Section 4. Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.
(a) Creation.--There is hereby created the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, formerly known as the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Training School created under the act of May 26, 1949 (P.L.1844, No.547), entitled, "An act establishing the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Training School in or adjacent to the borough of Lewistown; providing for its operation and maintenance by the Department of Public Instruction; authorizing the acquisition of a site either by gift or purchase by the Commonwealth or by The General State Authority, or the use of land now owned by the Commonwealth; providing for the erection or construction and the furnishing and equipping of the buildings and structures by The General State Authority, and the leasing thereof by the Commonwealth; and conferring powers and imposing duties upon the Department of Public Instruction and the Public Service Institute Board," 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 the act of May 26, 1949 (P.L.1844, No.547), are hereby transferred to and vested in the commissioner.
(b) Transfer.--There are hereby 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 the act of May 26, 1949 (P.L.1844, No.547), 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 State
Fire Commissioner.