(65 ILCS 5/10-1-7.3)

Sec. 10-1-7.3. Appointment of fire chief. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Division, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, a person shall not be appointed as the chief, the acting chief, the department head, or a position, by whatever title, that is responsible for day-to-day operations of a fire department for greater than 180 days unless he or she possesses the following qualifications and certifications:

(1) Office of the State Fire Marshal Basic Operations Firefighter Certification or Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter II Certification; Office of the State Fire Marshal Advanced Fire Officer Certification or Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Officer II Certification; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college;

(2) a current certification from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System that meets the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, Level I job performance requirements; a current certification from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System that meets the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Fire Officer II job performance requirements; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college;

(3) qualifications that meet the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, Level I job performance requirements; qualifications that meet the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Fire Officer II job performance requirements; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college; or

(4) a minimum of 10 years' experience as a firefighter at the fire department in the jurisdiction making the appointment.

This Section applies to fire departments that employ firefighters hired under the provisions of this Division. This Section does not apply to a municipality with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants.

On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, a home rule municipality may not appoint a fire chief, an acting chief, a department head, or a position, by whatever title, that is responsible for day-to-day operations of a fire department for greater than 180 days in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(Source: P.A. 100-425, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1126, eff. 1-1-19.)