(a) The chief of the fire department or the chief’s designee may from time to time designate civil service firefighters to perform one of the specialized duty assignments set forth in this section, which requires the attainment of specialized training and/or the performance of duties in addition to traditional firefighting operations.
(b) Subject to the city council’s annual review, approval and funding in each fiscal year budget ordinance, while assigned to and performing one of the specialized duties listed herein, a firefighter may receive, in addition to his or her regular base salary, additional compensation in the form of assignment pay in the amount corresponding to the specialized assignment listed.
BASE SALARY shall be the amount shown in the city’s salary schedule for the current fiscal year, exclusive of all other additional payments or allowances.
(c) It is further expressly stated that all of the “assignment pay” positions are to be made with existing personnel staffing levels and that this section shall not operate to create any new civil service classifications (ranks) or other authorized positions within the fire department. This section shall not operate to create any vacancies at any existing classified position within the fire department. This section shall not operate to increase or diminish the overall number of authorized civil service positions in the fire department. A “duty assignment” may include employees who are designated to perform specialized functions intermittently in a reserve capacity to substitute when regularly assigned employees are absent or unavailable.
(d) The following conditions are applicable to all forms of assignment pay authorized by this section.
(1) To be eligible for assignment pay, an employee must be expressly assigned by the fire chief or designee to one of the assignment pay positions listed herein as a regular on-going duty assignment or reserve assignment, and must also be expressly authorized by the fire chief or designee to receive the assignment pay in conjunction with the assignment.
(2) In addition to the criteria listed for each assignment pay position herein, in order to become eligible and thereafter remain eligible for assignment pay, each employee shall also be required to participate in the operations of their specialized duties or operation either as a regular on-going duty assignment or in a designated reserve capacity; shall acquire and demonstrate the appropriate level of expertise and proficiency in their specialized duties or operation; possess and maintain current certifications in the areas of expertise required for the duty assignment; and perform other related duties as assigned by the fire chief.
(3) Employees assigned to the specialized assignments listed herein shall be eligible to receive assignment pay only while satisfactorily performing the assigned duties. Assignment pay shall not accrue nor be payable to an individual once that person is no longer assigned to or otherwise no longer performing the specialized duties; or is absent due to illness or other authorized leave for a period of 90 days or more; or fails to maintain current certifications as required; or while suspended from duties as the result of a disciplinary action.
(4) Except for employees who are explicitly assigned in a reserve capacity, assignment pay is not authorized for employees who only temporarily fill in for another employee who was expressly assigned but who is temporarily absent for a period of 90 days or less due to illness, vacation or some other authorized absence.
(5) If qualified and expressly authorized by the fire chief or designee, all firefighters are eligible to receive up to three assignment pay categories.
(6) Employees receiving instructor pay in a particular category may not receive responder pay in the same discipline.
(7) In instances in which assignments require obtaining certifications or licenses, such licenses or certifications must be obtained within 180 days of the effective date for the start of the assignment pay in order to continue receiving the assignment pay.
(8) In the event one of the certifying agencies listed below changes the requirements for receiving a certification that makes a fire fighter ineligible for an assignment pay based on the criteria below, the fire fighter shall have 180 days from the change in requirements to obtain the new certification in order to continue receiving the assignment pay.
(e) The following listings are the only specialized duty assignments in the fire department authorized to receive assignment pay. The listing includes the amount of assignment pay authorized for each assignment, and the specialized training, education or other criteria required in order to be eligible for the specialized assignments:
(1) Chief fire investigator.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic arson investigator certification from the Texas commission on fire protection;
3. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic peace officer license from the Texas commission on law enforcement officer standards and education;
4. Hold or obtain hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection;
5. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices; and
6. Be assigned as the chief fire investigator.
(2) Chief training officer.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Hold or obtain an advanced instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor III);
3. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices;
4. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
5. Be assigned as the chief training officer.
(3) Community risk reduction chief.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices;
3. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
4. Be assigned as the community risk reduction chief.
(4) Bureau of fire prevention (BFP) section chief.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic fire inspector certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Inspector I, Inspector II and Plans Examiner I);
3. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices;
4. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
5. Be assigned as the bureau of fire prevention (BFP) section chief.
(5) Special operations chief.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices;
3. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
4. Be assigned as the special operations chief.
(6) Emergency medical services (EMS) chief.
a. Assignment pay. Three hundred fifty dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervisory practices;
3. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
4. Be assigned as the emergency medical services (EMS) chief.
(7) Program coordinator.
a. Assignment pay. Two hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervision of the assigned departmental program; and
2. Be assigned as the program coordinator for one of the following departmental programs:
i. Aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF);
ii. Assistant aircraft rescue firefighting (Alliance);
iii. Assistant aircraft rescue firefighting (Meacham);
iv. Hazardous materials;
v. Recruit training;
vi. Technical rescue;
vii. Swift water/underwater rescue;
viii. Emergency medical services;
ix. Public information;
x. Master scheduler; and
xi. Hiring coordinator.
