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AB-2207 California Conservation Corps: corpsmembers: contracts: facility leases: outreach.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 03/21/2022 09:00 PM
AB2207:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2207

Introduced by Assembly Member McCarty

February 15, 2022

An act to amend Section 14302 of Sections 14000 and 14306 of, and to add Section 14310.5 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to conservation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2207, as amended, McCarty. California Conservation Corps: education and training. corpsmembers: contracts: facility leases: outreach.
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. Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to perform certain tasks, including recruiting and enrolling corpsmember and special corpsmembers.
This bill would also authorize the director to enter into any contracts that the director determines is consistent with the corps’ mission and necessary for the maintenance, service, and improvement of real property used by the corps as a long-term base of program operations, and to lease facilities, as provided. The bill would require a corpsmember to receive hiring priority at a state agency if the corpsmembers meets specified criteria, including that the corpsmember meets the minimum qualification standards in the vacancy announcement for the state agency position. The bill would provide that it is the intent of the Legislature that the corps conduct outreach to underrepresented groups for corps membership, as provided.

This bill would also require the corps, in conjunction with the department, to place an emphasis on education and training to assist corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their participation in the corps program.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 14000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

14000.
 (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California youth should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many youths require guidance and support to reach their goals and make positive changes in their lives.
(b) The Legislature finds and declares that conserving or developing natural resources, and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters through the use of California’s young adults, is beneficial not only to the youth of the state by providing them with educational and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the state’s economy and its environment.
(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that the California Conservation Corps continues to offer 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.
(d) The Legislature therefore reaffirms its intent that the corps’ mission includes increasing awareness of and improving our natural resources, but more importantly, includes 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.
(e) It is the further intent of the Legislature that corpsmembers graduate from the corps with good work habits, positive attitudes, and broadened professional horizons. It is the intent of the Legislature that the corps blend academic and job skills training with personal growth opportunities in order to develop productive youths who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(f) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the corps conduct outreach to underrepresented groups for corps membership, including, but not limited to, women and nonbinary youth, foster and transitional age youth, homeless youth, youth with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and plus (LGBT+) youth, tribal youth, justice-impacted youth, and youth of color. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the corps embed within its training and education curriculum concepts of environmental justice, cultural competency, and values of diversity, equity, and access in order to better develop a diverse cadre of natural resource conservation practitioners.

(f)

(g) It is the further intent of the Legislature, in memory of Brien Thomas “B.T.” Collins and John E. “Jack” Dugan, and on behalf of their passion, support, and commitment to the mission of the corps, to ensure that the corps is an entrepreneurial and incentive-based program with stable and predictable funding. In pursuit of that goal, it is the intent of the Legislature that all state agencies look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.

SEC. 2.

 Section 14306 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

14306.
 To implement this division, the director may do all of the following:
(a) Recruit and enroll corpsmembers and special corpsmembers.
(b) Adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in the corps’ program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code). The director shall take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps’ program participants and staff.
(c) Execute contracts containing the terms and conditions that are deemed necessary and desirable for the enrollment of corpsmembers.
(d) Authorize utilization of the corps for emergency projects occasioned by natural disasters, fire prevention and suppression, rescue of lost or injured persons, and any other activity or project necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this division.
(e) Apply for and accept grants or contributions of funds from any public or private source.
(f) Purchase, rent, or otherwise acquire or obtain necessary property, supplies, instruments, tools, equipment, and conveniences.
(g) Execute contracts for furnishing the services of the corps to any federal, state, or local public agency; any local or statewide private organization concerned with the objectives of the corps’ program, as specified in Sections 14000 and 14300; and any person, firm, partnership, or corporation concerned with these objectives.
(h) Procure insurance.
(i) Be reimbursed by the federal government, any state or local public agency, or any private organization for actual expenses incurred by the corps for any project undertaken for any such entity pursuant to subdivision (d) or (g) or pursuant to Section 14307.
(j) To the extent permitted by Article VII of the California Constitution, execute contracts with any person, natural or corporate, for the purpose of implementing the objectives of the corps, as specified in Sections 14000 and 14300.
(k) Utilize Use any services, material, or property of any agency of the state, and may make agreements with any agency of the state or take other actions that are reasonable and necessary.
(l) Contract with public or private nonprofit entities to provide services for the corps.
(m) Contract with the University of California, the California State University, the community college districts, and private institutions for the creation of special admission and tuition credit programs for corpsmembers.
(n) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 10107 of the Public Contract Code, enter into any contracts including, but not limited to, those for professional services such as construction and design, valued up to nine hundred twenty-nine thousand dollars ($929,000), as adjusted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10105 of the Public Contract Code, that the director determines is both of the following:
(1) Consistent with the corps’ mission.
(2) Necessary for the maintenance, service, and improvement of real property used by the corps as a long-term base of program operations.
(o) Notwithstanding Section 10107 of the Public Contract Code, lease facilities, if the director has determined both of the following:
(1) The lease is needed for corps’ purposes.
(2) The lease is entered with any of the following entities:
(A) A California Native American tribe or federally recognized tribe.
(B) A federal, state, or local public agency.
(C) A local or statewide private organization, or a person, firm, partnership, or corporation, concerned with the objectives of the corps’ program, as described in Sections 14000 and 14300.

SEC. 3.

 Section 14310.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:

14310.5.
 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section achieve all of the following:
(1) Provide flexibility and opportunities for state agencies to hire current and former members of the corps.
(2) Meet the employment needs of state agencies and members of the corps.
(3) Assist state agencies in their progress towards a workforce reflective of the state’s diverse population.
(b) A corpsmember shall receive hiring priority at a state agency if the corpsmember meets both of the following criteria:
(1) The corpsmember completed a minimum of 850 hours of satisfactory service on activities eligible towards attainment of the California Conservation Corps’ “Brad Duncan Scholarship.”
(2) The corpsmember meets the minimum qualification standards stated in the vacancy announcement for the state agency position for which they are applying.

SECTION 1.Section 14302 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
14302.

(a)Young adults shall be selected for participation in the corps program on the basis of motivation for hard work, personal development, and public service, and without regard to their prior employment or educational background. Participation shall be for a period of one year, which may be extended.

(b)The corps, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, shall place an emphasis on education, training, and developing and executing plans to assist corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their participation in the corps program.