
2functions of the job. The minimum score set by the commission
3shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall
4comply with all applicable state and federal laws. The
5appointing authority may conduct the physical ability
6component and any subjective components subsequent to the
7posting of the preliminary eligibility register.
8    The examination components for an initial eligibility
9register shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
10position on the list shall be determined by the following: (i)
11the person's score on the written examination, (ii) the person
12successfully passing the physical ability component, and (iii)
13the person's results on any subjective component as described
14in subsection (d).
15    In order to qualify for placement on the final eligibility
16register, an applicant's score on the written examination,
17before any applicable preference points or subjective points
18are applied, shall be at or above the minimum score as set by
19the commission median score. The local appointing authority may
20prescribe the score to qualify for placement on the final
21eligibility register, but the score shall not be less than the
22minimum score set by the commission median score.
23    The commission shall prepare and keep a register of persons
24whose total score is not less than the minimum score for
25passage fixed by this Section and who have passed the physical
26ability examination. These persons shall take rank upon the

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 41 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1register as candidates in the order of their relative
2excellence based on the highest to the lowest total points
3scored on the mental aptitude, subjective component, and
4preference components of the test administered in accordance
5with this Section. No more than 60 days after each examination,
6an initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission.
7The list shall include the final grades of the candidates
8without reference to priority of the time of examination and
9subject to claim for preference credit.
10    Commissions may conduct additional examinations, including
11without limitation a polygraph test, after a final eligibility
12register is established and before it expires with the
13candidates ranked by total score without regard to date of
14examination. No more than 60 days after each examination, an
15initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission
16showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
17priority of time of examination and subject to claim for
18preference credit.
19    (h) Preferences. The following are preferences:
20        (1) Veteran preference. Persons who were engaged in the
21    military service of the United States for a period of at
22    least one year of active duty and who were honorably
23    discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members
24    on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval
25    service, shall be preferred for appointment to and
26    employment with the fire department of an affected

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 42 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    department.
2        (2) Fire cadet preference. Persons who have
3    successfully completed 2 years of study in fire techniques
4    or cadet training within a cadet program established under
5    the rules of the Joint Labor and Management Committee
6    (JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department
7    Promotion Act, may be preferred for appointment to and
8    employment with the fire department.
9        (3) Educational preference. Persons who have
10    successfully obtained an associate's degree in the field of
11    fire service or emergency medical services, or a bachelor's
12    degree from an accredited college or university may be
13    preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire
14    department.
15        (4) Paramedic preference. Persons who have obtained
16    certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
17    (EMT-P) shall be preferred for appointment to and
18    employment with the fire department of an affected
19    department providing emergency medical services.
20        (5) Experience preference. All persons employed by a
21    municipality who have been paid-on-call or part-time
22    certified Firefighter II, State of Illinois or nationally
23    licensed EMT-B or EMT-I, or any combination of those
24    capacities shall be awarded 0.5 point for each year of
25    successful service in one or more of those capacities, up
26    to a maximum of 5 points. Certified Firefighter III and

 

 

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1    State of Illinois or nationally licensed paramedics shall
2    be awarded one point per year up to a maximum of 5 points.
3    Applicants from outside the municipality who were employed
4    as full-time firefighters or firefighter-paramedics by a
5    fire protection district or another municipality for at
6    least 2 years shall be awarded 5 experience preference
7    points. These additional points presuppose a rating scale
8    totaling 100 points available for the eligibility list. If
9    more or fewer points are used in the rating scale for the
10    eligibility list, the points awarded under this subsection
11    shall be increased or decreased by a factor equal to the
12    total possible points available for the examination
13    divided by 100.
14        Upon request by the commission, the governing body of
15    the municipality or in the case of applicants from outside
16    the municipality the governing body of any fire protection
17    district or any other municipality shall certify to the
18    commission, within 10 days after the request, the number of
19    years of successful paid-on-call, part-time, or full-time
20    service of any person. A candidate may not receive the full
21    amount of preference points under this subsection if the
22    amount of points awarded would place the candidate before a
23    veteran on the eligibility list. If more than one candidate
24    receiving experience preference points is prevented from
25    receiving all of their points due to not being allowed to
26    pass a veteran, the candidates shall be placed on the list

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 44 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    below the veteran in rank order based on the totals
2    received if all points under this subsection were to be
3    awarded. Any remaining ties on the list shall be determined
4    by lot.
5        (6) Residency preference. Applicants whose principal
6    residence is located within the fire department's
7    jurisdiction shall be preferred for appointment to and
8    employment with the fire department.
9        (7) Additional preferences. Up to 5 additional
10    preference points may be awarded for unique categories
11    based on an applicant's experience or background as
12    identified by the commission.
13        (8) Scoring of preferences. The commission shall give
14    preference for original appointment to persons designated
15    in item (1) by adding to the final grade that they receive
16    5 points for the recognized preference achieved. The
17    commission shall determine the number of preference points
18    for each category except (1). The number of preference
19    points for each category shall range from 0 to 5. In
20    determining the number of preference points, the
21    commission shall prescribe that if a candidate earns the
22    maximum number of preference points in all categories, that
23    number may not be less than 10 nor more than 30. The
24    commission shall give preference for original appointment
25    to persons designated in items (2) through (7) by adding
26    the requisite number of points to the final grade for each

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 45 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    recognized preference achieved. The numerical result thus
2    attained shall be applied by the commission in determining
3    the final eligibility list and appointment from the
4    eligibility list. The local appointing authority may
5    prescribe the total number of preference points awarded
6    under this Section, but the total number of preference
7    points shall not be less than 10 points or more than 30
8    points.
9    No person entitled to any preference shall be required to
10claim the credit before any examination held under the
11provisions of this Section, but the preference shall be given
12after the posting or publication of the initial eligibility
13list or register at the request of a person entitled to a
14credit before any certification or appointments are made from
15the eligibility register, upon the furnishing of verifiable
16evidence and proof of qualifying preference credit. Candidates
17who are eligible for preference credit shall make a claim in
18writing within 10 days after the posting of the initial
19eligibility list, or the claim shall be deemed waived. Final
20eligibility registers shall be established after the awarding
21of verified preference points. All employment shall be subject
22to the commission's initial hire background review including,
23but not limited to, criminal history, employment history, moral
24character, oral examination, and medical and psychological
25examinations, all on a pass-fail basis. The medical and
26psychological examinations must be conducted last, and may only

