What is the Firefighter Minimum Training Law?
This law was passed by the 2009 General Assembly and signed by the governor on June 25, 2009. The law took effect on July 1, 2009. T.C.A. Title 4, Chapter 24, Part 1, was amended by adding a new section, Section T.C.A. § 4-24-112. The law did three things: (1) established a 16-hour class that must be taken by anyone who enters the fire service before they can respond to any emergency, and (2) requires that every firefighter complete a basic firefighter class (including live firefighting), as defined by the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy, within three years of joining a fire department, and (3) provides exceptions for firefighters who already had five years of experience as of July 1, 2009.

Who does this law affect?
All full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters in Tennessee.

Are there any exceptions?
Yes. (1) Any firefighter who is certified by a medical doctor as medically or physically unable to complete the training requirements is exempt; however, the fire department may not allow such firefighters to engage in active firefighting operations and (2) any firefighter who is certified by the fire department's chief officer not to operate within an environment determined to be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) is exempt from the "live firefighting" portion of the training referenced in subsection (a)(2).

What are the minimum training standards required by this law?
(1) The firefighter must previously have completed, or must complete after joining the fire department, a minimum of 16 hours of initial training developed by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in firefighting procedures and techniques, or complete equivalent training approved by the Tennessee Commission on Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education before being allowed to actively fight a fire, and (2) Within 36 months after hire or acceptance date as a firefighter, the firefighter must have completed, or must complete after joining the fire department, the "basic and live firefighting" course offered by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy or an equivalent course. The law requires that the firefighter complete both the 16 hours of initial training and the 64-hour basic as well as the 16-hour live firefighting course: the 64-hour course does not substitute for the 16 hours of initial training. A firefighter must take all three classes to comply with the law.

Possible Legal Implications for Fire Departments in Exempted Counties
Fire departments in counties that are exempt from the training requirements of this law should not rest on their exemption too easily. For an exemption from a general law to be valid, there must be a rational basis for the exemption (Nolichuckey Sand Co. v. Huddleston, 896 S.W.2d 782 (Tenn. App. 1994)). In other words, there must be a reason or a common thread linking the exempted counties that justifies treating them differently from all the other counties of the state. No such reason, common thread, or rational basis is evident here. If an exemption is challenged, therefore, there is a good likelihood that it would be ruled invalid. There is a severability clause in the law saying that if a part of the law is ruled invalid, that part will be removed, and the rest of the law will remain in effect. If a county’s exemption is ruled invalid and removed, the training requirements in the law would then apply in that county. Thus, there is a possibility that the law will be interpreted by the courts as applying statewide anyway, even with the attempted exemptions.

Another reason the training standards established in the new law could apply even in the exempt counties is that they might be interpreted in a tort liability suit as setting the standard against which conduct is measured even in those counties. Thus, even if the training requirement does not apply in those counties, the conduct of the firefighters in the county could be measured in a lawsuit using the presumed conduct, based upon expert testimony, of firefighters who had received the training. In many cases the conduct of the untrained firefighter would not measure up. Lack of training also could be used in a federal lawsuit based on deliberate indifference or failure to train when firefighter actions result in injuries to, or death of, a member of the public or other firefighters. Liability under federal law is not limited. Governing bodies and fire departments in the exempt counties should not ignore this law.

Additional Information
This training can be completed at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy or through any equivalent course elsewhere. The Academy offers the curriculum for both the 16-hour class and the basic class in digital format that is free from any staff member of the Academy.

The final version of the legislation also authorizes the local government to decide who will be responsible for the cost: the local government or the firefighter.

Several counties exempted themselves out of the legislation:

This section does not apply to the following counties unless the county legislative body adopts a resolution to apply such requirements: Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Cocke, Clay, Fentress, Giles, Greene, Hamblen, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence*, Lewis*, Loudon, McMinn*, Meigs, Morgan, Overton, Perry*, Pickett, Polk, Roane, Scott, Trousdale, Union, Unicoi, Washington.

This section does not apply to the following counties unless the county legislative body adopts by a two-thirds vote a resolution to apply such requirements: McMinn*.

This section does not apply to the following counties unless the county legislative body adopts by a two-thirds vote a resolution to opt into the statutory requirements: Bledsoe, Cumberland, Lawrence*, Lewis*, Rhea.

This act does not apply to the following counties: Benton, Decatur, Hancock, Hawkins, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Lake, Obion, Perry*, Stewart, Weakley*.

 *Counties listed in more than one section of the bill.

Due to language in the law that establishes exemptions for counties and municipalities within those counties based on population in the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the exemption status of counties and municipalities within those counties are subject to change.

Fire departments in exempt counties can still provide the training even though they are not required to.