Below you will find a list of legislation passed during the 2015 Virginia General Assembly Session that will have an influence on Virginia’s fire and emergency medical services. The following legislations will become effective on July 1, 2014, unless otherwise indicated. • HB1544 (Fariss) – This legislation allows emergency vehicles to be equipped with illuminated identification systems that assist aircraft in reading numbers and other identifying markings on the roofs of the emergency vehicles. • HB1553 (Marshall, D.W) – This legislation grants any locality the authority to establish a system to deliver emergency notifications to residents by email or text message. The local ordinance must be adopted only after a public hearing and shall contain an opt-in provision for non–emergency notifications. • HB1570 (Orrock) and SB1168 (Hanger) – These bills make comprehensive modifications to day care centers, assisted living facilities and family day homes in response to the three children fire fatalities during the fall of 2014. In short, this legislation will require fingerprint–based national criminal history records checks for licensed child day centers and family day homes. The final text requires family day homes providing care for five or more children for compensation to be licensed by the Department of Social Services. However, children related to the family day home provider still will not be counted. This legislation has delayed enactment clause and its provision will not become effective until July 1, 2016. • HB1584 (Stolle) and SB938 (Stuart) – These bills revise terminology related to fire and emergency medical services and reorganizes provisions to ensure consistency throughout the Code of Virginia. • HB1808 (Herring) and SB1184(McDougle) – These bills implement comprehensive modifications to improve the current state of readiness of Virginia’s law enforcement and search and rescue efforts for rapid and well–coordinated deployment in all missing, endangered, and abducted person cases. More specifically, the legislation defines a critically missing adult as any missing individual 21 years of age or older whose disappearance indicates a credible threat to the health and safety of the adult as determined by a law-enforcement agency. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards and publish a model policy for missing children, missing adults, and search and rescue protocol. • HB2125 (Cline) and SB1301 (McEachin) – These bills outline an absolute prohibition on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by law enforcement and regulatory entities unless a search warrant has been obtained prior to such use. The warrant requirement does not apply to certain search and rescue operations, certain Virginia National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces functions, research and development conducted by institutions of higher education or other research organizations, or the use of unmanned aircraft systems for private, commercial, or recreational use. • HB2204 (Jones) – This legislation transfers the overall administration of the Line of Duty Act program from the Department of Accounts to the Virginia Retirement System and transfers the administration of the health insurance benefits under the Act to the Department of Human Resource Management. The bill also directs the Virginia Retirement System and the Department of Human Resource Management to meet with stakeholders to develop additional recommendations to ensure the program’s long–term fiscal viability and improve the way in which the Act serves line of duty personnel. This legislation has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2016, which would allow time for broader reform efforts. • HJ597 (Hugo) – This resolution allows the General Assembly to provide for a local option to exempt from taxation the primary residence of the surviving spouse of any law–enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel killed in the line of duty. This legislation has a reenactment clause and requires successful passage by the 2016 General Assembly Session. •  SB845 (Stanley) – This legislation provides civil liability to all volunteer first responders. The bill cites that no volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency services personnel shall be liable for any injury to persons or property arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle when such volunteer is en route to render emergency care or assistance to any person at the scene of an accident, fire, or life-threatening emergency, unless such injury results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. • SB997 (Stuart) – This legislation seeks to amend the procedures for obtaining a criminal background check of an individual seeking to become a volunteer with or employee of an emergency medical services agency. More specifically, this bill will allow local governments to forward fingerprints and personal descriptive information directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation instead of forwarding fingerprints and accompanying information through the Virginia State Police’s Central Criminal Records Exchange. Below you will find a list of legislation passed during the 2015 Virginia General Assembly Session that will have an influence on Virginia’s fire and emergency medical services. The following legislations will become effective on July 1, 2014, unless otherwise indicated. • HB1544 (Fariss) – This legislation allows emergency vehicles to be equipped with illuminated identification systems that assist aircraft in reading numbers and other identifying markings on the roofs of the emergency vehicles. • HB1553 (Marshall, D.W) – This legislation grants any locality the authority to establish a system to deliver emergency notifications to residents by email or text message. The local ordinance must be adopted only after a public hearing and shall contain an opt-in provision for non–emergency notifications. • HB1570 (Orrock) and SB1168 (Hanger) – These bills make comprehensive modifications to day care centers, assisted living facilities and family day homes in response to the three children fire fatalities during the fall of 2014. In short, this legislation will require fingerprint–based national criminal history records checks for licensed child day centers and family day homes. The final text requires family day homes providing care for five or more children for compensation to be licensed by the Department of Social Services. However, children related to the family day home provider still will not be counted. This legislation has delayed enactment clause and its provision will not become effective until July 1, 2016. • HB1584 (Stolle) and SB938 (Stuart) – These bills revise terminology related to fire and emergency medical services and reorganizes provisions to ensure consistency throughout the Code of Virginia. • HB1808 (Herring) and SB1184(McDougle) – These bills implement comprehensive modifications to improve the current state of readiness of Virginia’s law enforcement and search and rescue efforts for rapid and well–coordinated deployment in all missing, endangered, and abducted person cases. More specifically, the legislation defines a critically missing adult as any missing individual 21 years of age or older whose disappearance indicates a credible threat to the health and safety of the adult as determined by a law-enforcement agency. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards and publish a model policy for missing children, missing adults, and search and rescue protocol. • HB2125 (Cline) and SB1301 (McEachin) – These bills outline an absolute prohibition on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by law enforcement and regulatory entities unless a search warrant has been obtained prior to such use. The warrant requirement does not apply to certain search and rescue operations, certain Virginia National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces functions, research and development conducted by institutions of higher education or other research organizations, or the use of unmanned aircraft systems for private, commercial, or recreational use. • HB2204 (Jones) – This legislation transfers the overall administration of the Line of Duty Act program from the Department of Accounts to the Virginia Retirement System and transfers the administration of the health insurance benefits under the Act to the Department of Human Resource Management. The bill also directs the Virginia Retirement System and the Department of Human Resource Management to meet with stakeholders to develop additional recommendations to ensure the program’s long–term fiscal viability and improve the way in which the Act serves line of duty personnel. This legislation has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2016, which would allow time for broader reform efforts. • HJ597 (Hugo) – This resolution allows the General Assembly to provide for a local option to exempt from taxation the primary residence of the surviving spouse of any law–enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel killed in the line of duty. This legislation has a reenactment clause and requires successful passage by the 2016 General Assembly Session. •  SB845 (Stanley) – This legislation provides civil liability to all volunteer first responders. The bill cites that no volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency services personnel shall be liable for any injury to persons or property arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle when such volunteer is en route to render emergency care or assistance to any person at the scene of an accident, fire, or life-threatening emergency, unless such injury results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. • SB997 (Stuart) – This legislation seeks to amend the procedures for obtaining a criminal background check of an individual seeking to become a volunteer with or employee of an emergency medical services agency. More specifically, this bill will allow local governments to forward fingerprints and personal descriptive information directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation instead of forwarding fingerprints and accompanying information through the Virginia State Police’s Central Criminal Records Exchange.

