This legislation includes "recruits"  (i.e., prospective firefighters who have not been certified or registered by the Firefighters Standards and Training Council) in the definition of "firefighter."  HB 970 also gives the Firefighters Standards and Training Council the authority to establish minimum standards for hiring and training contract firefighters, as well as other firefighting service professionals as they deem necessary.  

The language from this bill was added to HB 727 which passed both chambers.