CA SB 423

Title: Inmate firefighters: postsecondary education: enhanced firefighter training and certification program: local handcrew pilot program.
Author: Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

Summary
SB 423, as amended, Smallwood-Cuevas. Inmate firefighters: postsecondary education: enhanced firefighter training and certification program: local handcrew pilot program. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Under existing law, the board of governors appoints a chief executive officer, who is known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to enter into an interagency agreement to expand access to community college courses that lead to degrees or certificates that result in enhanced workforce skills or transfer to a 4-year university.This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2028, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to expand access to community college courses that lead to degrees and certificates in specified subjects including, among other subjects, fire science, for individuals serving in California Conservation Corps handcrews or institutional firehouses, as provided.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 Corps and requires the corps to implement and administer various training and educational programs, including the California Conservation Camp program. Under existing law, incarcerated persons in the California Conservation Camp program work on projects supervised by the department. Existing law requires the department to use incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work at the department.This bill would require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the department, in collaboration with the California Conservation Corps and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to operate an enhanced firefighter training and certification program at the Ventura Training Center in the County of Ventura, or its successor facility.The bill would authorize, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the fire chief of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department to establish the Local Handcrew Pilot Program for 5 years and would authorize the fire chief to enroll in the pilot program formerly incarcerated individuals who have successfully completed specified programs, training, or work. The bill would require the fire chief to develop metrics for evaluating the efficacy and success of the pilot program, to evaluate the efficacy and success of the pilot program using those metrics, and to report the findings of the evaluation to the Legislature and the Governor, as provided. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Ventura Training Center in the County of Ventura.

Status
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

Bill Documents
CA SB 423 - 05/23/25 - Amended Senate
05/23/25 - CA SB 423 (05/23/25 - Amended Senate)