Governor Signs CPF Bill to Streamline Equipment Operator Training
Governor Jerry Brown this week signed legislation sponsored by the CPF and authored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) making it clear that the training of firefighting equipment operation may be conducted by a firefighter who possesses a valid Class C license with a firefighter endorsement.
Legislation approved in 2010 streamlined the process for issuing drivers’ licenses to operators of fire apparatus by moving these licenses out of the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) commercial licensing program. Follow-up legislation in 2011 included licensing and other requirements for those conducting training for operating firefighting equipment. Consequently, Class C licenses with firefighter endorsements were excluded from the list of licenses that a trainer was able to acquire in order to fulfill their licensing and additional statutory requirements imposed on these trainers.
The bill signed into law Tuesday by the Governor -- Assembly Bill 2438 -- remedies this unintended consequence by clarifying that in addition to possessing a valid Class A or B license or a Class A or B license restricted to the operation of firefighting equipment, the training of firefighting equipment operation may also be conducted by a firefighter who possesses a valid Class C license with a firefighter endorsement.
AB 2438 is the product of CPF Convention Resolution #31, which was submitted by Palo Alto Fire Fighters Local 1319 and adopted by delegates at the 2013 CPF Biennial Convention in Glendale, CA.