Sec. 602. Pilot program providing Federal employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated firefighters
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/bill/117/hr/6492/ih/section-602A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish and operate a pilot program, in coordination with eligible States, to provide formerly incarcerated firefighters with the opportunity to be hired to occupy Federal wildland firefighting positions. The pilot program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 6 years after the of enactment of this section. An eligible State shall submit an application to the Secretaries to participate in the pilot program.
Any such application shall include, at the minimum, the following: A list of the agencies of the eligible State involved in the training and management of the incarcerated firefighter workforce. The total number of the incarcerated firefighter workforce used by such State and a description of roles held by incarcerated firefighters. The number of incarcerated firefighters expected to be released by such State in the year commencing after the date the application is submitted.
The number of formerly incarcerated firefighters released by such State that have successfully secured employment in wildland or structural firefighting. An estimate of any costs, including staffing costs, such State would incur as a result of participating in the pilot program. The pilot program shall provide for the recruitment, in such form and manner as the Secretaries may prescribe, in consultation with the eligible State, of formerly incarcerated firefighters to occupy Federal wildland firefighting positions.
The following requirements shall apply to such recruitment efforts: The participation in the recruitment program by incarcerated firefighters to be voluntary. A presentation shall be made to incarcerated firefighters regarding an overview of Federal wildland firefighting positions. The Secretaries shall— work with incarcerated firefighters and the eligible State to identify the skills, interests, and experience of candidates to determine which Federal wildland firefighting positions would be most suitable for the individual; work with incarcerated firefighters and the eligible State to identify and address any potential barriers to employment as a Federal wildland firefighter, including a lack of a driver’s license, before the firefighter is released from incarceration; and collaborate with the eligible State to ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that a decision to hire an incarcerated firefighter coincides with the release of the individual from incarceration.
The Secretaries and State agencies shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that any needs that an incarcerated firefighter or formerly incarcerated may have for voluntary substance abuse, mental health, or other rehabilitative programming are accommodated during the hiring process and after the position has been accepted by the individual. The Secretaries shall ensure that the cost of any additional training required is not a financial burden for a formerly incarcerated firefighter.
Subject to the availability of funds to carry out this section, the Secretaries shall provide grants to eligible States participating in the pilot program to support the State’s collaboration with the Secretaries to provide recruitment opportunities for incarcerated firefighters or formerly incarcerated firefighters. The Secretaries shall require, at a minimum, that States waive parole and probation requirements to ensure that a formerly incarcerated firefighter can meet the requirements of the position for which the individual is hired.
Subject to the availability of funds to carry out this section, the pilot program shall provide support services for formerly incarcerated firefighters participating in the program to support the individual’s financial stability and successful reentry into and retention within the workforce. The Secretaries shall work with State correctional agencies to develop a process for formerly incarcerated firefighters to apply for financial assistance. Financial assistance may be provided for up to 6 months at an amount that ensures the individual’s ability to secure stable housing, food, and other basic needs and purchase any equipment, attire, or supplies that may be needed to perform the duties of the Federal wildland firefighting position for which they have been hired.
The pilot program shall include a mentorship program that pairs formerly incarcerated firefighters currently employed within the Federal Government with newly hired formerly incarcerated firefighters to support job success and retention. During the period the pilot program under this section is operational, with respect to examinations for Federal wildland firefighting positions in the competitive service (as that term is defined in section 2102 of title 5, United States Code), competition is restricted to formerly incarcerated firefighters participating in the pilot program as long as such firefighters are available.
Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretaries shall submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and any other relevant congressional committees detailing implementation of the pilot program, including the rate at which formerly incarcerated firefighters have been hired by the Secretaries.
In this section: The term eligible State means a State that trains and uses firefighters incarcerated in a State correctional facility to fight wildland fire. The term Federal wildland firefighting positions means full-time, permanent positions within the United States Forest Service or in the Department of Interior the duties of which consist of wildland firefighting, including administrative support positions. The term formerly incarcerated firefighter means an individual— who is no longer incarcerated in a State correctional facility and has been trained and used by the State to fight wildland fire; and who the Secretaries determine are qualified and suitable to occupy Federal wildland firefighting positions.
The term Secretaries means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior.