SB 1207: California Conservation Corps.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-08-27
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-08-27: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 156, Statutes of 2026.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
(1)Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the director of the corps to act as the administrative officer of the corps and assigns specified responsibilities to the director. Existing law makes various findings and declarations relating to the corps.
This bill would revise those findings and declarations relating to the corps, as provided. The bill would eliminate the directors authority to establish a training program for members of county or city conservation corps, as provided. The bill would also repeal a redundant statute.
Existing law requires young adults participating in the corps program to generally be engaged in projects that do a list of specified things, including assisting in fire prevention and suppression. Existing law requires those projects to provide opportunities to the public for their education or other specified purposes.
This bill would instead require those projects to assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, and would include forest resiliency, among other projects, to that list, as specified. This bill would require the projects to also provide those opportunities to California Native American tribes and corpsmembers.
Existing law authorizes the corps to enter into a contract with an individual or a collective of community conservation corps for a project or program, as provided.
This bill would authorize the corps to also enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program, as specified.
Existing law requires the corps to report to specified committees of the Legislature by December 31 of each year the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received an associate or bachelors degree while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps and, among other things, to the extent feasible, the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps.
This bill would delete that requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who received an associate or bachelors degree. The bill would revise the requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education to have that data reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The Public Employees Retirement Law creates the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), which is administered by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System. PERS provides defined benefits to its members based on their final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Existing law establishes the Public Employees Retirement Fund, which is a trust fund that is appropriated continuously for specified purposes, into which certain moneys are deposited, including employee contributions.
Existing law authorizes a member of PERS to elect to receive service credit for certain public service outside the system, including time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, by making specified contributions to the system.
This bill would also authorize a member to elect to receive service credit for service as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the corps, subject to making the required contributions for that service. By increasing the amount of employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law regulates the wages, hours, and working conditions of employees with specified exceptions. Under existing law, these provisions apply to and include employees in any occupation, trade, or industry, except for any individual employed as an outside salesperson or any individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance, as provided.
This bill would additionally exempt corpsmembers from those provisions.
(1)Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the director of the corps to act as the administrative officer of the corps and assigns specified responsibilities to the director. Existing law makes various findings and declarations relating to the corps.
This bill would revise those findings and declarations relating to the corps, as provided. The bill would eliminate the directors authority to establish a training program for members of county or city conservation corps, as provided. The bill would also repeal a redundant statute.
Existing law requires young adults participating in the corps program to generally be engaged in projects that do a list of specified things, including assisting in fire prevention and suppression. Existing law requires those projects to provide opportunities to the public for their education or other specified purposes.
This bill would instead require those projects to assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, and would include forest resiliency, among other projects, to that list, as specified. This bill would require the projects to also provide those opportunities to California Native American tribes and corpsmembers.
Existing law authorizes the corps to enter into a contract with an individual or a collective of community conservation corps for a project or program, as provided.
This bill would authorize the corps to also enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program, as specified.
Existing law requires the corps to report to specified committees of the Legislature by December 31 of each year the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received an associate or bachelors degree while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps and, among other things, to the extent feasible, the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps.
This bill would delete that requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who received an associate or bachelors degree. The bill would revise the requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education to have that data reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
(2)The Public Employees Retirement Law creates the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), which is administered by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System. PERS provides defined benefits to its members based on their final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Existing law establishes the Public Employees Retirement Fund, which is a trust fund that is appropriated continuously for specified purposes, into which certain moneys are deposited, including employee contributions.
Existing law authorizes a member of PERS to elect to receive service credit for certain public service outside the system, including time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, by making specified contributions to the system.
This bill would also authorize a member to elect to receive service credit for service as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the corps, subject to making the required contributions for that service. By increasing the amount of employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law regulates the wages, hours, and working conditions of employees with specified exceptions. Under existing law, these provisions apply to and include employees in any occupation, trade, or industry, except for any individual employed as an outside salesperson or any individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance, as provided.
This bill would additionally exempt corpsmembers from those provisions.
(1)Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the director of the corps to act as the administrative officer of the corps and assigns specified responsibilities to the director. Existing law makes various findings and declarations relating to the corps.
This bill would revise those findings and declarations relating to the corps, as provided. The bill would eliminate the directors authority to use services, materials, or property of state agencies, to make agreements with state agencies, or to establish a training program for members of county or city conservation corps, as provided. The bill would also repeal a redundant statute.
Existing law requires young adults participating in the corps program to generally be engaged in projects that do a list of specified things, including assisting in fire prevention and suppression. Existing law requires those projects to provide opportunities to the public for their education or other specified purposes.
This bill would include projects supporting wildfire and instead require those projects to assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, and would include forest resiliency, among other projects, to that list, as specified. This bill would require the projects to also provide those opportunities to tribal entities California Native American tribes and corpsmembers.
Existing law authorizes the corps to enter into a contract with an individual or a collective of community conservation corps for a project or program, as provided.
This bill would authorize the corps to also enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program, as specified.
Existing law requires the corps to report to specified committees of the Legislature by December 31 of each year the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received an associate or bachelors degree while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps and, among other things, to the extent feasible, the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps.
This bill would delete that requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who received an associate or bachelors degree. The bill would revise the requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who enrolled in postsecondary education to have that data reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
The(2)The Public Employees Retirement Law creates the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), which is administered by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System. PERS provides defined benefits to its members based on their final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Existing law establishes the Public Employees Retirement Fund, which is a trust fund that is appropriated continuously for specified purposes, into which certain moneys are deposited, including employee contributions.
Existing law authorizes a member of PERS to elect to receive service credit for certain public service outside the system, including time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, by making specified contributions to the system.
This bill would also authorize a member to elect to receive service credit for service as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the corps, subject to making the required contributions for that service. By increasing the amount of employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law regulates the wages, hours, and working conditions of employees with specified exceptions. Under existing law, these provisions apply to and include employees in any occupation, trade, or industry, except for any individual employed as an outside salesperson or any individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance, as provided.
This bill would additionally exempt corpsmembers from those provisions.
Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint the director of the corps to act as the administrative officer of the corps and assigns specified responsibilities to the director. Existing law makes various findings and declarations relating to the corps.
This bill would revise those findings and declarations relating to the corps, as provided. The bill would eliminate the directors authority to use services, materials, or property of state agencies, to make agreements with state agencies, or to establish a training program for members of county or city conservation corps, as provided.
Existing law requires young adults participating in the corps program to generally be engaged in projects that do a list of specified things, including assisting in fire prevention and suppression. Existing law requires those projects to provide opportunities to the public for their education or other specified purposes.
This bill would include projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency, among other projects, to that list, as specified. This bill would require the projects to also provide those opportunities to tribal entities and corpsmembers.
Existing law authorizes the corps to enter into a contract with an individual or a collective of community conservation corps for a project or program, as provided.
This bill would authorize the corps to also enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program, as specified.
The Public Employees Retirement Law creates the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), which is administered by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees Retirement System. PERS provides defined benefits to its members based on their final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Existing law establishes the Public Employees Retirement Fund, which is a trust fund that is appropriated continuously for specified purposes, into which certain moneys are deposited, including employee contributions.
Existing law authorizes a member of PERS to elect to receive service credit for certain public service outside the system, including time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, by making specified contributions to the system.
This bill would also authorize a member to elect to receive service credit for service as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the corps, subject to making the required contributions for that service. By increasing the amount of employee contributions to the Public Employees Retirement Fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
The Amusement Rides Safety Law requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to promulgate and formulate rules and regulations for adoption by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for the safe installation, repair, maintenance, use, operation, and inspection of all amusement rides as the division finds necessary for the protection of the general public using amusement rides. The law requires an operator, as defined, to, before a new amusement ride is erected or whenever any additions or alterations are made that change the structure, mechanism, classification, or capacity of an amusement ride, file with the division or a public entity a notice of the operators intention and any plans or diagrams requested by the division.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the provision requiring an operator to file specified information.The Amusement Rides Safety Law requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to promulgate and formulate rules and regulations for adoption by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for the safe installation, repair, maintenance, use, operation, and inspection of all amusement rides as the division finds necessary for the protection of the general public using amusement rides. The law requires an operator, as defined, to, before a new amusement ride is erected or whenever any additions or alterations are made that change the structure, mechanism, classification, or capacity of an amusement ride, file with the division or a public entity a notice of the operators intention and any plans or diagrams requested by the division.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the provision requiring an operator to file specified information.
(a)Public service for purposes of this article also means time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), AmeriCorps, or as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
(b)This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts.
(c)Any member electing to receive credit for service under this section shall make the contributions as specified in Sections 21050 and 21052. This section applies to past and future service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), AmeriCorps, or as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
SEC. 2.Section 1171 of the Labor Code is amended to read:1171.(a)The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and include adults and minors employed in any occupation, trade, or industry, whether compensation is measured by time, piece, or otherwise, but shall not include the following:
(1)An individual employed as an outside salesperson.
(2)An individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance provided under Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(3)An individual participating in the California Conservation Corps or community conservation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Section 14507.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(b)Any individual participating in a program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be informed by the program before the commencement of service of the requirement, if any, to work hours in excess of eight hours per day, or 40 hours per week, or both, and shall have the opportunity to opt out of that national service program at that time. Individuals participating in a program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall not be discriminated against or be denied continued participation in the program for refusing to work overtime for a legitimate reason.
SEC. 3.Section 14000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14000.(a)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California young adult should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many young adults 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 Californias young adults, is beneficial not only to the young adults of the state by providing them with educational, training, and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the states 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, relieving individuals from unemployment, and the goal of helping young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
(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 young adults, 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 days work for a days 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 young adults who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(f)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 always look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.
