BILL ANALYSIS
AB 271
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
William W. Monning, Chair
AB 271 (Solorio) - As Introduced: February 12, 2009
SUBJECT : California YouthBuild Program: funding and
designation.
SUMMARY : Conforms the California YouthBuild Program (YBP) with
the federal YouthBuild Transition Act (YBTA) which transfers
administration of the YouthBuild Program from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Deparment of Labor
(DOL) by revising provisions in current law that make reference
to HUD to instead refer to DOL.
EXISTING FEDERAL LAW :
1)Establishes YBTA which transferred administration of the
federal YouthBuild Program from the HUD to the DOL, among
other things.
2)Authorizes the federal YBP to give grants for the provision of
job training and educational activities to at-risk youth who,
as part of their training, help construct or rehabilitate
housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in
their respective communities.
EXISTING STATE LAW :
1)Establishes the California YBP within the Employment
Development Department (EDD) to provide grants to
organizations which employ and train disadvantaged youth in
conjunction with the construction or rehabilitation of housing
for low-income and other specified populations.
2)Allows EDD to accept proposals for funding from applicants who
establish their eligibility by submitting proof that they have
been funded or designated as a federal YBP by HUD.
3)Authorizes the director of EDD to contract with qualified
nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance to
YBP's.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
AB 271
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COMMENTS : According to the ETA, under DOL, YouthBuild is a
highly successful alternative education program. For many years
the YouthBuild program was a part of HUD and they achieved
impressive outcomes with over a third of the young people
transitioning from the program to post secondary educational
opportunities.
Under the Federal YouthBuild Transition Act of 2005, the
administration of the YouthBuild Program was transferred from
HUD to DOL. This bill conforms the California YouthBuild
Program provisions to this change by replacing the reference in
code from HUD to DOL. By correcting these provisions,
YouthBuild applicants will be able to establish their
eligibility for grants by submitting proof that they have been
funded or designated as a federal YouthBuild program by DOL,
instead of HUD.
In 2003, the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth
recommended transferring the administration of the federal
YouthBuild program from HUD to DOL. On September 22, 2006,
President Bush signed into law the YouthBuild Transfer Act of
2005 which made this transfer possible. The transfer was
intended to link the program more closely to the nation's
workforce investment system. The YBTA allows for greater
coordination of the federal program with the WIA system,
including local workforce investment boards, One-Stop Career
Centers, and its partner programs. These strengthened
connections are expected to enhance the job training and
employment opportunities available to participating at-risk
youth.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT :
According to the sponsor, the California YouthBuild Coalition,
YBPs are designed to give at-risk youth, and those on probation
and parole, an opportunity for academic renewal and to expand
their employment opportunities. Specifically, these programs
assist young men and women in obtaining their high school
diplomas and concurrently training them in home construction
skills. Each program is independently operated by either a
local community based organization or a public entity, but they
must all comply with a core curriculum which meets stringent
federal and state guidelines.
AB 271
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Additionally the sponsor states that a recent national study of
900 participants determined that after enrollment only 15%
committed a misdemeanor; 9% committed a felony; and, the rate of
drug use plummeted by approximately 70%. The sponsor notes that
in California, the accomplishments are even better with several
programs having recidivism rates of less than 10%.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME) believe the YBP is admirable because it provides job
training, educational opportunity, and leadership development to
low-income youth. While working toward their high school
diploma or GED, the YBP teaches construction skills as the
participants build housing for low-income and homeless
Californians.
PRIOR LEGISLATION :
This bill is nearly identical to the amended version of AB 1982
(Solorio) from last year which passed the Assembly Committee on
Labor and Employment on consent. It was vetoed by the Governor
and in his veto message he stated,
"The historic delay in passing the 2008-2009 State Budget has
forced me to prioritize the bills sent to my desk at the end of
the year's legislative session. Given the delay, I am only
signing bills that are the highest priority for California.
This bill does not meet that standard and I cannot sign it at
this time."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
California Peace Officers' Association
California Police Chief Association
California YouthBuild Coalition (Sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Lorie Erickson / L. & E. / (916)
319-2091