BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 1227 (Lara) - California Conservation Corps
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|Version: February 18, 2016 |Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 9 - 0, |
| | V.A. 5 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: May 2, 2016 |Consultant: Jillian Kissee |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: This bill requires the California Conservation Corps
(corps) to collaborate with the Department of Veteran Affairs
(CalVet) and the Employment Development Department (EDD) to
assist any corpsmember who is a veteran in obtaining permanent
employment after participating in the corps.
Fiscal
Impact:
The CalVet estimates the need for one ongoing position and
about $100,000 General Fund to implement the collaboration
required by this bill. This assumes resources to enable
CalVet to work with closely with veteran corpsmembers to
assist them in obtaining employment. To the extent the intent
of this bill would be satisfied by the corps simply consulting
with the CalVet in this effort, costs would likely decrease.
Minor and absorbable costs to the corps and EDD. When
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individuals complete their work with the corps, the EDD
provides them with services that help them obtain other
employment. (General Fund and federal funds)
Background: The corps was created in 1976 and operates within the Natural
Resources Agency. It aims to, among other things, provide youth
with educational and training opportunities and increase their
understanding and appreciation of the environment. It employs
for one year young adults between ages of 18 to 25 (veterans up
to the age of 29 may participate in some circumstances). Over
120,000 individuals have participated in the program to date
with roughly 3,000 new corpsmembers joining each year.
California Conservation Corps and Veterans
According to 2011 to 2016 data from the corps, 554 veterans
participated in corps programs for veterans of which about 57
percent either found employment after completion or enrolled in
school or returned to the military. The Veterans Fire
AmeriCorps is part of the national AmeriCorps veterans program
with funding provided for three years. Veterans join this
program to obtain training and work experience to qualify for
the US Forest Service firefighting apprenticeship programs. The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-corps program
for fisheries provides veterans with opportunities to gain
training and work experience in habitat restoration for
endangered anadromous fisheries.
EDD Veteran Employment Services
Existing law also requires the corps, in conjunction with the
EDD, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to
assist corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their
participation in the corps program. (Public Resources Code
Section 14302) Through its Workforce Services Branch, EDD
assists Californians, including veterans, with finding
employment. 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.
The Local Veterans Employment Representative Program funds
specialists who conduct outreach to employers, which includes
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seminars for employers and job search workshops as well as
establishing job search groups and facilitating employment,
training, and placement services for veterans. Both of these
programs have veteran employment representatives that provide
services to veterans at one-stop centers.
Proposed Law:
This bill requires the corps to collaborate with CalVet and
EDD to assist any corpsmember who is a veteran of the United
States Armed Forces in obtaining permanent employment after
participating in the corps.
Staff
Comments: CalVet offers a number of services to veterans,
including but not limited to, regional outreach to ensure
veterans get assistance and benefits they need; assistance in
accessing federal and state benefits; mental health programs;
homeless outreach support; and approving schools for GI Bill
education. CalVet also works with EDD regularly regarding
things like job fairs and also works with the corps to get
veterans into the program, but specific job-finding services are
not typical of CalVet. The department provides numerous
resources on its website regarding employment services and
benefits available to veterans including: a link to state and
federal employment assistance program, veteran preference
programs, how-to-get-a-job tutorials, job fairs, GI Bill
benefits, a link to EDD employment services, information on
obtaining a state job, and a link to information on the Disabled
Veteran Business Enterprise program (DVBE).
The DVBE program aims to award 3 percent of all state contracts
to certified veterans, disabled veterans, and disabled veteran
business enterprises. The Office of Small Business within the
Department of General Services and DVBE assist small and
disabled veteran businesses by providing certification
assistance, participating in outreach events, and supporting
businesses through advocacy. CalVet participates in this
program. The program, however, does not provide direct
assistance to veterans for starting a business.
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Assembly Bill 1509 (Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014) requires
CalVet to develop a transition assistance program for veterans
to assist them in transitioning from military to civilian life
in California, including providing information on certain topics
such as vocational training assistance and small business
resources and information. This information is offered on
CalVet's website and in resource books related to employment
services.
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