Bill > SB1024

This bill requires specified public and state fire departments in California to provide up to 26 weeks of paid leave to active firefighters who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, aiming to address gender inequities and health and safety barriers in the firefighting profession. To be eligible, a firefighter must have completed at least 1,250 hours of service with their department in the preceding 12 months. During this leave, firefighters will receive their regular rate of pay based on their normal schedule or collective bargaining agreements—which are legally binding contracts negotiated between employers and labor unions representing workers—without being required to first use up their accrued sick leave or vacation time. Furthermore, the bill mandates that employee benefits, such as retirement contributions and health coverage, must continue to accrue during the absence, and that returning firefighters must be reinstated to their exact prior position or an equivalent role with the same rank, pay, and promotional path.