(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CAL-FIRE pursuant to § 701.6 of the Public Resources Code, may certify an individual as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) if he or she meets both of the following conditions:

(A) The individual is a graduate of the CAL-FIRE training program at a conservation camp under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and received a letter of recommendation from the Director of CAL-FIRE.

(B) While participating in the training program described in subparagraph (A), the individual was working toward a high school diploma or its equivalent, unless he or she already earned one.

(2) Except as provided in subdivision (b), an individual certified as an EMR pursuant to this section shall meet the training requirements developed by the authority pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Chapter 1.5 of Title 22 of Division 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b) (1) Any individual certified pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is not disqualified from certification as an EMR for having committed any of the actions described in subdivision (c) of Section 1798.200. This subdivision does not apply to an individual who committed any of those actions after he or she received certification pursuant to this section.

(2) The certification of an individual as an EMR pursuant to this section shall be recognized statewide as a valid EMR certification without an individual having to repeat testing or certification.

(c) The authority, in consultation with CAL-FIRE, shall, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, promulgate emergency regulations for the process of establishing the certification process pursuant to this section. The emergency regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including § 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of the regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 457, Sec. 3. (SB 879) Effective September 17, 2018.)