(8) Section manager.
a. Assignment pay. Two hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in management and supervision of the assigned departmental section; and
2. Be assigned as the manager for one of the following departmental sections:
i. Public education;
ii. Self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA);
iii. Supply;
iv. Vehicle services;
v. Fire communications; and
vi. Fire investigations.
(9) Fire inspector.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic fire inspector certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Inspector I, Inspector II and Plans Examiner I); and
2. Be assigned as a fire inspector.
(10) Fire investigator.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic arson investigator certification from the Texas commission on fire protection;
2. Hold, as a minimum, a basic peace officer license from the Texas commission on law enforcement officer standards and education; and
3. Be assigned as a fire investigator.
(11) Hazardous device (bomb) technician.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold certification as a hazardous device technician with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
2. Be assigned as a hazardous device (bomb) technician.
(12) Hazardous materials technician - fire prevention.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
2. Be assigned to the bureau of fire prevention as a hazardous materials specialist as defined in the Fort Worth Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures.
(13) Paramedic.
a. Assignment pay: One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold certification as a paramedic with the Texas department of state health services; and
2. Be assigned as active or reserve paramedic as defined in the Fort Worth fire department standard operating procedures.
(14) Public educator.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
2. Be assigned as a public educator.
(15) Hazardous materials - instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection;
2. Hold, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
3. Be assigned as a hazardous materials instructor.
(16) Aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) - instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold, as a minimum, a basic aircraft rescue firefighter certification from the Texas commission on fire protection;
2. Hold, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
3. Be assigned as an ARFF instructor.
(17) Specialty instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
2. Be assigned as a specialty instructor.
(18) Swift water/underwater - instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II);
2. Hold an instructor certification from Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) or similar certifying agency as defined by the fire chief; and
3. Be assigned as a swift water rescue instructor.
(19) Technical rescue - instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Complete the training and job performance requirements for technical rescue technician as specified by the special operations chief;
2. Hold, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
3. Be assigned as a technical rescue instructor.
(20) Training academy instructor.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, an intermediate instructor certification from the Texas commission on fire protection (NFPA Instructor II); and
2. Be assigned as a training academy instructor.
(21) Aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) - responder.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain, as a minimum, a basic aircraft rescue firefighter certification from the Texas commission on fire protection unless assigned to Fire Station 44, in which case, must hold, as a minimum, a basic aircraft rescue firefighter certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection; and
2. Be assigned as an ARFF responder.
(22) Hazardous materials - responder.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
2. Be assigned as a primary or secondary hazardous materials responder as defined in the Fort Worth Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures.
(23) Hazardous materials responder - battalion chief.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of battalion chief;
2. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas commission on fire protection; and
3. Be assigned as a staff or operation battalion chief.
(24) Swift water/underwater - responder.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold, as a minimum, scuba diver certification from Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) or equivalent certifying agency as defined by the fire chief; and
2. Be assigned as an active or reserve swift water/underwater responder.
(25) Technical rescue - responder.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain the Fort Worth Fire Department training and job performance requirements for Technical Rescue Technician; and
2. Be assigned as a technical rescue responder.
(26) Working agreement secretary/records manager.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Have recognized qualifications and expertise in managing assigned program; and
2. Be assigned working agreement secretary/records manager by the President of the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 440.
(27) Public information officer.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold or obtain the Fort Worth fire department requirements for public information officer; and
2. Be assigned as a public information officer.
(28) Bilingual Personnel.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month for verbal skills. Use of writing skills is additional twenty-five dollars per month, for a total of up to one hundred twenty-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Job duties must require the use of employee's bilingual skills; and
2. Successfully take and pass a language proficiency test administered by the Human Resources Department.
(29) Hazardous materials responder – deputy chief.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold the rank of deputy chief;
2. Hold or obtain a hazardous materials technician certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection; and
3. Be assigned as a staff or operation deputy chief.
(30) Professional standards investigator.
a. Assignment pay. One hundred seventy-five dollars per month.
b. Eligibility requirements.
1. Hold, as a minimum, the rank of lieutenant;
2. Hold or obtain a certification in investigations, internal affairs or related field from the Public Agency Training Council or equivalent certifying agency; and
3. Be assigned as a professional standards investigator.
(Ord. 12795, § 1, passed 12-12-1996; Ord. 14841, § 1, passed 10-30-2001; Ord. 15353, § 1, passed 12-3- 2002; Ord. 16988, § 1, passed 6-13-2006; Ord. 19175-06-2010, § 1, passed 6-8-2010; Ord. 21702-03- 2015, § 1, passed 3-17-2015; Ord. 23117-02-2018, § 1, passed 2-20-2018)