1. (a) This section does not limit the powers, rights, duties, and other responsibilities of municipal or county governments or impose requirements affecting pension laws or any other laws.
2. (b) This section does not require a member of a fire department to be certified.

3. (c) The education board may:

   1. (1) certify firefighting training and education programs that meet the standards set by the education board;
   2. (2) certify fire department instructors who meet the qualifications set by the education board;
   3. (3) direct research in the field of firefighting and fire prevention and accept gifts and grants to direct this research;
   4. (4) recommend curricula for advanced training courses and seminars in fire science or fire engineering training to public and private postsecondary educational institutions;
   5. (5) certify fire service personnel and nonfire service personnel who meet the qualifications set by the education board;
   6. (6) require fire service personnel certified at any level to fulfill continuing education requirements in order to maintain certification;
   7. (7) contract or cooperate with any person and adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 , including emergency rules in the manner provided under IC 4-22-2-37.1 and as authorized under IC 36-8-10.5-7 , to carry out its responsibilities under this section; or
   8. (8) grant a variance to a rule the education board has adopted.
4. (d) The education board may impose a reasonable fee for the issuance of a certification described in subsection (c). The board shall deposit the fee in the fire and building services fund established by IC 22-12-6-1 .

As added by P.L.245-1987, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.170-1996, SEC.1; P.L.30-2001, SEC.1; P.L.22-2005, SEC.41; P.L.101-2006, SEC.35; P.L.2-2007, SEC.308; P.L.78-2013, SEC.9.