Firefighter Promotions

[NJFFSA16]

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday signed
legislation aimed at ensuring fairness when and how Illinois
firefighters are promoted.
Fire departments and fire protection districts will be required
to publish promotion lists and establish promotion procedures using
written exam scores, seniority, merit and other criteria.
"It's important to make sure their promotion process is not
tainted by favoritism and nepotism so that the best, most qualified
firefighters are moving into positions of leadership and added
responsibility," Blagojevich said in a statement after he signed
the bill at a Bolingbrook fire station.
A candidate with the highest ranking on the promotion list will
fill vacant or new positions, unless there is prior misconduct or a
poor work history.
Previously, the boards of fire and police commissioners promoted
firefighters from a field of about three candidates. Commissioners
are appointed by local mayors, leaving room for political
influence.
The new law, effective immediately, does not apply to the
Chicago Fire Department, or volunteer or part-time fire
departments.
Blagojevich also signed legislation on Monday requiring
telecommunications carriers to give local emergency services at
least two weeks notice before ending service on phones lines used
by fire alarms.
Fire alarms operate on dedicated phone lines. If the line is
disconnected, fire departments won't automatically get a call,
officials said.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[ChiefReason]

Hey;
For those of you who watched this bill, I believe it only took SEVEN years to pass. That's got to be some kind of record.
CR

[fyrlieu]

Does anyone know if home rule communities must comply with the new legislation? If so, when does it go into effect?
Thanks

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Home rule is NOT exempt..to the best of my knowledge. One of the big reasons it took so long to pass this bill was that the IFCA pulled their support of it AFTER their own committee members had approved it. The Illinois Municipal League HATES this bill. The only reason it passed this time was because the House, Senate and Governor are all Democrats. For you non-Rod people out there...Have you seen a Governor who has actively supported the fire service as much as Blogo? I am not the biggest fan, but Dave Foreman of the AFFI stated that when they made thier endorsement, it was because he had a clear plan. Hell, Jim Ryan talked about the POLICE at our State Convention last year. The promotion bill is significant because it levels the playing field.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

http://affi-iaff.org/legislative.html

[80FIRE]

"The new law, effective immediately, does not apply to the
Chicago Fire Department, or volunteer or part-time fire
departments".

I can understand the reasoning behind volly and part time departments being exempt but why CHICAGO. Is there a reasonable answer to this or is it just politics?

[Duffman]

I attended the bill signing Monday, and attended the AFFI legislative conference in springfield when this bill was voted on.

The Fair Promotions Act created by this bill has been in the works for over 10 years. The original post is not totally accurate.

A candidate with the highest ranking on the promotion list will fill vacant or new positions, unless there is prior misconduct or a poor work history. Previously, the boards of fire and police commissioners promoted firefighters from a field of about three candidates.

It is my understanding that they can still promote from the top three, but there is more accountability required when doing so.


Chicago is exempt because of the population of the City. There are many instances where bills that affect the rest of the fire service do not apply to Chicago.