Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 31 - Public Safety
Part 601 - BOARD OF EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS AND TRAINING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
Chapter 2 - Applicant Evaluation, Employment and Certification Procedures
Rule 31-601-2.3 - Procedures
Universal Citation: MS Code of Rules 31-601-2.3
Current through September 24, 2024
1. All emergency telecommunicator employers shall follow these steps in the evaluation, employment and certification of emergency telecommunicators.
A. The employing
agency must evaluate each emergency telecommunicator applicant to ensure each
applicant meets the minimum employment criteria prior to employment. This
evaluation must include the following:
1. A
complete background investigation. This investigation is a critical factor in
determining whether emergency telecommunicator applicants meet the requirements
established under the ETTP. The primary purpose of the investigation is to
provide the emergency telecommunicator employer with enough factual information
to determine if a particular candidate would ensure the continued public trust
in the competence and reliability of the department.
2. The submission of the applicant's
fingerprints to the Criminal Information Center of the MS Department of Public
Safety as a part of the background investigation. This can only be done through
the emergency telecommunications agency's law enforcement parent or through a
law enforcement agency which is served by that particular telecommunications
agency.
Note: Non-criminal justice agencies with emergency telecommunicators (i.e., fire, EMS) may be impeded by FBI policy. Such agencies should make every effort to submit fingerprints through the local law enforcement agency (i.e., as part of a public safety contract). Agencies who find themselves unable to submit fingerprints to CIC may obtain a waiver of this requirement until possible state legislation is passed. All agencies are reminded that they must complete a background check. Examples of this may come in the form of local driver's license checks or from calls to previous employers.
Do not send fingerprints to the Board or to the training course directors. Neither of these entities will forward your applicant's prints .
3. A
review of the official Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD
Form 214 for all applicants who have military service. Individuals must have
been discharged from the armed forces under honorable conditions.
4. A review of appropriate official documents
to certify successful completion of high school or the general equivalency
degree (GED). High School graduate is defined as graduating from a secondary
school in an accredited school district having earned the required Carnegie
units and successfully completed any and all subject area testing as specified
by the Mississippi Department of Education in the year the diploma was awarded.
a. Accredited schools include those
accredited by the Departments of Education from each State, the Private School
Association from each State, the Association of Christian Schools
International, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACWS) or one
of the six regional bodies of the Association of Colleges and Schools.
b. If an applicant has not
obtained a high school diploma from an accredited school, the applicant must
obtain a GED through the Mississippi Department of Education or obtain an
equivalent score on a GED test administered by the American Council on
Education.
c. Applicants may
provide a standardized test score on the ACT of 15 or higher in lieu of a GED
score.
5. A review of
appropriate official documents to certify age and citizenship.
6. A review of appropriate documents to
verify current certification status for those applicants transferring from
another emergency telecommunicator agency or jurisdiction.
7. Telecommunicators who transfer from
another Mississippi emergency telecommunications agency with a valid
certificate (w/break in-service of less than two years) must continue to meet
all the minimum employment standards. Therefore, agencies must conduct a
background investigation of all applicants to include those telecommunicators
who may already hold certification.
B. Once the employer has verified all the
minimum employment standards and has employed the candidate, the employing
agency shall create and maintain an individual personnel file containing a
release of information form signed by the applicant, documentation of the
aforementioned minimum employment specifics, and documentation of the
background investigation (i.e. official diplomas, birth certificate, DD Form
214, naturalizations forms, FBI fingerprint report, etc.). The individual
personnel file shall be maintained by the agency as long as the named
telecommunicator is employed as an emergency telecommunicator within the
agency. The agency head shall readily make the contents of the file available
to the Board of Emergency Telecommunications Standards and Training upon
receipt of a written request.
C.
Emergency telecommunications agencies must notify the Board of Emergency
Telecommunications Standards and Training within thirty days of the date of
hire of any emergency telecommunicator. This notification shall be in the form
of an Emergency Telecommunicator Application for Certification. The Board of
Emergency Telecommunications Standards and Training will use this form to
determine if the applicant meets the minimum employment and training standards
required for certification.
