Bill Text: CA AB2126 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: California Conservation Corps: forestry corps program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-21 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 635, Statutes of 2018. [AB2126 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2126-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 15, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2126

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Introduced by Assembly Member Eggman

February 08, 2018

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An act to amend Section 14001 add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 14410) to Division 12 of the Public Resources Code, relating to resources conservation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2126, as amended, Eggman. California Conservation Corps. Corps: forestry corps program.

Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps in the Natural Resources Agency and requires the corps to implement and administer the conservation corps program. Existing law requires the Governor to appoint a director to act as the administrative officer of the corps. Existing law authorizes the director to employ special corps members without regard to their ages so that the corps may draw upon their special skills that may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the program. Existing law provides that these special members may be assigned to headquarters, as well as field positions.

This bill would require the director, no later than July 1, 2019, to establish a forestry corps program to accomplish certain objectives including developing and implementing forest health projects, as provided, and establishing forestry corps crews. The bill would require the director, no later than January 1, 2020, to establish 2 forestry corps crews, one to be based at the Delta Center and the other at the Inland Empire Center.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Delta Center and the Inland Empire Center of the California Conservation Corps.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to the provision of law establishing the corps.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 14410) is added to Division 12 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

CHAPTER  4. Forestry Corps Program

14410.

 No later than July 1, 2019, the director shall establish a forestry corps program.

14411.

 (a) The forestry corps program shall accomplish all of the following objectives:

(1) Develop and implement forest health projects, pursuant to Section 14412.

(2) Establish forestry corps crews, pursuant to Section 14413.

(3) Provide assistance to corps members in obtaining forestry and forest technician degrees and certificates.

(4) Train corps members to operate equipment in forestry and related fields.

(5) Create pathways from the corps to degree programs and jobs.

(b) The director may partner with community colleges, trade associations, forest and timber industries, vocational educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to provide training and experience to corps members.

14412.

 Forest health projects may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Fuels reduction and hazardous fuels removal.

(b) Seedling and tree planting.

(c) Cone and seed collection.

(d) Tree mortality and tree felling.

(e) Tree nursery and arborist training.

(f) Forestry and conservation awareness and educational outreach.

(g) Participation in forestry pilot programs.

(h) Wildlands forest firefighting training.

14413.

 No later than January 1, 2020, the director shall establish two forestry corps crews, one to be based at the Delta Center and the other at the Inland Empire Center.

SEC. 2.

 The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the geographic proximity of forested areas to, and partnership opportunities that exist in, the Delta Center and the Inland Empire Center of the California Conservation Corps.

SECTION 1.Section 14001 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

14001.

There is in the Natural Resources Agency 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.