BILL NUMBER: AB 706	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2015

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 amended, Bonilla. California AmeriCorps - STEM.
   Under existing law, by executive order, California Volunteers 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 California
Volunteers 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,  or public
entity  to apply, individually or in partnership with a
corporation or individual interested in the promotion of science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, to California
Volunteers, 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 California
Volunteers 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 California Volunteers, 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  or public entity  may apply,
individually or in partnership with a corporation or individual
interested in the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM) education, to California Volunteers, 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) California Volunteers 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,
  crowdfunding,  donation drives, or any other
sources of private investment that may be available.