A bill to make it easier for some military veterans to become firefighters in California is blazing through the Legislature with zero opposition so far.
Assembly Bill 398 would allow the state fire marshal to accept federal Department of Defense firefighter certification as equal training for Firefighter I, which is the basic certification that California requires for firefighting jobs.
The measure cleared the 11-member Senate Committee on Governmental Organization on Tuesday without a dissenting vote. The Assembly previously passed it 75-0.
The proposal now goes before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Assuming the bill's winning streak continues, it would then go before the full Senate for a final vote.
The bill's author, Republican Assemblyman Mike Morrell of Rancho Cucamonga, said in a news release Tuesday that about 30,000 veterans return to California every year.
"My legislation will help fulfill our fundamental responsibility of providing opportunities to our military men and women when they return home from service," Morrell said.
A spokeswoman was unsure how many of those returning veterans hold federal firefighter certification and have sought a firefighting job in the Golden State.
– Jon Ortiz
MONEY WATCH
David Crane, an economic adviser in Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, has been tapped to advise a task force examining health care costs, municipal borrowing and other issues. Former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker will head the group. California is one of the five states it will examine.
– Jon Ortiz
WORTH REPEATING
"They were in jeopardy 10 years ago, and the demographic shifts have made it even more difficult for them to get re-elected."
MATT REXROAD, Republican consultant, assessing the political future of longtime GOP Reps. David Dreier and Gary Miller of Southern California
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