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 46 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1be performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
2extended.
3    Any person placed on an eligibility list who exceeds the
4age requirement before being appointed to a fire department
5shall remain eligible for appointment until the list is
6abolished, or his or her name has been on the list for a period
7of 2 years. No person who has attained the age of 35 years
8shall be inducted into a fire department, except as otherwise
9provided in this Section.
10    The commission shall strike off the names of candidates for
11original appointment after the names have been on the list for
12more than 2 years.
13    (i) Moral character. No person shall be appointed to a fire
14department unless he or she is a person of good character; not
15a habitual drunkard, a gambler, or a person who has been
16convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
17However, no person shall be disqualified from appointment to
18the fire department because of the person's record of
19misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-6,
2011-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 12-2, 12-6,
2112-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1,
2231-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, 32-8, and subsections
231, 6, and 8 of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
24Criminal Code of 2012, or arrest for any cause without
25conviction thereon. Any such person who is in the department
26may be removed on charges brought for violating this subsection

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 47 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1and after a trial as hereinafter provided.
2    A classifiable set of the fingerprints of every person who
3is offered employment as a certificated member of an affected
4fire department whether with or without compensation, shall be
5furnished to the Illinois Department of State Police and to the
6Federal Bureau of Investigation by the commission.
7    Whenever a commission is authorized or required by law to
8consider some aspect of criminal history record information for
9the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and
10responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in
11conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the
12State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois,
13the Department of State Police is authorized to furnish,
14pursuant to positive identification, the information contained
15in State files as is necessary to fulfill the request.
16    (j) Temporary appointments. In order to prevent a stoppage
17of public business, to meet extraordinary exigencies, or to
18prevent material impairment of the fire department, the
19commission may make temporary appointments, to remain in force
20only until regular appointments are made under the provisions
21of this Division, but never to exceed 60 days. No temporary
22appointment of any one person shall be made more than twice in
23any calendar year.
24    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test
25questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
26knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 48 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
2charges for official misconduct.
3    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information
4in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
5examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
6was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
7disciplinary actions.
8(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12;
997-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
10    (65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.4)
11    Sec. 10-2.1-6.4. Alternative procedure; original
12appointment; full-time firefighter.
13    (a) Authority. The Joint Labor and Management Committee
14(JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department
15Promotion Act, may establish a community outreach program to
16market the profession of firefighter and firefighter-paramedic
17so as to ensure the pool of applicants recruited is of broad
18diversity and the highest quality.
19    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
20person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
21of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
22to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
23a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform
24firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
25the following persons are not included: part-time

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 49 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
2including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or
3other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
4protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
5firefighter duties; and elected officials.
6    (b) Eligibility. Persons eligible for placement on the
7master register of eligibles shall consist of the following:
8        Persons who have participated in and received a passing
9    total score on the mental aptitude, physical ability, and
10    preference components of a regionally administered test
11    based on the standards described in this Section. The
12    standards for administering these tests and the minimum
13    passing score required for placement on this list shall be
14    as is set forth in this Section.
15        Qualified candidates shall be listed on the master
16    register of eligibles in highest to lowest rank order based
17    upon their test scores without regard to their date of
18    examination. Candidates listed on the master register of
19    eligibles shall be eligible for appointment for 2 years
20    after the date of the certification of their final score on
21    the register without regard to the date of their
22    examination. After 2 years, the candidate's name shall be
23    struck from the list.
24        Any person currently employed as a full-time member of
25    a fire department or any person who has experienced a
26    non–voluntary (and non-disciplinary) separation from the

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 50 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1    active workforce due to a reduction in the number of
2    departmental officers, who was appointed pursuant to
3    Division 1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code,
4    Division 2.1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code,
5    or the Fire Protection District Act, and who during the
6    previous 24 months participated in and received a passing
7    score on the physical ability and mental aptitude
8    components of the test may request that his or her name be
9    added to the master register. Any eligible person may be
10    offered employment by a local commission under the same
11    procedures as provided by this Section except that the
12    apprenticeship period may be waived and the applicant may
13    be immediately issued a certificate of original
14    appointment by the local commission.
15    (c) Qualifications for placement on register of eligibles.
16The purpose for establishing a master register of eligibles
17shall be to identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the
18mental aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties
19required of members of the fire department in order to provide
20the highest quality of service to the public. To this end, all
21applicants for original appointment to an affected fire
22department through examination conducted by the Joint Labor and
23Management Committee (JLMC) shall be subject to examination and
24testing which shall be public, competitive, and open to all
25applicants. Any examination and testing procedure utilized
26under subsection (e) of this Section shall be supported by

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 51 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all
2applicable state and federal laws. Any subjective component of
3the testing must be administered by certified assessors. All
4qualifying and disqualifying factors applicable to examination
5processes for local commissions in this amendatory Act of the
697th General Assembly shall be applicable to persons
7participating in Joint Labor and Management Committee
8examinations unless specifically provided otherwise in this
9Section.
10    Notice of the time, place, general scope, and fee of every
11JLMC examination shall be given by the JLMC or designated
12testing agency, as applicable, by a publication at least 30
13days preceding the examination, in one or more newspapers
14published in the region, or if no newspaper is published
15therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general
16circulation within the region. The JLMC may publish the notice
17on the JLMC's Internet website. Additional notice of the
18examination may be given as the JLMC shall prescribe.
19    (d) Examination and testing components for placement on
20register of eligibles. The examination and qualifying
21standards for placement on the master register of eligibles and
22employment shall be based on the following components: mental
23aptitude, physical ability, preferences, moral character, and
24health. The mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference
25components shall determine an applicant's qualification for
26and placement on the master register of eligibles. The

