Bill > AB247

This bill addresses wage and credit provisions for incarcerated individuals and youth who serve on firefighting hand crews in California, requiring that they be paid an hourly wage of $7.25 while assigned to active fire incidents. Currently, inmates assigned to conservation camps or firefighting roles can earn two days of credit for every one day served, and this bill maintains that credit system while introducing a standardized wage for their firefighting work. The legislation applies to both adult inmates in state and county correctional facilities and youth placed at the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp, ensuring they receive compensation for their critical wildfire response services. The bill mandates that the wage rate be reviewed annually and requires both the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and counties to establish administrative processes for resolving any wage-related disputes. Recognizing the urgent need for wildfire response resources, the bill is classified as an urgency statute, meaning it will take effect immediately upon passage, with the explicit goal of maintaining California's readiness to combat wildfires by providing fair compensation and incentives for incarcerated and justice-involved individuals who participate in firefighting efforts.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB247