The state legislature approved a bill that requires fire chiefs to have specific qualifications over a veto from the governor and objections from municipal management groups.
State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, said Senate Bill 2619 establishes requirements for the fire chief post that local governments must follow.
“We're not mandating any increase in pay," Willis said. "We're just making sure that the men and women that run these departments are trained personnel ... They could have firefighter officer training, they could have a certification from the International Fire Association or they could have ten years experience as a firefighter.”