1. (a) All Texas certified training facilities shall meet these minimum requirements. No training credit will be recognized from a Texas training facility that has not been certified by the commission, unless the program has been approved by the commission as being equivalent. The commission shall take action on an application for certification of a training facility within 30 days from receipt.
2. (b) Certified training facilities shall conduct all training in a controlled and safe manner so that trainees are not subjected to unnecessary risks. Texas Government Code, §419.032(c) provides that fire protection personnel must complete a commission approved training course in fire suppression before being assigned to fire suppression duties. In addition, certified training facilities, whether operated by a fire department or other governmental or private training facility, shall not put trainees at risk by requiring or allowing a trainee to perform the duties of fire protection personnel at actual uncontrolled emergency situations such as, but not limited to, structure fires, aircraft fires, wildland fires, hazardous materials incidents or dangerous rescue situations.

3. (c) A certified training facility may transport trainees to the site of an actual emergency for training purposes only if the following requirements are strictly adhered to:

   1. (1) The trainees are kept in a group under the direct supervision of an ample number of qualified instructors to maintain accountability and ensure their safety;
   2. (2) The trainees are kept outside of the emergency operations area; and
   3. (3) The trainees' activities are restricted to observation only and trainees are not allowed to participate in emergency operations.
4. (d) Certified training facilities are subject to inspection by the commission at any time during regular business hours.
5. (e) In order to retain the certification as a certified training facility, schools desiring to make substantial changes in the facility or other conditions under which the school was approved shall coordinate such plans with the commission.
6. (f) The commission shall be notified, in writing, within 14 days of any change in the certified training.

7. (g) The commission may revoke, suspend, and/or probate the certification of a training facility when the commission determines that the training facility:

   1. (1) Fails to provide the quality of training for which the facility was approved;
   2. (2) Fails to comply with commission rules and/or these minimum standards; or
   3. (3) Fails to submit required reports in a timely manner or submits false reports to the commission.

Source Note:The provisions of this §427.19 adopted to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10895; amended to be effective October 11, 2000, 25 TexReg 10187; amended to be effective January 27, 2002, 27 TexReg 481; amended to be effective July 29, 2002, 27 TexReg 6724.