CHAPTER 174 HOUSE BILL No. 2991 An  Act relating to fire service training; concerning the university of Kansas; establishing
the Kansas fire service training commission; authorizing certain transfers to such fund;
amending K.S.A. 76-327 and repealing the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. K.S.A. 76-327 is hereby amended to read as follows: 76-
327. The university of Kansas shall, through its extension division fire
service training program, provide for a traveling instruction service to
train firemen firefighters in the municipalities jurisdictions of this state
requiring requesting such instruction. This extension service fire service
training program shall include training in firemenship, fire inspection,
fire protection, fire prevention appropriate subject matter related to fire
service professional responsibilities and such other instruction as will pro-
vide the municipalities with better trained firemen firefighters. Traveling
instructors shall be employed who shall visit and instruct in such places
as the head of the extension division director of fire service training of
the Kansas university shall determine. The instructors shall be allowed
actual and necessary traveling and hotel expenses incurred in the per-
formance of their duties and shall receive such salary as the university
may deem appropriate. The university shall conduct an annual fire school.
The university of Kansas shall have the authority to contract with existing
training entities to deliver regional fire training. The university of Kansas
is hereby authorized and empowered to accept any grants in aid that may
be available from any federal agency. The university of Kansas shall have
the authority to award certifications for fire and related emergency re-
sponse personnel in fire service profession areas as prescribed by the na-
tional fire protection association and other applicable professional stan-
dards.

      New Sec.  2. (a) There is hereby created within the university of Kan-
sas a Kansas fire service training commission which shall consist of 12
members which shall include:

      (1) A member representing the Kansas state firefighters association,
to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to,
a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas state firefighters
association;

      (2) a member representing the Kansas state association of fire chiefs,
to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to,
a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas state association
of fire chiefs;

      (3) a member representing the Kansas state association of profes-
sional fire chiefs, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but
not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the
Kansas state association of professional fire chiefs;

      (4) a member representing the international association of arson in-
vestigators, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be
limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the international
association of arson investigators;

      (5) a member representing the Kansas fire marshal's association, to
be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a
list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas fire marshal's
association;

      (6) a member representing the Kansas fire educators association, to
be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a
list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas fire educators
association;

      (7) a member representing the Kansas state council of firefighters, to
be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a
list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas state council of
firefighters;

      (8) a member representing the Kansas community college fire train-
ing, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited
to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas community
college fire training;

      (9) a member representing the Kansas state fire marshal, to be se-
lected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of
three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas state fire marshal;

      (10) a member representing the Kansas forest service, to be selected
by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three
nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas forest service;

      (11) a member representing the Kansas university fire service train-
ing, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited
to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas university
fire service training; and

      (12) a member representing the emergency medical services board,
to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to,
a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the emergency medical
services board.

      (b) Six members initially appointed to a position described in sub-
section (a) shall serve for a two-year term and thereafter the term of
members appointed to such positions shall be four years. The members
who shall serve two-year terms shall be chosen by lottery at the first
commission meeting. The initial two-year terms shall expire on July 1,
2004 and four-year terms shall expire on July 1, 2006. Vacancies in any
position shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

      (c) The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be selected by the
members of the commission at the first meeting of the commission and
shall serve for a term of two years. No chairperson shall serve more than
two consecutive terms. In the absence or disability of the chairperson,
the vice-chairperson shall exercise all the powers of the chairperson.

      (d) The Kansas fire service training commission shall meet at least
quarterly in each year on dates fixed by the commission. Special meetings
may be held upon call of the chairperson of the commission or upon
petition to the chairperson by not less than seven commission members.
The date and place of all special meetings shall be designated in the call.

      (e) Members of the commission shall receive mileage, tolls and park-
ing as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto, for attend-
ance at any meeting of the commission or any subcommittee meeting
authorized by the commission.

      New Sec.  3. The Kansas fire service training program is authorized
to receive any grants, gifts, contributions or bequests made for the pur-
pose of supporting the fire service training and to expend the same.

      New Sec.  4. (a) There is hereby created in the state treasury the fire
service training program fund. All moneys credited to such fund under
the provisions of this act or any other law shall be expended only for the
purpose and in the manner prescribed by law, including the expenditures
for the operation of the Kansas fire service training program to carry out
duties as mandated by law.

      (b) All moneys received shall be remitted to the state treasurer in
accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments
thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall
deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the fire
service training program fund.

      New Sec.  5. The Kansas fire service training commission shall:

      (a) Consult with the director of University of Kansas fire service train-
ing program and adopt rules of procedure for commission meetings;

      (b) consult with the director of University of Kansas fire service train-
ing program and adopt rules and regulations necessary for the fire service
training operations;

      (c) approve and monitor a means to assure fire service training pro-
vided pursuant to the fire service training program is of high quality and
delivered in a consistent manner;

      (d) recommend and approve fire service training program curricu-
lum;

      (e) approve selection of the director of fire service training, who shall
be appointed by the dean of the division of continuing education of the
university of Kansas;

      (f) participate and consult with the director of fire services training
of the university of Kansas in the preparation and approval of the Kansas
fire service training program budget; and

      (g) publish an annual report in conjunction with the university of
Kansas fire service training program concerning the activities and duties
of the Kansas fire service training program and commission.

      New Sec.  6. (a) The university of Kansas shall have the following
duties regarding the Kansas fire service training commission:

      (1) Report semi-annually on the financial status of the program;

      (2) consult with such commission on long range planning issues;

      (3) prepare appropriate activity and financial reports as to keep such
commission advised of program activity and to provide adequate infor-
mation from which the commission's annual report concerning fire serv-
ice can be created;

      (4) provide administrative support for official commission activities;

      (5) pay reasonable travel and expenses to commission members for
expenses related to attending scheduled commission meetings; and

      (6) shall maintain an appropriate system of training records related
to individual participation in this training system.

      New Sec.  7. On July 1, 2002, and July 1, 2003, or as soon after each
such date as moneys are available, notwithstanding any other provision of
law to the contrary, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer
$750,000 from the fire marshal fee fund of the state fire marshal to the
fire service training program fund.

 Sec.  8. K.S.A. 76-327 is hereby repealed.

 Sec.  9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved May 29, 2002.
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