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1. Lateral Program

The lateral program is a recruitment-based program recognizing experience for new firefighters who get hired by Frisco.  Prior to lateral program implementation, all firefighters started at Step '0' on the pay plan.   Through the lateral program, firefighters are eligible to be hired up to Step '5', depending on experience.  For example, if a firefighter has 5 years of experience, he or she would be hired in at Step '5'.

2. Additional Steps

In 2020, existing Frisco firefighters who had not yet reach step 5, but had applicable fire or paramedic experience, were credited for their previous service and their pay was increased be commensurate with their experience. This ensured no new firefighters, hired under the Lateral Program, were paid more than existing Frisco firefighters with comparable experience. 

3. Eligibility for beginning position

(Copied from Local Government Code 143.023.*) a) A person may not take an entrance examination for a beginning position in the fire department unless the person is at least 18 years of age. A person may not take an entrance examination for a beginning position in the fire department unless the person is at least 18 years of age but not 36 years of age or older.  b)  A person may not be certified as eligible for a beginning position in a fire department if the person is 36 years of age or older.  * The only exception to the above is the Fire Chief, who may be hired from the outside at any age.   

            

4. Eligibility lists

Lists are established as a result of a test (recruit or promotional). Eligibility lists in Civil Service are based on written test score, only.  List order is determined by the highest grade first and then goes in descending order.  No interviews conducted by the Assessment Center team, or the Fire Chief are considered. The City cannot prioritize a Firefighter/Paramedic (higher quality of care) over a Firefighter/EMT unless a Paramedic candidate and EMT candidate have the same written score. The other option would require us to do a Firefighter/Paramedic ONLY test, significantly reducing the number of candidates. 

5. Position lower

In the past, promotions required a firefighter serve in the 'position lower' for two years; no other qualifications were required.  For example, when a firefighters wanted to promote to Captain, he or she served as a Lieutenant for two years to become eligible to promote to Captain. Currently, our members take a written exam administered by a third-party and participate in an assessment center during which a team evaluates their leadership skills and ability to run a fireground. If Civil Service is adopted, the Frisco Fire Department could not require any certifications or include an Assessment Center. In other words, a person who scores highest on a written test would be promoted. However, a high score on a written test is not a good predictor of leadership or the ability to run a fireground. 

6. Driver/Operator (DO)

Currently, Driver/Operator (D/O) is an assignment in its own classification and rate of pay.  D/Os pass a written assessment and skills test which includes driving a course and operating the pumps.  Under our current system, a D/O is NOT required to become a Lieutenant. In the current system, a firefighter can promote directly to Lieutenant.  

There are two options for Driver/Operator under Civil Service: 1.) a firefighter would be required to promote to D/O before he or she could promote to Lieutenant (minimum of 2 years in each position).  This would occur via written test only - No driving or skills test required.  2.) The D/O becomes an assignment, and the D/O only receives assignment pay when driving the firetruck -- and not when on leave or in training. 

7. Fire Prevention

Under Texas Civil Service law, several Fire Prevention positions are covered and are required to follow the Civil Service hiring and promotion regulations. These positions would include:

• Fire Marshal 
• Assistant Fire Marshal 
• Fire Inspector 
• Fire Investigators 
• Bomb Dog and Handler (EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal) 
• Frisco Fire Safety Town (Community Education) 

The best way to fight fires is to prevent fires. Texas Civil Service law prohibits the Frisco Fire Department from hiring and promoting trained and skilled individuals that desire to work in fire prevention and have a passion for this work. Instead, Fire Prevention positions become assignments that must be fill by certified firefighters that may not have the desire to perform this type of work. Additionally, the FFD cannot require that individuals hired in Fire Prevention have any Prevention training before being placed in those positions. Often no sooner does a firefighter get trained in Fire Prevention and start to understand the position then they test and promote out of Fire Prevention.

8. Civil Service Director

(Local Government Code 143.012) On adoption of this chapter, the office of Director of Firefighters' Civil Service is established in the municipality. The commission shall appoint the director.  The director shall serve as secretary to the commission and perform work incidental to the civil service system as required by the commission. The commission may remove the director at any time.

9. Driver Operator (D/O) Committee

The D/O Committee is made up of 12 current members of the Frisco Fire department. Committee members vary in rank, shifts and tenure. The committee was formed to give recommendations to the Fire Chief on how to improve the Driver/Operator testing process. The adoption of Civil Service would make this committee obsolete because the Civil Service law determines the requirements and testing for promotion. 

10. Promotional Committee

The Promotional Committee is made up of 14 current members of the Frisco Fire department. Committee members vary in rank, shift and tenure. The committee provides recommendations to the Fire Chief on how to make our promotional process better including requiring more time in the previous rank before one can promote and minimum certifications and training to strength the experience and knowledge of the Frisco Fire Department staff. The adoption of Civil Service would make this committee obsolete because the Civil Service law determines the requirements and testing for promotion. Civil Service law only requires a firefighter to occupy the previous rank for two (2) years to be eligible to test and the selection is based only on the score of the written exam.