BILL NUMBER: SB 1227	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 11, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 1, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 14, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lara

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to add Section 14302.5 to the Public Resources Code,
relating to conservation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1227, as amended, Lara. California Conservation Corps.
   Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the
Natural Resources Agency and requires the corps to implement and
administer the conservation corps program. Existing law requires the
corps, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to
place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist
corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their participation in
the corps program.
   This bill would additionally require the corps to collaborate with
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Employment Development
Department to assist any corpsmember who is a veteran of the United
States Armed Forces in obtaining employment after participating in
the corps program. The bill would specify that the collaboration
efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Employment
Development Department shall include, but not be limited to, 
providing access to  veterans supportive services and workforce
services, respectively.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) California has the largest veteran population in the country
with 1.9 million former servicemen and servicewomen.
   (b) Veterans between the ages of 18 and 34 years have a higher
unemployment rate than their civilian peers.
   (c) The California Conservation Corps provides young veterans with
a unique opportunity to transition into the civilian workforce and
various workforce training opportunities, including maintaining
hiking trails, planting trees, and assisting in emergency response
situations by, among other things, fighting fires, floods,
earthquakes, and pest infestations.
   (d) By statute, the Employment Development Department, working
with the California Conservation Corps, provides transitional
services for all corpsmembers.
   (e) The Department of Veterans Affairs provides  assistance to
 access  to  various supportive services and
benefits for veterans, including  healthcare  
healthcare  , tuition assistance, and home loans.
   (f) Most young veterans do not use the state benefits afforded to
them through their military service.
   (g) Bringing the Department of Veterans Affairs into the
transitional process for young veterans exiting the California
Conservation Corps will connect young veterans with the benefits they
have earned, support the current efforts of the California
Conservation Corps and the Employment Development Department, and
ensure that those young veterans smoothly transition from
corpsmembership into the civilian workforce.
  SEC. 2.  Section 14302.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   14302.5.  (a) The corps shall collaborate with the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Employment Development Department to assist
any corpsmember who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces in
obtaining employment after participating in the corps program.
   (b) Collaboration efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs
shall include, but not be limited to,  providing access to 
veterans supportive services. Collaboration efforts by the Employment
Development Department shall include, but not be limited to, 
providing access to  workforce services.