BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1227|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1227
Author: Lara (D)
Introduced:2/18/16
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 9-0, 3/29/16
AYES: Pavley, Stone, Allen, Hertzberg, Hueso, Jackson,
Monning, Vidak, Wolk
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/12/16
AYES: Nielsen, Hueso, Allen, Nguyen, Roth
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 5/27/16
AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen
SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: 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.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes the corps and requires the corps to implement and
administer the conservation corps program.
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2)Requires the corps, in conjunction with EDD, to place an
emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist
corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their
participation in the corps program.
This bill requires the corps to collaborate with CalVet and EDD
to assist any corpsmember who is a veteran in obtaining
permanent employment after participating in the corps.
Background
The corps was created in 1976 and employs for one year young
adults between the ages of 18 - 25 (veterans up to the age of 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. Over 120,000 individuals have
participated in the program to date with roughly 3,000 new
corpsmembers joining each year.
According to a 2013 report by the California Research Bureau,
California has the largest veteran population at approximately
1.9 million of any state, and over half of the state's veterans
are over the age of 60. While the statewide employment rates
for both female and male veterans of all ages is greater than
for non-veterans, young veterans have higher unemployment rates.
Male veterans between the ages of 18 - 24 have a 4% higher
unemployment rate than their civilian peers (20.4% vs. 16.4%),
and female veterans between the ages of 25 - 34 years of age
have a 3.3% higher unemployment rate (11.6% vs. 8.3%).
CalVet estimates that 35,000 - 40,000 veterans will return to
California each year for the next few years as the military
downsizes following the reduction in troop deployments to Iraq
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and Afghanistan. In addition, 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.
EDD assists Californians, including veterans, with obtaining
employment through its Workforce Services Branch. All veterans
receive priority for workforce services through U.S. Department
of Labor funding. In addition, the Jobs for Veterans State
Grant also provides funding for specialized staff to assist
veterans in finding work and to conduct outreach to employers on
behalf of veterans.
There have been and are veterans-specific programs at the corps.
According to the corps, there are numerous corps crews composed
of veterans active today. Two current active programs are in
fisheries and firefighting. For eligible veterans, participating
in corps programs is one method to return to the civilian
workforce. According to 2011 - 2016 data from the corps, 554
veterans participated in corps programs for veterans of which
about 57% either found employment after completion (289) or
enrolled in school or returned to the military (28).
Comments
This bill mandates broad and expanded collaboration between the
corps, CalVet and EDD. Existing law already requires the corps,
in conjunction with EDD, to place an emphasis on developing and
executing plans to assist corpsmembers in obtaining employment
following their participation in the corps. EDD has existing
expertise and existing programs in place that emphasize veteran
employment. No metrics are included to monitor or assess the
impact of this expanded collaboration.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
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Com.:YesLocal: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
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
individuals complete their work with the corps, EDD provides
them with services that help them obtain other employment.
(General Fund and federal funds).
SUPPORT: (Verified5/27/16)
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
Hon. Val Lerch, former Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
Paramount American Legion Post #134
Three individuals
VFW-Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
OPPOSITION: (Verified5/27/16)
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None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, "SB 1227, the
California VET (Veteran Employment & Training) Initiative would
require the [corps] to collaborate with the California
Department of Veterans Affairs in addition to the Employment
Development Department to better assist corpsmembers who are
veterans transition to employment after completion of the
[corps] program."
The author continues that while transition services for
corpsmembers currently exist, existing law provides no specific
direction to the corps on employment assistance for veterans,
and he notes that veterans may face unique transition needs due
to the differences between civilian workplace culture and the
military or multiple combat deployments. The author states that
CalVet's experience in helping veterans makes them best suited
to assist the existing efforts of the corps and EDD in finding
work placement for veterans.
"These brave women and men fought for us, it's time that we
fight for them."
Prepared by: Katharine Moore / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116
5/28/16 16:57:35
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