This course introduces the Federal, State, and local laws that regulate emergency services, national standards influencing emergency services, standard of care, tort, liability and a review of relevant court cases.

Entry Level Competencies: It is recommended that you have completed FST 100. Principles of Emergency Services.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the differences between constitutional, statutory, and common law.
2. Compare and contrast the legal status of the various types of fire departments.
3. Explain the role and jurisdiction of administrative agencies as they relate to legal requirements for the fire service.
4. Discuss the differences between criminal and civil law and provide examples.
5. Define and describe negligence of omission, commission, and immunity from liability as they apply to the fire service.
6. Identify the types of contracts commonly associated with the fire service and the impact of those contracts on employment issues.
7. Describe the application of labor laws and the various types of collective bargaining to both the public and the private sector.
8. Explain how public accountability laws affect the fire service.
9. Describe how OSHA laws and adherence to the laws varies by state.
10. Describe how OSHA can effect certain fire service functions.
11. Describe the legal implications of the following issues:
    • Rights and Discrimination
    • Sexual Harassment
    • Fair Labor Standard Act
    • Family Medical Leave Act
    • Residency Laws
    • Substance testing

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least several exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

There are 8 exams in this course.

Last Updated: November 30, 2010