BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 735 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 735 (Mitchell) As Amended April 11, 2011 Majority vote LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 6-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Swanson, Morrell, Alejo, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, | | |Allen, Furutani, Yamada | |Blumenfield, Bradford, | | | | |Charles Calderon, Campos, | | | | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, | | | | |Hall, Hill, Lara, | | | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Smyth, | | | | |Solorio, Wagner | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Establishes a hiring preference for state internships and student assistants for foster youth. Specifically, this bill requires: 1)State agencies, when hiring for internships and student assistant positions, to give preference to qualified applicants who are, or have recently been, dependent children in foster care. 2)County welfare departments to provide dependent children with information notifying them that they may be eligible for this hiring preference. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, minor, absorbable one-time costs from various sources to modify application forms. COMMENTS : According to the author, few groups are at greater risk for homelessness, poverty and school failure than California's foster youth. Only 50% of foster youth graduate from high school, compared with 75% of their peers who were not a part of the foster care system. In addition, the unemployment rate among former foster youth is staggering: 60% of former foster youth are unemployed at age 19 compared with 42% of their peers with no history of foster care. AB 735 Page 2 In order to address these issues, this bill states that priority should be given to former or current foster youth when state agencies are hiring for student assistant and/or intern positions. According to the author, student assistant positions already exist within many state departments. These positions are offered to students currently enrolled in school seeking "on the job" experience. These positions are a great place for students to learn a skill as well as make valuable contacts within the department which will assist them in establishing a pathway to a career. The author argues that the state has a unique obligation to current and former foster youth and these internships are excellent pathways to financial stability as well as an added incentive to stay in school. Writing in support of this bill, the Children's Advocacy Institute (CAI) argues that when by the authority of state law government enters a home and forcibly removes a child from the care of their parents, the state incurs a moral responsibility heavier than any other. CAI states that, according to the General Accounting Office, only 3% of foster youth will graduate from a four year college; between 27% and 35% end up in jail or prison. Though foster youth comprise less than 0.3% of the general population, 40% of all people in homeless shelters were once in foster care. Women who have emancipated from foster care are four times more likely than other women to receive public assistance. They conclude that student assistant positions provide a pathway to employment post-graduation and stability that is not only consistent with our moral obligation to these children but a wise step to ensure they do not enter far more expensive state-funded systems and programs. Analysis Prepared by : Ben Ebbink / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0000809