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 52 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1consideration of an applicant's general moral character and
2health shall be administered on a pass-fail basis after a
3conditional offer of employment is made by a local commission.
4    (e) Mental aptitude. Examination of an applicant's mental
5aptitude shall be based upon written examination and an
6applicant's prior experience demonstrating an aptitude for and
7commitment to service as a member of a fire department. Written
8examinations shall be practical in character and relate to
9those matters that fairly test the capacity of the persons
10examined to discharge the duties performed by members of a fire
11department. Written examinations shall be administered in a
12manner that ensures the security and accuracy of the scores
13achieved. Any subjective component of the testing must be
14administered by certified assessors. No person who does not
15possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
16education shall be placed on a register of eligibles. Local
17commissions may establish educational, emergency medical
18service licensure, and other pre-requisites for hire within
19their jurisdiction.
20    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
21undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
22essential functions included in the duties they may be called
23upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the
24purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
25functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be
26called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The

 

 

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1frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
2department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
3in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
4for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
5competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
6each applicant's physical abilities in each of the following
7dimensions:
8        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions
9    that may be required in the performance of duties including
10    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
11    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
12    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in
13    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested are to be
14    based on industry standards developed by the JLMC by rule.
15        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
16    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
17    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
18        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
19    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
20    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
21    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
22    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
23    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
24capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
25industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests
26approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 54 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1of the State Fire Marshal.
2    (g) Scoring of examination components. The examination
3components shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
4position on the master register of eligibles shall be
5determined by the person's score on the written examination,
6the person successfully passing the physical ability
7component, and the addition of any applicable preference
8points.
9    Applicants who have achieved at least the minimum score as
10set by the JLMC median score of all applicants participating in
11the written examination at the same time, and who successfully
12pass the physical ability examination shall be placed on the
13initial eligibility register. Minimum scores should be set by
14the commission so as to demonstrate a candidate's ability to
15perform the essential functions of the job. The minimum score
16set by the commission shall be supported by appropriate
17validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable state
18and federal laws. Applicable preference points shall be added
19to the written examination scores for all applicants who
20qualify for the initial eligibility register. Applicants who
21score at or above the minimum passing score as set by the JLMC
22in the top 70th percentile or higher, including any applicable
23preference points, shall be placed on the master register of
24eligibles by the JLMC.
25    These persons shall take rank upon the register as
26candidates in the order of their relative excellence based on

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 55 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1the highest to the lowest total points scored on the mental
2aptitude and physical ability components, plus any applicable
3preference points requested and verified by the JLMC, or
4approved testing agency.
5    No more than 60 days after each examination, a revised
6master register of eligibles shall be posted by the JLMC
7showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
8priority of time of examination.
9    (h) Preferences. The board shall give military, education,
10and experience preference points to those who qualify for
11placement on the master register of eligibles, on the same
12basis as provided for examinations administered by a local
13commission.
14    No person entitled to preference or credit shall be
15required to claim the credit before any examination held under
16the provisions of this Section. The preference shall be given
17after the posting or publication of the applicant's initial
18score at the request of the person before finalizing the scores
19from all applicants taking part in a JLMC examination.
20Candidates who are eligible for preference credit shall make a
21claim in writing within 10 days after the posting of the
22initial scores from any JLMC test or the claim shall be deemed
23waived. Once preference points are awarded, the candidates
24shall be certified to the master register in accordance with
25their final score including preference points.
26    (i) Firefighter apprentice and firefighter-paramedic

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 56 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1apprentice. The employment of an applicant to an apprentice
2position (including a currently employed full-time member of a
3fire department whose apprenticeship may be reduced or waived)
4shall be subject to the applicant passing the moral character
5standards and health examinations of the local commission. In
6addition, a local commission may require as a condition of
7employment that the applicant demonstrate current physical
8ability by either passing the local commission's approved
9physical ability examination, or by presenting proof of
10participating in and receiving a passing score on the physical
11ability component of a JLMC test within a period of up to 12
12months before the date of the conditional offer of employment.
13Applicants shall be subject to the local commission's initial
14hire background review including criminal history, employment
15history, moral character, oral examination, and medical
16examinations which may include polygraph, psychological, and
17drug screening components, all on a pass-fail basis. The
18medical examinations must be conducted last, and may only be
19performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
20extended.
21    (j) Selection from list. Any municipality or fire
22protection district that is a party to an intergovernmental
23agreement under the terms of which persons have been tested for
24placement on the master register of eligibles shall be entitled
25to offer employment to any person on the list irrespective of
26their ranking on the list. The offer of employment shall be to

 

 

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1the position of firefighter apprentice or
2firefighter-paramedic apprentice.
3    Applicants passing these tests may be employed as a
4firefighter apprentice or a firefighter-paramedic apprentice
5who shall serve an apprenticeship period of 12 months or less
6according to the terms and conditions of employment as the
7employing municipality or district offers, or as provided for
8under the terms of any collective bargaining agreement then in
9effect. The apprenticeship period is separate from the
10probationary period.
11    Service during the apprenticeship period shall be on a
12probationary basis. During the apprenticeship period, the
13apprentice's training and performance shall be monitored and
14evaluated by a Joint Apprenticeship Committee.
15    The Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall consist of 4
16members who shall be regular members of the fire department
17with at least 10 years of full-time work experience as a
18firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. The fire chief and the
19president of the exclusive bargaining representative
20recognized by the employer shall each appoint 2 members to the
21Joint Apprenticeship Committee. In the absence of an exclusive
22collective bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
23the remaining 2 members who shall be from the ranks of company
24officer and firefighter with at least 10 years of work
25experience as a firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. In the
26absence of a sufficient number of qualified firefighters, the

