Recall and resentencing: incarcerated firefighters.

Assembly Member Lowenthal's legislation directs the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish new resentencing pathways for incarcerated individuals who serve in California's Conservation Camp program and institutional firehouses. The measure requires CDCR to create regulations by July 2026 that would allow resentencing referrals for eligible participants with two or more years remaining on their sentences.

The bill modifies existing recall and resentencing procedures by prohibiting the exclusion of candidates based solely on parole hearing status or minimum time served requirements. Under current law, courts may recall and resentence individuals upon recommendation from various officials, including the CDCR Secretary, Board of Parole Hearings, county correctional administrators, and district attorneys. The legislation maintains this framework while adding specific provisions for Conservation Camp participants.

California operates 35 minimum-security conservation camps through CDCR in partnership with state and local fire agencies. Camp participants, who must be medically cleared and maintain the lowest security classification, respond to wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters. The bill's findings note their role in containing the January 2025 Los Angeles County fires, where incarcerated firefighters worked continuously to establish fire lines and remove fuel sources.