Findings And Declarations Of Policy - - CA Public Resources

Section § 14000

This California statute outlines the intentions and values behind the California Conservation Corps. The law emphasizes the need for supporting youth to reach their potential by providing them with educational and work opportunities focused on conserving natural resources.

The Corps is envisioned as a program that not only aids environmental initiatives but also assists young adults in developing essential life and job skills. The law stresses its role in building character, self-discipline, and civic responsibility among California youth.

The statute aims for corps members to graduate with strong work ethics and skills that prepare them for employment in California. Finally, it honors the contributions of B.T. Collins and Jack Dugan and encourages state agencies to prioritize the Corps for suitable projects, ensuring stable funding and entrepreneurial growth for the program.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California youth should be encouraged to reach their full potential, but that many youths 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 California’s young adults, is beneficial not only to the youth of the state by providing them with educational and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the state’s 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 and the goal of helping youths become productive adults.

(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, 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.

(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 look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.

California Conservation Corps youth development environmental conservation natural resources job skills training work ethic character building civic responsibility personal growth stable funding entrepreneurial program state agency projects Brien Thomas Collins Jack Dugan youth education opportunities

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 98. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)

Section § 14001

The California Conservation Corps, part of the Natural Resources Agency, is tasked with executing the goals and policies outlined in this division of the law.

In the Natural Resources Agency there is the California Conservation Corps, which shall be responsible for carrying out the purposes of, and implementing the findings and policies set forth in, this division.

California Conservation Corps Natural Resources Agency environmental conservation state agency implementation of policies environmental programs natural resource management youth employment conservation activities community service environmental education sustainability initiatives resource conservation statewide projects Corps responsibilities

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 1. (AB 2126) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Section § 14002

The California Legislature values the California Conservation Corps for its educational and employment benefits for its members. They encourage community colleges to work with the corps, providing equal educational access. Colleges should acknowledge corps' unique needs and address them with appropriate facilities and procedures.

The Legislature finds and declares that the California Conservation Corps provides an invaluable service. The Legislature supports the corps’ mission to enhance the educational opportunities and employability of corps members. To further this mission local community college districts and the corps are encouraged to enter into cooperative agreements so that corps members have access to equal educational opportunities.

Local community college districts are encouraged to recognize the unique needs and circumstances of the corps members and the corps’ need for adequate facilities. Local community college districts should, to the extent possible, develop procedures to address these unique needs.

California Conservation Corps educational opportunities employability community college agreements cooperative agreements equal educational access unique needs facilities corps members local community college districts employability enhancement educational mission support for corps community college procedures corps educational support

(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1710, Sec. 2.)

Section § 14003

The law highlights that California already has a successful conservation corps program and prefers to avoid overlapping with other federal and state efforts. Instead, federal funds meant for conservation should go to the California Conservation Corps and local conservation groups if possible.

When federal funds for youth or community conservation programs are available, the California Conservation Corps will receive these funds and can also share them with other conservation programs in the state. The director has the power to change policies to ensure the program follows federal rules and state guidelines.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the State of California has already established a model conservation corps program and that redundant federal and state programs to carry out resource protection and conservation within the state are not in the best interests of the state. Rather, it is in the best interests of the state that federal funds designated to be expended by federal agencies for this purpose be allocated, to the extent feasible, to the California Conservation Corps and local conservation corps.

(b) If federal funds are available for youth conservation corps or community service corps programs, excluding the federal Job Corps, the California Conservation Corps is hereby designated as the program recipient for the State of California, and the corps may distribute, as appropriate, any federal funds to other corps programs within the state. The director shall have the authority to adopt, amend, and repeal policies to implement the program consistent with the federal requirements and with this division.

California Conservation Corps local conservation corps federal funds youth conservation corp community service corps model conservation program resource protection policy implementation fund allocation State of California program recipient director authority program consistency federal requirements redundant programs

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 463, Sec. 1.)

Section § 14004

This law officially names the California Conservation Corps headquarters in Sacramento as the “B.T. Collins California Conservation Corps Building.” It's a tribute to Brien Thomas “B.T.” Collins, honoring his dedication and commitment to the corps' mission.

In memory of Brien Thomas “B.T.” Collins, and on behalf of his passion, support, and commitment to the mission of the corps, the California Conservation Corps headquarters in Sacramento is hereby named the “B.T. Collins California Conservation Corps Building.”

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(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 894, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1994.)