BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 537 (Correa)
Hearing Date: 05/26/2011 Amended: 05/19/2011
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: VA 8-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 537 makes several changes to the California
Cadet Corps program, and permits cities and counties to
establish a military academy but only upon appropriation in the
annual budget act.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Cadet corps program
---------------------minor----------------------- General
Military academy -------unknown, upon
appropriation in
a
future Budget Act------- General
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
The Department of Military indicates minor additional costs
associated with assisting and overseeing any additional
California Cadet Corps programs. However, to the extent that
new military academies are established as the bill authorizes,
even though the academies would be funded by the school district
or city which opts to establish them, the Military Department
would likely incur additional costs for oversight. The Adjutant
General's Office currently receives about $1 million annually
from the General Fund for support of military officers who work
at the Oakland Military Institute; therefore, the addition of
any new military academies could result in cost pressure for
additional funding from the state. Recent amendments provide
that a new program may only be established if funds are
appropriated in the annual Budget Act or other act.
The California Cadet Corps, founded in 1911, is a school-based
program conducted with a military framework and provides maximum
growth and leadership opportunities for California students.
The program is offered through schools and can be taken for
credit. As part of their training, cadets provide assistance
and support to their school and their communities. Examples
include color guards, participation in parades, and peer
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mentors. There are currently about 6,500 cadets. The Military
Department provides administrative oversight and logistical
support to ensure the cadets receive uniforms, supplies,
equipment, and training materials.
SB 537 makes the following changes to the California Cadet Corps
program:
a) Eliminates the requirement that a college, community
college, or high school have 100 or more students who are 14
years of age or over in order to organize a cadet company,
thereby allowing any college, community college or school to
organize into a California Cadet Corps. Costs of the program
will be paid by schools opting to have a Cadet Corps.
b) Allows for the appointment of adult non-commissioned
officers and warrant officers in the California Cadet Corps.
c) Creates a presumption that any executive officer, assistant
executive officer, advisor, officer, warrant officer, or
noncommissioned officer hurt in the line of duty is receiving a
yearly earning of at least $10,000 for purposes of receiving
workers' compensation benefits.
Current law authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a
cooperative agreement with the City of Oakland to establish an
Oakland Military Institute. The Institute, established in
2001, operates as a charter school in the Oakland School
District. SB 537 will authorize the Adjutant General to enter
into a cooperative agreement with the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, or any county, city, or school government board to
establish a military academy.
This bill is sponsored by the Military Department intending to
update the applicable code sections relating to the California
Cadet Corps, and to authorize additional military academies
throughout the state.
The Cadet Corps is a school based education and prevention
program directed toward enhanced school safety, dropout
prevention, and gang avoidance. It is fully integrated as part
of the existing school curriculum providing specialized academic
performance, and military style training addressing problematic
behavior, substandard academic performance, and other at risk
factors. The program stresses six objectives: support and
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enhance academic achievement, provide opportunities for
leadership, foster good citizenship, enhance patriotism, provide
basic military knowledge, and promote health, fitness, and
wellness.