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Senate bill would let fire chiefs consider rehabilitated convictions when hiring; supporters call it a recruitment tool
Summary
SB 362 would give municipal fire chiefs discretion to qualify applicants with certain past convictions for firefighter positions, excluding people required to register on violent-offender registries. Supporters said it expands recruitment and reentry opportunities for rural departments; no opponents were recorded in the excerpt.
Senator Tony Tzczak presented Senate Bill 362 to allow fire chiefs discretion to qualify an applicant who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony — provided the conviction is not for an offense that requires registration as a sex or violent offender — for municipal firefighter positions. Tzczak framed the bill as a way to broaden the recruitment pool and to allow reentry opportunities for people who have demonstrated rehabilitation.
Volunteer and municipal chiefs who testified in support said they have observed effective contributions from nontraditional recruits, including prison crews in wildland firefighting, and argued for local discretion. Supporters included a volunteer chief who recounted using correctional crews on fires and a longtime resident with decades of law-abiding conduct since a prior conviction who urged second chances.
Committee members asked whether the bill applies to volunteer departments and whether the bill’s language aligns with municipal statutes. Senators discussed the balance between community trust and workforce needs; the sponsor said chiefs already exercise discretion informally and the bill would provide a clear statutory route.
The transcript shows robust support and committee discussion; no opponents were listed in the provided excerpt.
