Fire companies could seek exam reimbursements if money is available

The commissioner would approve reimbursement applications from eligible fire companies for required firefighter physical exams. The rules cover Pennsylvania volunteer, municipal, combined, and qualifying airport fire companies. A covered firefighter must have responded to at least 15 fire or rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year. The fund would receive money only if the General Assembly appropriates or transfers it, or if money comes from another source. If approved requests exceed available money, each company would receive a share. A fire company must take part in PennFIRS under a signed agreement and certify that each firefighter covered by its request completed at least two hours of approved fire-service mental health training in the previous 12 months. For reimbursement of an annual exam, the company must certify that the firefighter had earned at least Firefighter 1 under Pennsylvania State Fire Academy standards by July 1 of the application year. Reimbursement would cover actual exam costs up to $650 per firefighter. A company must pass the payment to a firefighter when the firefighter paid the cost directly. Applications would be open for 45 days each year. The commissioner would decide within 60 days after the application deadline; an application not decided by then would count as approved.

A fire company could require an initial or yearly physical exam as a condition of employment or volunteer service. These rules cover career and volunteer firefighters who responded to at least 15 fire or rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year. Any exam requirement must follow the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Exams must meet the listed NFPA 1582 standard and be given by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Exam health records would remain private. They could be shared with the fire company or another person only with the firefighter's written consent or when a collective bargaining agreement requires it.