This bill mandates that all school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa establish and offer a junior firefighter program for students in grades nine through twelve. The program is designed to educate students about the roles of firefighters and emergency service providers in a safe environment, while also imparting valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and responsibility. Schools have the flexibility to implement the program either as an extracurricular activity or as part of the career and technical education curriculum, and they may choose to develop the program independently or collaborate with a national organization that offers a similar curriculum.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that require compliance with section 280.36, which outlines the specifics of the junior firefighter program. It also specifies that any state costs associated with this mandate will be covered by the school district using state school foundation aid, ensuring that no additional state funding is necessary for the implementation of the program. This approach aims to reinforce the obligation of political subdivisions to adhere to state mandates while providing a structured opportunity for students to engage with the fire services and emergency response fields.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256E.7, 280.36