Bill > SB345

This bill modifies existing California law regarding the California Fire Service Training and Education Program by adjusting how the State Fire Marshal can establish and collect fees for training, seminars, conferences, and specialized training. Currently, the State Fire Marshal has broad authority to set fees, but the bill now restricts fee collection to situations where state appropriations and other funding sources are insufficient to cover the necessary program costs. The bill amends two sections of the Health and Safety Code (Sections 13157 and 13159.8) to clarify that fees can only be established as a supplemental funding mechanism, not as a primary revenue source. The changes maintain the State Fire Marshal's existing responsibilities for managing fire service training, including developing curriculum, establishing training standards, creating promotional examinations, and promoting the California Fire Academy System. The key modification is essentially a fiscal constraint that ensures fees are only collected when other funding sources are inadequate, potentially protecting fire service professionals and agencies from unnecessary financial burdens while preserving the ability to generate supplemental revenue when absolutely necessary.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB345