Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to recruit and enroll corpsmembers and to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment, including individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Existing law requires the director, when adopting this criteria, to take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps program participants and staff.

This bill would authorize the director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law establishes community conservation corps, defined as a nonprofit public benefit corporation or an agency operated by a city, county, or city and county that is certified by the California Conservation Corps, as meeting specified criteria.

Existing law prohibits school districts from employing or retaining in employment persons who have been convicted of a controlled substance offense, as defined.

This bill would authorize, notwithstanding that prohibition, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select an applicant for enrollment in the community conservation corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to recruit and enroll corpsmembers and to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment, including individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Existing law requires the director, when adopting this criteria, to take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps program participants and staff.

This bill would authorize the director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law establishes community conservation corps, defined as a nonprofit public benefit corporation or an agency operated by a city, county, or city and county that is certified by the California Conservation Corps, as meeting specified criteria.

Existing law prohibits school districts from employing or retaining in employment persons who have been convicted of a controlled substance offense, as defined.

This bill would authorize, notwithstanding that prohibition, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select an applicant for enrollment in the community conservation corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to recruit and enroll corpsmembers and to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment, including individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Existing law requires the director, when adopting this criteria, to take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps program participants and staff.

This bill would authorize the director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to recruit and enroll corpsmembers and to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment, including individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Existing law requires the director, when adopting this criteria, to take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps program participants and staff.

This bill would authorize the director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, parole, post-release postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Existing law authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps, in implementing the California Conservation Corps program, to recruit and enroll corpsmembers and to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment, including individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Existing law requires the director, when adopting this criteria, to take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps program participants and staff.

This bill would authorize the director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, parole, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 864

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 9-0, 7/11/17

AYES: Hertzberg, Stone, Allen, Atkins, Hueso, Jackson, Monning, Stern, Vidak

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-1, 9/1/17

AYES: Lara, Bates, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Wiener

NOES: Nielsen

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 5/31/17 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill authorizes, but does not require, the California Conservation Corps (CCC) director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. This bill also authorizes, but does not require, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select applicants with controlled substance convictions.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the CCC in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
2. Requires the Governor to appoint a director, who shall act as the administrative officer of the CCC.
3. Authorizes the director to recruit and enroll corps members and special corps members.
4. Authorizes the director to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in corps’ program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Requires the director to take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps; program participants and staff.
5. Requires the CCC, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corps members in obtaining employment following their participation in the CCC.
6. Establishes, according to the employment application form for the CCC, that there are three principal requirements for joining the CCC: men and women must be between the ages of 18 to 25, not on parole or formal/supervised probation, and a California resident. Further, corpsmembers are drug tested and must pass a physical and a background check prior to being enrolled.
7. Provides, pursuant to the CCC Web site, that CCC applicants also may not have a record of a conviction of a violent crime including but not limited to armed robbery, arson, assault, battery, drug cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, trafficking, possession with intent to sell, or felony possession, kidnapping, lewd or lascivious acts against children, murder or attempted murder, rape or other sex crimes, voluntary manslaughter, crimes against person 60 years of age or older, blind persons, or paraplegics, or any other crime determined by the CCC to be inconsistent with the mission or policies of the CCC.

This bill authorizes, but does not require, the CCC director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. It also authorizes, but does not require, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select applicants with controlled substance convictions.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

No direct fiscal impact on the state. However, pressures for the CCC to change its policy and accept individuals on probation or formal supervision would result in reduced capacity for currently eligible individuals to participate or cost pressures to increase funding to accommodate both currently- and newly-eligible individual. The CCC may incur significant additional costs for increased supervision, treatment services, and to ensure the conditions of post-release supervision or probation are met.

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/1/17)

Anti-Recidivism Coalition

California Association of Local Conservation Corps

Fathers and Families of San Joaquin

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission

John Muir Charter Schools

League of Women Voters of California

National Association of Social Workers—California Chapter

REDF

San Joaquin County Office of Education

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/1/17)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, the CCC offers a unique opportunity for young people to contribute to their community and learn valuable skills in the process. Many corps members are hired right after graduation in fields like firefighting and energy consulting. This is something that young people, especially those in need of a second chance, should be able to access

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 5/31/17

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gomez, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Chen, Choi, Eggman, Harper, Mayes, Melendez

Prepared by:

9/6/17 9:29:54

**** END ****

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 864

Author:(McCarty)

As Amended Ver:July 3, 2017

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: NAT. RES.