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 58 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1Joint Apprenticeship Committee members shall have the amount of
2experience and the type of qualifications as is reasonable
3given the circumstances of the fire department. In the absence
4of a full-time member in a rank between chief and the highest
5rank in a bargaining unit, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee
6shall be reduced to 2 members, one to be appointed by the chief
7and one by the union president, if any. If there is no
8exclusive bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
9the second member of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee from
10among qualified members in the ranks of company officer and
11below. Before the conclusion of the apprenticeship period, the
12Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall meet to consider the
13apprentice's progress and performance and vote to retain the
14apprentice as a member of the fire department or to terminate
15the apprenticeship. If 3 of the 4 members of the Joint
16Apprenticeship Committee affirmatively vote to retain the
17apprentice (if a 2 member Joint Apprenticeship Committee
18exists, then both members must affirmatively vote to retain the
19apprentice), the local commission shall issue the apprentice a
20certificate of original appointment to the fire department.
21    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test
22questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
23knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,
24commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
25charges for official misconduct.
26    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 59 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
2examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
3was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
4disciplinary actions.
5    (l) Applicability. This Section does not apply to a
6municipality with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants.
7(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12.)
 
8    Section 10. The Fire Protection District Act is amended by
9changing Sections 16.06b, and 16.06c as follows:
 
10    (70 ILCS 705/16.06b)
11    Sec. 16.06b. Original appointments; full-time fire
12department.
13    (a) Applicability. Unless a commission elects to follow the
14provisions of Section 16.06c, this Section shall apply to all
15original appointments to an affected full-time fire
16department. Existing registers of eligibles shall continue to
17be valid until their expiration dates, or up to a maximum of 2
18years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
1997th General Assembly.
20    Notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, rule, or other law
21to the contrary, all original appointments to an affected
22department to which this Section applies shall be administered
23in a no less stringent manner than the manner provided for in
24this Section. Provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code, Fire

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 60 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1Protection District Act, fire district ordinances, and rules
2adopted pursuant to such authority and other laws relating to
3initial hiring of firefighters in affected departments shall
4continue to apply to the extent they are compatible with this
5Section, but in the event of a conflict between this Section
6and any other law, this Section shall control.
7    A fire protection district that is operating under a court
8order or consent decree regarding original appointments to a
9full-time fire department before the effective date of this
10amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly is exempt from the
11requirements of this Section for the duration of the court
12order or consent decree.
13    (b) Original appointments. All original appointments made
14to an affected fire department shall be made from a register of
15eligibles established in accordance with the processes
16required by this Section. Only persons who meet or exceed the
17performance standards required by the Section shall be placed
18on a register of eligibles for original appointment to an
19affected fire department.
20    Whenever an appointing authority authorizes action to hire
21a person to perform the duties of a firefighter or to hire a
22firefighter-paramedic to fill a position that is a new position
23or vacancy due to resignation, discharge, promotion, death, the
24granting of a disability or retirement pension, or any other
25cause, the appointing authority shall appoint to that position
26the person with the highest ranking on the final eligibility

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 61 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1list. If the appointing authority has reason to conclude that
2the highest ranked person fails to meet the minimum standards
3for the position or if the appointing authority believes an
4alternate candidate would better serve the needs of the
5department, then the appointing authority has the right to pass
6over the highest ranked person and appoint either: (i) any
7person who has a ranking in the top 5% of the register of
8eligibles or (ii) any person who is among the top 5 highest
9ranked persons on the list of eligibles if the number of people
10who have a ranking in the top 5% of the register of eligibles
11is less than 5 people.
12    Any candidate may pass on an appointment once without
13losing his or her position on the register of eligibles. Any
14candidate who passes a second time may be removed from the list
15by the appointing authority provided that such action shall not
16prejudice a person's opportunities to participate in future
17examinations, including an examination held during the time a
18candidate is already on the fire district's register of
19eligibles.
20    The sole authority to issue certificates of appointment
21shall be vested in the board of fire commissioners, or board of
22trustees serving in the capacity of a board of fire
23commissioners. All certificates of appointment issued to any
24officer or member of an affected department shall be signed by
25the chairperson and secretary, respectively, of the commission
26upon appointment of such officer or member to the affected

 

 

09800SB2826sam001- 62 -LRB098 16310 JLK 56722 a

1department by action of the commission. Each person who accepts
2a certificate of appointment and successfully completes his or
3her probationary period shall be enrolled as a firefighter and
4as a regular member of the fire department.
5    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
6person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
7of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
8to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
9a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform
10firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
11the following persons are not included: part-time
12firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
13including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or
14other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
15protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
16firefighter duties; and elected officials.
17    (c) Qualification for placement on register of eligibles.
18The purpose of establishing a register of eligibles is to
19identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the mental
20aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties required of
21members of the fire department in order to provide the highest
22quality of service to the public. To this end, all applicants
23for original appointment to an affected fire department shall
24be subject to examination and testing which shall be public,
25competitive, and open to all applicants unless the district
26shall by ordinance limit applicants to residents of the

 

 

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1district, county or counties in which the district is located,
2State, or nation. Any examination and testing procedure
3utilized under subsection (e) of this Section shall be
4supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall comply
5with all applicable state and federal laws. Districts may
6establish educational, emergency medical service licensure,
7and other pre-requisites for participation in an examination or
8for hire as a firefighter. Any fire protection district may
9charge a fee to cover the costs of the application process.
10    Residency requirements in effect at the time an individual
11enters the fire service of a district cannot be made more
12restrictive for that individual during his or her period of
13service for that district, or be made a condition of promotion,
14except for the rank or position of fire chief and for no more
15than 2 positions that rank immediately below that of the chief
16rank which are appointed positions pursuant to the Fire
17Department Promotion Act.
18    No person who is 35 years of age or older shall be eligible
19to take an examination for a position as a firefighter unless
20the person has had previous employment status as a firefighter
21in the regularly constituted fire department of the district,
22except as provided in this Section. The age limitation does not
23apply to:
24        (1) any person previously employed as a full-time
25    firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department of
26    (i) any municipality or fire protection district located in

