New Michigan law allows trained high school students to become firefighters at age 18
With Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder out of the country on a trade mission to Asia, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley today signed into law new rules on youth firefighter training.
Senate Bill 212, sponsored by state Sen. Roger Kahn, allows fire departments to partner with school districts to provide firefighter training to students who are at least 16 years old and who, upon completion of the program, would be provisionally licensed until age 18, when they could begin fighting fires. The bill is now Public Act 153 of 2011.
According to the state fire marshal, about 75 percent of Michigan is protected by volunteer or part-time firefighters. But according to supporters of the new law, it can be difficult for fire departments to recruit and retain people who will serve as volunteer or part-time firefighters unless their interest is captured at a young age.
Brian Calley
Some fire departments already participate in a program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America called Fire Service Exploring, which offers hands-on experience for youths who might be interested in firefighting careers. Through the program, fire departments establish so-called "exploring units" or "posts" to offer firefighter training to 16- and 17-year-olds.
The thinking behind SB 212 is that more students would take advantage of that kind of training if school districts partnered with fire departments and, with approval of the State Board of Education, gave credit for the training.
The new law permits school districts to affiliate with fire departments to allow 16- and 17- year-olds to participate in training courses and firefighter exams, and allows school boards to apply for authorization to hire non-certificated trainers to teach firefighter courses.
The bill received support from state Reps. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor; Mark Ouimet, R-Scio Township; and David Rutledge, D-Superior Township, and Rick Olson, R-York Township; as well as state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor.
Article V Section 26 of the Michigan Constitution gives authority to the lieutenant governor when the governor is outside the state.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Ron Granger
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
I took this training when I was young, and was a volunteer firefighter. One concern I have for this is kids ignoring core education requirements because they become set on becoming a firefighter. "Firefighters don't need math, right?" Once upon a time, fire fighting was a good profession. And after a lifetime of service, you had a decent pension to retire on. That was largely due to unions. Typically when you terminate a firefighter, they have to move. Because there aren't other similar employers in the immediate area. So firefighters need stability. That only comes with unions. These days, full time firefighter jobs are rare. Part time firefighters have limited benefits and little stability. They work multiple jobs to survive. Snyder's agenda is to bust unions and commoditize workers into cheap drones, all at entry level pay. If they give you any trouble, fire'em and hire someone cheaper - there is no concept of loyalty in Snyder's world (except to executives) - even to the firefighters who loyally turn out to save our homes and lives. The darkside of this legislation is that this is his way of commoditizing the firefighting workforce. Snyder would like to turn firefighting into grocery bagging - always someone available to take your job at an entry level wage. So these students had better focus on all aspects of their education. The days of a stable career as a firefighter may have passed.
james
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.
"Because there aren't other similar employers in the immediate area. So firefighters need stability. That only comes with unions." If they need stability, they should get another job. There are tons of other jobs that aren't stable, and it's accepted. "There is no concept of loyalty in Snyder's world . fire'em and hire someone cheaper" Employees have the benefit of leaving at any time if they find a job that pays more. They aren't even legally obligated to give a 2-week notice. If companies get forced by the unions to hire at inflated wages and can't fire someone, then employees should also be forced to work for a company for a certain amount of time when they are hired. Or at least be legally obligated to give a 2-week notice. "always someone available to take your job at an entry level wage." This is how supply and demand works. If your job isn't unique and anybody can do it, you really shouldn't get paid executive level wages. The unions inflate wages to the point of ridiculousness. Not only that, but most (especially the auto unions) are equally as corrupt and power-hungry as any company. Since firefighting is a dangerous job and isn't something anybody can do, I don't see wages plummeting. Nobody is going to work as a firefighter if they can get paid the same or more at Mcdonalds. The stress and danger just isn't worth it.
Smart Logic
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
This is an example of a good law. High school kids are already allowed to take college prep courses for both high school and college credit. If they know they want to become firefighters, why not let them have a similar opportunity reasonably early and have a better chance at gainful employment after high school? I don't say this often, but kudos to the Michigan government on this one.
jcj
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
I don't think any of them will be getting jobs in Ann Arbor!
Ron Granger
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:47 p.m.
Or maybe anywhere - this is about *volunteer* firefighters. Fulltime firefighter gigs have always typically been hard to find in great locations.