§7384. Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

(a) Creation.--There is created the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, which shall be under the operational control of the commissioner. The commissioner shall administratively provide for the erection or construction, the furnishing, the staffing and the equipping of buildings and structures through the Department of General Services and for the leasing thereof by the Commonwealth for the use and support of the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. The Pennsylvania State Firemen's Training School and the powers and duties of the Department of Education and the Public Service Institute Board pertaining to the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Training School, which were transferred to the agency under Reorganization Plan No.6 of 1981 (P.L.613) and which are set forth in Subchapter D (relating to State Firemen's Training School), are hereby transferred to and vested in the commissioner.

(b) Transfer.--There are transferred to the commissioner, to be used, employed and expended in connection with the functions, powers and duties enumerated in subsection (a), personnel, contract obligations, if any, records, files, property, supplies and equipment now being used or held in connection with such functions, powers and duties and the unexpended balance of appropriations, allocations, Federal grants and other funds available or to be made available for use in connection with such functions, powers and duties as previously were vested in the Department of Education and the Public Service Institute Board under Subchapter D, and transferred to the agency by Reorganization Plan No.6 of 1981 (P.L.613).

(c) Hazardous chemical and radioactive material training.--The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy shall serve as the resident Commonwealth government center for hazardous chemical and radioactive material training. The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy is authorized to use resident and field staff to support this training.

(d) Firefighter training and certification.--A Statewide firefighter training program shall be implemented by the commissioner to educate the fire service community about the importance of firefighter health and safety. This program shall include measures designed to increase the mobility of training courses throughout this Commonwealth, to enhance firefighter accessibility to training course offerings and to improve and expand training for and response capability to emergencies with emphasis on hazardous materials incidents. The program shall also include implementation of a firefighter certification program in accordance with parameters developed by the commissioner consistent with established standards. The acquisition of physical resources to enhance Statewide capability shall be coordinated by the commissioner.

(e) Administration.--

(1) The commissioner may assess reasonable fees on for-profit corporations and businesses and on students who are nonresidents of this Commonwealth for fire, rescue and emergency service training programs provided to them by the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, but in no event shall any member of a municipal or volunteer fire, rescue, ambulance or other emergency service organization located within this Commonwealth be charged for training provided at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

(2) The commissioner may charge all students for class materials and supplies directly related to the conduct of classes provided at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and for insignia, patches and similar memorabilia indicating student attendance or achievement at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

(3) All revenues generated by these fees and charges shall augment the appropriation made to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.