Section 1.  Chapter 31, Section 59, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in place the following section after Section 59:-

Section 59A.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or rule to the contrary, a firefighters apprenticeship, training, and educational program shall be established for candidates for the position of firefighter in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Furthermore, no person shall be eligible to have his name certified for original appointment to the position of firefighter in a city or town in the Commonwealth until such candidate has successfully passed the “Firefighters Apprenticeship Program. The Firefighters Apprenticeship Program shall be funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the cities, towns, authorities and fire districts therein, the Federal Government, and the candidates in the apprenticeship program.”