(g)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
SEC. 4.Section 14300 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14300.Young adults participating in the corps program shall generally be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resources and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement, including projects that do the following:
(a)Preserve, maintain, and enhance environmentally important lands and waters.
(b)Accomplish useful and needed public works projects in both urban and rural areas.
(c)Conserve, maintain, improve, and develop natural resources in both urban and rural areas.
(d)Provide opportunities for public use of, or education in, the areas, projects, and resources described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c).
(e)Assist in emergency operations, such as natural disaster relief and the rescue of lost and injured persons.
(f)Assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, and forest resiliency.
(g)Directly contribute to the conservation of energy.
(h)Contribute toward making public facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.
(i)Assist departments within the Natural Resources Agency in developing, rehabilitating, and restoring parklands, recreational facilities, and historical resources; restoring salmon and steelhead spawning, nursery, and rearing habitat; restoring and preserving wildlife habitat; and enhancing reforestation in both urban and rural areas.
(j)Provide technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive.
SEC. 5.Section 14303 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14303.The director may enroll special corpsmembers without regard to their age so that the corps may draw upon their special skills that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Special corpsmembers may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.
SEC. 6.Section 14304 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14304.Projects shall be directed toward providing opportunities to the public, California Native American tribes, and corpsmembers for their education or the use of natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters, while additionally providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development in a variety of basic skills. Projects shall be undertaken in both urban and rural areas and selected based on the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public education or use each offers, and the on-the-job training value of each.
SEC. 7.Section 14308 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 8.Section 14310 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14310.Notwithstanding any other law, corpsmembers and special corpsmembers, other than staff officers and employees, shall not receive state retirement benefits, except as set forth in Section 21023.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 9.Section 14315 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14315.(a)Subject to the availability of assistance from the corps, a state agency that is considering the use of contracted labor shall give priority to the corps when the mission of the corps and the nature of the state agencys project are substantially consistent.
(b)State agencies shall notify the corps of potential contracts for services that fit within the parameters of the legislative intent set forth in Section 14000. State agencies shall use the corps to the maximum extent feasible to carry out projects that promote the legislative intent as set forth in Section 14000. Because of the corps commitment to the states young adults, in the exercise of a state agencys discretion when considering contracts for services, strong consideration shall be given to the use of corpsmembers over the use of other contracted labor.
(c)The corps may contract with any state agency for the performance of activities consistent with this division.
(d)Upon appropriation by the Legislature and execution of a contract pursuant to subdivision (b), the Controller may transfer money to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account from other funds under the control of the contracting state agency, including, but not limited to, the following funds and accounts:
(1)Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund.
(2)State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund.
(3)Transportation Planning and Development Account created in the State Transportation Fund.
(4)California Environmental License Plate Fund.
(5)Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(6)Public Resources Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(7)Unallocated Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(8)Habitat Conservation Fund.
(9)Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund pursuant to Section 8352.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(10)Oil Spill Prevention and Administration Fund.
(11)Integrated Waste Management Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund.
(12)State Parks and Recreation Fund.
(13)Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(14)Employment Training Fund.
(15)Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
(16)California Beverage Container Recycling Fund.
(17)California Cannabis Tax Fund.
(18)Good Neighbor Authority Fund.
(e)Expenditures from the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account of amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to purposes that are consistent with the requirements of each fund or account contributing each amount to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account.
SEC. 10.Section 14318 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14318.(a)The corps may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps certified pursuant to Section 14507.5, or a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, for a project or program that furthers the objectives specified in Section 14000 and that consists of one or more of the following:
(1)Natural resources and land management projects.
(2)Energy and climate programs.
(3)Emergency response services.
(4)Educational, programming, and training services.
(5)Corpsmember services.
(6)Ancillary services.
(b)The director may establish guidelines for purposes of this section. If the director establishes guidelines for purposes of this section, a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) shall adhere to those guidelines.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the corps shall submit a report with the appropriate committees of the Legislature on the outcomes of any program or project undertaken pursuant to this section. A report filed pursuant to this subdivision shall focus on the previous two calendar years.
(2)A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(3)The requirement to submit a report pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 11.Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 14350) of Division 12 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 12.Section 14400 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14400.The corps shall develop nonresidential programs in urban communities, and may develop the programs in nonurban communities with high concentrations of ethnic-minority young adults, high levels of young adult unemployment, and a need for conservation work. Expenditures for programs in nonurban communities shall not exceed 15 percent of total funding for programs under this section.
SEC. 13.Section 14415 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14415.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)Conserving or developing natural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters is essential for protecting the states environment, bolstering its economy, and providing safe and resilient communities for Californians to live in.
(2)The California Conservation Camp program operated jointly by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides work crews of incarcerated individuals to assist in all types of emergencies in support of the work of our frontline personnel during wildfires, floods, search and rescue, and earthquakes. When not assisting in emergencies, the crews participate in conservation and community service work projects for state, federal, and local government agencies.
(3)The corps is the oldest and largest state conservation corps in the nation that puts young adults and the environment together to benefit both, tasking young adults to protect and restore Californias environment, respond to disasters, and become stronger workers, citizens, and individuals through their service.
(4)The corps offers a unique opportunity to form strategic partnerships to provide valuable job opportunities in resource conservation, resource management, fuels and vegetation management, and emergency incident mitigation for formerly incarcerated individuals who successfully served on a California Conservation Camp program crew.
(5)Building on their valuable experience in the California Conservation Camp program, a segment of former California Conservation Camp program participants may be available to support the federal, state, and local governments, local publicly owned electric utilities and electrical corporations, fire safe councils, and private landowners in helping California meet its aggressive goals to do all of the following:
(A)Proactively restore forest health to reduce greenhouse gases.
(B)Protect source watersheds originating from the states water supply.
(C)Promote the long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils.
(D)Minimize the loss of forest carbon from large, intense wildfires.
(E)Further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).
(6)Research demonstrates that formerly incarcerated individuals who have low performance, involvement, and satisfaction with school or work are more likely to recidivate than individuals who do not exhibit these characteristics. Research also shows that rehabilitation programs, including substance use disorder treatment and employment preparation, can be designed to address specific criminal risk factors.
(7)While participating in the corps, corpsmembers are offered life skills training, training in environmental awareness and civic responsibility, as well as reentry and counseling services, and gain access to high school courses through the corps existing contracts and cooperation with high schools and community colleges.
(8)Drawing upon the expertise of the corps, collaborations and partnerships with workforce development programs and local and state agencies can be established to provide valuable job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, consistent with the expertise of the corps to increase awareness of and improve our natural resources, instill basic skills and a healthy work ethic, build character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, establish a workforce with a strong sense of civic responsibility, and blend academic and growth opportunities in order to develop productive citizens who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to serve the interests of all Californians by providing hope and opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals by offering additional pathways to employment with a living wage in jobs that move the state forward on critical resource management objectives while providing those individuals the opportunity to make a difference for themselves and for the people of California.
SEC. 14.Section 14424 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14424.(a)Commencing January 1, 2020, the corps shall report by December 31 of each year the total number of corpsmembers in the cohort who permanently separated from the corps during the state fiscal year that ended 18 months before the date the report is due.
(b)To the extent feasible, the report shall include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who did any of the following in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)Enrolled in an adult school or other precollegiate-level program.
(2)Enrolled in an apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(3)Enrolled in postsecondary education, reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
(4)Were employed during the second and fourth quarters.
(5)Were simultaneously employed and enrolled in a secondary, postsecondary, or apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(6)Obtained employment in jobs that they received specialized training to perform while they were enrolled in the corps.
(c)To assess longer-term outcomes for corpsmembers, the report shall also include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received any of the following either while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
(2)An industry-recognized credential.
(d)To assess the performance of variations in the delivery of the corps programs, the corps shall disaggregate the data reported pursuant to this section into the following subgroups of corpsmembers:
(1)Partial-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of more than 60 days but less than one year.
(2)Full-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of one year or more.
(3)Residential center corpsmembers, who resided in a residential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(4)Nonresidential center corpsmembers, who reported to a nonresidential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(e)The corps shall provide the report to the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the budget committees in both houses of the Legislature, as well as the relevant budget subcommittees and policy committees in both houses of the Legislature that have subject matter jurisdiction over the corps.
(a)Public service for purposes of this article also means time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), AmeriCorps, or as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
(b)This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts.
(c)Any member electing to receive credit for service under this section shall make the contributions as specified in Sections 21050 and 21052. This section applies to past and future service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), AmeriCorps, or as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
SEC. 2.Section 1171 of the Labor Code is amended to read:1171.(a)The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and include adults and minors employed in any occupation, trade, or industry, whether compensation is measured by time, piece, or otherwise, but shall not include the following:
(1)An individual employed as an outside salesperson.
(2)An individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance provided under Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(3)An individual participating in the California Conservation Corps or community conservation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Section 14507.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(b)Any individual participating in a program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be informed by the program before the commencement of service of the requirement, if any, to work hours in excess of eight hours per day, or 40 hours per week, or both, and shall have the opportunity to opt out of that national service program at that time. Individuals participating in a program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall not be discriminated against or be denied continued participation in the program for refusing to work overtime for a legitimate reason.
SEC. 3.Section 14000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14000.(a)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California young adult should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many young adults 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 Californias young adults, is beneficial not only to the young adults of the state by providing them with educational, training, and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the states 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, relieving individuals from unemployment, and the goal of helping young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
(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 young adults, 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 days work for a days 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 young adults who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(f)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 always look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.
(g)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
SEC. 4.Section 14300 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14300.Young adults participating in the corps program shall generally be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resources and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement, including projects that do the following:
(a)Preserve, maintain, and enhance environmentally important lands and waters.
