Ashburn Volunteer Bill Sidelined in Committee
California Political Desk
March 27, 2008
SACRAMENTO – Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) expressed disappointment over the failure of his state volunteers bill, SB 1345 to pass the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. SB 1345 came up one vote short and was held in the committee on a 2-0 vote, with three votes from the five-member panel necessary for passage.
"I am disappointed by the outcome, but we will continue to discuss the concerns with all the parties involved in the hopes of coming up with a solution so we can move the bill out of this committee at another hearing in the near future," said Senator Ashburn.
"We are certainly fortunate to have so many willing volunteers in California who work in community service and conservation. It´s important to do everything we can to encourage more volunteerism as a means of enhancing and protecting our communities, parks, and open spaces," Ashburn concluded
In July of 2003, the State Department of Industrial Relations interpreted the state labor code so as to prohibit the mixed use of volunteer and paid labor on public works projects. Many environmental projects which rely on volunteers such as trail building, stream restoration, and beach cleanup faced the loss of state funding. A measure to address the conflict was passed in 2004; however, that bill contained a sunset clause of January 1st of 2009. Senator Ashburn´s bill will remove that sunset date and allow state volunteerism to continue unabated in 2009 and beyond.
SB 1345 has been granted "reconsideration" and will be eligible for another hearing as soon as April 8, 2008.
"I am disappointed by the outcome, but we will continue to discuss the concerns with all the parties involved in the hopes of coming up with a solution so we can move the bill out of this committee at another hearing in the near future," said Senator Ashburn.
"We are certainly fortunate to have so many willing volunteers in California who work in community service and conservation. It´s important to do everything we can to encourage more volunteerism as a means of enhancing and protecting our communities, parks, and open spaces," Ashburn concluded
In July of 2003, the State Department of Industrial Relations interpreted the state labor code so as to prohibit the mixed use of volunteer and paid labor on public works projects. Many environmental projects which rely on volunteers such as trail building, stream restoration, and beach cleanup faced the loss of state funding. A measure to address the conflict was passed in 2004; however, that bill contained a sunset clause of January 1st of 2009. Senator Ashburn´s bill will remove that sunset date and allow state volunteerism to continue unabated in 2009 and beyond.
SB 1345 has been granted "reconsideration" and will be eligible for another hearing as soon as April 8, 2008.