 

 

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1    Illinois, (ii) a fire protection district whose
2    obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21
3    of the Fire Protection District Act, or (iii) a
4    municipality whose obligations were taken over by a fire
5    protection district, or
6        (2) any person who has served a fire district as a
7    regularly enrolled volunteer, paid-on-call, or part-time
8    firefighter for the 5 years immediately preceding the time
9    that the district begins to use full-time firefighters to
10    provide all or part of its fire protection service.
11    No person who is under 21 years of age shall be eligible
12for employment as a firefighter.
13    No applicant shall be examined concerning his or her
14political or religious opinions or affiliations. The
15examinations shall be conducted by the commissioners of the
16district or their designees and agents.
17    No district shall require that any firefighter appointed to
18the lowest rank serve a probationary employment period of
19longer than one year of actual active employment, which may
20exclude periods of training, or injury or illness leaves,
21including duty related leave, in excess of 30 calendar days.
22Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the
23probationary employment period limitation may be extended for a
24firefighter who is required, as a condition of employment, to
25be a certified paramedic, during which time the sole reason
26that a firefighter may be discharged without a hearing is for

 

 

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1failing to meet the requirements for paramedic certification.
2    In the event that any applicant who has been found eligible
3for appointment and whose name has been placed upon the final
4eligibility register provided for in this Section has not been
5appointed to a firefighter position within one year after the
6date of his or her physical ability examination, the commission
7may cause a second examination to be made of that applicant's
8physical ability prior to his or her appointment. If, after the
9second examination, the physical ability of the applicant shall
10be found to be less than the minimum standard fixed by the
11rules of the commission, the applicant shall not be appointed.
12The applicant's name may be retained upon the register of
13candidates eligible for appointment and when next reached for
14certification and appointment that applicant may be again
15examined as provided in this Section, and if the physical
16ability of that applicant is found to be less than the minimum
17standard fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant
18shall not be appointed, and the name of the applicant shall be
19removed from the register.
20    (d) Notice, examination, and testing components. Notice of
21the time, place, general scope, merit criteria for any
22subjective component, and fee of every examination shall be
23given by the commission, by a publication at least 2 weeks
24preceding the examination: (i) in one or more newspapers
25published in the district, or if no newspaper is published
26therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general

 

 

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1circulation within the district, or (ii) on the fire protection
2district's Internet website. Additional notice of the
3examination may be given as the commission shall prescribe.
4    The examination and qualifying standards for employment of
5firefighters shall be based on: mental aptitude, physical
6ability, preferences, moral character, and health. The mental
7aptitude, physical ability, and preference components shall
8determine an applicant's qualification for and placement on the
9final register of eligibles. The examination may also include a
10subjective component based on merit criteria as determined by
11the commission. Scores from the examination must be made
12available to the public.
13    (e) Mental aptitude. No person who does not possess at
14least a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
15education shall be placed on a register of eligibles.
16Examination of an applicant's mental aptitude shall be based
17upon a written examination. The examination shall be practical
18in character and relate to those matters that fairly test the
19capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties
20performed by members of a fire department. Written examinations
21shall be administered in a manner that ensures the security and
22accuracy of the scores achieved.
23    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
24undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
25essential functions included in the duties they may be called
26upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the

 

 

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1purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
2functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be
3called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The
4frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
5department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
6in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
7for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
8competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
9each applicant's physical abilities in the following
10dimensions:
11        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions
12    that may be required in the performance of duties including
13    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
14    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
15    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in
16    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested may be based
17    on standards developed, or approved, by the local
18    appointing authority.
19        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
20    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
21    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
22        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
23    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
24    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
25    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
26    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.

 

 

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1    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
2capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
3industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests
4approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office
5of the State Fire Marshal.
6    Physical ability examinations administered under this
7Section shall be conducted with a reasonable number of proctors
8and monitors, open to the public, and subject to reasonable
9regulations of the commission.
10    (g) Scoring of examination components. Appointing
11authorities may create a preliminary eligibility register. A
12person shall be placed on the list based upon his or her
13passage of the written examination or the passage of the
14written examination and the physical ability component.
15Passage of the written examination means attaining the minimum
16score set by the commission a score that is at or above the
17median score for all applicants participating in the written
18test. Minimum scores should be set by the appointing
19authorities so as to demonstrate a candidate's ability to
20perform the essential functions of the job. The minimum score
21set by the commission shall be supported by appropriate
22validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable state
23and federal laws. The appointing authority may conduct the
24physical ability component and any subjective components
25subsequent to the posting of the preliminary eligibility
26register.

 

 

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1    The examination components for an initial eligibility
2register shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
3position on the list shall be determined by the following: (i)
4the person's score on the written examination, (ii) the person
5successfully passing the physical ability component, and (iii)
6the person's results on any subjective component as described
7in subsection (d).
8    In order to qualify for placement on the final eligibility
9register, an applicant's score on the written examination,
10before any applicable preference points or subjective points
11are applied, shall be at or above the minimum score set by the
12commission be at or above the median score. The local
13appointing authority may prescribe the score to qualify for
14placement on the final eligibility register, but the score
15shall not be less than the minimum score set by the commission
16median score.
17    The commission shall prepare and keep a register of persons
18whose total score is not less than the minimum score for
19passage fixed by this Section and who have passed the physical
20ability examination. These persons shall take rank upon the
21register as candidates in the order of their relative
22excellence based on the highest to the lowest total points
23scored on the mental aptitude, subjective component, and
24preference components of the test administered in accordance
25with this Section. No more than 60 days after each examination,
26an initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission.

