FIRE DPT-APPRENTICE PREFERENCE

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act. Creates a hiring preference of up to 20 points for a person who has performed fire suppression service for a department as a firefighter apprentice and otherwise meets the qualifications for original appointment as a firefighter. Requires the firefighter to have completed a minimum of 600 hours of specified fire suppression work in order to be considered for the preference. Provides that the Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall evaluate the merit of the applicant's performance and determine the preference points to be awarded. Modifies how preferences are computed after addition of the apprentice preference. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 In the provisions amending the Civil Services in Cities Division of the Illinois Municipal Code, makes the granting of a hiring preference permissive rather than mandatory for a person who has performed fire suppression service for a department as a firefighter apprentice and otherwise meets the qualifications for original appointment as a firefighter. Makes grammatical changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 In the provisions amending the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Division of the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act, makes the granting of a hiring preference permissive rather than mandatory for a person who has performed fire suppression service for a department as a firefighter apprentice and otherwise meet the qualifications for original appointment as a firefighter.