(1) A firefighter or volunteer firefighter may apply for a Lifetime Firefighter designation if he or she:
(a) Has at least 20 years of service;
(b) Has been employed by a fire service provider, as defined in s. 633.102(13), and is in good standing with his or her most recent fire service provider;
(c) Has no conviction or other disqualifying event under s. 633.412(2);
(d) Complies with s. 633.412(3); and
(e)1. Is recorded on a fire service provider roster in the division’s online electronic database; or
2. Was previously certified as a firefighter or volunteer firefighter in this state.
(2) A firefighter may have his or her Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion placed into a Lifetime Firefighter designation by applying to the division at the time required to renew the certificate. The application shall be made on a form prescribed by the division.
(3) A Lifetime Firefighter may not engage in firefighting activities with a fire department unless he or she holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance issued by the division under s. 633.408.
(4) After the division approves a currently employed firefighter’s Lifetime Firefighter designation, the division shall, after the firefighter’s 4-year period pursuant to s. 633.414, issue in its online electronic database the Lifetime Firefighter designation upon the end of such period.
(5) If a firefighter’s Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion is current upon the approval of a Lifetime Firefighter designation and he or she applies to renew such certification within the first 4 years after the date of such approval, he or she must successfully complete the Minimum Standards Course examination for a firefighter under s. 633.408(1)(a), or the course examinations under s. 633.408(1)(b) for a volunteer firefighter, and meet all requirements in s. 633.412.
(6) If a firefighter’s Firefighter Certificate of Compliance or Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion has expired upon receiving the Lifetime Firefighter designation and he or she desires to perform firefighting services within the first 4 years after the date of approval of the Lifetime Firefighter designation, the firefighter must successfully complete the Minimum Standards Course examination for a firefighter under s. 633.408(1)(a), or the course examinations under s. 633.408(1)(b) for a volunteer firefighter, and meet all requirements in s. 633.412.
(7) A Lifetime Firefighter designation shall be revoked for any of the conditions stated in s. 633.426(3) or (4). The division may investigate and take such action under s. 633.426 to implement this subsection.
(8) The division may adopt rules pursuant to its authority under s. 633.104(1) to implement this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2017-106.