Incarcerated Firefighters in California
A new law has been signed by Newsom, increasing pay for incarcerated firefighters in California.
This change follows years of advocacy for better pay and working conditions for incarcerated labor, with the wage increase funded through the state budget.
Background
The effort to improve conditions for incarcerated firefighters gained urgency after hundreds were deployed to battle deadly wildfires in Los Angeles in January.
Significance
State lawmakers introduced a "Firefighting to Freedom" package, which includes seven bills to protect incarcerated firefighters and support job opportunities upon their reentry.
Five of these bills have been signed into law, marking the most comprehensive changes to incarcerated firefighting in the state's history.
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Author's summary: California signs law to increase pay for incarcerated firefighters.