A bill in the California State Legislature would allow convicted felons to become professional firefighters after serving a prison sentence. Under current state law, felons are prohibited from working as firefighters and EMTs.
Fire camps have about 3,700 inmates serving in them as part of the Conservation Camp Program, KOVR-TV reports. Of those, 2,600 are fire-line qualified.
"When they leave that service they’re told that they will never ever be allowed to be a firefighter," Assemblymember Eloise Reyes told KOVR.
"We know people make mistakes, and then they turn their lives around," she added. "They might not get the job, but at least they won’t be precluded."
But not everyone thinks the bill is a good idea.
"Good for them that they can work to repay their debt to society in this fashion, but that’s not the same thing as a firefighter. Firefighters are sworn officers. They take an oath and can and should be held to the highest possible standard," Carroll Wills, the communications director for the California Professional Firefighters, told the TV station.
