Employment of inmates

The law recognizes conservation-camp work and training, including wildland firefighting, as qualifying experience for a state-approved construction craft laborer apprenticeship starting July 1, 2027.

What the law does ​

• Requires the prerelease construction-trades advisory committee to help conservation-camp graduates enter state-approved construction craft laborer apprenticeships after release.
• Requires apprenticeship programs to evaluate those applicants for advanced standing based on their prior coursework and work experience.
• Treats successful conservation-camp participation, including training in wildland firefighting, environmental remediation, forestry management, and emergency response, as qualifying apprenticeship experience.
• Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, working with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Conservation Camp program, to provide eligible participants written training certificates.
• Allows apprenticeships in other occupations to consider conservation-camp graduates for advanced standing.

Who it affects ​

• Incarcerated hand-crewmembers who successfully complete California Conservation Camp programs.
• State-approved apprenticeship programs, particularly construction craft laborer programs.
• The agencies and advisory committee administering prerelease construction-trades and conservation-camp pathways.

Context ​

The new requirements take effect July 1, 2027.