Wildland firefighters: Formerly Incarcerated Handcrew Employment Program.

Assembly Member Elhawary's proposal to create the Formerly Incarcerated Handcrew Employment Program would establish a pathway for individuals who complete firefighting training while incarcerated to join the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as entry-level handcrew members upon release.

The program requires the department to partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Conservation Camp program, and California Conservation Corps to certify qualified individuals as wildland firefighters before their release from prison. The department must then hire these individuals as handcrew members and provide transitional support, including job placement assistance, mentorship, training, and career development resources. These positions would carry the same union representation and organizational rights as other department employees, with pay scales determined through union negotiations.

To ensure program capacity matches participant needs, the department must track the number of incarcerated individuals completing firefighter training who are approaching release within 90 days. The legislation also allows other state agencies with wildland management responsibilities to create similar entry-level positions prioritizing qualified formerly incarcerated individuals. The department must monitor and report annually to the Legislature on program outcomes, including hiring numbers, retention rates, and career advancement opportunities.

The provisions would take effect only upon legislative appropriation through the annual Budget Act or other statute. For three years following implementation, the department must submit annual reports evaluating the program's implementation and recommending potential improvements.