SUMMARY: Authorizes the director of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

The Senate amendments authorize, in certain circumstances, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select an applicant for enrollment in the community conservation corps' program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the CCC in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
2. Requires the Governor to appoint a director, who shall act as the administrative officer of the CCC.
3. Authorizes the director to recruit and enroll corps members and special corps members.
4. Authorizes the director to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in corps' program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Requires the director to take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps; program participants and staff.
5. Requires the CCC, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corps members in obtaining employment following their participation in the CCC.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, no direct fiscal impact on the state. However, pressures for the CCC to change its policy and accept individuals on probation or formal supervision would result in reduced capacity for currently eligible individuals to participate or cost pressures to increase funding to accommodate both currently- and newly-eligible individual. The CCC may incur significant additional costs for increased supervision, treatment services, and to ensure the conditions of post-release supervision or probation are met.

COMMENTS: The CCC, established by Governor Brown during his first term in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. It's modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC's motto is "Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!" Corps members must be between the ages of 18 and 25, California residents, and not on probation or parole. Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0001928

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

AB 864 (McCarty) - California Conservation Corps: applicant selection

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

AB 864 allows for the enrollment of individuals on probation, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision into the California Conservation Corps (CCC).

Fiscal Impact:

No direct fiscal impact on the state. However, pressures for the CCC to change its policy and accept individuals on probation or formal supervision would result in reduced capacity for currently eligible individuals to participate or cost pressures to increase funding to accommodate both currently- and newly-eligible individual. The CCC may incur significant additional costs for increased supervision, treatment services, and to ensure the conditions of post-release supervision or probation are met.

Background:

1. The CCC, established by Governor Brown during his first term in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. It's modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC’s motto is “Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!”

Corps members must be California residents between the ages of 18 and 25. Currently, the CCC Director has authority in statute to “recruit and enroll Corpsmembers and special Corpsmembers” with no limitations.  However, the CCC currently has a policy of not allowing young adults to enroll in the program if they are on parole or formal or supervised probation.  This bill gives the Director specific authority in statute to select an applicant who is on probation, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

Proposed Law:

This bill:

• Authorizes the director of the CCC to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps’ program who is on probation, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision.
• Authorizes, notwithstanding that prohibition, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select an applicant for enrollment in the community conservation corps’ program who is on probation, post-release community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Senator Robert Hertzberg, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 864 Hearing Date: July 11, 2017

Subject: California Conservation Corps: applicant selection

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

1. Establishes the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
2. Requires the Governor to appoint a director, who shall act as the administrative officer of the CCC.
3. Authorizes the director to recruit and enroll corps members and special corps members.
4. Authorizes the director to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in corps’ program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Requires the director to take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps; program participants and staff.
5. Requires the CCC, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corps members in obtaining employment following their participation in the CCC.
6. Establishes, according to the employment application form for the CCC, that there are three principal requirements for joining the CCC: men and women must be between the ages of 18 to 25, not on parole or formal/supervised probation, and a California resident. Further, corpsmembers are drug tested and must pass a physical and a background check prior to being enrolled.
7. Provides, pursuant to the CCC website, that CCC applicants also may not have a record of a conviction of a violent crime including but not limited to armed robbery, arson, assault, battery, drug cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, trafficking, possession with intent to sell, or felony possession, kidnapping, lewd or lascivious acts against children, murder or attempted murder, rape or other sex crimes, voluntary manslaughter, crimes against person 60 years of age or older, blind persons, or paraplegics, or any other crime determined by the CCC to be inconsistent with the mission or policies of the CCC.

PROPOSED LAW

This bill authorizes, but does not require, the CCC director to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. It also authorizes, but does not require, a school district or county office of education that operates a community conservation corps to select applicants with controlled substance convictions.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT

According to the author, the CCC offers a unique opportunity for young people to contribute to their community and learn valuable skills in the process. Many corps members are hired right after graduation in fields like firefighting and energy consulting. This is something that young people, especially those in need of a second chance, should be able to access.

