California Assembly Bill AB455 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 455AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huffman FEBRUARY 24, 2009  An act relating to public safety.   An act to amend Section 14302 of the Public Resources Code, relating to the conservation corps.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 455, as amended, Huffman.  Public safety: youth violence.   California Conservation Corps: participation.   Existing law requires the California Conservation Corps to select young men and women for participation in the corps program on the basis of motivation for hard work, personal development, and public service, and without regard to their prior employment or educational background.   This bill would require that a minimum of 5% of selected participants represent young adults at risk of gang involvement, current gang members, or former gang members.   Existing law establishes provisions governing public safety.   This bill would declare the Legislature's intent to enact legislation to improve the public safety and the state's economy by addressing youth violence prevention issues, as specified.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 14302 of the   Public Resources Code   is amended to read:  14302.  (a)    Young women and men shall be selected for participation in the corps program on the basis of motivation for hard work, personal development, and public service, and without regard to their prior employment or educational background. Participation shall be for a period of one year, which may be extended.  (b) A minimum of 5 percent of selected participants shall represent young adults at risk of gang involvement, current gang members, or former gang members.   The   (c)     The  corps, in conjunction with the Employment Development Department, shall place an emphasis on developing and executing plans to assist corpsmembers in obtaining employment following their participation in the corps program.  SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would improve the public safety and the economy of the state by doing all of the following: (a) Encouraging cities and counties to maximize the benefit of existing funding for youth violence reduction. (b) Giving priority in state funding to cities and counties with comprehensive plans crafted through the involvement of multiple partners that balance prevention, intervention, and enforcement approaches. (c) Maximizing employment and training opportunities and related supports for formerly incarcerated individuals and youth on probation. (d) Reinforcing and codifying the role of the Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy in identifying and pursuing opportunities to route or align state and federal funding to meet key gang and youth violence reduction priorities, including through maximizing funds and ensuring that priority goes to municipalities with comprehensive plans.