BILL NUMBER: AB 706	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 8400) to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to California
AmeriCorps - STEM.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 706, as introduced, Bonilla. California AmeriCorps - STEM.
   Under existing law, by executive order, CaliforniaVolunteers is
established in the office of the Governor and is charged with
overseeing programs and initiatives for service and volunteerism.
   This bill would establish California AmeriCorps - STEM in the
state government, to be administered by CaliforniaVolunteers and
operate under existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines. This
bill would require that California AmeriCorps - STEM members be
determined through an application process for eligible college
graduates with student loan debt, as specified. This bill would allow
a nonprofit corporation, as specified, to apply, individually or in
partnership with a corporation or individual interested in the
promotion of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
education, to CaliforniaVolunteers, through a competitive request for
proposal process, to host one or more California AmeriCorps - STEM
members. This bill would provide that the purpose of California
AmeriCorp - STEM is to increase STEM education programs to prepare
the next generation for jobs in the STEM fields. This bill would
authorize CaliforniaVolunteers to solicit and accept private funding
to help supplement the costs of California AmeriCorps - STEM.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 8400) is added to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 5.6.  CALIFORNIA AMERICORPS - STEM


   8400.  (a) California AmeriCorps - STEM is hereby established to
be administered by CaliforniaVolunteers, as established by Executive
Order S-24-06. California AmeriCorps - STEM shall operate under the
existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines.
   (b) California AmeriCorps - STEM members shall be selected through
an application process. Eligibility will be based on the
qualifications required for the federal AmeriCorps members, as of
January 1, 2015, and all of the following:
   (1) The applicant shall have an associate or a baccalaureate
degree.
   (2) The applicant shall provide proof of incurred student loan
debt.
   (3) The applicant shall be 21 years of age or older.
   (4) The applicant shall provide proof that he or she lives in
California.
   (c) A nonprofit corporation that is exempt from federal income
taxation as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code may apply, individually or in partnership with
a corporation or individual interested in the promotion of science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, to
CaliforniaVolunteers, through a competitive request for proposal
process, to host one or more California AmeriCorps - STEM members.
The purpose of California AmeriCorps - STEM is to bring more STEM
education programs into California schools, after school programs,
and neighborhood and regional centers for children to prepare the
next generation for jobs in the STEM fields.
   (d) CaliforniaVolunteers is authorized to solicit and accept
private funding to help supplement the costs of California AmeriCorps
- STEM. These private funding sources may include, but are not
limited to, foundations, corporate funding, crowd funding, donation
drives, or any other sources of private investment that may be
available.