Governor Signs CFFJAC Firefighter Anti-Terrorism Training Bill

California's first responders will be better prepared to meet the challenges of domestic terrorism thanks to legislation signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

AB 587, authored by Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach), earmarks $2.5 million for firefighter anti-terrorism training -- half of the $5 million allocation made out of proceeds from a special 9/11 license plate fund. The money will be allocated by the state Office of Emergency Services directly to the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC). The legislation was sponsored by California Professional Firefighters, a co-sponsor of CFFJAC.

The need for funding fire service antiterrorism training courses and activities has never been more critical given that firefighters are soldiers of first response in acts of domestic terrorism. Since September 11, 2001 responses by fire service personnel to substances of unknown origin have increased dramatically. The public's demand for evaluations of perceived hazardous materials and assessments of unknown compounds has stretched fire department resources beyond all previous levels

When firefighters are properly trained, the negative impact of a terrorist threat is significantly reduced.

AB 587 builds on the CFFJAC's leadership role in the development of state-of-the-art anti-terrorism response training for the fire service. In 2002, CFFJAC developed California's first post-9/11 firefighter anti-terrorism training protocol -- Terrorism Consequence Management -- through a grant from the state's Workforce Investment Act. Specifically, AB 587:

  • Appropriates $2.5 million from the state's Antiterrorism Fund to the Office of Emergency Services for disbursement to the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Program (the CFFJAC's legislative moniker).
  • Requires this funding be used to develop fire service antiterrorism training courses.
  • Reimburses local and state fire agencies for antiterrorism training activities.

"In this new era we live in, the need for increased training courses for all California firefighters is critical," said CFFJAC Chair Daniel A. Terry. "The public needs to know they can depend on those they turn to in desperate situations and firefighters need to feel prepared and know that those working alongside them are prepared as well."

AB 587 was approved 31 to 7 on the Senate Floor, and was sent back to the Assembly, which concurred in Senate amendments, and sent this bill to Governor's desk by a vote of 68 to 9.