(b)Accomplish useful and needed public works projects in both urban and rural areas.
(c)Conserve, maintain, improve, and develop natural resources in both urban and rural areas.
(d)Provide opportunities for public use of, or education in, the areas, projects, and resources described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c).
(e)Assist in emergency operations, such as natural disaster relief and the rescue of lost and injured persons.
(f)Assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, and forest resiliency.
(g)Directly contribute to the conservation of energy.
(h)Contribute toward making public facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.
(i)Assist departments within the Natural Resources Agency in developing, rehabilitating, and restoring parklands, recreational facilities, and historical resources; restoring salmon and steelhead spawning, nursery, and rearing habitat; restoring and preserving wildlife habitat; and enhancing reforestation in both urban and rural areas.
(j)Provide technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive.
SEC. 5.Section 14303 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14303.The director may enroll special corpsmembers without regard to their age so that the corps may draw upon their special skills that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Special corpsmembers may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.
SEC. 6.Section 14304 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14304.Projects shall be directed toward providing opportunities to the public, California Native American tribes, and corpsmembers for their education or the use of natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters, while additionally providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development in a variety of basic skills. Projects shall be undertaken in both urban and rural areas and selected based on the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public education or use each offers, and the on-the-job training value of each.
SEC. 7.Section 14308 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 8.Section 14310 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14310.Notwithstanding any other law, corpsmembers and special corpsmembers, other than staff officers and employees, shall not receive state retirement benefits, except as set forth in Section 21023.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 9.Section 14315 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14315.(a)Subject to the availability of assistance from the corps, a state agency that is considering the use of contracted labor shall give priority to the corps when the mission of the corps and the nature of the state agencys project are substantially consistent.
(b)State agencies shall notify the corps of potential contracts for services that fit within the parameters of the legislative intent set forth in Section 14000. State agencies shall use the corps to the maximum extent feasible to carry out projects that promote the legislative intent as set forth in Section 14000. Because of the corps commitment to the states young adults, in the exercise of a state agencys discretion when considering contracts for services, strong consideration shall be given to the use of corpsmembers over the use of other contracted labor.
(c)The corps may contract with any state agency for the performance of activities consistent with this division.
(d)Upon appropriation by the Legislature and execution of a contract pursuant to subdivision (b), the Controller may transfer money to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account from other funds under the control of the contracting state agency, including, but not limited to, the following funds and accounts:
(1)Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund.
(2)State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund.
(3)Transportation Planning and Development Account created in the State Transportation Fund.
(4)California Environmental License Plate Fund.
(5)Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(6)Public Resources Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(7)Unallocated Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(8)Habitat Conservation Fund.
(9)Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund pursuant to Section 8352.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(10)Oil Spill Prevention and Administration Fund.
(11)Integrated Waste Management Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund.
(12)State Parks and Recreation Fund.
(13)Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(14)Employment Training Fund.
(15)Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
(16)California Beverage Container Recycling Fund.
(17)California Cannabis Tax Fund.
(18)Good Neighbor Authority Fund.
(e)Expenditures from the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account of amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to purposes that are consistent with the requirements of each fund or account contributing each amount to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account.
SEC. 10.Section 14318 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14318.(a)The corps may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps certified pursuant to Section 14507.5, or a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, for a project or program that furthers the objectives specified in Section 14000 and that consists of one or more of the following:
(1)Natural resources and land management projects.
(2)Energy and climate programs.
(3)Emergency response services.
(4)Educational, programming, and training services.
(5)Corpsmember services.
(6)Ancillary services.
(b)The director may establish guidelines for purposes of this section. If the director establishes guidelines for purposes of this section, a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) shall adhere to those guidelines.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the corps shall submit a report with the appropriate committees of the Legislature on the outcomes of any program or project undertaken pursuant to this section. A report filed pursuant to this subdivision shall focus on the previous two calendar years.
(2)A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(3)The requirement to submit a report pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 11.Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 14350) of Division 12 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 12.Section 14400 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14400.The corps shall develop nonresidential programs in urban communities, and may develop the programs in nonurban communities with high concentrations of ethnic-minority young adults, high levels of young adult unemployment, and a need for conservation work. Expenditures for programs in nonurban communities shall not exceed 15 percent of total funding for programs under this section.
SEC. 13.Section 14415 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14415.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)Conserving or developing natural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters is essential for protecting the states environment, bolstering its economy, and providing safe and resilient communities for Californians to live in.
(2)The California Conservation Camp program operated jointly by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides work crews of incarcerated individuals to assist in all types of emergencies in support of the work of our frontline personnel during wildfires, floods, search and rescue, and earthquakes. When not assisting in emergencies, the crews participate in conservation and community service work projects for state, federal, and local government agencies.
(3)The corps is the oldest and largest state conservation corps in the nation that puts young adults and the environment together to benefit both, tasking young adults to protect and restore Californias environment, respond to disasters, and become stronger workers, citizens, and individuals through their service.
(4)The corps offers a unique opportunity to form strategic partnerships to provide valuable job opportunities in resource conservation, resource management, fuels and vegetation management, and emergency incident mitigation for formerly incarcerated individuals who successfully served on a California Conservation Camp program crew.
(5)Building on their valuable experience in the California Conservation Camp program, a segment of former California Conservation Camp program participants may be available to support the federal, state, and local governments, local publicly owned electric utilities and electrical corporations, fire safe councils, and private landowners in helping California meet its aggressive goals to do all of the following:
(A)Proactively restore forest health to reduce greenhouse gases.
(B)Protect source watersheds originating from the states water supply.
(C)Promote the long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils.
(D)Minimize the loss of forest carbon from large, intense wildfires.
(E)Further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).
(6)Research demonstrates that formerly incarcerated individuals who have low performance, involvement, and satisfaction with school or work are more likely to recidivate than individuals who do not exhibit these characteristics. Research also shows that rehabilitation programs, including substance use disorder treatment and employment preparation, can be designed to address specific criminal risk factors.
(7)While participating in the corps, corpsmembers are offered life skills training, training in environmental awareness and civic responsibility, as well as reentry and counseling services, and gain access to high school courses through the corps existing contracts and cooperation with high schools and community colleges.
(8)Drawing upon the expertise of the corps, collaborations and partnerships with workforce development programs and local and state agencies can be established to provide valuable job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, consistent with the expertise of the corps to increase awareness of and improve our natural resources, instill basic skills and a healthy work ethic, build character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, establish a workforce with a strong sense of civic responsibility, and blend academic and growth opportunities in order to develop productive citizens who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to serve the interests of all Californians by providing hope and opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals by offering additional pathways to employment with a living wage in jobs that move the state forward on critical resource management objectives while providing those individuals the opportunity to make a difference for themselves and for the people of California.
SEC. 14.Section 14424 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14424.(a)Commencing January 1, 2020, the corps shall report by December 31 of each year the total number of corpsmembers in the cohort who permanently separated from the corps during the state fiscal year that ended 18 months before the date the report is due.
(b)To the extent feasible, the report shall include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who did any of the following in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)Enrolled in an adult school or other precollegiate-level program.
(2)Enrolled in an apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(3)Enrolled in postsecondary education, reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
(4)Were employed during the second and fourth quarters.
(5)Were simultaneously employed and enrolled in a secondary, postsecondary, or apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(6)Obtained employment in jobs that they received specialized training to perform while they were enrolled in the corps.
(c)To assess longer-term outcomes for corpsmembers, the report shall also include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received any of the following either while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
(2)An industry-recognized credential.
(d)To assess the performance of variations in the delivery of the corps programs, the corps shall disaggregate the data reported pursuant to this section into the following subgroups of corpsmembers:
(1)Partial-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of more than 60 days but less than one year.
(2)Full-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of one year or more.
(3)Residential center corpsmembers, who resided in a residential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(4)Nonresidential center corpsmembers, who reported to a nonresidential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(e)The corps shall provide the report to the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the budget committees in both houses of the Legislature, as well as the relevant budget subcommittees and policy committees in both houses of the Legislature that have subject matter jurisdiction over the corps.
(a)Public service for purposes of this article also means time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), or AmeriCorps, or served as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
(b)This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts.
(c)Any member electing to receive credit for service under this section shall make the contributions as specified in Sections 21050 and 21052. This section applies to past and future service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), or Americorps, or served AmeriCorps, or as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
SEC. 2.Section 1171 of the Labor Code is amended to read:1171.(a)The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and include men, women adults and minors employed in any occupation, trade, or industry, whether compensation is measured by time, piece, or otherwise, but shall not include any individual the following:
(1)An individual employed as an outside salesman or any individual salesperson.
(2)An individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance provided under Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(3)An individual participating in the California Conservation Corps or community conservation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Section 14507.5 of the Public Resources Code.
Any(b)Any individual participating in a national service program pursuant to Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be informed by the nonprofit, educational institution or other entity using his or her service, prior to program before the commencement of service of the requirement, if any, to work hours in excess of eight hours per day, or 40 hours per week, or both, and shall have the opportunity to opt out of that national service program at that time. Individuals participating in a national service program pursuant to Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code program described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall not be discriminated against or be denied continued participation in the program for refusing to work overtime for a legitimate reason.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3.Section 14000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14000.(a)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California young adult should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many young adults 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 Californias young adults, is beneficial not only to the young adults of the state by providing them with educational, training, and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the states 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, relieving individuals from unemployment, and the goal of helping young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
(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 young adults, 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 days work for a days 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 young adults who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(f)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 always look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.
(g)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
SEC. 3.SEC. 4.Section 14300 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14300.Young adults participating in the corps program shall generally be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resource resources and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement, including projects that do the following:
(a)Preserve, maintain, and enhance environmentally important lands and waters.
(b)Accomplish useful and needed public works projects in both urban and rural areas.
