HF 587 (LSB 2639YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 587

BY  THOMSON

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring schools to establish and offer a junior fire fighter program to high school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0t.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to offering a junior fire fighter program to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to offering a junior fire fighter program to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  Junior fire fighter program.
   1.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall offer to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve a junior fire fighter program, either by establishing the program or by partnering with or using the curriculum of a national organization that provides a similar program, that meets all of the following requirements:
   a.  Allows students to learn more about the work performed by fire fighters and other emergency services providers in a safe and controlled environment.
   b.  Provides students with valuable life skills, including teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and commitment.
   c.  Fosters relationships between students and fire fighters and other emergency services providers.
   d.  Promotes student participation in the fire services and other emergency services fields after graduation.
   2.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school may offer the junior fire fighter program to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve as an extracurricular activity or as part of the career and technical education curriculum under section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “h”, subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (e).
    Sec. 4.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to offer to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 a junior fighter program that allows students to learn more about the work performed by fire fighters and other emergency services providers in a safe and controlled environment, provides students with valuable life skills, fosters relationships between students and fire fighters and other emergency services providers, and promotes student participation in the fire services and other emergency services fields after graduation. Schools are allowed to offer the junior fire fighter program as an extracurricular activity or as part of the human services component of the career and technical education curriculum. Additionally, schools are allowed to establish the program directly or to partner with or use the curriculum of a national organization that provides a similar program.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.