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION

None received

COMMENTS

The CCC is the oldest and largest corps program in the United States. It was established by Governor Brown in 1976. He stated that the program would be a “combination Jesuit seminary, Israeli kibbutz, and a Marine Corps boot camp.”

The CCC’s motto is “Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!” Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

SUPPORT

Anti-Recidivism Coalition

California Association of Local Conservation Corps

Fathers and Families of San Joaquin

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission

John Muir Charter Schools

League of Women Voters of California

National Association of Social Workers—California Chapter

REDF

San Joaquin County Office of Education

OPPOSITION

None Received

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 864

Author:(McCarty)

As Amended Ver:March 27, 2017

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Authorizes the director of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the CCC in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
2. Requires the Governor to appoint a director, who shall act as the administrative officer of the CCC.
3. Authorizes the director to recruit and enroll corps members and special corps members.
4. Authorizes the director to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in corps' program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Requires the director to take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps; program participants and staff.
5. Requires the CCC, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corps members in obtaining employment following their participation in the CCC.

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, no direct fiscal impact, however, to the extent this bill creates cost pressures for the CCC to change its policy and accept individuals on probation or formal supervision there would be unknown significant costs, potentially in low hundreds of thousands of dollars, for increased supervision, treatment services, and to ensure the conditions of postrelease supervision or probation are met.

COMMENTS: The CCC, established by Governor Brown during his first term in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. It's modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC's motto is "Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!" Corps members must be between the ages of 18 and 25, California residents, and not on probation or parole. Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0000674

Date of Hearing: April 26, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 864

Author:(McCarty) – As Amended Ver:March 27, 2017

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill authorizes the Director of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

FISCAL EFFECT:

No direct fiscal impact, however, to the extent this bill creates cost pressures for the CCC to change its policy and accept individuals on probation or formal supervision there would be unknown significant costs, potentially in low hundreds of thousands of dollars, for increased supervision, treatment services, and to ensure the conditions of postrelease supervision or probation are met.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, the CCC offers a unique opportunity for young people to contribute to their community and learn valuable skills in the process. The author further contends that many corps members are hired right after graduation in fields like firefighting and energy consulting.

This bill expressly authorizes the CCC Director to enroll young people on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

1. Background. The CCC, established by Governor Brown during his first term in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. It's modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC’s motto is “Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!”

Corps members must be California residents between the ages of 18 and 25. Currently, the CCC Director has authority in statute to “recruit and enroll Corpsmembers and special Corpsmembers” with no limitations.  However, the CCC currently has a policy of not allowing young adults to enroll in the program if they are on parole or formal or supervised probation.  This bill gives the Director specific authority in statute to select an applicant who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 3, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Cristina Garcia, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 864 (

Author:McCarty) – As Amended Ver:March 27, 2017

SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps: applicant selection

SUMMARY: Authorizes the director of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to select an applicant for enrollment in the corps program who is on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the CCC in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
2. Requires the Governor to appoint a director, who shall act as the administrative officer of the CCC.
3. Authorizes the director to recruit and enroll corps members and special corps members.
4. Authorizes the director to adopt criteria for selecting applicants for enrollment in corps’ program, including criteria for individuals convicted of a crime described in the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Requires the director to take into account, when adopting this criteria, the health, safety, and welfare of the public and the corps; program participants and staff.
5. Requires the CCC, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, to place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corps members in obtaining employment following their participation in the CCC.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Author’s statement:

This bill would allow, but not require, the Executive Director at the CCC to consider applications from individuals who are on parole or probation. It does not require that those applicants be accepted into the program, this would merely remove the restriction.

The CCC offers a unique opportunity for young people to contribute to their community and learn valuable skills in the process. Many corps members are hired right after graduation in fields like firefighting and energy consulting. This is something that young people, especially those who are in need of a second chance, should be able to access.

1. Background. The CCC, established by Governor Brown during his first term in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. It's modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC’s motto is “Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions ... and more!” Corps members must be between the ages of 18 and 25, California residents, and not on probation or parole. Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corps members now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corps members also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. More than 120,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Anti-Recidivism Coalition
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
REDF

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Jarred / NAT. RES. /