CA SB1261

Amends Public Resources Code Section 4114.5 to limit death benefit requirements to contracts between the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and nonpublic entities for pilots flying department-owned or department-loaned firefighting aircraft.

Requires contracts to provide one-time death benefits to eligible survivors of pilots who die performing their duties, equal to the federal Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Act amount plus a department-determined amount commensurate with mid-career firefighter death benefits.

Establishes benefit distribution hierarchy: surviving spouse (if no eligible children), equal split between eligible children and surviving spouse, eligible children only (if no spouse), or surviving parent(s) (if no spouse or children).

Defines eligible survivors as surviving spouses, unmarried children under age 18 (or up to age 22 if pursuing full-time education, or any age if permanently disabled), and surviving parents.

Declared an urgency statute effective immediately to take effect before the end of the 2018 fire season.