Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act.

The Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act provides a set of rights and procedural protections to specified firefighters. That act requires an administrative appeal instituted by a firefighter under the act to be conducted in conformance with rules and procedures adopted by the employing department or licensing or certifying agency that are in accordance with specified provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. This bill would specify that notwithstanding that provision, if the employing department is subject to a memorandum of understanding that provides for binding arbitration of administrative appeals, the arbitrator or arbitration panel shall serve as the hearing officer in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and notwithstanding any other provision that hearing officer's decision shall be binding. The bill would specify, however, that a memorandum of understanding negotiated with an employing agency would not control the process for administrative appeals instituted with licensing or certifying agencies as those appeals shall be conducted in conformance with the rules and procedures adopted by the employing department or licensing or certifying agency that are in accordance with specified provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.