BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 706|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 706
Author: Bonilla (D), et al.
Amended: 8/31/15 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE: 11-0, 7/14/15
AYES: Hall, Block, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hill,
Hueso, Lara, McGuire, Runner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Berryhill, Vidak
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 8/27/15
AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, Leyva, Mendoza, Nielsen
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bates
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 6/1/15 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: CaliforniaVolunteers
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill creates the California AmeriCorps Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (Cal AmeriCorps STEM) program
to be administered by the existing CaliforniaVolunteers, within
the Governor's Office, for the purpose of promoting STEM
education and engaging students in STEM learning in schools as
well as after school and neighborhood based programs.
ANALYSIS: Existing law establishes CaliforniaVolunteers
(Executive Order S-24-06) in the Governor's Office with the
specific mission 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.
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This bill:
1)Authorizes CaliforniaVolunteers, 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 public or private
sources, for the purpose of undertaking or funding any lawful
activity authorized to be undertaken by California Volunteers.
2)Specifies that the mission of the nonprofit entity formed by
CaliforniaVolunteers is to support the funding of California
Americorps - STEM programming and administrative costs, and to
support any other priorities set by the Governor or
CaliforniaVolunteers.
3)Provides that financial support sought by the nonprofit
corporation or other tax-exempt entity shall be used solely
for the governmental purposes approved by CaliforniaVolunteers
for activities within the scope of authority of California
Volunteers.
4)Establishes Cal AmeriCorps STEM to be administered by
CaliforniaVolunteers, and requires that it operate under the
existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines.
5)Stipulates that Cal AmeriCorps STEM members shall be selected
through an application process and that eligibility shall be
based on the qualifications required for the federal
AmeriCorps members, as of January 1, 2015, and all of the
following:
a) The applicant must have an associate or baccalaureate
degree or be enrolled in a two-year or four-year
postsecondary institution.
b) The applicant must be 18 years of age or older and
provide proof that he/she lives in California.
6)Limits the program to a maximum of 40 members for the first
three years, and specifies that program size would be
determined by available funding in future years.
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7)Provides that a nonprofit corporation or a public entity may
apply, individually or in partnership with a corporation or
individual interested in the promotion of STEM education, to
CaliforniaVolunteers, through a competitive request for
proposal process, to host one or more Cal AmeriCorps STEM
members.
8)Declares that the purpose of Cal 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.
9)Authorizes CaliforniaVolunteers to solicit and accept private
funding to help supplement the costs of Cal AmeriCorps STEM
from various sources including, but not limited to,
foundations, corporations, crowdfunding, donation drives, or
any other sources of private investment. Also, limits
nonprofit foundation administrative costs to $100,000 annually
and makes it explicit that General Fund moneys shall not be
used for these STEM programs.
Background
AmeriCorps Program. 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 engages
Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools,
public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the
country. AmeriCorps service assignments may be part time or
full time and generally range from ten to 12 months. Service
members receive a $7,400 stipend and qualifying members are
eligible for an education award that can be used to pay for
college 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.
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California Volunteers. Individual states can receive financial
support for their own AmeriCorps program, which California does
through California Volunteers. Under existing law, by Executive
Order S-24-06, California Volunteers is established in the
Governor's Office and its duties and responsibilities include,
but are not limited to, the following:
Recruiting and mobilizing citizens for volunteer service
by identifying service opportunities throughout the state
and by recognizing citizens for the contributions they make
as volunteers and participants in public service programs;
Serving as the state's lead agency for community service
and volunteerism, informing the public of the value of and
need for greater community service and volunteerism in
California, calling upon all Californians to become
involved, and challenging public and private institutions
to create and support community service and volunteer
opportunities; and,
Partnering with other public agencies at the state,
county, and local levels, and the private and nonprofit
sectors to leverage greater resources and create more
opportunities for service and volunteerism.
Purpose of AB 706. This bill essentially tasks California
Volunteers with administering Cal AmeriCorps STEM to help
facilitate early engagement in STEM-related projects to better
prepare students for careers in STEM fields that are vital to
the state's economy.
The author's office notes that STEM education is an integrated,
interdisciplinary approach to learning that provides hands-on
and relevant learning experiences for students. STEM teaching
and learning goes beyond the mere transfer of knowledge - it
engages students and equips them with critical thinking, problem
solving, creative and collaborative skills, and ultimately
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establishes connections between the school, work place,
community and the global economy. STEM also helps students
understand and apply math and science content, the foundations
for success in college and careers.
