BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Senator Jim Nielsen, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 1227 Hearing Date: 4/12/16
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|Author: |Lara |
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|Version: |2/18/16 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Wade Teasdale |
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Subject: California Conservation Corps
DESCRIPTION
Summary:
Requires the California Conservation Corps (Corps), in
conjunction with the Employment Development Department (EDD), to
place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist
Corps members in obtaining employment following their
participation in the Corps program
Existing law:
1)Establishes the Corps within the Natural Resources Agency and
requires the Corps to implement and administer the
"Conservation Corps" program
2)Requires the Corps, in conjunction with EDD, to place an
emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist Corps
members in obtaining employment following their participation
in the Corps program
This bill:
Requires the Corps to collaborate with the Department of
Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and EDD to assist any Corps member who
is a veteran to obtain permanent employment post-Corps.
BACKGROUND
California Veterans and Employment
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According to the CalVet, California is home to more than 1.8
million veterans-representing roughly nine percent of the
veteran population nationwide. Furthermore, CalVet estimates
that 35,000 to 40,000 veterans will return to California each
year for the next few years as the military downsizes in the
wake of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Most of these
veterans are members of the younger age cohorts, which have
experienced the highest levels of unemployment. This is
confirmed by a 2013 report by the California Research Bureau,
which noted that that while statewide employment rates for
veterans, both female and male, of all ages is greater than for
non-veterans, younger veterans, both male and female, have
higher unemployment rates than their non-veteran peers.
According to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, 25 percent
of recent veterans have service-connected disabilities, compared
to about 13 percent of all veterans, which aggravates the
veteran employment situation.
Through its Workforce Services Branch, EDD assists Californians,
including veterans, with finding employment. Funding for this
work comes from the U. S. Department of Labor via the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933
(Wagner-Peyser). All veterans receive priority for workforce
services offered through the WIA and Wagner-Peyser.
An additional grant - the Jobs for Veterans State Grant
(veterans grant) -provides funding for specialized staff to
assist veterans in finding work and to conduct outreach to
employers on behalf of veterans. The veterans grant focuses on
providing services to disabled and economically disadvantaged
veterans. The veterans grant is actually two separate programs,
each funding different positions at the department.
1)The Disabled Veterans Outreach Program funds specialists who
provide intensive services to disabled and other eligible
veterans, with an emphasis on meeting the employment needs of
veterans who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.
2)The Local Veterans Employment Representative Program funds
specialists who conduct outreach to employers, which includes
seminars for employers and job search workshops as well as
establishing job search groups and facilitating employment,
training, and placement services for veterans. We refer to
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staff in both of these programs as veterans employment
representatives, and representatives from both programs
provide services to veterans at one-stop centers. Federal law
requires, to the extent practicable, that these positions work
only with veterans and that the veterans employment
representatives be-with limited exceptions-veterans
themselves.
Veterans, who are job-ready and require little or no direct
assistance, can enroll and enter their resumes in CalJOBS,
either remotely or at one-stop centers. In contrast, veterans
who require one-on-one intensive services can work with veterans
employment representatives at the one-stop centers.
California Conservation Corps and Veterans
Created in 1976, the Corps employs, for one year, young adults
between the ages of 18 - 25. (Military veterans up to the age 29
may participate in some circumstances). The Corps offers both
residential and nonresidential programs throughout the state and
aims to, among other things, provide youth with educational and
training opportunities and increase their understanding and
appreciation of the environment (PRC §14000). Much of the
Corps' projects are outdoors and Corps members help to maintain
California's natural resources by planting trees, and improving
parks and recreation areas, among other activities. Corps
members also may help with emergency response to natural
disasters including, for example, fighting forest fires. Over
120,000 individuals have participated in the program to date
with roughly 3,000 new Corps members joining each year.
According to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Analysis:
"Existing and previous veterans-specific programs at the
Corps. There are existing programs for veterans through the
Corps that have successfully provided educational and
employment opportunities for veterans. According to
information obtained from the Corps, there are numerous Corps
crews composed of veterans active today. There was a
successful pilot program in 2011 and current efforts grew out
of a partnership with Veterans Green Jobs (a non-profit
organization that helps veterans find career opportunities in
natural resources conservation, clean and renewable energy and
related fields).
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"There are two current programs - one related to firefighting
and the other to fisheries. The Veterans Fire AmeriCorps -
Corps program is part of national AmeriCorps veterans program
with funding for three years. Veterans join this program to
obtain training and work experience to qualify for US Forest
Service firefighting apprenticeship programs. Through
mid-March, 2016, 132 veterans have joined and the Corps is in
the process of recruiting 60 members for the current year.
"For the first two years of the program, over 30% of the
veteran Corps members transitioned to US Forest Service
employment upon completing the fire training. Veterans also
were hired by other private sector and governmental agencies.
Approximately half of the veterans participating in this
program left before completing the program. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Corps program for
fisheries provides veterans opportunities to gain training and
work experience in habitat restoration for endangered
anadromous fisheries. From 2012 - 2016, 29 veterans
participated of which 4 are still active in the Corps, 16 have
found employment and 7 have left the program early.
"Three previous Corps programs also served veterans. These
include a 2011 - 2013 Corps forestry/fire program that
preceded the current firefighting program which served 339
veterans, a 2012 - 2013 backcountry trails program which
included 12 veterans, and a 2012 energy program that included
efforts to reduce energy use in state buildings, and skills
training in energy efficiency and basic electrical work that
42 veterans participated in."
COMMENT
Author's Comments :
"According to a report by the California Research Bureau, male
Veterans between the ages of 18-24 have a higher unemployment
rate at 20.4 percent compared to their civilian peers at 16.4
percent. Within the same report, female Veterans under the age
of 34 also have higher unemployment rates than their civilian
peers at 11.6 percent, compared to 8.3 percent.
"Although transition services for Corps members are in place,
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the statute is silent regarding Corps members who are Veterans.
Veterans participating in the program have access to the current
support services, but the unique characteristics attributed to a
Veterans experience such as; the difference is work culture
between military and civilian life and Veterans who have been
through multiple combat deployments, may not be fully addressed
through the EDD and CCC's employment efforts, thus presenting a
gap in transitional services for Veterans participating within
the CCC.
"To address this gap SB 1227 would require the CCC to
collaborate with the California Department of Veterans Affairs,
in addition to EDD, to better assist Corps members who are
Veterans transition to employment after completion of the CCC
program."
Committee Comments :
1)This measure was approved by the Senate Natural Resources and
Water Committee (DO PASS, 9-0) on 3/29/2016.
2)Existing law already requires the Corps, in conjunction with
EDD, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to
assist Corps members in obtaining employment following their
participation in the Corps program. EDD already has expertise
and extensive programs in place that emphasize veteran
employment. This measure mandates expanded collaboration
between the Corps, EDD, and CalVet in the broadest possible
way. It provides no goals, timelines, or benchmarks and
requires no feedback to the Legislature on progress.
POSITIONS
Sponsor: Author
Support:
American G.I. Forum of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
Conservation Corps of Long Beach
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
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VFW-Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
Hon. Val Lerch, former Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach
Three other individuals
Oppose: None received
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