BILL ANALYSIS �
Bill No: AB
735
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
Bill Analysis
AB 735 Author: Mitchell
As Amended: June 20, 2011
Hearing Date: June 28, 2011
Consultant: Paul Donahue
SUBJECT : Interns and student assistants; Hiring preference
SUMMARY : Establishes a hiring preference for state
internships and student assistants for foster youth.
Existing law :
1) Authorizes various state agencies to employ such
assistance as may be necessary for the proper discharge of
their duties.
2) Prohibits the juvenile court, in certain cases, from
terminating jurisdiction over a dependent child until the
county welfare department submits a report verifying that
certain information has been provided to the minor,
including his or her social security card and birth
certificate.
This bill :
1) Requires 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) Requires the county welfare department to provide
dependent children with information notifying them that
they may be eligible for this preference.
3) Defines "preference" to mean, priority over similarly
qualified applicants for placement in the position.
AB 735 (Mitchell) continued
Page 2
COMMENTS :
1) Rationale : According to the author, foster youth face a
difficult and uphill battle. "They are removed from their
families, often due to physical or sexual abuse or neglect,
and then plunged into "the system" where they face an
uncertain future. The State, acting as the parent of foster
youth, has a unique obligation to ensure the safety and
success of foster youth. Yet our current efforts are
woefully inadequate.
"Despite their precarious situations, foster youth must
stand on their own eight years earlier than their
counterparts, with only one-fifth of the financial support
their counterparts receive. The typical youth - one who
does not have a history of abuse and neglect - does not
achieve true self-sufficiency until age 26.
"Most foster youth receive virtually no financial help as
they struggle toward adulthood. AB 735 takes advantage of
existing Student Assistant/ Intern positions within State
service and gives current/former foster youth priority when
applying for these jobs. This is not only the moral/ethical
thing to do; California pays a high price when transition
foster youth end up incarcerated, unemployed or homeless.
AB 735 also stipulates that foster youth shall be informed
of their priority applicant status upon emancipation so
that this opportunity can indeed be taken advantage of."
2) Student assistant positions in state government : State
employees are hired under the civil service process, which
includes examinations and the development of job
classification lists. Once an individual is placed on a
list, he or she is eligible for that position
classification in various state agencies. According to the
State Personnel Board, the state establishes a preference
in hiring for veterans. Specifically, veterans receive
additional points on their examinations.
Unlike state employees, student assistants are not subject
to these civil servant requirements and as such, individual
state agencies are responsible for hiring for these
positions. The hiring process for student assistance is
merit-based.
AB 735 (Mitchell) continued
Page 3
3) Related legislation :
AB 12 (Beall) Chapter 559, Statutes of 2010 extends foster
care to age 19, and to age 21 by 2014, among other
provisions.
SUPPORT:
California State PTA
California Youth Connection
Children's Advocacy Institute, University of San Diego
County Welfare Directors Association
John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes
OPPOSE:
None on file
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
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