BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT & RETIREMENT BILL NO: AB 384
Patricia Wiggins, Chair Hearing date: July 9, 2007
AB 384 (Portatino) as amended 7/05/07 FISCAL: YES
FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS: COLLEGE TUITION EXEMPTION AND HEALTH
BENEFITS PROVIDED TO SURVIVORS
HISTORY :
Sponsor: California Professional Firefighters (CPF)
Prior legislation: AB 950 (Salas) 2007
Currently in Veteran Affairs Committee
SB 1040 (Dunn)
Chapter 395, of 2006
ASSEMBLY VOTES :
Higher Ed 7-0 3/27/07
PER & SS 6-0 4/18/07
Appropriations 16-0 5/23/07
Assembly Floor 75-0 5/31/07
Senate Education 7-0 6/27/07
SUMMARY :
Would extend certain college tuition exemption and health
benefits to survivors of fallen federal firefighters.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS :
1) Existing law :
a) provides certain University of California (UC) an
California State University (CSU) fee exemptions to
surviving spouses and children of other law enforcement and
fire suppression personnel in California, and
b) provides, under Public Employees Medical and Hospital
Care Act (PEMHCA), which is administered by the California
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), continuing
David Felderstein
Date: 7/05/07 Page 1
health benefits coverage to the surviving spouse and
children of a firefighter or peace officer who dies as a
result of an injury or disease sustained in the line of
duty.
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Date: 7/05/07 Page 2
2) This bill :
a) enacts the California Fallen Federal Firefighter
Survivor Assistance Act of 2007,
b) prohibits the UC and CSU from imposing or collecting
mandatory systemwide fees or tuition from surviving spouses
and children of permanent career civilian federal
firefighters who were residents of California and
performing services in California who were killed in the
line of duty, and
c) provides continuing health benefit coverage as
specified under the PEMHCA for surviving spouses and
children of permanent career civilian federal firefighters
who were residents of California and performing services in
California who were killed in the line of duty.
FISCAL EFFECT :
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis:
"1) General Fund (GF) costs would depend on the number of
existing and future surviving spouses and children of
fallen firefighters take advantage of medical and/or
tuition benefits. Currently surviving spouses receive
health care benefits at an annual GF cost of $372,000.
Since 1990, 30 federal firefighters have been killed in the
line of duty. It is unknown how many of these firefighters
left survivors. If 10 surviving spouses and their families
were to receive health benefits, the initial cost would be
around $130,000 annually. If two additional surviving
spouses become eligible for benefits, the annual cost would
exceed $150,000.
"2) Revenue losses to UC and CSU, assuming 10 students at
each system receive a tuition waiver, would be $64,000 and
$28,000, respectively. Any revenue losses at the community
colleges would be minor."
COMMENTS :
David Felderstein
Date: 7/05/07 Page 3
1) Arguments in support
According to the author:
"When a firefighter is killed in the line of duty, he or
she leaves behind a family who not only suffers this great
loss but a family faced with financial challenges including
college education and health care. Existing law provides
specific relief in these vital areas for survivors of
fallen police officers and firefighters, but omits
protection for those on the permanent, career federal
payroll. This bill cures this omission.
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Date: 7/05/07 Page 4
"Last fall, five men died while fighting the Esperanza fire
in Riverside County. Two of these men were permanent
career civilian federal fighters who resided in California
and served on Engine 57 at the San Jacinto Ranger Station
and left behind surviving family members. The survivors of
these men will not receive the benefits that are available
to other Californians who have died in the line of similar
duty.
"In recent years there have been approximately 500
permanent civilian federal firefighters in California. In
addition to the men who perished in the Esperanza fire, 14
federal firefighters have died in the line of duty in
California in the last five years."
2) SUPPORT :
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
CalPERS
CDF Firefighters
California Fire Chiefs Association
California Peace Officers' Association
Federal Wildland Fire Service Association
Fire Districts Association of California
Marin Professional Firefighters
PERS Retirement Betterment Committee INC.
Presidio Federal Firefighters, IAFF
State Council of the International Association of Fire
Fighters
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112
(UFLAC)
3) OPPOSITION :
None to date
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David Felderstein
Date: 7/05/07 Page 5