(c)Conserve, maintain, improve, and develop natural resources in both urban and rural areas.
(d)Provide opportunities for public use of, or education in, the areas, projects, and resources described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c).
(e)Assist in emergency operations, such as natural disaster relief and the rescue of lost and injured persons.
(f)Assist in fire prevention and wildfire prevention and suppression, as well as projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency.
(g)Directly contribute to the conservation of energy.
(h)Contribute toward making public facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.
(i)Assist departments within the Natural Resources Agency in developing, rehabilitating, and restoring parklands, recreational facilities, and historical resources; restoring salmon and steelhead spawning, nursery, and rearing habitat; restoring and preserving wildlife habitat; and enhancing reforestation in both urban and rural areas.
(j)Provide technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive.
SEC. 4.SEC. 5.Section 14303 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14303.The director may enroll special corpsmembers without regard to their age so that the corps may draw upon their special skills that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Special corpsmembers may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.
SEC. 5.SEC. 6.Section 14304 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14304.Projects shall be directed toward providing opportunities to the public, tribal entities, California Native American tribes, and corpsmembers for their education or the use of natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters, while additionally providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development in a variety of basic skills. Projects shall be undertaken in both urban and rural areas and selected based on the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public education or use each offers, and the on-the-job training value of each.
SEC. 6.SEC. 7.Section 14308 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 7.SEC. 8.Section 14310 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14310.Notwithstanding any other law, corpsmembers and special corpsmembers, other than staff officers and employees, shall not receive state retirement benefits, except as set forth in Section 21023.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 8.SEC. 9.Section 14315 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14315.(a)Subject to the availability of assistance from the corps, a state agency that is considering the use of contracted labor shall give priority to the corps when the mission of the corps and the nature of the state agencys project are substantially consistent.
(b)State agencies shall notify the corps of potential contracts for services that fit within the parameters of the legislative intent set forth in Section 14000. State agencies shall use the corps to the maximum extent feasible to carry out projects that promote the legislative intent as set forth in Section 14000. Because of the corps commitment to the states young adults, in the exercise of a state agencys discretion when considering contracts for services, strong consideration shall be given to the use of corpsmembers over the use of other contracted labor.
(c)The corps may contract with any state agency for the performance of activities consistent with this division.
(d)Upon appropriation by the Legislature and execution of a contract pursuant to subdivision (b), the Controller may transfer money to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account from other funds under the control of the contracting state agency, including, but not limited to, the following funds and accounts:
(1)Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund.
(2)State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund.
(3)Transportation Planning and Development Account created in the State Transportation Fund.
(4)California Environmental License Plate Fund.
(5)Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(6)Public Resources Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(7)Unallocated Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(8)Habitat Conservation Fund.
(9)Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund pursuant to Section 8352.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(10)Oil Spill Prevention and Administration Fund.
(11)Integrated Waste Management Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund.
(12)State Parks and Recreation Fund.
(13)Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(14)Employment Training Fund.
(15)Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
(16)California Beverage Container Recycling Fund.
(17)California Cannabis Tax Fund.
(18)Good Neighbor Authority Fund.
(e)Expenditures from the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account of amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to purposes that are consistent with the requirements of each fund or account contributing each amount to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account.
SEC. 9.SEC. 10.Section 14318 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14318.(a)The corps may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps certified pursuant to Section 14507.5, or a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, for a project or program that furthers the objectives specified in Section 14000 and that consists of one or more of the following:
(1)Natural resources and land management projects.
(2)Energy and climate programs.
(3)Emergency response services.
(4)Educational, programming, and training services.
(5)Corpsmember services.
(6)Ancillary services.
(b)The director may establish guidelines for purposes of this section. If the director establishes guidelines for purposes of this section, a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) shall adhere to those guidelines.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the corps shall submit a report with the appropriate committees of the Legislature on the outcomes of any program or project undertaken pursuant to this section. A report filed pursuant to this subdivision shall focus on the previous two calendar years.
(2)A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(3)The requirement to submit a report pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 10.SEC. 11.Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 14350) of Division 12 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 11.SEC. 12.Section 14400 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14400.The corps shall develop nonresidential programs in urban communities, and may develop the programs in nonurban communities with high concentrations of ethnic-minority young adults, high levels of young adult unemployment, and a need for conservation work. Expenditures for programs in nonurban communities shall not exceed 15 percent of total funding for programs under this section.
SEC. 12.SEC. 13.Section 14415 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14415.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)Conserving or developing natural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters is essential for protecting the states environment, bolstering its economy, and providing safe and resilient communities for Californians to live in.
(2)The California Conservation Camp program operated jointly by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides work crews of incarcerated individuals to assist in all types of emergencies in support of the work of our frontline personnel during wildfires, floods, search and rescue, and earthquakes. When not assisting in emergencies, the crews participate in conservation and community service work projects for state, federal, and local government agencies.
(3)The corps is the oldest and largest state conservation corps in the nation that puts young adults and the environment together to benefit both, tasking young adults to protect and restore Californias environment, respond to disasters, and become stronger workers, citizens, and individuals through their service.
(4)The corps offers a unique opportunity to form strategic partnerships to provide valuable job opportunities in resource conservation, resource management, fuels and vegetation management, and emergency incident mitigation for formerly incarcerated individuals who successfully served on a California Conservation Camp program crew.
(5)Building on their valuable experience in the California Conservation Camp program, a segment of former California Conservation Camp program participants may be available to support the federal, state, and local governments, local publicly owned electric utilities and electrical corporations, fire safe councils, and private landowners in helping California meet its aggressive goals to do all of the following:
(A)Proactively restore forest health to reduce greenhouse gases.
(B)Protect source watersheds originating from the states water supply.
(C)Promote the long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils.
(D)Minimize the loss of forest carbon from large, intense wildfires.
(E)Further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).
(6)Research demonstrates that formerly incarcerated individuals who have low performance, involvement, and satisfaction with school or work are more likely to recidivate than individuals who do not exhibit these characteristics. Research also shows that rehabilitation programs, including substance use disorder treatment and employment preparation, can be designed to address specific criminal risk factors.
(7)While participating in the corps, corpsmembers are offered life skills training, training in environmental awareness and civic responsibility, as well as reentry and counseling services, and gain access to high school courses through the corps existing contracts and cooperation with high schools and community colleges.
(8)Drawing upon the expertise of the corps, collaborations and partnerships with workforce development programs and local and state agencies can be established to provide valuable job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, consistent with the expertise of the corps to increase awareness of and improve our natural resources, instill basic skills and a healthy work ethic, build character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, establish a workforce with a strong sense of civic responsibility, and blend academic and growth opportunities in order to develop productive citizens who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to serve the interests of all Californians by providing hope and opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals by offering additional pathways to employment with a living wage in jobs that move the state forward on critical resource management objectives while providing those individuals the opportunity to make a difference for themselves and for the people of California.
SEC. 14.Section 14424 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14424.(a)Commencing January 1, 2020, the corps shall report by December 31 of each year the total number of corpsmembers in the cohort who permanently separated from the corps during the state fiscal year that ended 18 months before the date the report is due.
(b)To the extent feasible, the report shall include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who did any of the following in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)Enrolled in an adult school or other precollegiate-level program.
(2)Enrolled in an apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(3)Enrolled in postsecondary education. education, reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution.
(4)Were employed during the second and fourth quarters.
(5)Were simultaneously employed and enrolled in a secondary, postsecondary, or apprenticeship or other vocational education program.
(6)Obtained employment in jobs that they received specialized training to perform while they were enrolled in the corps.
(c)To assess longer-term outcomes for corpsmembers, the report shall also include the number of corpsmembers in the cohort who received any of the following either while serving in the corps or in the 12-month period following final separation from the corps:
(1)A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
(2)An industry-recognized credential.
(3)An associate or bachelors degree.(d)To assess the performance of variations in the delivery of the corps programs, the corps shall disaggregate the data reported pursuant to this section into the following subgroups of corpsmembers:
(1)Partial-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of more than 60 days but less than one year.
(2)Full-year corpsmembers, who enrolled in the corps for a period of one year or more.
(3)Residential center corpsmembers, who resided in a residential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(4)Nonresidential center corpsmembers, who reported to a nonresidential center for the majority of the time they were enrolled in the corps.
(e)The corps shall provide the report to the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the budget committees in both houses of the Legislature, as well as the relevant budget subcommittees and policy committees in both houses of the Legislature that have subject matter jurisdiction over the corps.
(a)Public service for purposes of this article also means time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), or AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps, or served as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
(b)This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts.
(c)Any member electing to receive credit for service under this section shall make the contributions as specified in Sections 21050 and 21052. This section applies to past and future service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), or AmeriCorps. Americorps, or served as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 14000) of the Public Resources Code.
SEC. 2.Section 14000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14000.(a)The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California youth young adult should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many youths young adults 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 Californias young adults, is beneficial not only to the youth young adults of the state by providing them with educational educational, training, and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the states 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 environment, relieving individuals from unemployment, and the goal of helping youths become productive adults. young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
(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, young adults, 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 days work for a days 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 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 always look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.
(g)It is further the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
SEC. 3.Section 14300 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14300.Young adults participating in the corps program shall generally be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resource and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement, including projects that do the following:
(a)Preserve, maintain, and enhance environmentally important lands and waters.
(b)Accomplish useful and needed public works projects in both urban and rural areas.
(c)Conserve, maintain, improve, and develop natural resources in both urban and rural areas.
(d)Provide opportunities for public use of, or education in, the areas, projects, and resources described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c).
(e)Assist in emergency operations, such as natural disaster relief and the rescue of lost and injured persons.
(f)Assist in fire prevention and suppression. suppression, as well as projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency.
