CaliforniaPublic fire departments provide paid pregnancy recovery leave
Eligible firefighters at specified public departments can take up to 26 weeks of paid leave for disability caused by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
What it does
Eligible firefighters who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition may take up to 26 weeks of paid leave. Full pay follows their regular pay rate and schedule, with a separate calculation for part-time firefighters.
Benefits continue during paid leave, and a returning firefighter must get their former job or an equivalent one, with the same rank, pay, schedule, station assignment, and promotion path.
University of California fire departments are asked to follow the paid leave rules.
Argument forFirefighters who are disabled by pregnancy or childbirth could recover away from hazardous duty while keeping their pay and a path back to their job.
Argument againstDepartments may need to cover shifts while paying an eligible firefighter for up to 26 weeks, which could strain staffing.
More detail
Specified fire departments must provide paid leave to eligible firefighters who request it because they are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. This covers active firefighting members of city, county, district, state, and other listed public fire departments who have at least 1,250 hours of service in the 12 months before leave begins. A department may require written medical certification documenting the disability and the expected start date and length of leave. Part-time firefighters receive pay based on their usual weekly hours, or their average weekly pay over the prior six months if their hours are not fixed. Other qualifying benefits or disability insurance may count toward the required pay, but firefighters must receive full pay without using up their sick, vacation, or other paid leave balances. The 1,250-hour service requirement is measured during the 12 months before paid leave begins.
Departments must continue covered benefits during leave and restore a returning firefighter to the same or an equivalent position. These protections apply to firefighters taking paid leave under this law. The department must maintain group health coverage at the same level and under the same conditions as if the firefighter had not taken leave. The firefighter earns full service credit and pays required member retirement contributions during leave. Benefits continue for the duration of the paid leave, and restoration applies when the firefighter returns.
The law requests that University of California fire departments comply with these leave rules. This request applies to fire departments of the University of California.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 20Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 419, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 20Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 2Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 6036.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1024 Menjivar et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1024 Menjivar Senate Third Reading By Wicks. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6611.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 19Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 19Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor and Employment] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 15Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
- Jun 8Referred to Coms. on P. E. & R. and L. & E.Minor
- May 20In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 19Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4352.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB1024 Menjivar et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4261.) (May 14).Major
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- Apr 27April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 17Set for hearing April 27.
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3903.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 15.
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.Minor
- Mar 16From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Feb 18Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 11From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 13.
- Feb 10Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
Public SafetyHealthcareEconomy & Jobs