Existing legislative findings and declarations state that the California Conservation Corps offers California a unique opportunity to meet both the goal of increasing understanding and appreciation of the environment and the goal of helping youths become productive adults. Existing law provides that the Legislature reaffirms its intent that the corps’ mission includes increasing awareness of and improving our natural resources, and instilling basic skills and a healthy work ethic in California youth, building their character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, and establishing within them a strong sense of civic responsibility and understanding of the value of a day’s work for a day’s wages.

This bill would authorize the California Conservation Corps, until January 1, 2024, to enter into a contract with an individual or collective of certified community conservation corps for a specified type of project or program that is in furtherance of those legislative findings and declarations. The bill would authorize the Director of the California Conservation Corps to establish guidelines for these purposes and would require these contracts to adhere to any established guidelines. The bill would require the California Conservation Corps to file a report on the success of any such program or project with the Legislature before January 1, 2023.