Wildland firefighters: Formerly Incarcerated Firefighter Certification and Employment Program.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Enacted

Summary

The bill requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to certify inmates who finish fire‑fighter training while in conservation camps and to give them hiring preference for entry‑level fire‑fighter and forestry technician jobs. It applies to people released after July 1 2027 who have the required training and certification. The goal is to help these individuals find work and expand the state’s wildfire‑response workforce.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6486.). · Aug 25, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 13, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 3, 2026
• Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Hearing
  Labor, Public Employment and Retirement · Jul 1, 2026
• Natural Resources and Water Committee Hearing
  Natural Resources and Water · Jun 23, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 14, 2026

History

1. Jun 3, 2026Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and L., P.E. & R.
2. May 27, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
3. May 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
4. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
5. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
6. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
7. Apr 22, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. Apr 22, 2026Coauthors revised.
9. Apr 9, 2026Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R.
10. Apr 8, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. E. & R. Read second time and amended.
11. Apr 6, 2026Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
12. Mar 26, 2026Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

The 12 most recent of 17 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Sade Elhawary (D) · sponsor
• Bryan
• Elhawary
• Lowenthal
• McKinnor
• Zbur

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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