CS/HB 797

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to firefighters; amending s. 633.382,
3	F.S.; revising the definition of the term "firefighter" to
4	include certain firesafety inspectors; revising
5	supplemental compensation qualifications for a firefighter
6	receiving an associate degree to provide that the degree
7	must be obtained from an accredited college or university;
8	specifying qualifications for and amount of supplemental
9	compensation for a firefighter receiving a master's
10	degree; increasing the amount of supplemental compensation
11	for a firefighter receiving an associate or bachelor's
12	degree; providing an effective date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
17	633.382, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
18	633.382  Firefighters; supplemental compensation.--
19	(1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
20	(a)  "Employing agency" means any municipality or any
21	county, the state, or any political subdivision of the state,
22	including authorities and special districts employing
23	firefighters.
24	(b)  "Firefighter" means any person who meets the
25	definition of the term "firefighter" in s. 633.30(1) who is
26	certified in compliance with s. 633.35 and who is employed
27	solely within the fire department of the employing agency or is
28	employed by the division or any person who meets the definition
29	of the term "firesafety inspector" in s. 633.021(10) and who is
30	employed solely within the fire department of the employing
31	agency or is employed by the division.
32	(2)  QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION.--
33	(a)  In addition to the compensation now paid by an
34	employing agency to any firefighter, every firefighter shall be
35	paid supplemental compensation by the employing agency when such
36	firefighter has complied with one of the following criteria:
37	1.  Any firefighter who receives an associate degree from
38	an accredited a college or university, which degree is
39	applicable to fire department duties, as outlined in policy
40	guidelines of the division, shall be additionally compensated as
41	outlined in paragraph (3)(a).
42	2.  Any firefighter, regardless of whether or not she or he
43	earned an associate degree earlier, who receives from an
44	accredited college or university a bachelor's degree, which
45	bachelor's degree is applicable to fire department duties, as
46	outlined in policy guidelines of the division, shall receive
47	compensation as outlined in paragraph (3)(b).
48	3.  Any firefighter, regardless of whether or not she or he
49	earned a bachelor's degree earlier, who receives from an
50	accredited college or university a master's degree, which
51	master's degree is applicable to fire department duties, as
52	outlined in policy guidelines of the division, shall receive
53	compensation as outlined in paragraph (3)(c).
54	(b)  Whenever any question arises as to the eligibility of
55	any firefighter to receive supplemental compensation as provided
56	in this section, the question, together with all facts relating
57	thereto, shall be submitted to the division for determination,
58	and the decision of the division with regard to determination of
59	eligibility shall be final, subject to the provisions of chapter
60	120.
61	(3)  SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION.--Supplemental compensation
62	shall be determined as follows:
63	(a)  One hundred and twenty-five Fifty dollars shall be
64	paid monthly to each firefighter who qualifies under the
65	provisions of subparagraph (2)(a)1.
66	(b)  Two One hundred and ten dollars shall be paid monthly
67	to each firefighter who qualifies under the provisions of
68	subparagraph (2)(a)2.
69	(c)  Three hundred dollars shall be paid monthly to each
70	firefighter who qualifies under subparagraph (2)(a)3.
71	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.