Warning: MCA § 97-7-10 "Fraudulent Statements and Representations" provides for severe penalties for misrepresentations or fraudulent statements to a Board. This statute authorizes a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and a jail sentence of up to five (5) years. Further, the Emergency Telecommunications Training Program authorizes the Board in MCA § 19-5-353 (8) to cancel and recall any certificate obtained through misrepresentation or fraud.
1. The agency head is responsible for
conducting a background investigation. The investigation should reveal whether
the applicant is a certified emergency telecommunicator or an emergency
telecommunicator who has not obtained certification in Mississippi.
a. The Application for Certification Form
shall be submitted for either telecommunicators who have not obtained
certification in this state or telecommunicators who have had a break in
service of two years or more. The Application for Certification must be signed
by the agency head or an authorized designee.
b. If the telecommunicator has been certified
and has a break in service of less than two years, the agency head must submit
an Application for Certification form to transfer the certification. This form
must also be signed by the agency head or an authorized official.
c. Agency heads must designate persons to
sign BETST forms in writing. Such authorizations shall be submitted to the
Board.
d. If the applicant for
certification is the agency head, (i.e., Chief or director) forms must be
signed by the next individual in the chain of command such as a mayor or
college dean, etc.
2.
To obtain credit for completion of Board-approved training courses, , agencies
must submit appropriate documentation with the Application form. Appropriate
documentation shall consist of a copy of a training certificate, and a score
sheet or a letter authenticated by a course instructor. Credit may also be
granted for completion of an advanced training course.
3. The employing agency must submit an
Application for Certification within thirty days. The application lists several
questions with a choice of a "yes" or "no" answer for each question. The form
explains that answering "yes" may not necessarily disqualify an applicant from
certification. Further, the application contains a statement to be signed by
the applicant and a statement to be signed by the emergency telecommunications
agency head or designee.
a. Any of the
questions, (items 1 - 10) that has a "yes" answer must be explained in writing
to the Board. All crimes (regarding questions 4 and 5) must be reported. The
only exceptions to this requirement are traffic offenses where the fine is less
than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and where the applicant has had fewer than
four (4) traffic offenses within the preceding twenty-four (24) months
(excluding drug or alcohol related offenses).
b. Traffic offenses where the fine was more
than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or offenses that involve drugs or alcohol
must be reported and explained. If the applicant has had four (4) or more
traffic offenses within the previous twenty-four (24) month period, the date
and disposition of each offense must be listed.
c. All other types of offenses are crimes and
must be reported, regardless of the fine, pleas entered, or the adjudication
status. This would include but is not limited to cases that are
non-adjudicated, nolle prossed, dismissed or acquitted.
d. Employers may choose to write an
explanation on the form itself or enclose a separate sheet if additional space
is needed to provide a full explanation. Explanation of crimes or related
matters should include the date of the offense and the status of the case.
4. Agencies should
submit documentation of course training if applicable. No other forms or
documents should be sent to the Board unless requested by the staff in writing.
Other diplomas, in-service training certificates, birth records, fingerprint
cards etc. should be retained in the agency personnel file.
D. The Board Certification Section
shall review each set of forms submitted to the Board. The Certification
Section:
1. Shall determine that all
appropriate forms are included.
2.
Shall analyze each document to verify certification specifics which the Board
must consider in accordance with established policy and procedure.
3. Shall determine the Certification Status
of each applicant;
a. Eligible for transfer
of current certification (break in service of less than two years) to another
emergency telecommunications agency,
b. Eligible for certification after
successful completion of a Board-approved training course, or
c. Not eligible for certification.
4. Shall communicate with the
employing agency in writing to clarify information as needed and to inform the
agency of the applicant's certification status.
5. Shall track progress toward completion of
assigned training of all applicants.
E. After the staff has notified the agency
head of the applicant's certification status, the agency head must then ensure
that all arrangements are made to enroll the telecommunicator in an appropriate
training program. Once the applicant has successfully completed the prescribed
training and the Board has approved the individual or group of applicants, the
staff will distribute certificates and provide reimbursement of authorized
expenses.
F. Individuals aggrieved
by the actions of the BETST staff may request to present their request before
the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting. Such requests must be presented to
the staff in writing not later than 10 working days prior to the next regularly
scheduled Board meeting.
Miss Code Ann § 19-5-351
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Mississippi may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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