 

 

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1The list shall include the final grades of the candidates
2without reference to priority of the time of examination and
3subject to claim for preference credit.
4    Commissions may conduct additional examinations, including
5without limitation a polygraph test, after a final eligibility
6register is established and before it expires with the
7candidates ranked by total score without regard to date of
8examination. No more than 60 days after each examination, an
9initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission
10showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
11priority of time of examination and subject to claim for
12preference credit.
13    (h) Preferences. The following are preferences:
14        (1) Veteran preference. Persons who were engaged in the
15    military service of the United States for a period of at
16    least one year of active duty and who were honorably
17    discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members
18    on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval
19    service, shall be preferred for appointment to and
20    employment with the fire department of an affected
21    department.
22        (2) Fire cadet preference. Persons who have
23    successfully completed 2 years of study in fire techniques
24    or cadet training within a cadet program established under
25    the rules of the Joint Labor and Management Committee
26    (JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department

 

 

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1    Promotion Act, may be preferred for appointment to and
2    employment with the fire department.
3        (3) Educational preference. Persons who have
4    successfully obtained an associate's degree in the field of
5    fire service or emergency medical services, or a bachelor's
6    degree from an accredited college or university may be
7    preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire
8    department.
9        (4) Paramedic preference. Persons who have obtained
10    certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
11    (EMT-P) may be preferred for appointment to and employment
12    with the fire department of an affected department
13    providing emergency medical services.
14        (5) Experience preference. All persons employed by a
15    district who have been paid-on-call or part-time certified
16    Firefighter II, certified Firefighter III, State of
17    Illinois or nationally licensed EMT-B or EMT-I, licensed
18    paramedic, or any combination of those capacities may be
19    awarded up to a maximum of 5 points. However, the applicant
20    may not be awarded more than 0.5 points for each complete
21    year of paid-on-call or part-time service. Applicants from
22    outside the district who were employed as full-time
23    firefighters or firefighter-paramedics by a fire
24    protection district or municipality for at least 2 years
25    may be awarded up to 5 experience preference points.
26    However, the applicant may not be awarded more than one

 

 

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1    point for each complete year of full-time service.
2        Upon request by the commission, the governing body of
3    the district or in the case of applicants from outside the
4    district the governing body of any other fire protection
5    district or any municipality shall certify to the
6    commission, within 10 days after the request, the number of
7    years of successful paid-on-call, part-time, or full-time
8    service of any person. A candidate may not receive the full
9    amount of preference points under this subsection if the
10    amount of points awarded would place the candidate before a
11    veteran on the eligibility list. If more than one candidate
12    receiving experience preference points is prevented from
13    receiving all of their points due to not being allowed to
14    pass a veteran, the candidates shall be placed on the list
15    below the veteran in rank order based on the totals
16    received if all points under this subsection were to be
17    awarded. Any remaining ties on the list shall be determined
18    by lot.
19        (6) Residency preference. Applicants whose principal
20    residence is located within the fire department's
21    jurisdiction may be preferred for appointment to and
22    employment with the fire department.
23        (7) Additional preferences. Up to 5 additional
24    preference points may be awarded for unique categories
25    based on an applicant's experience or background as
26    identified by the commission.

 

 

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1        (8) Scoring of preferences. The commission shall give
2    preference for original appointment to persons designated
3    in item (1) by adding to the final grade that they receive
4    5 points for the recognized preference achieved. The
5    commission shall determine the number of preference points
6    for each category except (1). The number of preference
7    points for each category shall range from 0 to 5. In
8    determining the number of preference points, the
9    commission shall prescribe that if a candidate earns the
10    maximum number of preference points in all categories, that
11    number may not be less than 10 nor more than 30. The
12    commission shall give preference for original appointment
13    to persons designated in items (2) through (7) by adding
14    the requisite number of points to the final grade for each
15    recognized preference achieved. The numerical result thus
16    attained shall be applied by the commission in determining
17    the final eligibility list and appointment from the
18    eligibility list. The local appointing authority may
19    prescribe the total number of preference points awarded
20    under this Section, but the total number of preference
21    points shall not be less than 10 points or more than 30
22    points.
23    No person entitled to any preference shall be required to
24claim the credit before any examination held under the
25provisions of this Section, but the preference shall be given
26after the posting or publication of the initial eligibility

 

 

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1list or register at the request of a person entitled to a
2credit before any certification or appointments are made from
3the eligibility register, upon the furnishing of verifiable
4evidence and proof of qualifying preference credit. Candidates
5who are eligible for preference credit shall make a claim in
6writing within 10 days after the posting of the initial
7eligibility list, or the claim shall be deemed waived. Final
8eligibility registers shall be established after the awarding
9of verified preference points. All employment shall be subject
10to the commission's initial hire background review including,
11but not limited to, criminal history, employment history, moral
12character, oral examination, and medical and psychological
13examinations, all on a pass-fail basis. The medical and
14psychological examinations must be conducted last, and may only
15be performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
16extended.
17    Any person placed on an eligibility list who exceeds the
18age requirement before being appointed to a fire department
19shall remain eligible for appointment until the list is
20abolished, or his or her name has been on the list for a period
21of 2 years. No person who has attained the age of 35 years
22shall be inducted into a fire department, except as otherwise
23provided in this Section.
24    The commission shall strike off the names of candidates for
25original appointment after the names have been on the list for
26more than 2 years.

