California firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders are united in asking Governor Gavin Newsom to sign legislation that would change how and when they receive retirement benefits.<\/p>\n
Assembly Bill 1383 is awaiting Newsom’s signature and could lower the minimum retirement age for state public safety employees from 57 to 55.<\/p>\n
“We ask police officers, firefighters and our public safety professionals to spend decades running towards situations that everyone else is running away from,” said Anthony Gamble of the Peace Officers Research Association of California while rallying in favor of the bill Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Supporters say first responders should be able to start receiving retirement benefits earlier because of the physical and mental toll of the job.<\/p>\n
“So, the cancer, the sleep deprivation, the mental health issues that we all face, we know that these arise later, especially after the age of 57,” said Eric Rowley, president of Burbank Professional Firefighters.<\/p>\n
Rowley also noted in his personal experience, retention in the fire service, as well as interest in joining the profession, have both decreased since he started working in the 2000s.<\/p>\n
Darrell Roberts, president of California Professional Firefighters, said lowering the retirement age would mean “Two fewer years to face carcinogens, two fewer years of cumulative physical strain.”<\/p>\n
First responders also want to be able to negotiate with their respective counties and cities to receive up to 3% of their income for each year in uniform, starting at age 55.<\/p>\n
“We’re facing more wildfires, more toxic exposures, more complex emergencies and more calls,” Roberts said.<\/p>\n
The proposal has strong bipartisan support in the Legislature, along with backing from California Professional Firefighters and the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the largest statewide associations representing firefighters and law enforcement officials.<\/p>\n