BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 16|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 16
Author: De León (D)
Introduced:7/9/15
Vote: 21
SUBJECT: AmeriCorps
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution urges the United States Congress to
protect and sustain full funding for the Corporation for
National and Community Service to ensure the continuation of
critically needed services, expand opportunities, and save
taxpayer dollars through essential national service programs
like AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1)More than 27,000 people of all ages and backgrounds are
helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and
increase civic engagement through national service in
California. These citizens tutor and mentor children, support
veterans and military families, provide health services,
restore the environment, respond to disasters, increase
economic opportunity, and recruit and manage volunteers at
more than 3,200 locations throughout the state.
2)The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) runs
three AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps, which provides grants
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to a network of local and national organizations and agencies
committed to using national service to address critical
community needs in education, public safety, health, and the
environment; AmeriCorps VISTA, whose members help bring
individuals and communities out of poverty by serving full
time to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create
businesses, and increase housing opportunities; and AmeriCorps
NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a residential
program for people 18-24 years of age that strengthens
communities and develops leaders through direct, team-based
national and community service.
3)This year, the CNCS committed more than $108,520,000 to
support California communities through national service
initiatives, investing in cost-effective community solutions
and working hand in hand with local partners to improve lives,
expand economic opportunity, and engage citizens in solving
problems in their communities.
4)The CNCS provides vital support to schools, food banks,
homeless shelters, community health clinics, youth centers,
veterans service facilities, and other nonprofit and
faith-based organizations at a time of growing demand for
services in many of the state's most impoverished communities
and, through a unique public-private partnership, leverages an
additional $49,930,000 in other resources to strengthen
community impact, build local support, and increase return on
taxpayer dollars.
5)National service programs are cost effective and represent a
smart investment for the nation and for the State of
California because, with every dollar invested in national
service, there is a return to society of $3.95 in terms of
higher earnings, more output, and other community-wide
benefits and every federal dollar invested in national service
yields $2.20 in savings to other government programs.
This resolution:
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1)Recognizes AmeriCorps members, both past and present, who have
made the commitment to serve our state and our country and
thanks them for their service.
2)Urges the United States Congress to protect and sustain full
funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service
to ensure the continuation of critically needed services,
expand opportunities, and save taxpayer dollars through
essential national service programs like AmeriCorps and
AmeriCorps VISTA.
Background
The CNCS is a U.S. federal government agency that engages more
than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Learn
and Serve America, Senior Corps, and other national service
initiatives. The agency's mission is to "support the American
culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility." While a
government agency, CNCS acts much like a foundation and is the
nation's largest annual grant maker supporting service and
volunteering. CNCS, formerly known as the "Corporation for
National Service" or "CNS," was created as an independent agency
of the United States government by the National and Community
Service Trust Act of 1993.
AmeriCorps is a civil society program supported by the U.S.
federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors
engaging adults in intensive community service work with the
goal of "helping others and meeting critical needs in the
community." Members commit to full-time or part-time positions
offered by a network of nonprofit community organizations and
public agencies, to fulfill assignments in the fields of
education, public safety, health care, and environmental
protection. The program is often compared to the Peace Corps as
its domestic counterpart.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified7/15/15)
Education Outside
University/Eastside Community Collaborative
Watershed Stewards Program
OPPOSITION: (Verified7/15/15)
None received
Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
7/15/15 17:01:51
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