HB564--INVESTIGATIONS OFFIREFIGHTERS
SPONSOR: Sauls
Thisbillestablishesminimumstandardsthatmustbefollowedwhen
afirefighterisunderinvestigationandissubjectto
interrogation. Thestandardsarespecifiedinthebilland
include,butarenotlimitedto,notifyingthefirefighterin
writingofthenatureoftheinvestigationandwhowillbe
conductingtheinterrogationandwhowillbepresentduringthe
interrogation, aswellasthenamesofthecomplainants. Thebill
alsospecifiesthatallfirefighterinvestigations mustbe
completedwithinthreemonthsoftheircommencementunlessa
firefighterunderinvestigationisincapacitatedorotherwise
unavailable.
Thebillfurtherprovidesthatnofirefighterunderinvestigation
shallbesubjectedtoanypunitiveaction,deniedpromotion,
discharged,disciplined,orbethreatenedwithsuch,becauseheor
sheexerciseshisorherlawfulrightsunderanyexisting
administrative grievanceprocedures,statutes,orConstitutional
provisions.
Attheconclusionofaninvestigation, ifanemployerdecidesto
disciplinethefirefighter,thefirefightermustbenotifiedin
writingoftheemployer'sdecisionwithinfivedaysofthedecision
andatleast48hourspriortotheactualimpositionofdiscipline.
Afirefightermustnothavehisorherlockerorotherassigned
spacesearchedexceptinhisorherpresenceorwithhisorher
consent,unlessavalidsearchwarrantisfirstobtained. Lastly,
amemberofanyfiredepartmentorfireprotectiondistrictmust
notbeprohibitedfromseekingpublicoffice.
ThisbillisthesameasHB2063(2022)andHB951(2021).