(g)Directly contribute to the conservation of energy.
(h)Contribute toward making public facilities accessible to persons with disabilities.
(i)Assist departments within the Natural Resources Agency in developing, rehabilitating, and restoring parklands, recreational facilities, and historical resources; restoring salmon and steelhead spawning, nursery, and rearing habitat; restoring and preserving wildlife habitat; and enhancing reforestation in both urban and rural areas.
(j)Provide technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive.
SEC. 4.Section 14303 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14303.The director may employ enroll special corpsmembers without regard to their age so that the corps may draw upon their special skills which that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Special corpsmembers may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.
SEC. 5.Section 14304 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14304.Projects shall be directed toward providing opportunities to the public public, tribal entities, and corpsmembers for their education or the use of these natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters, while at the same time additionally providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development in a variety of basic skills. Projects shall be undertaken in both urban and rural areas and shall be selected on the basis of selected based on the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public education or use each offers, and the on-the-job training value of each.
SEC. 6.Section 14308 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.14308.In carrying out this division, the director may utilize any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary.SEC. 7.Section 14310 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14310.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, corpsmembers and special corpsmembers, other than staff officers and employees, shall not receive state retirement benefits. benefits, except as set forth in Section 21023.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 8.Section 14315 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14315.(a)Subject to the availability of assistance from the corps, a state agency that is considering the use of contracted labor shall give priority to the corps when the mission of the corps and the nature of the state agencys project are substantially consistent.
(b)State agencies shall notify the corps of potential contracts for services that fit within the parameters of the legislative intent set forth in Section 14000 and 14000. State agencies shall use the corps to the maximum extent feasible to carry out projects that promote the legislative intent as set forth in Section 14000. Because of the corps commitment to the states youth, young adults, in the exercise of a state agencys discretion when considering contracts for services, strong consideration shall be given to the use of corpsmembers over the use of other contracted labor.
(c)The corps may contract with any state agency for the performance of activities consistent with this division.
(d)Upon appropriation by the Legislature and execution of a contract pursuant to subdivision (b), the Controller may transfer money to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account from other funds under the control of the contracting state agency, including, but not limited to, the following funds and accounts:
(1)Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund.
(2)State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund.
(3)Transportation Planning and Development Account created in the State Transportation Fund.
(4)California Environmental License Plate Fund.
(5)Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(6)Public Resources Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(7)Unallocated Account in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund.
(8)Habitat Conservation Fund.
(9)Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund pursuant to Section 8352.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code (OMV Fund). Code.
(10)Oil Spill Prevention and Administration Fund.
(11)Integrated Waste Management Account in the Integrated Waste Management Fund.
(12)State Parks and Recreation Fund.
(13)Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
(14)Employment Training Fund.
(15)Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
(16)California Beverage Container Recycling Fund.
(17)California Cannabis Tax Fund.
(18)Good Neighbor Authority Fund.
(e)Expenditures from the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account of amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to purposes that are consistent with the requirements of each fund or account contributing each amount to the Collins-Dugan California Conservation Corps Reimbursement Account.
SEC. 9.Section 14318 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14318.(a)The corps may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps certified pursuant to Section 14507.5 14507.5, or a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, for a project or program that is in furtherance of furthers the objectives specified in Section 14000 and that consists of one or more of the following:
(1)Natural resources and land management projects.
(2)Energy and climate programs.
(3)Emergency response services.
(4)Educational, programming, and training services.
(5)Corpsmember services.
(6)Ancillary services.
(b)The director may establish guidelines for purposes of this section. If the director establishes guidelines for purposes of this section, a contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (a) shall adhere to those guidelines.
(c)(1)On or before January 1, 2025, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the corps shall file submit a report with the appropriate committees of the Legislature on the outcomes of any program or project undertaken pursuant to this section. A report filed pursuant to this subdivision shall focus on the previous two calendar years.
(2)A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2)(3)The requirement to file submit a report pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 10.Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 14350) of Division 12 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.SEC. 11.Section 14400 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14400.The corps shall develop nonresidential programs in urban communities, and may develop those the programs in other than urban communities, which have nonurban communities with high concentrations of ethnic-minority youths, which have young adults, high levels of youth young adult unemployment, and which have a need for conservation work. Expenditures for programs in other than urban nonurban communities shall not exceed 15 percent of total funding for programs under this section.
SEC. 12.Section 14415 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:14415.(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)Conserving or developing natural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters is essential for protecting the states environment, bolstering its economy, and providing safe and resilient communities for Californians to live in.
(2)The California Conservation Camp program operated jointly by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides work crews of incarcerated individuals to assist in all types of emergencies in support of the work of our frontline personnel during wildfires, floods, search and rescue, and earthquakes. When not assisting in emergencies, the crews participate in conservation and community service work projects for state, federal, and local government agencies.
(3)The corps is the oldest and largest state conservation corps in the nation that puts youth young adults and the environment together to benefit both, tasking young people adults to protect and restore Californias environment, respond to disasters, and become stronger workers, citizens, and individuals through their service.
(4)The corps offers a unique opportunity to form strategic partnerships to provide valuable job opportunities in resource conservation, resource management, fuels and vegetation management, and emergency incident mitigation for formerly incarcerated individuals who successfully served on a California Conservation Camp program crew.
(5)Building on their valuable experience in the California Conservation Camp program, a segment of former California Conservation Camp program participants may be available to support the federal, state, and local governments, local publicly owned electric utilities and electrical corporations, fire safe councils, and private landowners in helping California meet its aggressive goals to do all of the following:
(A)Proactively restore forest health to reduce greenhouse gases.
(B)Protect source watersheds originating from which the states water supply originates. supply.
(C)Promote the long-term storage of carbon in forest trees and soils.
(D)Minimize the loss of forest carbon from large, intense wildfires.
(E)Further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).
(6)Research demonstrates that formerly incarcerated individuals who have low performance, involvement, and satisfaction with school or work are more likely to recidivate than individuals who do not exhibit these characteristics. Research also shows that rehabilitation programs, including substance use disorder treatment and employment preparation, can be designed to address specific criminal risk factors.
(7)While participating in the corps, corpsmembers are offered life skills training, training in environmental awareness and civic responsibility, as well as reentry and counseling services, and gain access to high school courses through the corps existing contracts and cooperation with high schools and community colleges.
(8)Drawing upon the expertise of the corps, collaborations and partnerships with workforce development programs and local and state agencies can be established to provide valuable job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, consistent with the expertise of the corps to increase awareness of and improve our natural resources, instill basic skills and a healthy work ethic, build character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, establish a workforce with a strong sense of civic responsibility, and blend academic and growth opportunities in order to develop productive citizens who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to serve the interests of all Californians by providing hope and opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals by offering additional pathways to employment with a living wage in jobs that move the state forward on critical resource management objectives while providing those individuals the opportunity to make a difference for themselves and for the people of California.
SECTION 1.Section 7908 of the Labor Code is amended to read:7908.Before a new amusement ride is erected, or whenever any additions or alterations are made that change the structure, mechanism, classification, or capacity of an amusement ride, the operator shall file with the division or a public entity a notice of the operators intention and any plans or diagrams requested by the division.Before a new amusement ride is erected, or whenever any additions or alterations are made which that change the structure, mechanism, classification, or capacity of any an amusement ride, the operator shall file with the division or a public entity a notice of his the operators intention and any plans or diagrams requested by the division.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 156, Statutes of 2026. |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug 18, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6158.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Aug 5, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5). |
| Jun 24, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 9, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. E. & R. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R. |
| May 26, 2026 | Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and P. E. & R. |
| May 7, 2026 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| May 7, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| May 7, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4167.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| May 5, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| May 4, 2026 | From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar. |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Set for hearing May 4. |
| Apr 22, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 22, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 4013.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Set for hearing April 22. |
| Apr 15, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| Apr 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| Apr 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3870.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| Apr 9, 2026 | Set for hearing April 14. |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Re-referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and L., P.E. & R. |
| Mar 23, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Feb 20, 2026 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
|
Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2026 | SB 1207 Laird Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 5, 2026 | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 24, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Public Employment and Retirement |
Passed |
|
| Jun 8, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Employment and Retirement] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources |
Passed |
|
| May 7, 2026 | Consent Calendar 2nd SB1207 Laird | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 22, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement |
Passed |
|
| Apr 14, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
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Position
|
Date
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|---|---|---|
| California Association Of Local Conservation Corps | ** Support | |
| California Conservation Corps Foundation | ** Support | |
| CCC Foundation | ** Support |
Date of Hearing: August 5, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1207
Author:(Laird) – As Amended Ver:April 15, 2026
Policy Committee: | Natural Resources | Vote: | 13 - 0 |
Public Employment and Retirement | 6 - 0 | ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill (1) amends the California Conservation Corps’ (CCC) statutes to expand the scope of authorized projects and to permit CCC to contract with a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, (2) allows corpsmembers to purchase California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) service credit, and (3) exempts corpsmembers from certain Labor Code requirements.
Specifically, this bill, among other things:
- For purposes of purchasing CalPERS service credit, includes in the definition of “public service” time served as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the CCC, not to exceed three years; requires a CalPERS member electing to receive credit for their CCC time to make contributions to CalPERS for the service credit cost, as specified; and amends the prohibition in the Public Resources Code on CCC corpsmembers receiving state retirement benefits to make an exception for CalPERS members purchasing service credit under the provisions of this bill, as specified.
- Exempts an individual participating in the CCC or community conservation corps certified by the CCC from certain Labor Code provisions regulating wages, hours, and working conditions and subjects these individuals to certain existing requirements related to overtime.
- Establishes the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organizations.