CONGRESS CONTINUES WORK ON CONTINUING RESOLUTION AS DEADLINE LOOMS Congress is making the final push to approve a continuing resolution before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2016. On Tuesday, September 20th, the Senate agreed to move to consideration of a measure that would keep the federal government functioning under current spending levels until December 9, 2016. This is necessary to allow Congress to complete work on Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) spending bills. Even though both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have completed work on all the FY17 spending bills, not a single appropriations measure has been approved by both chambers and sent to the White House for the President’s signature. Although the Senate has made some progress on the temporary spending measure, differences remain over funding levels to combat the Zika virus and provide assistance for the flooding in the Southeast. Additional, members of Congress are debating whether to include funds to address lead-contaminated waters in Flint, MI. The Senate could vote on the continuing resolution the afternoon of Tuesday, September 27th, but the two sides will need to resolve their differences to ensure passage of the measure. Should the Senate approve the bill, the House is currently operating under modified rules that will allow for expedited consideration and approval of the bill. VOLUNTEER RESPONDER INCENTIVE PROTECTION ACT ADVANCES IN SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE On September 21, 2016, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved legislation preserving incentives for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. Provisions from S. 609, the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA), were included in the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act, legislation the committee considered and approved. S. 609, which was introduced by Senators Charles Schumer (NY) and Susan Collins (ME), exempts from federal income tax any property tax benefit, and up to $600 per year of any other type of benefit, that a state or local unit of government provides to volunteer emergency responders as a recruitment or retention incentive. Congressman John Larson (CT-1) introduced H.R. 2752, companion legislation to S. 609, on June 12, 2015. HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE PROTECTING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY MEDICATIONS ACT On September 21, 2016, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved H.R. 4365, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-8), amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow EMS providers to continue dispensing controlled substances under standing orders. Earlier this year, CFSI’s National Advisory Committee approved a resolution calling on CFSI to endorse the legislation. Senator Bill Cassidy (LA) introduced companion legislation, S. 2932, in the Senate on May 16, 2016.

