** California governor signs bill allowing ex-convict firefighters to apply for civilian EMT/firefighter jobs
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A new California bill signed into law will allow ex-convicts who have assisted in state firefighting to apply for jobs as EMT/firefighters once they have served their sentences. That is the word from KAZU (Vanessa Romo/September 14) which said Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation Friday. According to the news station, the statute will expunge the records of inmate firefighters upon petition. Violent felons, however, are not eligible. The move will also allow ex inmates to qualify as EMTs which is a requirement at municipal fire departments. Newsom said former prisoners who have risked their wellbeing to save the lives and property of California residents deserve the right to work as professional firefighters. So far this year, wildfires in the state have killed 20 people, destroyed 6,300 structures, and consumed over 3 million acres.
