BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 706 (Bonilla) - California Volunteers.
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|Version: June 11, 2015 |Policy Vote: G.O. 11 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 17, 2015 |Consultant: Mark McKenzie |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: AB 706 would establish the California AmeriCorps -
STEM, administered by California Volunteers, to bring more
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education
programs into schools, expanded learning and after school
programs, and neighborhood and regional centers to prepare youth
for jobs in STEM fields.
Fiscal
Impact:
California Volunteers estimates it would incur costs of
approximately $180,000 for 2.2 PY of staff to administer the
California AmeriCorps STEM program. (General Fund) California
Volunteers estimates the need for 2.2 personnel years to
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implement and administer the program for an estimated 150
members.
California Volunteers estimates a need for $200,000 and 1 PY
to staff the nonprofit foundation. (General Fund)
Program costs would depend on the number of members
participating in the program and the demand for STEM programs.
California Volunteers estimates a need for approximately $3.6
million in program funds if there are 150 volunteer members
and 10 grantees. (Private funds, federal funds, local matching
funds, and General Fund cost pressures to the extent private
funds are insufficient to fully fund the program)
Background: Existing law, pursuant to Executive Order S-24-06, establishes
California Volunteers in the Governor's Office (housed within
the Office of Planning and Research) with the following duties
and responsibilities: (1) to recruit and mobilize citizens for
volunteer service by identifying service opportunities
throughout the state and by recognizing citizen contributions as
volunteers and participants in public service; (2) to serve as
the state's lead agency for community service and volunteerism,
as specified; and (3) to partner with other public agencies at
the state, county, and local levels, and the private and
not-for-profit sectors, to leverage greater resources and create
more opportunities for service and volunteerism.
Existing federal law establishes the National and Community
Service Trust Act of 1993, which requires each state governor to
create and appoint a commission to administer the AmeriCorps
volunteer program. AmeriCorps operates under the Corporation
for National and Community Service and is comprised of three
programs that engage Americans in intensive service each year at
nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and
faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps State and
National, the largest of the three programs, supports a wide
range of local service programs that provide grants to a network
of local and national organizations and agencies committed to
using service members to address critical community needs in
education, public safety, health, and the environment.
AmeriCorps service assignments may be part time or full time and
generally range from ten to 12 months. Service members receive
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a stipend, living allowance, and other benefits, and may also
receive an education award upon completion of a term of service
that can be used to pay for college expenses or pay back student
loans. To be eligible for a position with AmeriCorps,
qualification guidelines focus on several factors, including
citizenship, age, work experience, and education. Additional
eligibility requirements vary depending on the particular
program.
California Volunteers administers the state AmeriCorps program,
issuing annual requests for applications and awarding federal
grants in a competitive process to eligible applicants,
including local governments and nonprofit organizations. The
grants support community partnerships that engage AmeriCorps
members to meet state and local challenges through service and
volunteer action.
Proposed Law:
AB 706 would establish California AmeriCorps - STEM in state
government, administered by California Volunteers.
Specifically, this bill would:
Authorize California Volunteers to form a tax-exempt public
benefit nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity that
is qualified to raise revenues and receive financial support
from public or private sources, for the purpose of undertaking
or funding authorized activities.
Require financial support for a nonprofit entity to be used
solely for governmental purposes approved by California
Volunteers for activities within its authority.
Establish California AmeriCorps - STEM and require it to
operate under existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines.
Require members to be selected through an application process
and eligibility to be based upon federal qualifications.
Applicants must also have an associate or baccalaureate degree
or be enrolled in a postsecondary institution, be at least 18
years of age, and provide proof that he or she lives in
California.
Authorize a nonprofit corporation or a public entity to apply,
individually or in partnership with a corporation or
individual interested in the promotion of STEM education, to
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California Volunteers, through a competitive request for
proposal process, to host one or more California AmeriCorps -
STEM members.
Specify that the purpose of the program 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.
Authorize California Volunteers to solicit and accept private
funding to supplement the costs of California AmeriCorps -
STEM from various sources, including foundations,
corporations, crowdfunding, donation drives, or any other
private sources.
Related
Legislation: AB 2328 (J.Perez), which was vetoed by Governor
Brown last year, would have established the California
AmeriCorps, administered by California Volunteers pursuant to
federal guidelines, to allow local agencies to apply to host
members to implement specified AmeriCorps programs through a
competitive selection process. The veto message stated the
following:
While the bill is well intentioned, California already has
programs, such as the California Conservation Corps and the
California Volunteers Service Enterprise Initiative, that
couple volunteer service with educational scholarships. I
encourage the Legislature to work through these programs to
strengthen partnerships between volunteers and local
governments.
Staff
Comments: During the 2013 White House Science Fair, President
Obama announced STEM AmeriCorps, a multi-year initiative to
place hundreds of AmeriCorps members in nonprofits across the
country to inspire young people to excel in STEM education. The
goals of STEM AmeriCorps include improving academic performance
in STEM coursework, expanding the number of students on track to
graduate ready for college and for careers in STEM fields,
increasing interactions between youth and STEM professionals,
and sparking the imagination and interest of students to pursue
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STEM subjects. AB 706 would establish a state AmeriCorps STEM
program that is consistent with the goals of these federal
efforts.
The total amount of program costs for local assistance grants
would depend upon on the number of members approved by
California Volunteers for participation in the program and the
number of grantees that receive awards. It is anticipated that
funding will be derived from a combination of private sources,
federal funds, and a local grantee match. California Volunteers
estimates the need for 2.2 PYs to implement and administer the
program for an estimated 150 members at a cost of approximately
$180,000 annually. At this level, local assistance costs are
estimated to be approximately $3.6 million annually. It is
anticipated that some level of state and federal funding will be
needed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to attract private
funding.
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