661—259.103(17A,77GA,ch1222) Awards to private providers of training. Funds appropriated each year to the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund which remain after the allocations set forth in rule 661—259.102(17A,77GA,ch1222) have been implemented shall be awarded on a competitive basis to private providers of training to provide training to volunteer fire fighters at no cost to the fire fighters receiving the training or to their respective fire departments.
	259.103(1) Funding requests. Requests for funding of training courses instructed by private persons shall be submitted to the fire service training bureau. Requests for funding in any state fiscal year must be received on or before July 15 following the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1.
Exception:  If moneys which have been previously unexpended become available for additional training courses during the course of a fiscal year, notice shall be given to certified fire and emergency services instructors of the availability of these moneys. In this event, the deadline for receiving applications shall be as stated in the notice of availability.
	259.103(2) Instructor qualifications. Any person instructing a training course paid for by the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund shall be certified as a fire and emergency services instructor by the fire service training bureau or another organization recognized by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications System or the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
Exception:  A person who has applied to the fire service training bureau for certification as a fire and emergency services instructor I and who is actively pursuing such certification may instruct a training course paid for by the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund, provided that the instruction is delivered under the direct supervision of a person who is currently certified as a fire and emergency services instructor I by the fire service training bureau or by another organization recognized by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications System or the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
	259.103(3) Course approval. Each course paid for by the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund must have previously been approved by the fire service training bureau. Any person who is certified as a fire and emergency services instructor I or who is actively pursuing certification as a fire and emergency services instructor I should contact the fire service training bureau for information about the course approval process.
	259.103(4) Course availability. Any course which is approved and funded from the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund must be available to any volunteer fire department in the state of Iowa.
	259.103(5) Notification. Each person applying for moneys from the volunteer fire fighter training and equipment fund for delivery of training to volunteer fire fighters shall receive notification indicating whether the request has been approved or denied. Any approval of a request for funding is contingent upon the execution of a contract between the department of public safety and the provider of the proposed training course or courses setting out specific terms and conditions for the delivery of the proposed course or courses. Any person whose request for funding is denied may appeal that decision to the commissioner of public safety by filing a written notice of appeal within 14 calendar days of the date on which the notice indicating denial of the request is dated. Appeals of denials of funding shall be treated as contested cases and processed according to the procedures set out in rules 661—10.301(17A) through 661—10.332(17A).
[ARC 4641C, IAB 8/28/19, effective 10/2/19]