Virginia Fire Marshal Academy Course Descriptions

This list includes course descriptions, prerequisites, text and equipment requirements, hours, recertification and standard/regulation information and any special notes. When a registration fee is required, please make checks payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. If you have questions or require additional information about any of the courses listed below, please contact the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy at FMA@vdfp.virginia.gov.

Public/Community Outreach and Education

Communicating With Your Community This entry level attendance course is designed for fire service personnel. The course covers communication techniques, including developmental characteristics and learning capabilities of ranging from preschoolers to older adults. It also reviews classes of fire, fire extinguishers, firefighter’s personal protection equipment and methods of discussing and delivering topics to the general public. This training provides the station firefighter with the knowledge, skills, and ability to deliver department approved fire safety messages, programs, and materials to their community as assigned. Prerequisites:                    FLSE I is preferred but not required Text:                                       CWYC student note taking guide – provided in an electronic format Hours:                                    4 Registration Cost:            $0   NFPA 1035 – Level 1 Fire & Life Safety Educator This ProBoard and IFSAC certified course covers the general requisite knowledge and skills for an individual to meet the JPRs of an entry-level position in the field of Fire and Life Safety Education. This course is designed to give a basic overview of the duties and responsibilities of a Fire and Life Safety Educator I and describe how the position works in a typical Fire Department or other Community Risk Reduction organization. The course content includes History of Fire Prevention, Fire and Life Safety and Prevention messaging, learning tyles, methods, and strategies for effective teaching, age group characteristics, High Risk populations, Personal Protective Equipment, fire behavior and Fire Prevention basics for FLSE, Public Relations, professionalism, lesson planning, evaluation, and assessment. Prerequisites: None Testing:              Students must pass a skills test and a written exam with a minimum passing score of 70. Text:                    IFSTA Fire and Life Safety Educator 3rd edition and FLSE I student note taking guide – provided to student. Hours:               32 Cost:                   $0   NFPA 1035 Level II Fire & Life Safety Educator 1035 This ProBoard and IFSAC certified course covers the general requisite knowledge and skills for an individual to meet the JPRs of a manager-level position in the field of Fire and Life Safety Education. This course will cover the basics of how to design, plan, and develop Fire and Injury prevention education programs and materials; analyze community risk; preparation of program budget proposals, projections ad grant requests; development of public policy recommendations for management; supervision and evaluation of subordinates and programs; facilitation of collaborative partnerships with internal and external organizational members. Prerequisites: None Testing:              Students must pass a skills test and a written exam with a minimum passing score of 70. Text:                    IFSTA Fire and Life Safety Educator 3rd edition and FLSE II student note taking guide – provided to student Hours:               32 Cost:                   $0

