BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair SB 537 (Correa) Hearing Date: 05/02/2011 Amended: 03/21/201 Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: VA 8-0 _________________________________________________________________ ____ BILL SUMMARY: SB 537 makes several changes to the California Cadet Corps program, and permits cities and counties to establish a military academy. _________________________________________________________________ ___ Fiscal Impact (in thousands) Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund Military academy -------potentially several hundred thousand dollars per academy------- General _________________________________________________________________ ____ STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. The Department of Military indicates minor additional costs associated with assisting and overseeing any additional California Cadet Corps programs. However, to the extent that new military academies are established as the bill authorizes, even though the academies would be funded by the school district or city which opts to establish them, the Military Department would likely incur additional costs for oversight. The Adjutant General's Office currently receives about $1 million annually from the General Fund for support of military officers who work at the Oakland Military Institute; therefore, the addition of any new military academies could result in cost pressure for additional funding from the state. The California Cadet Corps, founded in 1911, is a school-based program conducted with a military framework and provides maximum growth and leadership opportunities for California students. The program is offered through schools and can be taken for credit. As part of their training, cadets provide assistance and support to their school and their communities. Examples include color guards, participation in parades, and peer mentors. There are currently about 6,500 cadets. The Military Department provides administrative oversight and logistical support to ensure the cadets receive uniforms, supplies, equipment, and training materials. SB 537 (Correa) Page 3 SB 537 makes the following changes to the California Cadet Corps program: a) Eliminates the requirement that a college, community college, or high school have 100 or more students who are 14 years of age or over in order to organize a cadet company, thereby allowing any college, community college or school to organize into a California Cadet Corps. Costs of the program will be paid by schools opting to have a Cadet Corps. b) Allows for the appointment of adult non-commissioned officers and warrant officers in the California Cadet Corps. c) Creates a presumption that any executive officer, assistant executive officer, advisor, officer, warrant officer, or noncommissioned officer hurt in the line of duty is receiving a yearly earning of at least $10,000 for purposes of receiving workers' compensation benefits. Current law authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a cooperative agreement with the City of Oakland to establish an Oakland Military Institute. The Institute, established in 2001, operates as a charter school in the Oakland School District. SB 537 will authorize the Adjutant General to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or any county, city, or school government board to establish a military academy. This bill is sponsored by the Military Department intending to update the applicable code sections relating to the California Cadet Corps, and to authorize additional military academies throughout the state. The Cadet Corps is a school based education and prevention program directed toward enhanced school safety, dropout prevention, and gang avoidance. It is fully integrated as part of the existing school curriculum providing specialized academic performance, and military style training addressing problematic behavior, substandard academic performance, and other at risk factors. The program stresses six objectives: support and enhance academic achievement, provide opportunities for leadership, foster good citizenship, enhance patriotism, provide basic military knowledge, and promote health, fitness, and wellness. SB 537 (Correa) Page 4