(50 ILCS 740/9) (from Ch. 85, par. 539)

Sec. 9. Training participation; funding. All local governmental agencies and individuals may elect to participate in the training programs under this Act, subject to the rules and regulations of the Office. The participation may be for certification only, or for certification and reimbursement for training expenses as further provided in this Act. To be eligible to receive reimbursement for training of individuals, a local governmental agency shall require by ordinance that a trainee complete a basic level course approved by the Office, and pass the State test for certification at the basic level within the probationary period as established by the local governmental agency. A certified copy of the ordinance must be on file with the Office.

Individuals who have retired from active fire service duties and are officially affiliated with fire service training, mutual aid, incident command, fire ground operations, or staff support for public fire service organizations shall not be prohibited from receiving training certification from the Office on the ground that they are not employed or otherwise engaged by an organized Illinois fire department if they otherwise meet the minimum certification standards set by the Office.

Employees of the Office shall not be prohibited from receiving training certifications from the Office on the grounds that they are not employed or otherwise engaged by an organized Illinois fire department if they otherwise meet the minimum certification standards set by the Office and the certifications are directly related to their job-related duties, as determined by the Office.

The Office may by rule provide for reimbursement funding for trainees who are volunteers or paid on call fire protection personnel beyond their probationary period, but not to exceed 3 years from the date of initial employment. The Office may reimburse for basic or advanced training of individuals who were permanently employed fire protection personnel prior to the date of the ordinance. Individuals may receive reimbursement if employed by a unit of local government that participates for reimbursement funding and the individual is otherwise eligible.

Failure of any trainee to complete the basic training and certification within the required period will render that individual and local governmental agency ineligible for reimbursement funding for basic training for that individual in the calendar year in which his probationary period ends. The individual may later become certified without reimbursement.

Any participating local governmental agency may elect to withdraw from the training program by repealing the original ordinance, and a certified copy of the ordinance must be filed with the Office.

(Source: P.A. 100-600, eff. 1-1-19.)