BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Senator Ben Hueso, Chair
BILL NO: AB 1518 HEARING DATE: 6/24/14
AUTHOR: Eggman
VERSION: 5/23/14
FISCAL: No
VOTE: Majority
SUBJECT
Military: National Guard: youth challenge program.
DESCRIPTION
Existing law:
1.Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use the California
National Guard (CalGuard) to conduct a civilian youth
opportunities program-the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe
Program, which consists of at least a 22-week residential
program and a 12-month post-residential mentoring period.
(Title 32 United States Code � 509)
2.Provides that the Adjutant General of the CalGuard may enter
into a cooperative agreement with the governing board of a
school district or a county office of education for the
purpose of establishing, pursuant to existing authority in the
Education Code, a military academy to be operated as a charter
school or as one of the existing alternative education options
available under the Education Code.
3.Provides that a new CalGuard Youth Program, except for the
California Cadet Corps, may only be established as provided in
this section if funds are appropriated for purposes of the
program in the annual Budget Act or any other act. (Military
and Veterans Code � 532)
This bill:
Codifies the authority in federal law for the existing
California National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and specify
certain geographic areas to be served, subject to the
availability of funding.
Specifically, this bill:
1.Requires the Adjutant General to conduct a civilian youth
opportunities program, to be known as the "National Guard
Youth ChalleNGe Program," which shall consist of at least a 22
week residential program and a 12 month post-residential
mentoring period, and subject to funds appropriated for this
purpose in the annual budget.
2.Provides that the program shall serve at risk teens in areas of
the state, including, but not limited to, the San Joaquin
Valley and Northern California, and shall be subject to all of
the following:
a. The program shall seek to improve life skills and
employment potential of participants 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 assisting participants to receive
a high school diploma or its equivalent.
b. The Adjutant General may accept federal funding to
implement the program and may appoint a director and other
service members and employees, permanent or temporary, to
operate the program.
c. The California Military Department (CMD) shall enter
into a memorandum of agreement with an appropriate school
district or a county office of education for the purpose of
providing educational services for students enrolled in a
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.
3.Requires that a new program, except the California Cadet
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Corps, may only be established if funds are appropriated in
the annual Budget Act or any other act.
BACKGROUND
The CMD is a state department located within the executive
branch. According to MilVets Code �51, the CMD is comprised of
several components, the largest being the 23,000-member
CalGuard. The CalGuard is the largest of the 54 "state-level"
National Guards located in U.S. states and territories.
In addition to its national security missions as part of the
professional United States Armed Forces, the CalGuard, when
under control of the Governor, performs missions that directly
benefit the State of California. These include several
community-based programs that lead, train and mentor at-risk
youth intended to help the youth become productive citizens. The
Guard's youth programs include:
California Cadet Corps: A school-based cadet program
for grades 6-12, located in multiple locations throughout
California
National Guard Youth Challenge:
Oakland Military Institute:
Serving grades 6-12 college preparatory school located in
Oakland.
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Serving 16-18 year
old high school students.
- Grizzly Youth ChalleNGe San Luis Obispo.
- Sunburst Youth ChalleNGe Los Alamitos.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program currently is
authorized and funded through the Department of Defense. This
intensive residential and mentoring program is aimed at high
school dropouts ages 16-18. The program currently operates in 27
states and Puerto Rico and is designed to prevent at-risk youth
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from dropping out of high school. Program participants, called
cadets, are housed together, typically on a National Guard base
or at a training center, for the first 22 weeks of the program.
During these weeks, the program immerses cadets in a
quasi-military environment in which they focus on discipline,
academic excellence, teamwork, physical fitness, leadership, and
service to the community.
COMMENT
Author Comments :
According to the author's office, there are two National Guard
Youth Challenge programs in California-one in Los Alamitos and
one in San Luis Obispo. The programs are successful, serving
approximately 800 students per year. However, demand for these
programs is high with half of their 1,600 annual applicants
being turned away each year. Additionally, the programs serve
students from all over the state and many parents and students
prefer not to be distant from one another.
The author's office also indicates the high school dropout rate
in San Joaquin County has regularly exceeded the statewide
average of 13.1 percent. 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. Adding another program could help
prevent future dropouts.
In 2012, the RAND Corporation published, A Cost-Benefit Analysis
of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and determined
that the program is extremely cost effective, with a return on
investment of $2.66 for every dollar spent.
POSITIONS
Sponsor: Author.
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Support: California State PTA
Oppose: None on file.
Analysis by: Wade Cooper Teasdale
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