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AB-706 CaliforniaVolunteers.(2015-2016)

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Enrolled  September 09, 2015
Passed  IN  Senate  September 03, 2015
Passed  IN  Assembly  September 04, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  August 31, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  June 11, 2015
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 06, 2015

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 706

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonilla
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Dodd, Eduardo Garcia, Rodriguez, and Salas)

February 25, 2015

An act to add Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 8400) to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to CaliforniaVolunteers.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 706, Bonilla. CaliforniaVolunteers.
Under existing law, by executive order, CaliforniaVolunteers is established in the office of the Governor and is charged with overseeing programs and initiatives for service and volunteerism.
This bill would authorize CaliforniaVolunteers, for so long as it is authorized to exist, to form a tax-exempt public benefit nonprofit corporation, or other tax-exempt entity, qualified under federal and state law to raise revenues and receive grants or other financial support from private or public sources, for the purposes of undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be undertaken by CaliforniaVolunteers. This bill would require the nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity to use the financial support it seeks to be used solely for the governmental purposes approved by CaliforniaVolunteers for activities within the scope of authority of CaliforniaVolunteers.
This bill would also establish California AmeriCorps – STEM in state government, to be administered by CaliforniaVolunteers and operate under existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines. This bill would require that California AmeriCorps – STEM members be selected through an application process for eligible college graduates or students, as specified. This bill would allow a nonprofit corporation, as specified, or a public entity to apply, individually or in partnership with a corporation or individual interested in the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, to CaliforniaVolunteers, through a competitive request for proposal process, to host one or more California AmeriCorps – STEM members. This bill would provide that the purpose of California AmeriCorps – STEM is to increase STEM education programs to prepare the next generation for jobs in the STEM fields. This bill would authorize CaliforniaVolunteers to solicit and accept private funding to help supplement the costs of California AmeriCorps – STEM.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 8400) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  5.6.  CaliforniaVolunteers

8400.
 (a) CaliforniaVolunteers, as established by Executive Order S-24-06, is authorized to form a tax-exempt public benefit nonprofit corporation, or other tax-exempt entity, qualified under federal and state law to raise revenues and receive grants or other financial support from private or public sources, for the purposes of undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be undertaken by CaliforniaVolunteers. Financial support sought by the nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity shall be used solely for the governmental purposes approved by CaliforniaVolunteers for activities within the scope of authority of CaliforniaVolunteers. The mission of the nonprofit corporation or other tax-exempt entity is as follows:
(1) To support the funding of California AmeriCorps – STEM programming and administrative costs.
(2) To support any priorities set forth by the Governor or the CaliforniaVolunteers board of commissioners.
(b) The authority granted in subdivision (a) shall expire if the governor rescinds Executive Order S-24-06 or otherwise rescinds the establishment of CaliforniaVolunteers.

8405.
 (a) California AmeriCorps – STEM is hereby established to be administered by CaliforniaVolunteers, as established by Executive Order S-24-06. California AmeriCorps – STEM shall operate under the existing federal AmeriCorps program guidelines.
(b) (1) California AmeriCorps – STEM members shall be selected through an application process. Eligibility shall be based on the qualifications required for the federal AmeriCorps members, as of January 1, 2015, and all of the following:
(A) The applicant shall have an associate or a baccalaureate degree or be enrolled in a two-year or four-year postsecondary institution.
(B) The applicant shall be 18 years of age or older.
(C) The applicant shall provide proof that he or she lives in California.
(2) For the first three years in which California AmeriCorps – STEM members are selected, no more than 40 members shall be selected per year. For the fourth year, and each year thereafter, the amount of members selected may increase or decrease in size depending on the amount of available funds collected by the foundation established by this chapter.
(c) A nonprofit corporation that is exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a public entity may apply, individually or in partnership with a corporation or individual interested in the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, to CaliforniaVolunteers through a competitive request for proposal process, to host one or more California AmeriCorps – STEM members. The purpose of California AmeriCorps – STEM is to bring more STEM education programs into California schools, expanded learning programs, after school programs, and neighborhood and regional centers for children in order to prepare the next generation for jobs in the STEM fields.
(d) CaliforniaVolunteers is authorized to solicit and accept private funding to help supplement the costs of California AmeriCorps – STEM. These private funding sources may include, but are not limited to, foundations, corporate funding, crowdfunding, donation drives, or any other sources of private investment that may be available. No more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in moneys received from the state per year shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be spent for administrative costs of the foundation established by this chapter.
(e) General Fund moneys shall not be used for California AmeriCorps – STEM programs.