“They put themselves on the front lines. We have thanked them, given thoughts and prayers, we’ve gone to visit and tweeted out, but we haven’t paid them fairly or justly.” Assembly member Isaac G. Bryan’s comments on the need for real support for California’s incarcerated firefighters have helped to create results.
The California legislature has passed a budget bill that includes $10 million ongoing for incarcerated firefighter pay dependent on the passage of AB 247, a bill to ensure they receive pay equal to the Federal minimum wage.
AB 247, authored by Assembly member Bryan, passed the state Assembly earlier this month with strong bipartisan support. It will next be heard in the Senate’s Public Safety Committee.
As fire season begins in earnest, every resource at our disposal should be fortified.
Judith Martin-Straw
Additional text Teresa Southerland
Photo credit – Governing .com
