Bill Text: CA SB581 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 581

Introduced

Bill Title: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: seasonal firefighters.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-21 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23. [SB581 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB581-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 581

Introduced by Senators McGuire, Grayson, Allen, and Pérez
(Principal coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Cervantes, Cortese, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Jones, Menjivar, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, and Wahab)

February 20, 2025

An act to add Section 19846.2 to the Government Code, relating to public employment.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 581, as introduced, McGuire. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: seasonal firefighters.

The California Constitution establishes certain conditions of employment for state officers and employees. Existing law, the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act, grants specified employment rights to firefighters, as defined, including temporary, seasonal firefighters employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources, the State Personnel Board, and any other relevant state agency to take the necessary actions to transition seasonal firefighters employed by CAL FIRE to a permanent firefighter employment classification.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 19846.2 is added to the Government Code, to read:

19846.2.

The Department of Human Resources, the State Personnel Board, and any other relevant state agency shall take the necessary actions to transition seasonal firefighters employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to a permanent firefighter employment classification.