Prescribed Forms for Training and Certification, Programs of Study and Vocational Courses  

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    DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

    Division of State Fire Marshal

    RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

    69A-37.039 Prescribed Forms for Training and Certification

    69A-37.065 Programs of Study and Vocational Courses

    NOTICE OF CHANGE

    Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 43 No. 7, January 11, 2017 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.

    69A-37.039 Prescribed Forms for Training and Certification.

    (1) No change.

    (2) The following forms are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in this rule:

    (a) through (i) No change.

    (j) DFS-K4-1438, rev. 3/17 1/17, “Application for Fire Investigator Certification.”

    (k) through (xx) No change.

    Rulemaking Authority 633.104, 633.128(1)(l), 633.216(9), 633.406(2), 633.418(1), 633.508(2) FS. Law Implemented 633.112(1), 633.128, 633.138, 633.216, 633.406, 633.408, 633.412, 633.418, 633.508(2) FS. History–New 9-7-81, Formerly 4A-37.20, 4A-37.39, Amended 11-26-85, 1-3-90, 6-30-91, 3-20-95, 9-13-98, 12-10-01, Formerly 4A-37.039, Amended 3-19-09, 8-27-12, 8-20-13, 11-18-13, 2-15-15 (f), 2-15-15 (ee)-(ii), 7-13-16,               .

     

    69A-37.065 Programs of Study and Vocational Courses.

    The following programs of study are developed and revised by the Florida State Fire College, pursuant to Sections 633.128 and 633.216, F.S.:

    (1) through (3) No change

    (4) Fire Investigator Program. This is a voluntary advanced training program designed for certified firefighters, certified law enforcement officers, law enforcement crime scene technicians, and certified firesafety inspectors who have fire investigation responsibilities. For the purposes of this subsection (4), “law enforcement crime scene technician” means a person who, as part of his or her job duties, reports to crime scenes to assist in the processing of evidence and who is employed to do such work by a governmental agency, or subunit thereof. A person claiming to be a law enforcement crime scene technician must include with the application for certification a statement from his or her direct supervisor confirming that he or she is employed as a law enforcement crime scene technician. This program is based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1033 “Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator.” This program is intended to prepare individuals for service as fire investigators in the public sector.

    (a) Fire Investigator Certification for Individuals holding a Fire Investigator II Certification. For individuals holding a Fire Investigator II Certificate of Competency issued by the Division, the Division shall issue a Fire Investigator Certificate of Competency if the applicant:

    1. through 2. No change.

    3. Submitted a completed Form DFS-K4-1438, “Application for Fire Investigator Certification,” which is incorporated by reference in subsection 69A-37.039(2), F.A.C., and can be obtained as specified in subsection 69A-37.039(1), F.A.C., with all supporting documentation and fees, including the supervisor’s statement that he or she is employed as a law enforcement crime scene technician (if applicable), to the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

    (b) Fire Investigator Certification for All Others. For all other individuals, including those who hold a Fire Investigator I Certificate of Competency issued by the Division, the Division shall issue a Fire Investigator Certificate of Competency if the individual meets the requirements of this paragraph (4)(b).

    1. No change.

    2. Approved Courses. Courses under subparagraph (4)(b)1. this paragraph (d) must be approved by the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training and meet the curriculum requirements of the program. Approved courses are delivered by either the Division; a provider whose course is registered in the Florida Department of Education Statewide Course Numbering System; the United States Fire Administration – National Fire Academy; a regionally accredited or nationally accredited college or university as outlined in subsections 69A-37.084(5) and (6), F.A.C.; a provider whose course is recognized by the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education program; or a provider whose course is determined by the Division to be equivalent to the Statewide Course Numbering System or Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education course. The courses “Latent Investigation,” “Arson Investigation,” “Fire Origin and Cause,” “Post Blast Investigation,” and “Legal Issues for Fire Investigators” shall be taught in a traditional classroom delivery method. The courses “Fire Chemistry,” “Fire Protection Systems,” and “Building Construction” may be taught by a provider using alternative delivery techniques, including online course delivery or blended learning. For each course, a provider shall:

    a. No change.

    b. Deliver the course using the corresponding syllabus found at the following link: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/SFM/BFST/Training/CourseSyllabi.htm, which is hereby incorporated by reference; and

    c. through d. are renumbered as b. and c. No other change.

    3. No change.

    4. Requirements for Certificate of Competency. The Division shall issue a Fire Investigator Certificate of Competency if the applicant:

    a. through d. No change.

    e. Submitted the required Form DFS-K4-1438, “Application for Fire Investigator Certification,” which is incorporated by reference in subsection 69A-37.039(2), F.A.C., and can be obtained as specified in subsection 69A-37.039(1), F.A.C., with all supporting documentation and fees, including the supervisor’s statement that he or she is employed as a law enforcement crime scene technician (if applicable), to the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.; and,

    (c) through (d) No change.

    (5) through (10) No change.

    Rulemaking Authority 633.104, 633.128, 633.406(2), 633.418, 633.508(2) FS. Law Implemented 633.128, 633.132, 633.406, 633.408, 633.418, 633.508(2) FS. History–New 12-10-01, Formerly 4A-37.065, Amended 8-27-12, 11-18-13, 2-15-15, 7-13-16, _______.

     

    The Application for Fire Investigator Certification is being updated to add the employer statement required for law enforcement crime scene technicians to the checklist. The remainder of the rules read as previously published.