Bill > HB1870

This bill requires that individuals acting as fire investigators with police powers, including the power to arrest, in cases of arson or suspected arson must be certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). This applies to the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance and their deputies, as well as municipal and salaried county fire investigators. While these officials can still investigate fires without POST certification if they are not exercising police powers, the bill establishes specific requirements for obtaining and maintaining this certification, including completing an approved recruit training program and annual in-service training. However, there are grandfather clauses for existing municipal or county fire investigators hired before January 1, 2021, who will not need POST certification if they were serving as fire investigators on January 1, 2027, while those hired on or after January 1, 2021, will have until January 1, 2030, to comply.