AB 2126: California Conservation Corps: forestry corps program.

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 Governor to appoint a director to act as the administrative officer of the corps. Existing law authorizes the director to employ special corps members without regard to their ages so that the corps may draw upon their special skills that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Existing law provides that these special members may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.

This bill would require the director, no later than July 1, 2019, to establish a forestry corps program to accomplish certain objectives including developing and implementing forest health projects, as provided, and establishing forestry corps crews. The bill would require the director to partner with certified community conservation corps in implementing the forestry corps program, where feasible. The bill would require the director, no later than January 1, 2020, to establish 4 forestry corps crews, one to be based in the Central Valley, one in the Inland Empire, and 2 to be based in either a state responsibility area or a very high hazard fire zone, as specified.

The bill would also make a nonsubstantive change.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the creation of the Central Valley and Inland Empire forestry corps crews.