The Fire Chief recommends that City Council approve a motion authorizing payment to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for recertification of firefighters in an amount not to exceed $392,300.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The Fire Chief recommends that City Council approve a motion authorizing payment to the Texas Commission of Fire Protection (TCFP) for recertification of firefighters in an amount not to exceed $392,300 for FY19.
Texas Government Code 419.034 requires that all firefighters employed in the State of Texas as a full-time firefighter hold a State certification. Certification must be renewed annually for each firefighter. Annual recertification fees of $75 per firefighter are to be paid to the TCFP prior to October 31st of each year. Payment after October 31st results in a late penalty of $37.50, in addition to the renewal fee, for each individual for which a renewal fee was due.
Certifications include firefighting, inspection, rescue, aircraft firefighting, hazmat, arson, fire officer and fire instructors. Not every firefighter holds each certification. Each individual is State certified in accordance with their job responsibilities within the department. Based on current numbers of certified employees and projected trainees to be certified this fiscal year, HFD budgeted a total expenditure of no more than $392,300 in FY19.
Fiscal Note: Funding for this item is included in the FY19 Adopted Budget. There is no increase to the operating budget.
TCFP Renewal Fees FY19 Budget
|
Units
|
Cost/Unit
|
Total Cost
|
TCFP- Annual Renewal - Department Personnel
|
4171
|
$75
|
$ 312,825.00
|
Renewal for Training Facility and Head of Department
|
3
|
$75
|
$ 225.00
|
Initial Testing and Certifications for Cadet Training
|
280
|
$85
|
$ 23,800.00
|
TCFP Retest Fees
|
30
|
$35
|
$ 1,050.00
|
Classified Testing and Certification (Fire Officer I & II)
|
130
|
$170
|
$ 22,100.00
|
Classified Testing and Certification (Fire Instructor I & II)
|
130
|
$170
|
$ 22,100.00
|
Safety Officer Testing and Certification
|
60
|
$170
|
$ 10,200.00
|
|
|
|
$ 392,300.00
|