US EditionWA lawmakers slash wildfire budget in half
- California State Senator Eloise Reyes introduced Senate Bill 245 in January 2025 to help incarcerated firefighters clear their criminal records and seek firefighting jobs.
- The bill responds to barriers former inmate firefighters face in expungement and certification, which prevent them from advancing despite eligibility and fire camp experience.
- SB 245 mandates that the Department of Justice reach out to qualifying individuals to begin expungement procedures and restricts those with violent felony convictions from serving as civilian firefighters.
- The measure received strong approval in the California Senate Public Safety Committee, passing with five votes in favor and one against, with Sen. Kelly Seyarto dissenting; it garnered support from the ACLU, California Public Defenders Association, and various justice organizations.
- The bill aims to improve data tracking on former inmates gaining expungements and pursuing firefighting careers, addressing current gaps across most California counties.
12 Articles
12 Articles
The Columbian
The Seattle TimesWA lawmakers slash wildfire budget in half
CAMP CAMREC, Chelan County — The last fire to burn this forest was started by drip torches. Fingers of flame ignited the underbrush last fall, clearing fuels that could supercharge a wildfire. Read more...
Cal Matters
Inmate firefighters battled LA’s wildfire. Now a lawmaker wants to help launch their careers
Inmate firefighters say their criminal records make it hard to get a regular firefighting job once they're out. This bill can smooth the way.
Senate Bill 245: Easing fire crew's job prospects - The Sacramento Observer
By Deborah Brennan | CALmatters Network As the Los Angeles fires raged in January, about 1,000 inmate firefighters labored on hand crews alongside professional firefighters battling the blazes. In payment for that dangerous work, participants in the California Conservation Camp program earned $5.80 to $10.24 a day, plus $1 an hour, and they’ll get a chance to clear their record and seek work as a professional firefighter upon release. But inmate…
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