FES 3003 - Political and Legal Foundations for Fire Protection

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2013 (475)

Requisites

Admission to Public Safety Administration (Bachelor of Applied Science) (PSA-BAS)

Course Description

This course will provide the student with an overview of society’s need for planning for disastrous situations. This course examines the legal aspects of the fire service and the political and social impacts of legal issues. This course includes a review of the American legal system and in-depth coverage of legal and political issues involving employment and personnel matters, administrative and operational matters, planning and code enforcement, and legislative and political processes with regard to the fire service.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will identify potential legal and political issues in fire and emergency services by:
    1. Explaining the legal basis for enforcement action.
    2. Listing steps in making a law.
  2. The student will describe legal lessons learned from recent cases, and identify best practices in the fire service to avoid legal liability by:
    1. Reviewing local and state cases and laws that affect operational and managerial issues in your fire department.
    2. Listing federal law and cases and list some specific impacts on operational and managerial issues in the fire service.
  3. The student will analyze and apply legal rules and political issues to manage risk by:
    1. Identifying common model fire codes & determine applicable state and local codes in use in a specific location.
    2. Identifying behaviors and practices that may extend liability or increase the likelihood of litigation.
    3. Evaluating policies and procedures for potential legal impact.
  4. The student will formulate political and legal conclusions and recommendations based on the analysis by:
    1. Explaining how public opinion and political culture affect law enforcement.
    2. Explaining the legal basis for enforcement action.
  5. The student will locate and apply recent legal and legislative online resources by:
    1. Identifying allies and adversaries in the legislative process as it affects fire service interests.
    2. Conducting a policy analysis of a proposed or existing law.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through objective classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2013 (475)

Related Programs

  1. Public Safety Administration (PSA-BAS) (655) (Active)