BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1227| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. SB 1227 Page 2 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 SB 1227 Page 3 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 SB 1227 Page 4 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) SB 1227 Page 5 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 **** END ****