BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1518
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Date of Hearing: May 14, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1518 (Eggman) - As Introduced: January 16, 2014
Policy Committee: Veterans
AffairsVote: 9-0
Education 7-0
Urgency: NO State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the Adjutant General of the California
Military Department to establish a National Guard Youth
ChalleNGe Program in northern California, subject to an
appropriation. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the program to consist of at least a 22-week
residential program and a 12-month post-residential mentoring
period to serve at-risk teens in areas of the state,
including, but not limited to, the San Joaquin Valley and
Northern California.
2)States the program is designed to improve life skills and
employment potential by providing military-based leadership
development, promoting fellowship and community service,
developing life-coping skills and job skills, improving
physical fitness, providing health and hygiene training, and
helping participants gain a high school diploma or equivalent.
3)Specifies the Military Department shall enter into a
memorandum of agreement with an appropriate school district or
a county office of education to provide educational services
for students enrolled in the program. The school district or
county office of education with which the department contracts
shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with any
applicable requirements imposed by the Education Code.
FISCAL EFFECT
Annual GF cost of about $1.5 million, assuming a program similar
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in size to the existing programs (about 750 students). Federal
funding would account for about $4.5 million for the balance of
the program. The educational component of the program is
supported by local school districts and/or the County Office of
Education via existing K-12 average daily attendance.
Current law specifies a new program may only be established if
funds are appropriated for this purpose. This bill is keyed
nonfiscal.
The Assembly has added this project to the 2014-15 budget bill.
The Senate has not.
COMMENTS
Rationale . The author references existing Youth ChalleNGe
programs in central California (Camp San Luis Obispo) and
southern California (Los Alamitos, Orange County) and cites a
2012 RAND study, A Cost-benefit Analysis of the National Guard
Youth Challenge Program, which concluded:
a) Admission to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program,
an intensive residential and mentoring program for high
school dropouts ages 16-18, is projected to increase the
present discounted lifetime earnings of ChalleNGe admittees
by $43,514 ($2010).
b) ChalleNGe admission generates labor market earnings and
other benefits of $2.66 for every dollar expended on the
program and an estimated return on investment of 166
percent.
c) This cost-benefit analysis supports public investment in
the program as currently operated and targeted.
According to the author, "The high school dropout rate in San
Joaquin County is 15.4%, exceeding the statewide average of
13.1%. There is a strong correlation between dropout rates and
violent crime, and San Joaquin County also leads the state's
other counties in youth and young adult homicides, with a per
capita rate nearly three times California's overall rate."
Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
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