By Michael Muskal
The Los Angeles Times
PHOENIX — Arizona lawmakers will be considering retroactive bills to extend full employee benefits to any firefighter who dies on state land, including the seasonal Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in the June 30 wildfire near Yarnell.
The legislation hasn’t been drafted yet and couldn’t be considered until lawmakers go back into session in January. But talks have started, Rey Torres, director of communication for the Arizona House majority caucus of Republicans, said Thursday.
“The conversation has just begun,” Torres said by telephone to the Los Angeles Times. “There is no formal language yet. There is work to be done and details to be ironed out, but this will be a legislative priority.”
Torres said the delay would not penalize the families of those who died because the legislation would be retroactive.
Some of the firefighters killed in the Yarnell wildfire were classified as seasonal employees with the city of Prescott, so their families don’t qualify for full survivor benefits.
House Speaker Andy Tobin announced earlier this week that he would bring legislation to the floor to correct that problem.
“To be putting your life on the line for part-time survivor benefits is not what I consider appropriate when people are defending the citizens of Arizona, particularly on state land,” Tobin told the Daily Courier of Prescott.
Another bill planned by Tobin would have the state cover the costs of the death-related retirement benefits provided by Prescott.
The city of Prescott has said it cannot legally reclassify 13 of the Granite Mountain Hotshots as full-time employees so their families can receive additional benefits. The six others who died after the fire cut off their escape route were permanent employees.
Juliann Ashcraft has been pressing the city to reclassify her late husband, Andrew, as a full-time employee. The couple had four children.
“I will do anything that I can to fight for the other 13 men that they’re classifying as seasonal because they have lives and families, and they gave the ultimate sacrifice for our community,” she said Wednesday at a news conference in Prescott. “And they’re not being treated fairly.”
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