Bill > AB1699

This bill, titled the "Good Fire Act," aims to expand and make permanent California's Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program, which supports the use of controlled burns for wildfire prevention and ecosystem health. Key provisions include indefinitely extending the program, which was set to expire in 2028, and broadening eligibility for financial coverage from losses related to these burns to include individuals and entities beyond the current limitations, excluding only the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the federal government. The bill also modifies the requirements for burn bosses, who are individuals certified to manage prescribed burns, by removing the need for departmental approval of their burn plans and instead relying on their certification. Furthermore, it mandates that burn boss recertification occur no more than every three years and encourages the department to find ways to increase the number of instructors for their certification program, including using non-department personnel. The bill also allows for the waiver of pre-burn inspections by the department for certain certified individuals and cultural fire practitioners, and it exempts actions taken by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to assist in prescribed fire or cultural burning projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which typically requires environmental impact reviews. Finally, it ensures that state agencies awarding grants for beneficial fire projects cannot restrict overtime or double pay rates for individuals working on these projects.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1699