Article 9.5California Youth Leadership Project

Section § 33425

Explanation

This section establishes the California Youth Leadership Project, designed to encourage civic engagement among young people aged 14 to 18, especially those who are disconnected or disadvantaged. The project offers scholarships and supports organizations that help these youths provide input on legislation and policy issues that affect their lives. Participating organizations help youths discuss policy, advise government, and understand issues such as education, employment, and health. Youths also have opportunities to visit the State Capitol and participate in legislative processes. Funds from scholarships are strictly for youth-related activities. The project focuses on supporting youths facing challenges like homelessness, disabilities, or economic hardship.

(a)CA Education Code § 33425(a) The California Youth Leadership Project is hereby established under the department for the purpose of promoting youth civic engagement through meaningful opportunities to improve the quality of life for California’s disconnected and disadvantaged youth.
(b)CA Education Code § 33425(b) The California Youth Leadership Project shall support and promote youth civic engagement by awarding scholarships to youth between 14 and 18 years of age. Furthermore, youths awarded scholarships by the California Youth Leadership Project shall be given the opportunity to make meaningful recommendations regarding legislation and policies that impact their own lives and the lives of the thousands of other youth in California whose voices often go unheard. An organization that operates civic engagement programs may submit applications for participation in the project on behalf of interested youth.
(c)CA Education Code § 33425(c) The California Youth Leadership Project shall allocate scholarship award funds to organizations that submit applications on behalf of youth who are selected to receive scholarship awards under this article. These organizations shall do, without limitation, all of the following for the youth who receive scholarship awards under this article:
(1)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(1) Provide youth participants tools to examine and discuss policy and fiscal issues affecting the interests, needs, and conditions of the youth of California.
(2)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2) Provide youth participants the opportunity to formally advise and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on specific issues affecting youth. These issues may include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
(A)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(A) Education.
(B)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(B) Employment.
(C)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(C) Access to state and local governmental services.
(D)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(D) The environment.
(E)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(E) Behavioral and physical health.
(F)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(F) Safety.
(G)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(G) Technology.
(H)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(H) Criminal justice.
(I)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(I) Homelessness.
(J)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(J) Foster care.
(K)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(K) Child welfare.
(L)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(L) Emancipation.
(M)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(M) Financial literacy.
(N)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(N) Substance abuse.
(O)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(O) Driver’s license requirements.
(P)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(P) Poverty.
(Q)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(Q) Increased youth participation in state and local government.
(R)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(R) Issues affecting youth with disabilities.
(S)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(2)(S) Any other policy or fiscal issues deemed appropriate by the department.
(3)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(3) Provide youth participants the opportunity to consult with any existing local level youth advisory commissions and community-based, grassroots youth-led organizations for input and potential solutions on issues related to youth.
(4)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(4) Provide youth participants the opportunity to convene and conduct meetings to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
(5)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(5) Provide youth participants the opportunity to act as an information center on California youth policy and fiscal issues, including, but not limited to, the issues listed in paragraph (2).
(6)CA Education Code § 33425(c)(6) When available, enable individual youth to travel to the State Capitol to learn the legislative process and, on occasion, to testify at legislative hearings.
(d)CA Education Code § 33425(d) An organization that receives a scholarship award on behalf of youth under this article shall use these funds only for youth-related activities described in subdivision (c).
(e)CA Education Code § 33425(e) For purposes of this article, disconnected and disadvantaged youth described in subdivision (a) include, but are not limited to, youth who are homeless between 18 and 24 years of age, youth with disabilities, youth who are from minority racial or ethnic groups, youth who are in or have been emancipated from foster care, youth who have been in or are on parole from the juvenile justice system, youth who are from low-income households, youth who are high school dropouts or are at risk of dropping out of school, youth who are pregnant or are young mothers, and other youth who could benefit from participation in the California Youth Leadership Project.
California Youth Leadership Project youth civic engagement scholarships disconnected youth disadvantaged youth youth policy legislation recommendations youth organizations education issues employment issues public services access homeless youth youth in foster care financial literacy youth with disabilities
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. (SB 803) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Section § 33426

Explanation

The California Youth Leadership Project is managed by a special committee that gives out scholarships. This committee must reflect the diversity of California and focus on helping disadvantaged youth aged 14 to 18, as their experiences offer valuable insight into youth issues. The committee is led by the Superintendent and includes up to six members with diverse backgrounds and expertise, such as representatives from youth organizations and someone with first-hand youth leadership experience. The committee members volunteer their time and don't get paid.