Fire Marshal Development

VFMA – Civilian Entry This course was developed to assist civilians with developing a fundamental level of fire service knowledge before entering into the Fire Marshal courses. Prerequisites:     None Cost:                        $0   VFMA – 1031 Bridge Program This program is intended for 1031 Fire Inspector accredited certificate holders seeking reciprocity to satisfy the requirements of Section 27.34-2 of the Code of Virginia regarding the authority to arrest, to procure and serve warrants of arrest and to issue summons or certificate holders that are classified as lapsed according to Virginia Certification Standard, Section 12VAC5-21-51 regarding issuance and maintenance of certificates. Refer to the 1031 Bridge Flowchart for more information.   NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector II This 120-hour ProBoard certified course is designed for the individual conducting fire inspections, life safety surveys/inspection, and fire code enforcement for multi-occupancy structures. The Fire Inspector II course satisfies the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1031 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner, Chapter 5 “Fire Inspector II.” It is designed around classroom lectures and individual activities to provide the student the needed skills and knowledge to conduct multiple occupancy fire inspections. Prerequisites: Firefighter Level II and Hazardous Materials Awareness OR VFMA Civilian Entry Process Certification Requirements: Students must complete written and practical skills testing, homework assignments and participate in all practical exercises / activities. Text:   Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. Instructions for downloading course materials, i.e. PowerPoint slides, will be provided with registration confirmation. Hours:           120 hours Cost:               Priority 1: $100 Priority 2: $250 Priority 3: $1,000   NFPA 1033 – Fire Investigator This 160-hour ProBoard certified course targets fire investigators, police officers, and company-level officers with a desire to learn more about determining the origin and cause of fire. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: Determining the Point of Origin, Burn Patterns, Evidence Collection and Analysis, Interviewing Techniques, and Court Procedure and Testifying.  The Fire Investigator course satisfies the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1033 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator. Prerequisites: Firefighter Level II and Virginia recognized Hazardous Materials Awareness OR VFMA Civilian Entry Testing: Students must successfully complete written and practical skills testing. Details of the testing process will be provided on the first day of class. Texts:  NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation Required Equipment:  Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment, long sleeve shirt and pants, steel toe shoes / boots, leather gloves, hard hat and respiratory protection (N95, N100, or filter mask approved for carbon and asbestos), flashlight, notebook, pen / pencil, digital camera. Hours: 160 Cost:     Priority 1: $100   VFMA – Fire Marshal Law Enforcement School This advanced course is designed to develop current Fire Marshals within the guidelines outlined in §27-34.2:1. Police powers of fire marshals. Over the period of instruction, students will be exposed to a variety of classroom, field exercises, practicals, and examinations. Prerequisites:     NFPA 1033 Fire Investigator 1033 Equipment:         A detailed list of equipment will be provided to confirmed students. Hours:                   Approx. 400 hours Cost:                       $300 – Includes the cost of a VFMA uniform, books, handouts, and forensic supplies.   VFMA – Environmental Investigations A one week school designed for those individuals assigned the responsibility to investigate (by state or local authority) environmental situations, including illegal dumping or disposal of hazardous materials and waste. Prerequisites:     Hazmat Awareness. Student must be 18 years of age. Equipment:         SCBA, mask, and one spare bottle. Hours:                   40 Cost:                      $25

Training Officers/Instructors The purpose of the Training Officer/Instructor page is to provide pertinent information to all Training Officers and Instructors. Please be encouraged to use these forms and take full advantage of all educational benefits available through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. We have developed this page with you in mind to assist with the necessary resources so that you can continue to serve, represent, and enhance your professionalism and capabilities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Forms Forms Upcoming Classes Course Offerings

Students VDFP supports students and training across all divisions within the commonwealth of Virginia. Prospective Students Becoming a Firefighter Forms Virginia Fire Marshal Academy Current Students Current Course Offerings New Students Forms

  Brad Creasy Executive Director1005 Technology Park Drive Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500Brad.Creasy@vdfp.virginia.gov   Jared Goff Chief of the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy 1005 Technology Park Drive Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500jared.goff@vdfp.virginia.gov Jamey Brads Chief of Training and Operations1005 Technology Park Drive Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500 jamey.brads@vdfp.virginia.gov Ken Brown Coordinator of Community Risk Reduction1005 Technology Park Drive Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500 kenneth.brown@vdfp.virginia.gov

VDFP produces a variety of informational pieces in an attempt to keep citizens informed as to operations and available programs and services. These include regular newsletters, brochures, annual reports, and course catalog. 2014 online course catalog – A publication detailing VDFP training courses. Mark Buff Marketing & Communications Manager 1005 Technology Park Drive
Glen Allen, Virginia 23059-4500
804-249-1965 ext. 1965 804-371-3444 mark.buff@vdfp.virginia.gov