Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: employment: criminal background checks.

Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL-Fire) to be responsible for the fire protection, fire prevention, maintenance, and enhancement of the state's forest, range, and brushland resources, contract fire protection, associated emergency services, and assistance in civil disasters and other nonfire emergencies. This bill would require the department to conduct a state and federal level criminal offender record information search through the Department of Justice prior to hiring an applicant for a permanent position as a firefighter with the department or the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, with exceptions, beginning on January 1, 2012. The bill would require the department to conduct the same criminal offender record information search for applicants of both permanent and seasonal positions as a firefighter, with exceptions, beginning on January 1, 2014. The bill would require the Department of Justice to provide the information electronically, and would require the department to request the Department of Justice to provide subsequent arrest notification services. The bill would require the applicant to pay the fee charged by the Department of Justice for processing the request, unless otherwise negotiated under collective bargaining procedures, and would require the department to refund the fee once that person had been employed for 24 months cumulatively. This bill would require the department to make and enforce those regulations necessary and proper for the implementation and maintenance of the requirements of these provisions.