- Expands the types of projects individuals participating in the CCC program can engage in, requires these projects to provide opportunities to California Native American tribes and corpsmembers, and authorizes the CCC to enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes for a project or program.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1) CalPERS calculates the cost to purchase Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps service credit using the “present value” cost method, which is intended to be cost-neutral to the employer. Under this method, the member pays the full present value of the additional service credit based on an estimate that includes assumptions with respect to the age at retirement, salary at retirement, age at death, and the retirement system’s investment return. According to CalPERS, while service credit purchases on a present value method are not expected to increase employer contributions, they do increase the risk to the employer in the form of higher volatility in employer rates if underlying assumptions, such as investment returns, do not occur as expected in the future. Based on current data from CalPERS, 377 members have purchased on average 1.6 years of Peace Corps or AmeriCorps “public service” since 2013. Of these members, 237 were state employees at the time of election.
CalPERS reports that if CCC corpsmembers purchase service credits at the same rate as members of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps, the increased volatility risk to state employers is likely negligible.
2) The CCC estimates minor and absorbable costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose. According to the author:
SB 1207 honors the role that members of the CCC play in protecting our state and environment by allowing them to purchase service credit through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, reinforcing current labor code exemptions, and updating the CCC’s statutes to better represent their mission. This measure is especially timely, as this year marks the CCC’s 50th anniversary.
2) Background. The CCC, established in 1976, is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the country. Its 120,000 members have provided more than 74 million hours of natural resource work and more than 11.3 million hours of emergency response work since its founding. Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved into a workforce development program. Corpsmembers now learn various skills during the program and receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service.
Local Conservation Corps (LCCs) or community conservation corps are nonprofit or local government entities that are certified by and have a similar mission as the CCC. LCCs provide job skills training and educational opportunities to young people, primarily ages 18 through 26, while preserving and protecting the environment. There are 14 state-certified LCCs in California, each of which is an individual nonprofit organization serving its local region.
The California Association of Local Conservation Corps argues this bill:
Ensures Corpsmembers are able to purchase comparable service credit toward their public-sector retirement. In fact, the opportunity is already available to other services like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, where participants are able to purchase up to three years of state service credit. By passing this bill, the Legislature recognizes the civic responsibility and dedication of Corpsmembers, while encouraging them to enter full-time public service.
CCC members are increasingly deployed to perform wildfire and forest resiliency work as well as added “behind the scenes” support for groups performing projects supporting natural resource and energy conservation. While this work might broadly fall into categories of work the CCC is authorized to perform, this bill codifies these activities in CCC’s authorizing statute.
The CCC is authorized to contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps for a project or program. This bill extends this contract authorization to conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, such as those recently established through the Nature-Based Solutions Tribal Corps Program.
Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: June 24, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
Tina S. McKinnor, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1207
Author:(Laird) – As Amended Ver:April 15, 2026
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps
The committee is informed that this bill was heard and passed (13-0) by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on June 8, 2026. As such, this writing only discusses matters that are germane to the jurisdiction of this committee. Please refer to that committee’s analysis of this bill for a discussion of matters germane to its jurisdiction.
SUMMARY: Among other provisions relating to the California Conservation Corps (CCC), amends the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), administered by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), by authorizing CalPERS members to purchase not more than three years of service credit for their prior voluntary CCC service. Specifically, this bill:
- For purposes of purchasing CalPERS service credit, includes in the definition of “public service,” time served as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the CCC, not to exceed three years.
- Requires any CalPERS member electing to receive credit for their CCC time to make contributions to CalPERS for the service credit cost, as specified.
- Amends the prohibition in the Public Resources Code on CCC corpsmembers from receiving state retirement benefits to make an exception for CalPERS members who are purchasing service credit under the provisions of this bill, as specified.
EXISTING LAW:
- Authorizes a CalPERS member to elect at any time prior to retirement to receive credit for public service, as specified, in addition to the member’s current and prior service credit, provided that the election is accompanied by a lump-sum payment of the contributions and interest required for the credit or by authorization for immediate institution of payroll deduction of installment payment of the contributions and interest. (Sections 21032 et seq., Gov. Code.)
- Provides that the right of election is subject to provisions that prohibit credit for the same service in two retirement systems, and prohibits credit for more than one year of service for service rendered in any fiscal year. (Section 21032, Gov. Code (incorporating Sections 20894 and 20961, ibid, by reference).)
- Provides several definitions for “public service” for purposes of purchasing service credit, including service with a state, school employer, or contracting agency prior to becoming a CalPERS member. (Sections 21020, et seq., Gov. Code.)
- Provides that the definition for “public service” for purposes of purchasing service credit, includes time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, or AmeriCorps. (Section 21023.5, Gov. Code.)
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill was passed by the Senate Committee on Appropriations pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
COMMENTS:
A public employee’s CalPERS retirement benefit is based on three factors: age at retirement, final compensation, and years of service (i.e., service credit). An increase to one or more of these factors generally results in a higher pension benefit at retirement.
Current law allows CalPERS members to purchase service credit for their time served in “public service” prior to becoming a CalPERS member, provided the member makes required pension contributions, as specified. Generally, this option applies to a CalPERS member who initially worked for a public agency in a position or time-base ineligible for CalPERS membership but who later became a CalPERS member. However, CalPERS members can also purchase service credit of up to three years for time they worked with certain national service organizations such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), and AmeriCorps.
This Bill
Among other provisions discussed in the analysis of this bill by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, this bill would add the CCC to the list of service organizations for which a CalPERS member could purchase service credit, and may serve as an incentive to assist with ongoing efforts to recruit and retain CCC corpsmembers in the public sector.
Conflict Notice to the Author
The author is informed that the Office of Legislative Counsel has issued a conflict notice regarding this bill and Assembly Bill 2780 (Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement).
A conflict exists when two or more bills and/or constitutional amendments amend, add, repeal, or amend and renumber the same section, article, chapter, division, title, or heading. The enactment of these measures in their present form could give rise to a serious legal problem that may be avoided by appropriate amendments.
Author’s Statement
“[This bill] honors the role that members of the CCC play in protecting our state and environment by allowing them to purchase service credit through [CalPERS], reinforcing current labor code exemptions, and updating the CCC’s statutes to better represent their mission. This measure is especially timely, as this year marks the CCC’s 50th anniversary. The desire to begin saving for retirement should not preclude anyone from participating in a program like the CCC. [This bill] will bring alignment with similar programs, including the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, whose participants are already able to earn and purchase service credit for their time in the Corps, while also encouraging [CCC] Corpsmembers to both start and continue a career in state service.”
Comments by Supporters
The California Conservation Corps (CCC) Foundation states, “[c]urrently, Corpsmembers are unable to make that commensurate purchase. This stands in contrast to the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, where participants have long been able to purchase comparable service credit toward their public-sector retirement. For a half-century, the mission of the CCC has been to protect and enhance the state’s natural resources and communities while empowering young adults through training, hard work and education. By passing this bill, California will take an important step towards recognizing the civic responsibility and dedication of Corpsmembers, while encouraging them to enter full-time public service.”
Among other things, the California Association of Local Conservation Corps states, “[this bill] ensures Corpsmembers are able to purchase comparable service credit toward their public-sector retirement. In fact, the opportunity is already available to other services like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, where participants are able to purchase up to three years of state service credit. By passing this bill, the Legislature recognizes the civic responsibility and dedication of Corpsmembers, while encouraging them to enter full-time public service.”
Comments by Opponents
None on file.
Prior or Related Legislation
Chapter 546, Statutes of 2002 (Assembly Bill 2094, Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security) authorized CalPERS members to purchase up to three years of service credit for service performed as a volunteer in AmeriCorps.
Chapter 834, Statutes of AB 596 (Honda, Chapter 834, Statutes of 1999) authorizes CalPERS members to purchase up to three years of service credit for time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or Americorps VISTA.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Conservation Corps Foundation
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Michael Bolden / P. E. & R. / (916) 319-3957
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Isaac G. Bryan, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1207
Author:(Laird) – As Amended Ver:April 15, 2026
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps
SUMMARY: Makes changes to California Conservation Corps’ (CCC) statutes to clarify the scope of authorized projects and to specifically permit CCC to contract with corps established by California Native American tribes, and allows corpsmembers to purchase service credit toward their public-sector retirement.
EXISTING LAW:
- Pursuant to the CCC governing statutes (Public Resources Code (PRC) 14000-14424):
- Establishes the CCC in the Natural Resources Agency (NRA) and requires the CCC to implement and administer the conservation corps program.
- Directs CCC program activities, including the management of environmentally important lands and water, public works projects, facilitating public use of resources, assistance in emergency operations, assistance in fire prevention and suppression, energy conservation, and environmental restoration.
- Finds and declares it is in the best interest of the state that federal funds designated to be expended by federal agencies for this purpose be allocated, to the extent feasible, to the CCC and certified community conservation corps.
- Authorizes the director to any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary.
- Authorizes the CCC, 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.
- Establishes the Public Employees’ Retirement Law and creates the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), which provides defined benefits to its members based on their final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Authorizes a member of PERS to elect to receive service credit for certain public service outside the system, including time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, by making specified contributions to the system. (Government Code 20000 - 21716)
- Regulates the wages, hours, and working conditions of employees with specified exceptions. Applies these provisions to and includes employees in any occupation, trade, or industry, except for any individual employed as an outside salesperson or any individual participating in a national service program carried out using assistance. (Labor Code 1171)
- Requires the CCC to report by December 31 of each year the total number of corpsmembers in the cohort who permanently separated from the corps during the state fiscal year that ended 18 months before the date the report is due. (PRC 14424 9 (a))
THIS BILL:
- Authorizes a CCC corpsmember to elect to receive service credit for service as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the CCC under PERS.
