CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 799Introduced by Assembly Member Celeste RodriguezFebruary 18, 2025 An act to add Section 2780.6 to the Penal Code, relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 799, as introduced, Celeste Rodriguez. prisons: death benefit for incarcerated firefighters.Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work of the department. Existing law allows an incarcerated individual, as specified, who has successfully participated in either a California Conservation Camp program or a county program as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, as determined by specified authorities, and has been released from custody, to file a petition for relief with a court.This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to pay a death benefit, as specified, for the death of any incarcerated crew members in the California Conservation Camp program, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 2780.6 is added to the Penal Code, to read:2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 799Introduced by Assembly Member Celeste RodriguezFebruary 18, 2025 An act to add Section 2780.6 to the Penal Code, relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 799, as introduced, Celeste Rodriguez. prisons: death benefit for incarcerated firefighters.Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work of the department. Existing law allows an incarcerated individual, as specified, who has successfully participated in either a California Conservation Camp program or a county program as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, as determined by specified authorities, and has been released from custody, to file a petition for relief with a court.This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to pay a death benefit, as specified, for the death of any incarcerated crew members in the California Conservation Camp program, as specified.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 799
Introduced by Assembly Member Celeste RodriguezFebruary 18, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez
February 18, 2025
An act to add Section 2780.6 to the Penal Code, relating to prisons.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 799, as introduced, Celeste Rodriguez. prisons: death benefit for incarcerated firefighters.
Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work of the department. Existing law allows an incarcerated individual, as specified, who has successfully participated in either a California Conservation Camp program or a county program as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, as determined by specified authorities, and has been released from custody, to file a petition for relief with a court.This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to pay a death benefit, as specified, for the death of any incarcerated crew members in the California Conservation Camp program, as specified.
Existing law establishes the California Conservation Camps for the purpose of having incarcerated persons work on projects supervised by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the department to utilize incarcerated persons assigned to conservation camps in performing fire prevention, fire control, and other work of the department. Existing law allows an incarcerated individual, as specified, who has successfully participated in either a California Conservation Camp program or a county program as an incarcerated individual hand crewmember, as determined by specified authorities, and has been released from custody, to file a petition for relief with a court.
This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to pay a death benefit, as specified, for the death of any incarcerated crew members in the California Conservation Camp program, as specified.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 2780.6 is added to the Penal Code, to read:2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 2780.6 is added to the Penal Code, to read:2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
SECTION 1. Section 2780.6 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.
2780.6. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to any applicable provisions of state law, shall pay a death benefit in an amount calculated pursuant to subdivision (c) for the death of any state prison inmate crew member assigned to the California Conservation Camp program pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) The death benefit shall be paid within 60 days of the death of an incarcerated crew member to the beneficiary designated by the crew member to receive the death benefit if the crew member dies during any of the following circumstances:
(1) During performance of their duties on active deployment fighting fires.
(2) During performance of their duties completing firefighter training.
(3) While physically or mentally incapacitated due to their performance of their duties as described in paragraph (1) or (2).
(c) The death benefit shall be the sum of the following amounts:
(1) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(2) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earned by the deceased crew member during the 12 months immediately preceding the death of the crew member.