BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2328
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Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2328 (John A. Perez) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014
Policy Committee: Accountability
and Administrative Review Vote: 13 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the California Service Corps (CSC) to be
administered by California Volunteers in the Governor's Office
and operate similarly to AmeriCorps. The bill requires an
application process and establishes eligibility criteria for
members based on the existing qualifications for AmeriCorps and
additional qualifications seeking California residents with
outstanding student loan debt. The bill allows Cal Volunteers
to solicit and accept private funding to help supplement the
costs of the CSC.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)On-going costs to Cal Volunteers estimated at $180,000 (GF)
for 2.2 PYs to implement and administer the program for an
estimated 150 members and 10 additional grantees.
2)Significant on-going costs nearing $2 million (GF) to provide
stipends and education awards to program members. If 150
members were admitted to the program and each received the
$7,400 stipend and the $4,725 education award, the cost would
be $1.8 million annually. This could be partially offset by
federal funding and/or private donations in future years.
3)Minor and absorbable costs to Cal Volunteers to solicit and
accept private funding.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The author notes that the current AmeriCorps
operation in California is widely successful, but funding
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limits capacity and there is significant competition in the
application process. This bill requires the CSC to operate
similarly to AmeriCorps and establishes additional eligibility
requirements for applicants, including completion of a degree,
proof of incurred student loan debt, and state residency.
This bill will expand opportunities for young people to serve,
and potentially pay down student debt, while providing a
valuable benefit to local communities.
2)Existing Programs .
a) AmeriCorps . AmeriCorps is a national network of
hundreds of programs throughout the US that engage
Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits,
schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based
groups across the country. AmeriCorps consists of three
main programs, each with a specific focus.
AmeriCorps operates under the Corporation for National and
Community Service, which received about $1 billion from
Congress in 2013, supplemented by $480 million in outside
funding and donations.
AmeriCorps service assignments may be part time or full
time and generally range from ten to 12 months. Members
receive a $7,400 stipend and qualifying members are
eligible for the $4,725 Segal Education Award that can be
used to pay for college or pay back student loans. To be
eligible for a position with AmeriCorps, qualification
guidelines focus on several factors, including citizenship,
age, work experience, and education. Additional
qualifications may vary depending on the particular
program.
This bill models the CSC after the AmeriCorps program, but
adds additional application criteria focusing specifically
on California residents who have college degrees and
existing student loan debt.
b) Cal Volunteers . Individual states can receive financial
support for their own AmeriCorps programs, which California
does through Cal Volunteers. Cal Volunteers is established
in the Governor's Office by Executive Order S-24-06 with
the specific mission to recruit and mobilize citizens for
volunteer service. This bill tasks Cal Volunteers with
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administering the CSC.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081