Former Inmates With Fire Service Experience

In general, current law provides that a felony conviction or other offense involving moral turpitude does not, in and of itself, prevent a person from applying for or obtaining public employment. The bill extends this to persons applying to positions within the wildland fire management section in the department of public safety. The bill requires the division of fire prevention and control (division) to develop materials to increase awareness of wildland fire career opportunities for persons who acquired experience in wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program (program). The bill states that the division is encouraged to hire persons who acquired experience in the program for positions performing wildland fire services. The bill requires the division to develop and implement a peer mentor program for persons hired who acquired experience in wildland fire services through the program so those persons may develop and sustain professional skills. The bill requires the wildfire matters review committee to review and permits the committee to propose legislation or other policy changes relating to maximizing the utilization of wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program and creating wildland fire career opportunities for persons who acquire experience in wildland fire services through the inmate disaster relief program. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)