BILL NUMBER: AB 706 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 11, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Baker, Dodd, Eduardo Garcia,
Rodriguez, and Salas )
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. California Volunteers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 706, as amended, Bonilla. California AmeriCorps -
STEM. California Volunteers.
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 authorize California Volunteers, for so long as it
is authorized to exist, to form a tax-exempt public benefit
nonprofit corporation, or other tax-exempt entity, qualified under
federal and state law to raise revenues and receive grants or other
financial support from private or public sources, for the purposes of
undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be
undertaken by California Volunteers. This bill would require the
nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity to use the financial
support it seeks to be used solely for the governmental purposes
approved by California Volunteers for activities within the scope of
authority of California Volunteers.
This bill would also establish California AmeriCorps -
STEM in 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, or
students, as specified. This bill would allow a nonprofit
corporation, as specified, or a 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
AmeriCorps - 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
CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS
8400. (a) California Volunteers, as established by Executive
Order S-24-06, is authorized to form a tax-exempt public benefit
nonprofit corporation, or other tax-exempt entity, qualified under
federal and state law to raise revenues and receive grants or other
financial support from private or public sources, for the purposes of
undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be
undertaken by California Volunteers. Financial support sought by the
nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity shall be used solely
for the governmental purposes approved by California Volunteers for
activities within the scope of authority of California Volunteers.
(b) The authority granted in subdivision (a) shall expire if the
governor rescinds Executive Order S-24-06 or otherwise rescinds the
establishment of California Volunteers.
8400. 8405. (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
shall 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. degree or be enrolled in a two-year
or four-year postsecondary institution.
(2) The applicant shall provide proof of incurred student loan
debt.
(3)
(2) The applicant shall be 21
18 years of age or older.
(4)
(3) 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 a 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, expanded learning programs, after
school programs, and neighborhood and regional centers for children
in order 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, crowdfunding, donation
drives, or any other sources of private investment that may be
available.