California Leaders Must Commit to Removing Barriers to Careers After Release
Media Contact:
Claire Gross, Sr. Manager of Public Relations
cgross@ceoworks.org | 646) 370-8292
SACRAMENTO, CA - October 14, 2025- Statement from Simone Price, Director of Organizing at the Center for Employment Opportunities, on Governor Newsom Signing AB 247 into Law:
“We commend Governor Newsom for signing AB 247 into law and taking a meaningful step toward justice for California’s incarcerated firefighters. This long-overdue legislation ensures that incarcerated individuals risking their lives to protect our communities during active duty will finally earn a wage of $7.25 per hour.
We are deeply grateful to Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) for championing this bill and standing with those who have long been overlooked. We also thank our fellow advocacy organizations and the formerly incarcerated firefighters who courageously shared their lived experiences. Their voices and tireless advocacy shaped this policy and made this progress possible.
California’s incarcerated firefighters have been hailed as heroes in crisis, battling wildfires, clearing disaster debris, and responding to emergencies across the state. But too often, once the smoke clears, these same individuals are reduced to one moment in their life, denied fair compensation, and locked out of opportunities to continue serving their communities as professional firefighters.
AB 247 is a critical win, but it cannot be the final word. Every year, thousands of skilled and experienced individuals return home from incarceration ready and willing to contribute. Yet they face insurmountable hurdles: licensing restrictions, complex expungement processes, and legal barriers that prevent them from turning their experience into a sustainable career.
We call on Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to build on this momentum. Continue removing barriers that prevent formerly incarcerated firefighters from pursuing professional careers in the field they are already trained for and passionate about. Let’s ensure that the same people who risked everything to protect us are not locked out of the workforce when they return home.
AB247 is a step in the right direction, but we must continue to craft policy that builds true opportunity for everyone coming home from incarceration.”
About the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in more than 30 cities across 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted individuals have opportunities to achieve socioeconomic mobility. For more information, visit ceoworks.org.