- Provides that corpsmembers and special corpsmembers can receive state retirement benefits.
- Includes CCC participants in the Labor Code provision that excepts salesperson and participants in national service organizations from provisions regulating wages, hours, and working conditions.
- Establishes the intent of the Legislature that the young adults who have successfully completed at least one year of service with the corps to be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organizations.
- Adds the following types of projects that adults participating in the corps program can engage in:
- Wildfire prevention and suppression, including forest resiliency; and,
- Technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with currently authorized projects.
- Requires the projects listed in 5) to provide opportunities to California Native American tribes and corpsmembers.
- Repeals PRC 14308 authorizing the director of the CCC to use any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary.
- Authorizes the CCC to enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program.
- Requires the CCC report due December 31 of each year to additionally include the number of corpsmembers who reported and disaggregated as the number enrolled at a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary educational institution. Deletes the requirement to report on the number of corpsmembers who received an associate or bachelor’s degree.
- Makes technical, nonsubstantive code cleanup.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, this bill is determined to have negligible state costs.
COMMENTS:
- California Conservation Corps. The CCC, established by Governor Jerry 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!” The CCC has provided more than 74 million hours of natural resource work, such as trail restoration, tree planting, habitat restoration, and more than 11.3 million hour of work on emergency response – fires, floods, and earthquakes — since 1976.
Although the CCC was originally conceived as a labor source for trail maintenance and restoration, it has since evolved to a workforce development program. Corpsmembers now learn skills such as, forestry management, energy auditing and installation, emergency services management, and firefighting. Many corpsmembers also receive their high school diplomas and industry certifications at the conclusion of their service. The CCC is designed as a one-year program, with the possibility of extension to up to three years pending performance of the member. More than 120,000 young people have participated in the CCC over the last 40 years. There are more than 1,623 corpsmember positions available at 26 centers statewide; nine of the centers are residential with 600 beds for the corpsmembers assigned to them.
- CCC projects. This bill augments the current statutory projects that corpsmembers can engage in to include wildfire prevention and suppression, including forest resiliency; and, technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with currently authorized projects. These additional project types would be requirement to provide opportunities to California Native American tribes and corpsmembers. Further, the bill authorizes the CCC to enter into a contract with a conservation corps established by California Native American tribes for a project or program. There are currently fivce Tribal Corps that were started/supported in 2023 through funding support from the CCC.
- CalPERS. CalPERS pension benefits are principally determined by three factors: age at retirement, final compensation, and years of service (i.e., service credit). Increasing one or more of these factors generally results in a higher pension benefit at retirement.
Current law allows CalPERS members to purchase service credit for their time served in “public service” prior to becoming a CalPERS member, provided the member makes required pension contributions, as specified.
Generally, this option applies to a CalPERS member who initially worked for a public agency in a position or time-base ineligible for CalPERS membership but who later became a CalPERS member. However, CalPERS members can also purchase service credit of up to three years for time they worked with certain national service organizations such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), and AmeriCorps.
Currently, CCC corpsmembers are unable to make that commensurate purchase. This bill will enable those corpsmembers who enter into public employment to purchase CalPERS service credit commensurate with their time in the corps.
- Author’s statement:
SB 1207 honors the role that members of the CCC play in protecting our state and environment by allowing them to purchase service credit through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, reinforcing current labor code exemptions, and updating the CCC’s statutes to better represent their mission. This measure is especially timely, as this year marks the CCC’s 50th anniversary.
The desire to begin saving for retirement should not preclude anyone from participating in a program like the CCC. SB 1207 will bring alignment with similar programs, including the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, whose participants are already able to earn and purchase service credit for their time in the Corps, while also encouraging corpsmembers to both start and continue a career in state service.
- Double referral. This bill is also referred to the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
CCC Foundation
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Paige Brokaw / NAT. RES. /
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-4171 | SB 1207 |
CONSENT
Bill No: SB 1207
Author: Laird (D)
Amended: 4/15/26
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/14/26
AYES: Becker, Seyarto, Allen, Cabaldon, Cortese, Grove, Stern
SENATE LABOR, PUB. EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/22/26
AYES: Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Cortese, Durazo, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST:
This bill requires projects of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to assist in wildfire prevention and suppression, including forest resiliency; require projects provide opportunities to California Native American tribes; and require the CCC to report on the number of corpsmember who enroll in postsecondary education. This bill authorizes Corpsmembers to receive service credit in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and exempt Corpsmembers from certain requirements relating to the wages, hours, and working conditions.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Authorizes CCC programs, including the management of environmentally important lands and water, public works projects, facilitating public use of resources, assistance in emergency operations, assistance in fire prevention and suppression, energy conservation, and environmental restoration. (Public Resources Code (PRC) § 14300)
- Specifies that CCC projects are to be directed toward providing opportunities for the public for their education or the use of natural resources or environmentally important public lands and waters, while providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development. Projects are undertaken in both urban and rural areas. (PRC § 14304)
- Authorizes the director of CCC (director) to utilize any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary. (PRC § 14308)
- Specifies that Corpsmembers shall not receive state retirement benefits. (PRC § 14310)
- Establishes that the CCC may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps to further the objectives of the CCC. (PRC § 14318)
- Authorizes the CCC to develop nonresidential programs in urban communities that have a need for conservation work. (PRC § 14400)
This bill:
- Amends the definition of “public service,” to include serving as a corpsmember with the CCC, for the purposes of CalPERS service credit.
- Specifies that CCC corpsmembers may make contributions to receive credit for service in CalPERS.
- Amends findings related to the CCC that the:
- CCC benefits young adults by providing training opportunities.
- CCC relieves individuals from unemployment.
- CCC helps California meet its goal of helping young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
- Legislature intends that young adults who have completed at least one year of service with the CCC be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
- Specifies that young adults in the CCC should be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resource and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement.
- Specifies that those projects may include projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency.
- Specifies that those projects may include technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with natural resource and energy conservation.
- Authorizes the director to enroll, rather than employ, special corpsmembers regardless of their age.
- Authorizes the CCC to direct projects towards providing opportunities to tribal entities and corpsmembers, in addition to the public.
- Repeals a provision of code authorizing the director to utilize any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary.
- Specifies that corpsmembers may receive certain CalPERS retirement benefits.
- Authorizes the CCC to enter into a contract with a corps established by a California Native American Tribe to further the objectives of the CCC.
- Requires the CCC to report, in disaggrated numbers, the number of former corpsmembers enrolled in a California Community College, California State University, University of California, or private postsecondary institution.
- Makes various nonsubstantive conforming and technical changes.
Background
California Conservation Corps. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is established in the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA). The mission of the CCC, pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) § 14000, includes “increasing awareness of and improving our natural resources,…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.”
Repealing redundant section of code. This bill proposes to repeal section 14308 of the PRC, which is duplicative of section 14306(k) in the PRC. This reduces confusion and provides greater clarity.
Accurate reflection of scope of projects completed by Corpsmembers. The CCC has been called in as a cost-effective, high-quality team to perform wildfire and forest resiliency, as well as added “behind the scenes” support for groups performing projects supporting natural resource and energy conservation. While this work might broadly fall into categories of work the CCC is authorized to perform, best practice is to codify that those activities are authorized by the Legislature.
Incorporating Tribal entities. The CCC is currently authorized to engage in projects that provide opportunities to educate the public or for the public to use natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters. This bill extends that authorization to Tribal entities and corpsmembers.
The CCC is currently authorized to contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps for a project or program. This bill extends that authorization to conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, such as those recently established through the Nature-Based Solutions Tribal Corps Program.
Related/Prior Legislation
AB 1928 (McCarty, Chapter 253, Statutes of 2018) authorized the CCC to enter into contracts with an individual or collective of certified community conservation corps to further the projects and programs of the CCC.
SB 267 (Deddeh, Chapter 1276, Statutes of 1989) specified that corpsmembers are required to be engaged in projects that which preserve, maintain, and enhance the environment, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/4/2026)
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Conservation Corps Foundation
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/4/2026)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, “Senate Bill 1207 honors the role that members of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) play in protecting our state and environment by allowing them to purchase service credit through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and updating the CCC’s statutes to better represent their mission. This measure is especially timely, as this year marks the CCC’s 50th anniversary.”
“The desire to begin saving for retirement should not preclude anyone from participating in a program like the CCC. SB 1207 will bring alignment with similar programs, including the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, whose participants are already able to earn and purchase service credit for their time in the Corps, while also encouraging California Conservation Corpsmembers to both start and continue a career in state service.”
Prepared by: Edith Hannigan / N.R. & W. / (916) 651-4116
5/5/26 15:55:44
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: SB 1207 Hearing Date: April 22, 2026
Author: | Laird | ||
Version: | April 15, 2026 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Glenn Miles | ||
SUBJECT: California Conservation Corps
KEY ISSUE
This bill authorizes California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) members to buy back not more than three years of service credit for their prior service in the California Conservation Corps (CCC). The bill also makes changes to CCC’s statutes to clarify the scope of authorized projects and to specifically permit CCC to contract with corps established by California Native American tribes.[1]
ANALYSIS
Existing law:
- Permits a CalPERS member to elect at any time prior to retirement to receive credit for public service, as specified, in addition to the member’s current and prior service credit, provided that the election is accompanied by a lump-sum payment of the contributions and interest required for the credit or by authorization for immediate institution of payroll deduction of installment payment of the contributions and interest. (Government Code § 21032 et seq.)
- The right of election is subject to provisions that prohibit credit for the same service in two retirement systems and prohibit credit for more than one year of service for service rendered in any fiscal year. (Government Code § 21032, referencing §§ 20894 and 20961, respectively)
- Provides several definitions for “public service” for purposes of purchasing service credit, including service with a state, school employer, or contracting agency prior to becoming a CalPERS member. (Government Code § 21020 et seq.)
