As union president of the Marin Professional Firefighters group, I am writing in response to a recently published letter that appeared to misrepresent Assembly Bill 1383 and those supporting it. To be clear, Assemblymember Damon Connolly is one of dozens of co-authors who support the bill. That distinction matters because some claims about the bill are inaccurate, and the reality seems to be far different from author Richard Tait’s perspective.
AB 1383 does not remove safeguards or undo reform under the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act. Core protections remain in place, and there are no retroactive benefit increases. These changes apply only to future service.
Importantly, AB 1383 preserves local governance control. The opportunity to bargain for a new benefit must be negotiated for what works best locally.
PEPRA has already saved billions and will continue to do so. AB 1383 does not undo those savings; it adjusts them. It’s not a system overhaul; it’s a targeted update.
Taxpayers are not left covering unchecked costs. Employee and employer contributions remain part of the system, and the 50/50 cost sharing, as required by law, remains. It’s a shared responsibility.
Firefighters are now facing longer and more deadly wildfire seasons, higher call volumes, repeated exposure to toxic materials linked to cancer and significant instances of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Allowing firefighters to retire at 55 years old instead of 57 is not excessive; it’s practical. Keeping firefighters on the job longer doesn’t reduce costs; it shifts costs into injuries, disability retirements and long-term health claims.
Suggestions that recruitment can be solved with bonuses or pay increases miss the point. Firefighters hired under PEPRA already receive reduced benefits compared to previous generations. This bill helps address that gap in a responsible way.
— John Bagala, San Rafael
Published in the Marin Independent Journal Readers’ Forum for May 31, 2026
Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for May 31, 2026 – Marin Independent Journal