BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2285
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|Author: |McCarty |
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|Version: |May 27, 2016 Hearing |
| |Date: June 29, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Lynn Lorber |
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Subject: State employment: former foster youth
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Sacramento County Office of Education to
develop and administer the Former Foster Youth Job Readiness
Training Pilot Program to prepare former foster youth who are 25
years of age or younger for entry-level employment in state
service.
BACKGROUND
Existing law:
1) Establishes the State Civil Service Act for filling certain
state positions through the process of examinations and the
establishment of eligible lists and promotional lists.
(Government Code § 18570, et seq.)
2) Establishes the Consolidated Work Program Fund for the
receipt of moneys deposited pursuant to the federal
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and requires the
Employment Development Department to administer this fund.
(Unemployment Code § 14004.5)
3) Requires moneys in the Consolidated Work Program Fund to be
expended consistent with the purposes of the federal
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the State Plan
required by the federal Workforce Innovation and
AB 2285 (McCarty) Page 2
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Opportunity Act. (UC § 14004.5)
ANALYSIS
This bill requires the Sacramento County Office of Education to
develop and administer the Former Foster Youth Job Readiness
Training Pilot Program to prepare former foster youth who are 25
years of age or younger for entry-level employment in state
service, and appropriates $1,100,000 for this purpose.
Specifically, this bill:
Training program
1) Appropriates $1,100,000 from the Consolidated Work Program
Fund to the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE)
for the purposes of implementing the Former Foster Youth
Job Readiness Training Pilot Program.
2) Requires Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to
develop and administer the Former Foster Youth Job
Readiness Training Pilot Program for the purpose of
preparing the aged out foster care population for
entry-level employment in state service.
3) Requires SCOE to develop an application and create criteria
for selecting eligible organizations to provide job
readiness training to eligible participants.
4) Requires SCOE to award grants to selected eligible
organizations that are to be used for the following
purposes:
a) To pay for trainers to provide job
readiness training to eligible participants.
b) To provide a stipend to an eligible
participant who satisfies both of the following:
i) Remains actively engaged in
and attends the training pursuant to the
individual service plan (see #12(c)).
ii) Is enrolled, actively engaged in, and
attending a high school equivalency exam
AB 2285 (McCarty) Page 3
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preparation class if he or she has not received a
high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
Entry-level unclassified positions
5) Requires a participant in the training program, after being
trained in an unclassified position for three months, but
before being trained for nine months, to take a written
exam for the classification in which he or she is trained,
if a written exam is required for that classification.
6) Provides that a participant in the training program is
eligible to take the written exam only after receiving a
positive recommendation from the appropriate supervisor.
7) Requires that a participant in the training program who
does not pass the written exam or who does not receive a
favorable promotional rating by the supervisor of the
training to be released from the training program.
8) Prohibits a participant in the training program from
applying for a classification unless he or she meets the
minimum qualifications for that classification.
9) Requires the Department of Human Resources, in consultation
with the Department of Social Services and SCOE, to promote
the training of foster youth who participate in the
training readiness program in specified entry-level
unclassified positions for their eventual hiring in
classified positions with any state agency or department
that is located within the County of Sacramento, as
determined by the Department of Human Resources.
Training program data
10) Requires Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) to
compile disaggregated data on the number of participants:
a) Enrolling in the program.
b) Completing the program.
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c) Receiving a placement after completing
the program.
d) Receiving state employment after
completing a placement.
11) Requires SCOE, upon request, to make this data available to
the Department of Human Resources and the Legislature.
Miscellaneous
12) Provides the following definitions:
a) "Eligible organization" as an
organization that satisfies all of the following:
i) The organization is a
501(c)(3) non-profit and is in compliance with
all applicable laws and requirements.
ii) The organization demonstrates expertise
in providing job readiness training.
iii) Any additional criteria required by
SCOE to promote the job readiness training of
eligible participants.
b) "Eligible participant" means an
individual who is 25 years of age or younger and who
is certified by the Department of Social Services as
having been, for at least one year at any time on or
after the date that the individual turns 15 years of
age, either a recipient of foster care maintenance
payments or in a foster care program under the
responsibility of the State of California.
c) "Job readiness training" as an
individual service plan that develops core
competencies that create an experience and educational
base for an individual to meet the qualifications for
entry-level employment in state services.
