BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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                                      VETO


          Bill No:  SB 309
          Author:   Ducheny (D)
          Amended:  4/14/09
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE  :  7-3, 4/28/09
          AYES:  Pavley, Kehoe, Leno, Padilla, Simitian, Wiggins,  
            Wolk
          NOES:  Cogdill, Benoit, Huff
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Hollingsworth

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  68-9, 8/25/10 - See last page for vote


           SUBJECT  :    Public resources:  conservation corps

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill contains findings about the work of  
          the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and it establishes  
          a preference for emancipated foster youth and at-risk youth  
          for membership in the CCC. 

           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law requires the CCC to select young  
          men and women for participation in the corps program on the  
          basis of motivation for hard work, personal development,  
          and public service, and without regard to their prior  
          employment or educational background.

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                                                                SB 309
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          The CCC is a work, service, and training program for young  
          adults, using environmental conservation and public service  
          work as a means for personal growth.  It is modeled after  
          the original Civilian Conservation Corps established by  
          President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.  The CCC annually  
          completes hundreds of projects that have a direct impact on  
          Californians.  It is engaged in fire-fighting, flood  
          control, oil spills, and expanding recreational  
          opportunities in wilderness. 

          As part of the 2006-07 Budget, the CCC was directed to  
          develop a strategic plan for enhancing the educational and  
          training opportunities for its members.  The CCC has faced  
          severe budgetary restraints in recent years, but it could  
          be in a unique position to help California with an  
          ambitious effort to create new jobs that can serve the  
          renewable energy and other new industries that many refer  
          to as "green jobs." 

          This bill contains findings about the work of the CCC and  
          it establishes a preference for emancipated foster youth  
          and at-risk youth for membership in the CCC.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  No

           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    While CCC membership has  
          historically included at-risk youth, the author's office  
          believes that the statute should be explicit in this  
          regard, and that emancipated foster youth should enjoy the  
          same preference. 

           GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE:
           
             "I am returning Senate Bill 309 without my signature.  


             This bill requires that preference for inclusion in  
             California Conservation Corps (CCC) membership be  
             given to emancipated foster youth and at-risk youth. 

             This bill is unnecessary.  Existing law requires the  
             CCC to select young men and women, without regard to  
             their prior employment status or educational  

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                                                                SB 309
                                                                Page  
          3

             background, for participation in the corps program on  
             the basis of their demonstrated motivation for hard  
             work, personal development, and public service. 

             Nonetheless, a majority of CCC's current corps  
             members are at-risk or emancipated foster youth.  For  
             example, 87 percent are unemployed at the time they  
             join the CCC, 11 percent have no prior job  
             experience, more than 50 percent lack a high school  
             diploma, and 4 percent are homeless.  Absent any data  
             or information that would demonstrate the need, I see  
             no reason to change CCC's current selection policy."

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  : 
          AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Arambula, Bass, Beall, Bill  
            Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bradford,  
            Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,  
            Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,  
            Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Furutani, Galgiani,  
            Garrick, Gatto, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi,  
            Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Lieu,  
            Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava, Nestande,  
            Niello, Nielsen, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Ruskin,  
            Salas, Saldana, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra  
            Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran,  
            Villines, Yamada, John A. Perez
          NOES: Anderson, DeVore, Fuller, Gaines, Knight, Logue,  
            Miller, Norby, Silva
          NO VOTE RECORDED: Fuentes, Vacancy, Vacancy


          CTW:mw  10/5/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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