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    AB-1380
    Energy & Environment

    Wildland firefighters: Formerly Incarcerated Firefighter Certification and Employment Program.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes a certification program for incarcerated individuals who complete firefighter training before release.
    • Requires Cal Fire to give hiring preference to qualified formerly incarcerated firefighters by 2027.
    • Mandates tracking and annual reporting of program outcomes including hiring and retention rates.
    • Creates employment pathways for formerly incarcerated firefighters across state wildland management agencies.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Elhawary's proposal to formalize employment pathways for formerly incarcerated firefighters would establish new certification and hiring processes within California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The legislation requires Cal Fire to partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide official written certification to individuals who complete firefighting training programs while incarcerated, documenting their CAL-FIRE Forestry Training and S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior coursework.

    Under the measure, Cal Fire would grant hiring preference through Category Placement 2 to qualified program graduates by January 2027, while maintaining flexibility to place candidates in higher categories based on their training, certification levels, and work history. The department would track participants approaching release within 90 days and monitor program outcomes including hiring numbers, retention rates, and career advancement. Other state agencies with wildland management responsibilities could create similar hiring pathways for program graduates.

    The legislation mandates annual legislative reports for three years on implementation progress and program effectiveness once funding is appropriated. These reports must detail participant outcomes and include recommendations for improvement. The measure's provisions would take effect only after the Legislature allocates funding through the state budget or other legislation.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1380 Elhawary Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 7 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Sade Elhawary
    Sade ElhawaryD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 24, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes a certification program for incarcerated individuals who complete firefighter training before release.
    • Requires Cal Fire to give hiring preference to qualified formerly incarcerated firefighters by 2027.
    • Mandates tracking and annual reporting of program outcomes including hiring and retention rates.
    • Creates employment pathways for formerly incarcerated firefighters across state wildland management agencies.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Sade Elhawary
    Sade ElhawaryD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Elhawary's proposal to formalize employment pathways for formerly incarcerated firefighters would establish new certification and hiring processes within California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The legislation requires Cal Fire to partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide official written certification to individuals who complete firefighting training programs while incarcerated, documenting their CAL-FIRE Forestry Training and S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior coursework.

    Under the measure, Cal Fire would grant hiring preference through Category Placement 2 to qualified program graduates by January 2027, while maintaining flexibility to place candidates in higher categories based on their training, certification levels, and work history. The department would track participants approaching release within 90 days and monitor program outcomes including hiring numbers, retention rates, and career advancement. Other state agencies with wildland management responsibilities could create similar hiring pathways for program graduates.

    The legislation mandates annual legislative reports for three years on implementation progress and program effectiveness once funding is appropriated. These reports must detail participant outcomes and include recommendations for improvement. The measure's provisions would take effect only after the Legislature allocates funding through the state budget or other legislation.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1380 Elhawary Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 24, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 7 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author