- Provides that the definition for “public service” for purposes of purchasing service credit, includes time served, not to exceed three years, as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, or AmeriCorps. (Government Code § 21023.5)
- Authorizes CCC programs, including the management of environmentally important lands and water, public works projects, facilitating public use of resources, assistance in emergency operations, assistance in fire prevention and suppression, energy conservation, and environmental restoration. (PRC § 14300)
- Specifies that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, corpsmembers and special corpsmembers, other than staff officers and employees, shall not receive state retirement benefits. (Public Resources Code § 14310)
This bill:
- Includes in the definition of “public service” for purposes of purchasing CalPERS service credit, time served, not to exceed three years, as a corpsmember or special corpsmember with the CCC.
- Requires any CalPERS member electing to receive credit for their CCC time to make contributions to CalPERS for the service credit cost, as specified.
- Amends the prohibition in the Public Resources Code on CCC corpsmembers from receiving state retirement benefits to make an exception for CalPERS members who are purchasing service credit under this bill’s provisions, as specified.
- Includes CCC participants in the Labor Code provision that excepts salesperson and participants in national service organizations from Labor Code provisions regulating wages, hours, and working conditions.
- Makes other changes to Public Resources Code sections governing the CCC related to CCC’s scope and program elements.[2]
COMMENTS
1. Background:
CalPERS pension benefits are principally determined by three factors: age at retirement, final compensation, and years of service (i.e., service credit). Increasing one or more of these factors generally results in a higher pension benefit at retirement.
Current law allows CalPERS members to purchase service credit for their time served in “public service” prior to becoming a CalPERS member, provided the member makes required pension contributions, as specified.
Generally, this option applies to a CalPERS member who initially worked for a public agency in a position or time-base ineligible for CalPERS membership but who later became a CalPERS member. However, CalPERS members can also purchase service credit of up to three years for time they worked with certain national service organizations such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), and AmeriCorps. This bill would add the CCC to the list of service organizations for which a CalPERS member could purchase service credit.
2. Need for this bill?
According to the author:
“Currently, individuals who serve in AmeriCorps programs (either within or outside of California) are permitted to purchase up to three years of retirement service credit through CalPERS, recognizing their national service while supporting their long-term retirement security. However, California Conservation Corps (CCC) Corpsmembers do not have the same ability to purchase service credit for their time with the CCC, despite undertaking a similar commitment and performing similar project work in emergency response and natural resource protection, specifically within and to benefit California. This creates an inequity, as only a small portion of the Corpsmember population has the option of enrolling in AmeriCorps while serving in the CCC if enrolled in the CCC’s two AmeriCorps-specific programs (Backcountry Trails [BCTP] and Watershed Stewards Program [WSP]).”
3. Proponent Arguments:
According to the California Association of Local Conservation Corps:
“SB 1207…ensures Corpsmembers are able to purchase comparable service credit toward their public-sector retirement. In fact, the opportunity is already available to other services
like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, where participants are able to purchase up to three years of state service credit. By passing this bill, the Legislature recognizes the civic responsibility and dedication of Corpsmembers, while encouraging them to enter full-time public service.”
According to the California Conservation Corps Foundation:
“Currently, Corpsmembers are unable to make that commensurate purchase. This stands in contrast to the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, where participants have long been able to purchase comparable service credit toward their public-sector retirement.”
“For a half-century, the mission of the CCC has been to protect and enhance the state’s natural resources and communities while empowering young adults through training, hard work and education. By passing this bill, California will take an important step towards recognizing the civic responsibility and dedication of Corpsmembers, while encouraging them to enter full-time public service.”
4. Opponent Arguments:
None received.
5. Dual Referral: The Senate Rules Committee referred this bill to the Senate Natural Resources Committee and to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
6. Prior Legislation:
AB 2094 (Committee on Public Employment and Retirement, Chapter 546, Statutes of 2002) authorized CalPERS members to purchase up to three years of service credit for service performed as a volunteer in AmeriCorps.
AB 596 (Honda, Chapter 834, Statutes of 1999) authorizes CalPERS members to purchase up to three years of service credit for time served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps or Vista.
SUPPORT
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
CCC Foundation
OPPOSITION
None Received
-- END --
The bill’s provisions related to CCC’s scope and program elements are within the jurisdiction of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which analyzed the bill prior to this committee. Please see SNRC’s April 14, 2026, committee hearing policy analysis for a detailed analysis of those provisions. ↑
Ibid. ↑
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Josh Becker, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: SB Hearing Date: April 14, 2026
Author: | |||
Version: | Amended | ||
Urgency: | Fiscal: | ||
Consultant: | |||
Subject: California Conservation Corps
SUMMARY
This bill would revise and recast the findings and declarations related to the California Conservation Corps; add projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency to the projects Corpsmembers may be engaged in; authorize the Corps to enter into a contract with a Corps established by California Native American Tribes; and change authorizations related to Corpsmembers’ credit under the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
California Conservation Corps. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is established in the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA). The mission of the CCC, pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) § 14000, includes “increasing awareness of and improving our natural resources,…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.”
Existing law:
- Authorizes CCC programs, including the management of environmentally important lands and water, public works projects, facilitating public use of resources, assistance in emergency operations, assistance in fire prevention and suppression, energy conservation, and environmental restoration. (PRC § 14300)
- Specifies that CCC projects are to be directed toward providing opportunities for the public for their education or the use of natural resources or environmentally important public lands and waters, while providing young adults with an opportunity for personal development. Projects are undertaken in both urban and rural areas. (PRC § 14304)
- Authorizes the director of CCC (director) to utilize any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary. (PRC § 14308)
- Specifies that Corpsmembers shall not receive state retirement benefits. (PRC § 14310)
- Establishes that the CCC may enter into a contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps to further the objectives of the CCC. (PRC § 14318)
- Authorizes the CCC to develop nonresidential programs in urban communities that have a need for conservation work. (PRC § 14400)
PROPOSED LAW
This bill would:
- Amend the definition of “public service,” to include serving as a corpsmember with the CCC, for the purposes of CalPERS service credit.
- Specify that CCC corpsmembers may make contributions to receive credit for service in CalPERS.
- Amends findings related to the CCC that the:
- CCC benefits young adults by providing training opportunities.
- CCC relieves individuals from unemployment.
- CCC helps California meet its goal of helping young adults become productive citizens and environmental stewards.
- Legislature intends that young adults who have completed at least one year of service with the CCC be recognized for their dedication and development and that all state entities look for paths to include former corpsmembers into their organization.
- Specify that young adults in the CCC should be engaged in projects that relate to or support natural resource and energy conservation, preservation, and engagement.
- Specify that those projects may include projects supporting wildfire and forest resiliency.
- Specify that those projects may include technical, administrative, culinary, and other services to individuals and entities engaged in work aligning with natural resource and energy conservation.
- Authorize the director to enroll, rather than employ, special corpsmembers regardless of their age.
- Authorize the CCC to direct projects towards providing opportunities to tribal entities and corpsmembers, in addition to the public.
- Repeal a provision of code authorizing the director to utilize any services, materials, or property of any agency of the state and may make any agreements with any agency of the state, or take any other actions, that are reasonable and necessary.
- Specify that corpsmembers may receive certain CalPERS retirement benefits.
- Authorize the CCC to enter into a contract with a corps established by a California Native American Tribe to further the objectives of the CCC.
- Make various nonsubstantive conforming and technical changes.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
According to the author, “Senate Bill 1207 honors the role that members of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) play in protecting our state and environment by allowing them to purchase service credit through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and updating the CCC’s statutes to better represent their mission. This measure is especially timely, as this year marks the CCC’s 50th anniversary.”
“The desire to begin saving for retirement should not preclude anyone from participating in a program like the CCC. SB 1207 will bring alignment with similar programs, including the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, whose participants are already able to earn and purchase service credit for their time in the Corps, while also encouraging California Conservation Corpsmembers to both start and continue a career in state service.”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
None received.
COMMENTS
Double referral. This bill is double referred to this Committee and the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee. This is the Committee of first referral. Any issues discussed in this analysis under the portfolio of the Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee are included here for completeness and context only.
Repealing redundant section of code. This bill proposes to repeal section 14308 of the PRC, which is duplicative of section 14306(k) in the PRC. This reduces confusion and provides greater clarity.
Accurate reflection of scope of projects completed by Corpsmembers. The CCC has been called in as a cost-effective, high-quality team to perform wildfire and forest resiliency, as well as added “behind the scenes” support for groups performing projects supporting natural resource and energy conservation. While this work might broadly fall into categories of work the CCC is authorized to perform, best practice is to codify that those activities are authorized by the Legislature.
Incorporating Tribal entities. The CCC is currently authorized to engage in projects that provide opportunities to educate the public or for the public to use natural resources and environmentally important public lands and waters. This bill extends that authorization to Tribal entities and corpsmembers.
The CCC is currently authorized to contract with an individual or collective of community conservation corps for a project or program. This bill extends that authorization to conservation corps established by one or more California Native American tribes, such as those recently established through the Nature-Based Solutions Tribal Corps Program.
Related Legislation
AB 1928 (McCarty, Chapter 253, Statutes of 2018) authorized the CCC to enter into contracts with an individual or collective of certified community conservation corps to further the projects and programs of the CCC.
SB 267 (Deddeh, Chapter 1276, Statutes of 1989) specified that corpsmembers are required to be engaged in projects that which preserve, maintain, and enhance the environment, as specified.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS: none
SUPPORT
California Association of Local Conservation Corps
California Conservation Corps Foundation
OPPOSITION
None Received
-- END --
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):