Bill Text: CA SJR16 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: AmeriCorps.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-09-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 165, Statutes of 2015. [SJR16 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SJR16-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SJR 16	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  165
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JULY 16, 2015
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator De Le�n

                        JULY 9, 2015

   Relative to AmeriCorps.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 16, De Le�n. AmeriCorps.
   This measure would urge the United States Congress to protect and
sustain full funding for the Corporation for National and Community
Service to ensure the continuation of critically needed services,
expand opportunities, and save taxpayer dollars through essential
national service programs like AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA.



   WHEREAS, More than 27,000 people of all ages and backgrounds are
helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase
civic engagement through national service in California; and
   WHEREAS, These citizens tutor and mentor children, support
veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the
environment, respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and
recruit and manage volunteers at more than 3,200 locations
throughout the state; and
   WHEREAS, The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
runs three AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps, which provides grants to
a network of local and national organizations and agencies committed
to using national service to address critical community needs in
education, public safety, health, and the environment; AmeriCorps
VISTA, whose members help bring individuals and communities out of
poverty by serving full time to fight illiteracy, improve health
services, create businesses, and increase housing opportunities; and
AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a residential
program for people 18-24 years of age that strengthens communities
and develops leaders through direct, team-based national and
community service; and
   WHEREAS, This year, the CNCS committed more than $108,520,000 to
support California communities through national service initiatives,
investing in cost-effective community solutions and working hand in
hand with local partners to improve lives, expand economic
opportunity, and engage citizens in solving problems in their
communities; and
   WHEREAS, The CNCS provides vital support to schools, food banks,
homeless shelters, community health clinics, youth centers, veterans
service facilities, and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations
at a time of growing demand for services in many of the state's most
impoverished communities and, through a unique public-private
partnership, leverages an additional $49,930,000 in other resources
to strengthen community impact, build local support, and increase
return on taxpayer dollars; and
   WHEREAS, This year AmeriCorps is providing more than 7,600
individuals the opportunity to provide intensive, results-driven
service to meet the pressing needs in communities across California.
Administered primarily through CaliforniaVolunteers, the state office
that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of
Californians involved with service and volunteerism, AmeriCorps
received $28 million in grants to 48 programs statewide with a
majority of the investment benefiting education-related programs; and

   WHEREAS, AmeriCorps helps make higher education more affordable
for young Californians who serve and qualify for the Segal AmeriCorps
Education Awards, which AmeriCorps alumni can use to pursue higher
education or to pay off existing, qualified student loans, thereby
enhancing their financial stability and increasing their
employability into the future; and
   WHEREAS, National service programs are cost effective and
represent a smart investment for the nation and for the State of
California because, with every dollar invested in national service,
there is a return to society of $3.95 in terms of higher earnings,
more output, and other community-wide benefits and every federal
dollar invested in national service yields $2.20 in savings to other
government programs; and
   WHEREAS, Since 1994, more than 120,000 California residents have
served more than 150 million hours and benefited millions of
Californians with their selfless dedication and commitment to
service; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes AmeriCorps
members, both past and present, who have made the commitment to serve
our state and our country and thanks them for their service; and be
it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature urges the United States Congress to
protect and sustain full funding for the Corporation for National
and Community Service to ensure the continuation of critically needed
services, expand opportunities, and save taxpayer dollars through
essential national service programs like AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps
VISTA; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to each Senator and Representative from California in the
Congress of the United States and to the author for appropriate
distribution.