 

 

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1    (i) Moral character. No person shall be appointed to a fire
2department unless he or she is a person of good character; not
3a habitual drunkard, a gambler, or a person who has been
4convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
5However, no person shall be disqualified from appointment to
6the fire department because of the person's record of
7misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-6,
811-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 12-2, 12-6,
912-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1,
1031-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, 32-8, and subsections
111, 6, and 8 of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
12Criminal Code of 2012, or arrest for any cause without
13conviction thereon. Any such person who is in the department
14may be removed on charges brought for violating this subsection
15and after a trial as hereinafter provided.
16    A classifiable set of the fingerprints of every person who
17is offered employment as a certificated member of an affected
18fire department whether with or without compensation, shall be
19furnished to the Illinois Department of State Police and to the
20Federal Bureau of Investigation by the commission.
21    Whenever a commission is authorized or required by law to
22consider some aspect of criminal history record information for
23the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and
24responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in
25conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the
26State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois,

 

 

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1the Department of State Police is authorized to furnish,
2pursuant to positive identification, the information contained
3in State files as is necessary to fulfill the request.
4    (j) Temporary appointments. In order to prevent a stoppage
5of public business, to meet extraordinary exigencies, or to
6prevent material impairment of the fire department, the
7commission may make temporary appointments, to remain in force
8only until regular appointments are made under the provisions
9of this Section, but never to exceed 60 days. No temporary
10appointment of any one person shall be made more than twice in
11any calendar year.
12    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test
13questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
14knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,
15commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
16charges for official misconduct.
17    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information
18in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
19examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
20was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
21disciplinary actions.
22(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12;
2397-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
24    (70 ILCS 705/16.06c)
25    Sec. 16.06c. Alternative procedure; original appointment;

 

 

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1full-time firefighter.
2    (a) Authority. The Joint Labor and Management Committee
3(JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department
4Promotion Act, may establish a community outreach program to
5market the profession of firefighter and firefighter-paramedic
6so as to ensure the pool of applicants recruited is of broad
7diversity and the highest quality.
8    For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any
9person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date
10of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed
11to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by
12a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform
13firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that
14the following persons are not included: part-time
15firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters,
16including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or
17other civilian employees of a fire department or fire
18protection district who are not routinely expected to perform
19firefighter duties; and elected officials.
20    (b) Eligibility. Persons eligible for placement on the
21master register of eligibles shall consist of the following:
22        Persons who have participated in and received a passing
23    total score on the mental aptitude, physical ability, and
24    preference components of a regionally administered test
25    based on the standards described in this Section. The
26    standards for administering these tests and the minimum

 

 

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1    passing score required for placement on this list shall be
2    as is set forth in this Section.
3        Qualified candidates shall be listed on the master
4    register of eligibles in highest to lowest rank order based
5    upon their test scores without regard to their date of
6    examination. Candidates listed on the master register of
7    eligibles shall be eligible for appointment for 2 years
8    after the date of the certification of their final score on
9    the register without regard to the date of their
10    examination. After 2 years, the candidate's name shall be
11    struck from the list.
12        Any person currently employed as a full-time member of
13    a fire department or any person who has experienced a
14    non–voluntary (and non-disciplinary) separation from the
15    active workforce due to a reduction in the number of
16    departmental officers, who was appointed pursuant to
17    Division 1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code,
18    Division 2.1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code,
19    or the Fire Protection District Act, and who during the
20    previous 24 months participated in and received a passing
21    score on the physical ability and mental aptitude
22    components of the test may request that his or her name be
23    added to the master register. Any eligible person may be
24    offered employment by a local commission under the same
25    procedures as provided by this Section except that the
26    apprenticeship period may be waived and the applicant may

 

 

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1    be immediately issued a certificate of original
2    appointment by the local commission.
3    (c) Qualifications for placement on register of eligibles.
4The purpose for establishing a master register of eligibles
5shall be to identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the
6mental aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties
7required of members of the fire department in order to provide
8the highest quality of service to the public. To this end, all
9applicants for original appointment to an affected fire
10department through examination conducted by the Joint Labor and
11Management Committee (JLMC) shall be subject to examination and
12testing which shall be public, competitive, and open to all
13applicants. Any examination and testing procedure utilized
14under subsection (e) of this Section shall be supported by
15appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all
16applicable state and federal laws. Any subjective component of
17the testing must be administered by certified assessors. All
18qualifying and disqualifying factors applicable to examination
19processes for local commissions in this amendatory Act of the
2097th General Assembly shall be applicable to persons
21participating in Joint Labor and Management Committee
22examinations unless specifically provided otherwise in this
23Section.
24    Notice of the time, place, general scope, and fee of every
25JLMC examination shall be given by the JLMC or designated
26testing agency, as applicable, by a publication at least 30

 

 

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1days preceding the examination, in one or more newspapers
2published in the region, or if no newspaper is published
3therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general
4circulation within the region. The JLMC may publish the notice
5on the JLMC's Internet website. Additional notice of the
6examination may be given as the JLMC shall prescribe.
7    (d) Examination and testing components for placement on
8register of eligibles. The examination and qualifying
9standards for placement on the master register of eligibles and
10employment shall be based on the following components: mental
11aptitude, physical ability, preferences, moral character, and
12health. The mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference
13components shall determine an applicant's qualification for
14and placement on the master register of eligibles. The
15consideration of an applicant's general moral character and
16health shall be administered on a pass-fail basis after a
17conditional offer of employment is made by a local commission.
18    (e) Mental aptitude. Examination of an applicant's mental
19aptitude shall be based upon written examination and an
20applicant's prior experience demonstrating an aptitude for and
21commitment to service as a member of a fire department. Written
22examinations shall be practical in character and relate to
23those matters that fairly test the capacity of the persons
24examined to discharge the duties performed by members of a fire
25department. Written examinations shall be administered in a
26manner that ensures the security and accuracy of the scores

 

 

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1achieved. Any subjective component of the testing must be
2administered by certified assessors. No person who does not
3possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school
4education shall be placed on a register of eligibles. Local
5commissions may establish educational, emergency medical
6service licensure, and other pre-requisites for hire within
7their jurisdiction.
8    (f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to
9undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the
10essential functions included in the duties they may be called
11upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the
12purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are
13functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be
14called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The
15frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire
16department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor
17in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected
18for testing. These physical examinations shall be open,
19competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test
20each applicant's physical abilities in each of the following
21dimensions:
22        (1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions
23    that may be required in the performance of duties including
24    grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall
25    be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions
26    to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in

 

 

