AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Enables students enrolled in certain career and technical education programs to take firefighter exams upon completion of their program.)

S2169

2026 -- S 2169
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LC003879
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Introduced By:
Senators Rogers, Paolino, E Morgan, and de la Cruz

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Labor & Gaming
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-45.1 of the General Laws entitled "Career and Technical
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Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-45.1-4. Participation by students in training activities at the Rhode Island fire
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academy.

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(a) Effective July 1, 2026, students enrolled in an appropriately credentialed career and
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technical education program in the areas of emergency medicine technician, firefighting, or public
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safety (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “program”) including, but not limited to, students
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under the age of eighteen (18) years, shall be eligible to participate in training activities at the Rhode
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Island fire academy. The Rhode Island fire academy, in conjunction with the department of health,
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the department of education, and the career and technical board of trustees, shall establish
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guidelines and benchmarks a student shall meet within and, if appropriate, outside of the program,
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in order to be eligible to participate in these training activities. Provided, as a prerequisite, a student
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shall be deemed fit to participate in these training activities by both the student’s sending district
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and the fire academy.
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(b)(1) Effective July 1, 2026, students who successfully complete an appropriately
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credentialed career and technical education program as described in subsection (a) of this section
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may take the exams and skills testing for the following certifications:
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(i) Hazardous materials awareness;

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(ii) Firefighter I; and
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(iii) Firefighter II.
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(2) The fire education and training coordinating board established pursuant to § 23-28.2-
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23 is authorized to promulgate any rules or regulations the board deems necessary to ensure
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students are properly trained and fit to undertake the exams and skills testing for the certifications
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referenced in this subsection.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
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This act would provide that students enrolled in an appropriately credentialed career and
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technical education program in the areas of emergency medicine technician, firefighting, or public
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safety including, but not limited to, students under eighteen (18) years of age, could participate in
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training activities at the fire academy. This act would also allow students who successfully
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complete those secondary education programs to take certain exams and skills testing.
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
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