Inmate firefighters.

Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work of the department. Existing law allows an incarcerated individual, as specified, who has successfully participated in either a California Conservation Camp program or a county program as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, as determined by specified authorities, and has been released from custody, to file a petition for relief with a court. Existing law allows a court, in its discretion, to permit a defendant to withdraw a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and enter a plea of not guilty or, if convicted after a plea of not guilty, to set aside the guilty verdict. This bill would allow an incarcerated individual, who successfully participated and completed trained in a program, as specified, as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, be eligible for a firefighter certificate provided by the department. This bill would state the intent as well as findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to incarcerated individuals receiving firefighting certificates.