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1    performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested are to be
2    based on industry standards developed by the JLMC by rule.
3        (2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights,
4    walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces,
5    and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.
6        (3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive,
7    and complex problem solving during physical exertion in
8    stressful and hazardous environments. The testing
9    environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed
10    spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.
11    The tests utilized to measure each applicant's
12capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on
13industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests
14approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office
15of the State Fire Marshal.
16    (g) Scoring of examination components. The examination
17components shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's
18position on the master register of eligibles shall be
19determined by the person's score on the written examination,
20the person successfully passing the physical ability
21component, and the addition of any applicable preference
22points.
23    Applicants who have achieved at least the minimum score as
24set by the JLMC on median score of all applicants participating
25in the written examination at the same time, and who
26successfully pass the physical ability examination shall be

 

 

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1placed on the initial eligibility register. Minimum scores
2should be set by the JLMC so as to demonstrate a candidate's
3ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The
4minimum score set by the JLMC shall be supported by appropriate
5validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable state
6and federal laws. Applicable preference points shall be added
7to the written examination scores for all applicants who
8qualify for the initial eligibility register. Applicants who
9score at or above the minimum passing score as set by the JLMC
10in the top 70th percentile or higher, including any applicable
11preference points, shall be placed on the master register of
12eligibles by the JLMC.
13    These persons shall take rank upon the register as
14candidates in the order of their relative excellence based on
15the highest to the lowest total points scored on the mental
16aptitude and physical ability components, plus any applicable
17preference points requested and verified by the JLMC, or
18approved testing agency.
19    No more than 60 days after each examination, a revised
20master register of eligibles shall be posted by the JLMC
21showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to
22priority of time of examination.
23    (h) Preferences. The board shall give military, education,
24and experience preference points to those who qualify for
25placement on the master register of eligibles, on the same
26basis as provided for examinations administered by a local

 

 

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1commission.
2    No person entitled to preference or credit shall be
3required to claim the credit before any examination held under
4the provisions of this Section. The preference shall be given
5after the posting or publication of the applicant's initial
6score at the request of the person before finalizing the scores
7from all applicants taking part in a JLMC examination.
8Candidates who are eligible for preference credit shall make a
9claim in writing within 10 days after the posting of the
10initial scores from any JLMC test or the claim shall be deemed
11waived. Once preference points are awarded, the candidates
12shall be certified to the master register in accordance with
13their final score including preference points.
14    (i) Firefighter apprentice and firefighter-paramedic
15apprentice. The employment of an applicant to an apprentice
16position (including a currently employed full-time member of a
17fire department whose apprenticeship may be reduced or waived)
18shall be subject to the applicant passing the moral character
19standards and health examinations of the local commission. In
20addition, a local commission may require as a condition of
21employment that the applicant demonstrate current physical
22ability by either passing the local commission's approved
23physical ability examination, or by presenting proof of
24participating in and receiving a passing score on the physical
25ability component of a JLMC test within a period of up to 12
26months before the date of the conditional offer of employment.

 

 

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1Applicants shall be subject to the local commission's initial
2hire background review including criminal history, employment
3history, moral character, oral examination, and medical
4examinations which may include polygraph, psychological, and
5drug screening components, all on a pass-fail basis. The
6medical examinations must be conducted last, and may only be
7performed after a conditional offer of employment has been
8extended.
9    (j) Selection from list. Any municipality or fire
10protection district that is a party to an intergovernmental
11agreement under the terms of which persons have been tested for
12placement on the master register of eligibles shall be entitled
13to offer employment to any person on the list irrespective of
14their ranking on the list. The offer of employment shall be to
15the position of firefighter apprentice or
16firefighter-paramedic apprentice.
17    Applicants passing these tests may be employed as a
18firefighter apprentice or a firefighter-paramedic apprentice
19who shall serve an apprenticeship period of 12 months or less
20according to the terms and conditions of employment as the
21employing municipality or district offers, or as provided for
22under the terms of any collective bargaining agreement then in
23effect. The apprenticeship period is separate from the
24probationary period.
25    Service during the apprenticeship period shall be on a
26probationary basis. During the apprenticeship period, the

 

 

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1apprentice's training and performance shall be monitored and
2evaluated by a Joint Apprenticeship Committee.
3    The Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall consist of 4
4members who shall be regular members of the fire department
5with at least 10 years of full-time work experience as a
6firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. The fire chief and the
7president of the exclusive bargaining representative
8recognized by the employer shall each appoint 2 members to the
9Joint Apprenticeship Committee. In the absence of an exclusive
10collective bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
11the remaining 2 members who shall be from the ranks of company
12officer and firefighter with at least 10 years of work
13experience as a firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. In the
14absence of a sufficient number of qualified firefighters, the
15Joint Apprenticeship Committee members shall have the amount of
16experience and the type of qualifications as is reasonable
17given the circumstances of the fire department. In the absence
18of a full-time member in a rank between chief and the highest
19rank in a bargaining unit, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee
20shall be reduced to 2 members, one to be appointed by the chief
21and one by the union president, if any. If there is no
22exclusive bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint
23the second member of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee from
24among qualified members in the ranks of company officer and
25below. Before the conclusion of the apprenticeship period, the
26Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall meet to consider the

 

 

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1apprentice's progress and performance and vote to retain the
2apprentice as a member of the fire department or to terminate
3the apprenticeship. If 3 of the 4 members of the Joint
4Apprenticeship Committee affirmatively vote to retain the
5apprentice (if a 2 member Joint Apprenticeship Committee
6exists, then both members must affirmatively vote to retain the
7apprentice), the local commission shall issue the apprentice a
8certificate of original appointment to the fire department.
9    (k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test
10questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise
11knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section,
12commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to
13charges for official misconduct.
14    A person who is the knowing recipient of test information
15in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the
16examination or discharged from the position to which he or she
17was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to
18disciplinary actions.
19(Source: P.A. 97-251, eff. 8-4-11; 97-898, eff. 8-6-12.)".