BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 706 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 706 (Bonilla) As Amended April 6, 2015 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------- |Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------| |Accountability |9-0 |Salas, Lackey, | | | | |Brough, Burke, | | | | |Frazier, Beth | | | | |Gaines, Irwin, | | | | |Medina, Rodriguez | | | | | | | |----------------+------+--------------------+----------------------| |Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | | | | |Bonta, Calderon, | | | | |Chang, Daly, | | | | |Eggman, Gallagher, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Eduardo Garcia, | | | | |Gordon, Holden, | | | | |Jones, Quirk, | | | | |Rendon, Wagner, | | | | |Weber, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- AB 706 Page 2 SUMMARY: Establishes the California AmeriCorps Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (Cal AmeriCorps STEM) program in state government. Specifically, this bill: 1)Creates Cal AmeriCorps STEM to be administered by California Volunteers (Cal Volunteers), an entity in the Governor's Office established by Executive Order S-24-06. 2)Requires Cal AmeriCorps STEM to operate under the existing federal AmeriCorps guidelines. 3)Specifies that members of Cal AmeriCorps STEM must be selected through an application process and establishes eligibility criteria based on the existing qualifications for federal AmeriCorps and all of the following: a) The applicant must have an associate or a bachelor's degree; b) The applicant must provide proof of incurred student loan debt; c) The applicant must be 21 years of age or older; and, d) The applicant must provide proof that he or she lives in California. 4)Allows nonprofits or public entities to apply, individually or in conjunction with corporations or individuals interested in promoting STEM education, to Cal Volunteers to host Cal AmeriCorps STEM members through a competitive request for proposal process. AB 706 Page 3 5)Declares the purpose of Cal AmeriCorps STEM is to bring more STEM education programs into California schools, after school programs, and local communities to prepare the next generation for jobs in STEM fields. 6)Authorizes Cal Volunteers to solicit and accept private funding from a variety of sources to help supplement the costs of Cal AmeriCorps STEM. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee: 1)On-going administrative costs to Cal Volunteers estimated at $180,000 General Fund for 2.2 Personal Years to implement and administer the program for an estimated 150 members and 10 additional grantees. 2)Significant on-going program costs in the range of $2 million to $4 million, depending on the number of participants, to provide stipends and education awards to program members (Various funds). It is anticipated that the money will come from a combination of private sources, federal funds, and a local grantee match. COMMENTS: AmeriCorps is a national network of hundreds of programs throughout the United States that engage Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Service members receive a $7,400 stipend and are eligible for an education award that can be used to pay for college or pay back student loans. Several factors, including citizenship, age, work experience, and education, are considered when qualifying for a position with AmeriCorps. Additional eligibility requirements AB 706 Page 4 vary depending on the particular program. California receives federal financial support for its AmeriCorps program through Cal Volunteers. Cal Volunteers was established with the specific mission to recruit and mobilize citizens for volunteer service by identifying service opportunities throughout the state. This bill tasks Cal Volunteers with administering Cal AmeriCorps STEM. According to the author, only one of the many environmental, educational, mentoring, and social support programs currently administered and funded by Cal Volunteers has a STEM focus. The author points out that there is a tremendous need for expanding STEM-specific programming in California in response to data showing that the state's eighth graders are below the national average in science and math test scores. The author states this bill is intended to facilitate early engagement in STEM-related projects to better prepare college students for careers in STEM fields that are vital to the state's economy. Analysis Prepared by: Cassie Royce / A. & A.R. / (916) 319-3600 FN: 0000625 AB 706 Page 5