BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 537
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 28, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
SB 537 (Correa) - As Amended: June 23, 2011
SUBJECT : California Cadet Corps
SUMMARY : This bill allows expansion of the existing California
Cadet Corps program. Specifically, this bill :
1. Allows warrant officers and non-commissioned officers to
be appointed by the Adjutant General as commandants, or
assistant commandants of students.
2. Includes warrant officers and non-commissioned officers
in all the sections that currently apply to commissioned
officers, i.e.:
a) Placing them under the same jurisdiction as
commissioned officers in relation to schools;
b) Subjecting them to rules, regulations, grade,
and rank determined by the Adjutant General;
c) Allowing those with prior service and
honorable discharge to be appointed
d) Requiring a uniform as prescribed by the
Adjutant General not to be inconsistent with the rules
and regulations of the United States Army;
e) Subjecting them to duty at encampments and
exercises; and
f) Receiving similar pay to active duty
equivalent ranks.
3. Allows the Governor to appoint special project officers,
commissioned and non-commissioned upon recommendation of
the Adjutant General.
4. Permits the Adjutant General to adopt the rules and
regulations for promotion of these positions.
5. Allows warrant officers and non-commissioned officers to
be appointed by the commandant of cadets with the approval
of the president, director, chief administrative officer,
or principal of the institution in question.
6. Allows the Adjutant General to order these officers,
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commissioned and non-commissioned to temporary state active
duty.
7. Allows presidents, directors, chief administrative
officers, or principals of the institution in question to
remove a student from the Cadet Corps for any reason deemed
to be good cause.
8. Allows rifles to be purchased for marksmanship training.
9. Allows the Cadet Corps to utilize California National
Guard facilities for training purposes whenever practical.
10. Alters the unit inspection period from annual to every
two years or every year for those units which receive an
unsatisfactory inspection.
11. Deletes the requirement that the Oakland Military
Institute be a non-residential program.
12. Authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a
cooperative agreement with the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, any county, city, or school governing board
for the purpose of establishing a military academy.
Additional programs beyond the California Cadet Corps may
only be established if budget appropriations are made
therefor.
EXISTING LAW:
1. Establishes in state government the Military Department,
which includes, among others, the Office of the Adjutant
General, the California National Guard, and the California Cadet
Corps. Existing law establishes various duties for these
officers and entities. Existing law generally authorizes the
organization of a cadet company at each college, community
college, high school, and each senior high school in this state
having 100 or more students of 14 years of age or over, and
authorizes the Adjutant General to appoint officers in the
California Cadet Corps for duty in each school under the
jurisdiction of the governing board.
2. Authorizes members of the California Cadet Corps to use
California National Guard rifle ranges.
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3. Authorizes any executive officer, assistant executive
officer, supervisor of cadet instruction, or officer hurt in the
line of duty to receive workers' compensation, as provided.
Existing law creates a presumption that the average yearly
earning of such individual is not less than $2,500.
4. Authorizes the instructors of a military academy meeting
specified requirements, including having 80 or more male
students, to be commissioned in the California Cadet Corps, and
authorizes the Adjutant General to enter into a cooperative
agreement with the City of Oakland and a school district to
establish an Oakland Military Institute.
5. Requires that Cadet Corps units be inspected by the Guard
annually.
6. Permits the Adjutant General to establish the Oakland
Military Institute.
7. Requires the Oakland Military Institute be a non-resident
program.
FISCAL EFFECT : 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.
COMMENTS : The California Cadet Corps, founded in 1911, is a
school-based program conducted with a military framework and
provides 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.
There are currently about 6,500 cadets. The Military Department
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provides administrative oversight and logistical support to
ensure the cadets receive uniforms, supplies, equipment, and
training materials.
The Cadet Corps 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 enhance
academic achievement, provide opportunities for leadership,
foster good citizenship, enhance patriotism, provide basic
military knowledge, and promote health, fitness, and wellness.
According to the State of California Military Department:
1. 86% of California Cadet Corps graduates pursue higher
education. About 3% join the U.S. Armed Forces.
2. California Cadet Corps cadets attend school at a rate
3.8% higher than their non-cadet counterparts.
3. Cadets experience serious disciplinary infractions
significantly less often than their non-cadet counterparts.
4. Cadets earn an average of 0.54 grade points higher than
their non-cadet counterparts.
5. Cadets score significantly higher on a nationally-normed
assessment of leadership skills than students in grades
4-12 not enrolled in the Cadet program.
6. Cadets outperform by eight percentile points their
non-cadet counterparts on the Fitnessgram, the assessment
of Fitness and Wellness administered by California schools.
7. Cadets report significant gains in patriotic spirit,
leadership development, and preparation for college and
careers.
Section 23 of the bill changes the present inspection
requirement for California Cadet Corps units from annual to
every two years. Units receiving a superior or satisfactory
inspection rating will not be inspected the following year.
Units receiving an unsatisfactory rating will be re-inspected
the following year. New units will receive an assistance visit.
The Guard raises the issue that the inspections are expensive
and take money away from core program activities. Nevertheless,
while costs are a valid concern, proper oversight of the program
locations is critical, especially when there are marksmanship
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weapons and ammunition maintained at approximately 36 program
locations statewide. It is vital that proper accountability be
maintained. The proposed language attempts to strike a balance
between the costs of annual inspections and the necessity for
proper oversight.
The bill authorizes additional military academies similar to the
Oakland Military institute. The stated goal of these would be,
"?�to] provide a structured, disciplined environment that would
be conducive to learning in a college preparatory environment.
In additional to academic skills, students would develop
leadership, self-esteem, and a strong sense of community." Any
new California National Guard Youth Program, except for the
California Cadet Corps, may only be established if funds are
appropriated for purposes of the new program in the annual
Budget Act or any other act.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Military Department - Office of the Adjutant General
(source)
American Legion- Department CA
AMVETS- Department CA
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550