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An Arizona House committee next week will take the first steps toward possible action on changes to the way seasonal firefighters get benefits. It has been a contentious issue since 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in June. Several of those firefighters were seasonal employees, meaning their survivors were not entitled to the same benefits as full time workers.

House Speaker Andy Tobin has talked about the need to change that and on Tuesday lawmakers will start gathering information that could lead to legislation next year.

Representative Justin Pierce chairs the House Public Safety, Military and Regulatory Affairs Committee. Pierce expects the panel to meet three or four times over the next couple of months and to work on legislation for next year.