BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1567 Page 1 Date of Hearing: March 28, 2012 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 1567 (Jeffries) - As Introduced: January 31, 2012 Policy Committee: TransportationVote:14-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill requires an applicant for a new or renewed firefighter endorsement to submit self-reported health information on a form authorized by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). FISCAL EFFECT Negligible state costs. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . The author protests the current requirement that an individual holding a noncommercial driver's license seeking a new or renewed firefighter endorsement submit a report of medical examination within the preceding four years, noting that the requirement adds to the cost and burden of meeting firefighting staffing needs, especially for fire departments serving rural and remote areas. The author contends this bill will ensure the DMV receives the same quality of medical information while easing the cost and burden of providing firefighting services to California communities. 2)Background . Current law authorizes the operation of firefighting equipment by a person with a noncommercial class C driver's license and a firefighting endorsement. To obtain the firefighting endorsement, a person must, among other things, submit a Physician's Health Report. Until recently, law required possession of a commercial driver's license to operate firefighting equipment, for which an applicant needed to submit a self-reported health questionnaire. AB 1567 Page 2 3) Related Legislation. a. Chapter 369, Statutes of 2010 (AB 1648, Jeffries) authorized the operation of firefighting equipment by an individual who possesses a noncommercial class C driver's license and a firefighting endorsement. b. Chapter 92, Statutes of 2011 (AB 82, Jeffries), intended as cleanup for Chapter 369, removed the requirement that those operating firefighting equipment and who possess a commercial driver's license also possess a firefighting endorsement. Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081