AB 2483: Wildland firefighters: Formerly Incarcerated Firefighter Certification and Employment Program.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and requires the department to be responsible for, among other things, fire protection and prevention, as provided.

Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camp program for the purpose of having inmates and wards work on projects supervised by the department. Existing law requires the department to utilize inmates and wards assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work at the department.

This bill would require, on and after July 1, 2027, the department to, in partnership with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Conservation Camp program, implement a standardized process to ensure that all eligible individuals who successfully complete training in a department firefighting training camp while incarcerated receive official written certification reflective of the training completed before their release, as specified.

This bill would require the department, on and after January 1, 2028, if a qualified formerly incarcerated individual, as defined, applies for a Fire Fighter 1 Classification position, or any successor classifications, and has the required training and meets the minimum qualifications for the position, to award hiring preference under Category Placement 2 to the qualified formerly incarcerated individual, as specified. The bill would require the department, on and after January 1, 2028, if a qualified formerly incarcerated individual applies for a Forestry Technician Classification position, or any successor classifications, to count the duration of specified training and fieldwork as an incarcerated hand crew member towards the minimum qualifications for the classification.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 612, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 25, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6486.).
5. August 24, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
7. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
9. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
10. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
11. June 24, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
12. June 24, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.