44-1812. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYING PAID FIREFIGHTERS. (1) No person may be employed as a paid firefighter as defined in sections 44-1801(1) and 59-1391(f), Idaho Code, until that person:

(a) Has met and has been certified by the examining physician selected by the corporate authority as having met the minimum medical and health standards set forth in subsection (4) of this section;

(b) Is at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of appointment; and

(c) Has met prescribed physical performance standards as adopted by the corporate authority.

(2) A true copy of the medical history of the applicant, completed and signed by the examining physician shall be sent to the corporate authority. Such records shall be furnished prior to the date of active employment of the applicant. If an applicant fails to meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the applicant shall not be eligible for employment and the corporate authority shall provide notice of ineligibility to the applicant.

(3) Physical examination records shall be a part of the permanent file of the corporate authority.

(4) For purposes of this section, the phrase "minimum medical and health standards" shall mean the preplacement medical evaluation provisions of chapter 2-3 of the 1997 edition of NFPA 1582, the standard on medical requirements for firefighters published by the national fire protection association. The cost of the medical examination contemplated by this section is to be paid by the corporate authority, which shall make copies of NFPA 1582 available upon request.

(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to paid firefighters who are employed as such before October 1, 1980, as long as they continue in such employment; nor to promotional appointments after becoming a member of a fire department of any corporate authority; nor to the reemployment of a paid firefighter by the same or a different corporate authority within two (2) years after the termination of his employment; nor to the reinstatement of a paid firefighter who has been on military or disability leave, disability retirement status, or who was terminated because of a reduction in force or leave of absence status.

History:

[(44-1812) I.C., sec. 72-1428, as added by 1974, ch. 59, sec. 2, p. 1136; am. 1976, ch. 316, sec. 1, p. 1084; am. 1977, ch. 97, sec. 1, p. 202; am. 1980, ch. 50, sec. 23, p. 88; am. 1983, ch. 90, sec. 1, p. 187; am. 1984, ch. 242, sec. 1, p. 588; am. 1989 & redesignated 44-109, ch. 66, sec. 1, p. 106; am. 1995, ch. 188, sec. 1, p. 675; am. and redesig. 1996, ch. 421, sec. 15, p. 1419; am. 1999, ch. 50, sec. 2, p. 113.]