SB 1326: The California Conservation Corps

No. of Jobs

400

Category

Invest state and federal funds to create jobs

Proposal

This bill backfills funding for the California Conservation Corps so that they can put at young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 to work for the state providing service in environmental conservation, fire protection, land maintenance and emergency response to natural disasters.

Summary

SB 1326 appropriates $25 million from the Electronic Waste Recycling Fund for much-needed support for the local Community Conservation Corps and create new jobs for corps members to assist with recycling and litter clean up.

Background

The California Conservation Corps is a work development program run through the California Resources Agency. Established in 1976, Governor Brown modeled the program in part after the federal Civilian Conservation Corps established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. The original CCC, which ran from 1933 to 1942, put men to work during the Depression. Here in California, the CCC built most of California's state parks.  Local and regional conservation corps are spin-offs of the state corp.

The program offers young people between 18 and 25 the opportunity to work for the state, providing service in environmental conservation, fire protection, land maintenance and emergency response to natural disasters. The corps members earn education credits and minimum wage, with many of them working towards their GED. In 2008, the CCC devoted half a million hours to fire response, and additional hours to flood response and pest infestation.

In past budget years, the Governor has proposed cutting funding to this program. Although the Legislature has continued funding, this proposal ensures that the CCC will continue to provide education, jobs, and public service for the State of California.

Read the Bill: SB 1326