HB 1256 - AS INTRODUCED
2003 SESSION
09/10
HOUSE BILL 1256
AN ACT relative to a buddy system for firefighters.
SPONSORS: Rep. Patten, Carr 7; Rep. Wall, Straf 72; Rep. Kathleen Taylor, Straf 70
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
This bill encourages municipalities to implement buddy systems for assignments of firefighters.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03-2107
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three
AN ACT relative to a buddy system for firefighters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Firefighters; Buddy System Encouraged. Amend RSA 154:1-d, III to read as follows:
III.(a) Decisions of a fire chief or the chief's subordinates concerning the allocation and assignment of firefighters and equipment, and the strategies and tactics used, shall be the exercise of a discretionary, policy function for which neither the officer nor a municipality shall be held liable in the absence of malice or bad faith, even when such decisions are made rapidly in response to the exigencies of an emergency.
(b) Municipalities are encouraged to implement buddy systems for assignment of firefighters. If the legislative body of a municipality votes to implement a buddy system, the fire chief or the fire chief's subordinates shall implement the buddy system when necessary. In this subparagraph, "buddy system" means 2 or more trained and equipped firefighters who account for and assist each other while maintaining direct voice or visual contact.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2005.