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Committee hears bill to certify formerly incarcerated CAL FIRE hand‑crew members for firefighting careers
Summary
Supporters told the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement that AB 2483 would give formerly incarcerated CAL FIRE hand‑crew members official certificates and a fair path to firefighting jobs, arguing it recognizes experience and reduces recidivism; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.
AB 2483, introduced to the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement, would create a permanent pathway for people who served on CAL FIRE hand crews while incarcerated to obtain official certificates that make them eligible for firefighting positions after release.
The bill's presenter argued the measure turns on‑the‑job experience into credentialed opportunity. "If we trust individuals to fight our fires while incarcerated, we should be ready to hire them to do that same essential work when they come home," the presenter said during opening remarks.
Christine Seltzer Deberry, executive director of Prosecutors Alliance Action and a board member of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District, told the committee AB 2483 is "a smart investment in jobs, justice, and safety," and said incarcerated crews provided 42 percent of CAL FIRE's emergency response hours in 2024. "This bill ensures that incarcerated individuals earn the certificates they need to apply for entry‑level positions with CAL FIRE when they are returned home," she said.
Chief Hoyo Ramey, cofounder and CEO of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program and a formerly incarcerated firefighter, recounted his transition from a conservation camp to public‑sector firefighting and said his organization has helped transition more than 360 people into forestry and fire careers, including about 60 now at CAL FIRE. "This isn't about special treatment," Ramey said. "AB 2483 creates a modest hiring preference that recognizes their experience while maintaining a fair and competitive process."
Multiple organizations registered support and several committee members offered strong personal endorsements; one member asked to be listed as a coauthor. The chair noted that the committee did not have a quorum earlier and said motions would be taken at roll call once a quorum was established. No formal committee vote on AB 2483 was recorded in the hearing transcript.
Why it matters: Supporters said the bill addresses workforce shortages in wildland firefighting, recognizes hands‑on training done in conservation camps, and could reduce recidivism by offering stable employment. The bill's proponents asked the committee for an "aye" vote when the item is taken up formally.
Next steps: The committee heard testimony and listed supporters but did not record a vote during the session; the chair said the item would be taken up when a quorum is present.
