(SACRAMENTO) – AB 384, jointly authored by Assemblymembers Portantino and Galgiani, cleared the Assembly Floor unanimously by a vote of 75-0.  If passed by the state Senate and signed by the Governor, AB 384 would guarantee spouses and surviving children of fallen federal fighters the ability to obtain receive fee waivers from California’s public colleges and universities – University of California, California State University and community colleges.  The bill would also guarantee uninsured surviving dependents (spouses and children) have access to a state-funded program to help them gain medical and dental benefits.

“California’s civilian federal firefighters face tremendous risks to protect our wild lands from devastating fire, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with state and local first responders,” said Assemblymember Portantino.  “When civilian federal firefighters lose their lives protecting our homes, their survivors deserve nothing less than the benefits we extend to California’s own professional firefighters.”

The need for this common-sense legislation was revealed after last fall’s devastating loss in the Esperanza Fire. Five firefighters – Captain Mark Loutzenhiser and Engine Operators Jess McLean, Jason McKay, Daniel Hoover-Najera and Pablo Cerda – died after their engine was burned during the wind-whipped 24,000 acre blaze.  All five were California residents, working on Engine 57 at the San Jacinto Ranger Station in Idyllwild.

The fallen firefighter family fee waivers for UC, CSU and community colleges were first enacted in 1999. The health insurance program was approved in 2004. In each case, the benefits were intended to apply to all firefighters. However, in the intervening years, these programs have been administered in a way that excludes the survivors of fallen federal firefighters who lived, worked, and gave their lives within the state.

The California Fallen Federal Firefighter Survivor Assistance Act of 2007 – AB 384 – guarantees that all California firefighters – federal as well as local and state – have access to survivor benefits provided to state and local firefighters under existing law.

“When firefighters fall in the line of duty, their families are left with a hole in their lives and, often, a crushing burden to care for their children,” said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters. “The best way to honor their sacrifice is to do everything we can as Californians to ease this financial burden on their families.”

AB 384 now moves to the Senate Rules Committee, where it will be assigned to a policy committee in the coming weeks.