13) Sunsets the provisions of this bill on January 1, 2020.
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14) States Legislative intent that the state assist foster
youth in securing permanent employment in state government
by providing them access to needed training positions.
15) States Legislative findings and declarations relative to
the unique needs of foster youth.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. According to the author, "Foster youth
often have more barriers to finding, getting and keeping a
job than youth that are permanently connected to a family,
and the emotional and economic support they provide. In
California, 45% of emancipated foster youth are unemployed,
30% are on welfare and 1/3 of former foster youth have
incomes at or below $6,000 per year - substantially below
the federal poverty level. As a result, these youth face a
bleak future fraught with disproportionately high levels of
unemployment, young parenthood, homelessness and
incarceration. By creating a pathway towards employment,
AB 2285 will provide foster youth with valuable employment
skills and 'on the job' training necessary to maintain
employment and become productive members of society."
2) Sacramento County Office of Education. This bill
appropriates $1.1 million to the Sacramento County Office
of Education (SCOE) for the administration of state job
training program. This bill contains a statement that a
special law is necessary because of the need to enact this
program on a trial basis and is therefore applied to one
large and diverse county.
3) Consolidated Work Program Fund. This fund is administered
by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and consists
of a blend of federal and state funds. The EDD awards
funds from Consolidated Work Program Fund to eligible
training providers offering a variety of training
opportunities. It is unclear if the fund is currently used
to providing training that is specific to state employment.
This bill directs $1,100,000 from the Consolidated Work
Program Fund specifically for training foster youth for
entry-level state employment.
4) What about AB 12 youth? Pursuant to AB 12 (Beall, Ch. 559,
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2010), the California Fostering Connections to Success Act,
youth may remain in foster care until they reach 21 years
of age. This bill applies only to former foster youth.
The author's intent is for the bill to apply to current or
former foster youth aged 18-25. Staff recommends
amendments to include current foster youth who are at least
18 years of age.
5) Verification of foster youth status. This bill defines an
"eligible participant" as an individual who is 25 years of
age or younger and who is certified by the Department of
Social Services as having been, for at least one year at
any time on or after the date that the individual turns 15
years of age, either a recipient of foster care maintenance
payments or in a foster care program under the
responsibility of the State of California. Staff
recommends an amendment to strike reference to the
Department of Social Services and instead provide that the
county in which the youth was in foster care is to certify
the youth's status as a current or former foster youth.
6) Similar programs. San Mateo County began the Supportive
Training and Employment Program (STEP) in 2009. The STEP
is a 12 week internship that supports emancipated foster
youth and non-minor dependents between the ages of 18 to
24. The program pays youth to learn the basics required
for successful employment. Youth are also paired with a
coach who receives training on the specific issues and
needs of foster youth. This program is funded through the
San Mateo County General Fund.
Santa Clara County's Emancipated Foster Youth (EFY) Program
provides entry-level work opportunities for foster youth
between the ages of 18 and 24, who are aging out of the
child welfare system. The program is authorized by the
Charter of the County of Santa Clara that allows for the
hiring, either in the classified or unclassified service,
of employees under a specially designed program to assist
persons who are unemployed, disabled, or untrained. This
program is authorized and funded by county charter. This
bill contains provisions that are very similar to Santa
Clara County's program.
Los Angeles County provides employment opportunities for youth,
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and area employers launched the 100,000 Opportunities
Initiative in 2015 with the goal of hiring at least 100,000
youth by 2018. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
voted in February 2016, to utilize existing youth job
resources (local workforce investment board funds) to
subsidize the first 100 hours for youth internships. This
initiative is not specifically targeted to foster youth.
7) Fiscal impact. This bill appropriates $1.1 million from
the Consolidated Work Program Fund. According to the
Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill imposes annual
costs in the range of $350,000 (Consolidated Work Program
Fund).
8) Prior legislation. Early versions of AB 671 (Beall, 2007)
established the Emancipated Foster Youth Program to provide
state employment opportunities for qualified foster youth
and former foster youth. AB 671 was amended to address an
unrelated topic.
SUPPORT
Aspiranet
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
OPPOSITION
None received.
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