AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 10, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
98
Introduced by Senators McGuire, Grayson, Allen, and Pérez
February 20, 2025
An act to add Section 19846.2 to the Government Code, relating to public employment.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
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 the Firefighter I classification within CAL FIRE to a permanent firefighter employment
classification.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Fight for Firefighters Act of 2025.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.
Section 19846.2 is added to the Government Code, to read:
19846.2.
(a) 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 Firefighter I classification within the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to a permanent firefighter employment classification.
(b) The transition of the Firefighter I classification into a permanent employment classification shall include meeting and conferring in good faith between the exclusive representative and the state employer pursuant to Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512) of Division 4 of Title 1. The bargaining process shall include wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for affected employees during and after the transition.