BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 735
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 735 (Mitchell)
As Amended April 11, 2011
Majority vote
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 6-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Swanson, Morrell, Alejo, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Allen, Furutani, Yamada | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| | | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Smyth, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Establishes a hiring preference for state internships
and student assistants for foster youth. Specifically, this
bill requires:
1)State agencies, when hiring for internships and student
assistant positions, to give preference to qualified
applicants who are, or have recently been, dependent children
in foster care.
2)County welfare departments to provide dependent children with
information notifying them that they may be eligible for this
hiring preference.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor, absorbable one-time costs from various sources
to modify application forms.
COMMENTS : According to the author, few groups are at greater
risk for homelessness, poverty and school failure than
California's foster youth. Only 50% of foster youth graduate
from high school, compared with 75% of their peers who were not
a part of the foster care system. In addition, the unemployment
rate among former foster youth is staggering: 60% of former
foster youth are unemployed at age 19 compared with 42% of their
peers with no history of foster care.
AB 735
Page 2
In order to address these issues, this bill states that priority
should be given to former or current foster youth when state
agencies are hiring for student assistant and/or intern
positions. According to the author, student assistant positions
already exist within many state departments. These positions are
offered to students currently enrolled in school seeking "on the
job" experience. These positions are a great place for students
to learn a skill as well as make valuable contacts within the
department which will assist them in establishing a pathway to a
career. The author argues that the state has a unique
obligation to current and former foster youth and these
internships are excellent pathways to financial stability as
well as an added incentive to stay in school.
Writing in support of this bill, the Children's Advocacy
Institute (CAI) argues that when by the authority of state law
government enters a home and forcibly removes a child from the
care of their parents, the state incurs a moral responsibility
heavier than any other. CAI states that, according to the
General Accounting Office, only 3% of foster youth will graduate
from a four year college; between 27% and 35% end up in jail or
prison. Though foster youth comprise less than 0.3% of the
general population, 40% of all people in homeless shelters were
once in foster care. Women who have emancipated from foster
care are four times more likely than other women to receive
public assistance. They conclude that student assistant
positions provide a pathway to employment post-graduation and
stability that is not only consistent with our moral obligation
to these children but a wise step to ensure they do not enter
far more expensive state-funded systems and programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Ben Ebbink / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091
FN: 0000809