Volunteer firefighters: federal reimbursements.

(1) Existing law, enforced by the Labor Commissioner, regulates the terms and conditions of employment, including wages. Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging, or in any manner discriminating against, an employee for taking time off to perform emergency duty as a volunteer firefighter. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to willfully refuse to pay wages due, as specified, or to falsely deny an amount or validity of an amount owed, as specified. This bill would require a private or public fire department with volunteer firefighters that receives federal reimbursement for personnel costs associated with firefighting in which its volunteer firefighters have participated to pass through to those volunteers an amount equivalent to 20% of the annual compensation paid to a full-time firefighter employed by the department, as specified. By increasing the duties of local officials, and expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.