(a)CA Education Code § 33426(a) The California Youth Leadership Project shall be overseen by the California Youth Leadership Project Committee.
(b)CA Education Code § 33426(b) The California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall be established and oversee the California Youth Leadership Project and distribute funds pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 18736) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and this article.
(c)CA Education Code § 33426(c) Members of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee, in making youth scholarship awards, shall take into consideration that awarded youth represent the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, physical, and educational diversity of California. Priority for awarding scholarships under this article shall be given to at-promise or disadvantaged youth between 14 and 18 years of age, as their participation in the California Youth Leadership Project will provide keen insight into many of the issues that youth face in their day-to-day lives.
(d)Copy CA Education Code § 33426(d)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 33426(d)(1) The California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall be chaired by the Superintendent, or their designee, and shall include no more than six members.
(2)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(2) The Superintendent shall appoint the following four members to the California Youth Leadership Project Committee:
(A)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(2)(A) A representative from a statewide nonprofit youth organization.
(B)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(2)(B) A representative from a community-based nonprofit organization that serves youth or deals with youth-related issues, including, but not limited to, the issues described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 33425.
(C)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(2)(C) A representative of a local educational agency or school district.
(D)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(2)(D) A youth between 14 and 18 years of age who has participated in a youth leadership program involving lobbying the Legislature on issue areas affecting youth. This person shall serve only in an advisory capacity.
(3)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(3) The California Health and Human Services Agency may also, but is not required to, appoint a member to the California Youth Leadership Project Committee.
(4)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4) To the extent possible, a member of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee, appointed under any of subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (2) shall have experience and be trained to work with youth between 14 and 18 years of age on any of the issues described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 33425, and shall have special experience in civic engagement, advocacy, and at least one of the following issue areas affecting youth:
(A)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(A) Crisis prevention or intervention.
(B)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(B) Drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse prevention or intervention.
(C)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(C) Foster care.
(D)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(D) Juvenile justice.
(E)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(E) Homelessness.
(F)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(F) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights and social justice.
(G)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(G) Mental health.
(H)CA Education Code § 33426(d)(4)(H) Youth with disabilities.
(e)CA Education Code § 33426(e) The members of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not receive a salary.
California Youth Leadership Project scholarship awards disadvantaged youth committee members youth organization educational diversity socioeconomic diversity cultural diversity youth leadership at-promise youth Superintendent volunteer basis civic engagement advocacy youth issues
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 800, Sec. 7. (AB 413) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Section § 33427

Explanation

The California Youth Leadership Project Committee has several duties. They are responsible for creating and collecting scholarship applications, promoting the program, setting selection criteria, and ensuring non-discrimination based on various characteristics like race or gender. The committee decides how often to meet, at least once a year, and if needed, can partner with other agencies for administrative tasks. They also handle annual budgeting and reporting. Importantly, they must monitor the project's funding and can pause activities if funds are insufficient, plus state funds can’t be used unless specified by certain tax codes.

Duties of the California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(a)CA Education Code § 33427(a) Develop and provide applications for the California Youth Leadership Project scholarship and collect applications from youth who would like to apply.
(b)CA Education Code § 33427(b) Determine ways to promote the program and make applications available.
(c)CA Education Code § 33427(c) Establish criteria for the selection of youth, and make awards based on those criteria and the purposes of this chapter.
(d)CA Education Code § 33427(d) Ensure that there is no discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, sex, or sexual orientation.
(e)CA Education Code § 33427(e) Establish the time, location, and number of annual meetings of the committee. The committee shall meet no less than once each year.
(f)CA Education Code § 33427(f) If necessary, enter into a mutually agreed upon interagency agreement with the department to carry out administrative duties related to the project.
(g)CA Education Code § 33427(g) Submit an annual budget and report to the department.
(h)Copy CA Education Code § 33427(h)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 33427(h)(1) Determine when there are sufficient funds to support the project. If the committee determines that there are insufficient funds to cover all costs, the activities of the California Youth Leadership Project shall cease.
(2)CA Education Code § 33427(h)(2) State funds shall not be used to support the California Youth Leadership Project except as provided in Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 18736) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
California Youth Leadership Project scholarship applications program promotion selection criteria non-discrimination annual meetings interagency agreement administrative duties annual budget funding sufficiency project cessation state funds restriction racial equality gender equality disability inclusion
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. (SB 803) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Section § 33428

Explanation

This section is about how the California Youth Leadership Project gets and uses its funding. It can receive money from a special fund in the state's Revenue and Taxation Code or from private sources. The project can also accept gifts and grants from anyone. A committee in charge of the project decides how to spend the money to carry out its duties, including working with nonprofits or state agencies, as long as it follows state laws and rules.

(a)CA Education Code § 33428(a) The funds for the California Youth Leadership Project shall be allocated from the California Youth Leadership Fund pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 18736) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or from private funds directed to the department and allocated to the California Youth Leadership Project Committee for the purpose of funding activities of the California Youth Leadership Project.
(b)CA Education Code § 33428(b) The California Youth Leadership Project may accept gifts and grants from any source, public or private, to help perform its functions, pursuant to this article.
(c)CA Education Code § 33428(c) The California Youth Leadership Project Committee shall have the authority to define its program and utilize its funds in any way necessary to carry out the duties of this article, including, but not limited to, partnering with nonprofit groups or state agencies to perform various duties required by this article, as long as the program or activity is not in violation of a state law or regulation.
California Youth Leadership Project California Youth Leadership Fund funding allocation private funds gifts and grants Youth Leadership Project Committee partnerships nonprofit collaboration program definition state law compliance
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. (SB 803) Effective January 1, 2013.)