The author's office points out California students were recently
found to be below the national and international average on
science and math scores with only 67% of 8th grade students
attaining the science standards. The author's office states
that a majority of STEM programming occurs in the expanded
learning and afterschool space, however, of the 10,165 schools
in California only 4,452 schools (44%) have any type of expanded
learning/afterschool programming, much less a STEM-focused
program. Additionally, studies done on the benefits of
afterschool programming have shown that students in an
afterschool program perform better on standardized test scores
than students not participating. For example, students in
Oakland Unified School District who attended their expanded
learning programs for 100 days were about 10% more likely to
score "proficient" or "advanced" on the California Standards
Test.
Additionally, the author's office cites a study done by the
Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy at CSU
Sacramento which projected multiple gaps in the STEM workforce
in California. Specifically, about 35% of the STEM occupations
requiring an Associate or Bachelor's degree will experience a
workforce shortage. The report also found that California ranks
45th in the share of high school students taking advanced
science and math.
According to the author's office, existing law currently allows
for STEM AmeriCorps programs, however even with existing
programs STEM proficiency is lagging, there are not enough
programs to support every school in California, and there is
still a projected STEM workforce shortage. Of the programming
funded by California Volunteers, only one has a STEM focus. The
author's office emphasizes that this bill will increase and add
to the existing AmeriCorps programs and create new STEM-focused
projects to address the gap in programming cited above. The
author's office also notes that the program will be limited to a
maximum of 40 members for the first three years and that program
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size in future years would be determined by available funding.
This bill specifies that non-profits and public entities may
apply individually or in partnership to California Volunteer,
through a competitive request for proposal process, to host one
or more Cal AmeriCorps STEM members. California Volunteers will
select the projects to which volunteers will be sent.
For funding purposes, this bill provides that California
Volunteers may form a tax-exempt public benefit nonprofit
corporation to raise revenue 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
specifies that General Fund moneys may not be used for these
STEM programs.
This bill requires the nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt
entity to use the financial support it seeks solely for the
governmental purposes approved by California Volunteers for
activities within the scope of authority of California
Volunteers. This bill also makes it explicit that the authority
granted to California Volunteers by this bill shall expire if
the governor rescinds Executive Order S-24-06 or otherwise
rescinds the establishment of California Volunteers.
Prior Legislation
AB 2328 (John A. Pérez, of 2014), would have created a
California AmeriCorps program in state government to be
administered by California Volunteers without the STEM focus and
enabled local governments to compete to host service members.
AB 2328 was vetoed by the Governor with the following message:
"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."
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
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According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, fiscal
implications for this bill are as follows:
Initial costs to California Volunteers would be in the range
of $80,000 for 1 PY of staff to administer the California
AmeriCorps STEM program, based upon an initial cap of 40
members for the first three years. California Volunteers
estimates the need for 2.2 personnel years, at a cost of
approximately $180,000, to implement and administer the
program if the program grows to 150 members in future years.
(General Fund and/or private funds)
California Volunteers estimates a need for $200,000 and 1 PY
to staff the nonprofit foundation, but this bill limits
administrative expenditures of the foundation to $100,000 per
year. (General Fund and/or private funds)
Program costs would depend on the number of members
participating in the program and the demand for STEM programs.
For the first three years, the program is limited to 40
members, which would require approximately $1 million in
non-General Fund program funds. If there is sufficient
funding available, 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)
SUPPORT: (Verified 8/28/15)
American Association of State Service Commissions
Bay Area Community Resources
Bay Area Council
Bayer Health Care
California Catholic Conference
California Emerging Technology Fund
California Primary Care Association
California School Boards Association
California Science Teachers Association
California State PTA
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California STEM Learning Network
California Workforce Association
Community Clinic Consortium of Contra Costa and Solano County
Dow Chemical Company
East Bay Leadership Council
Exploratorium
Gateway East Bay Stem Network
Hewlett-Packard Company
Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education
Maker Education Initiative
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Science is Elementary
Silicon Valley Education Foundation
Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck
The Children's Initiative
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/28/15)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 6/1/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang,
Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle,
Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina
Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez,
Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden,
Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder,
Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina,
Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen,
Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez,
Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting,
Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins
Prepared by:Arthur Terzakis / G.O. / (916) 651-1530
8/31/15 15:13:05
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