02/26/2008 Print Version
WHEREAS the State
of California has a long tradition of volunteer service and civic engagement
that has inspired millions of people from all across our great state to
actively contribute their talents and time to assist others and serve the
greater good of society; and
WHEREAS in 2006,
6.47 million Californians volunteered in their communities, performing more
than 858.5 million hours of service valued at over $17.4 billion to
California's economy; and
WHEREAS CaliforniaVolunteers, then the California Service Corps, was tasked by
Executive Order S-04-06 with ensuring the coordination of volunteer activities
related to disaster response and recovery, including necessary training,
equipment, and transportation provisions; and
WHEREAS through
CaliforniaVolunteers and local volunteer organizations, more than 10,000
Californians responded to California's call for volunteers to help those
affected by the Southern California Wildfires; and
WHEREAS since
1994, more than 69,000 men and women have committed a year of service to
California communities through AmeriCorps and these men and women have provided
such services as tutoring at-risk youth, restoring vital watersheds, and
building homes for the homeless; and
WHEREAS volunteers play an important role in helping state agencies and departments
provide services to Californians and supporting the significant contributions
of the state's public servants; and
WHEREAS volunteers help address critical issues that affect all Californians, such as
environmental protection, disaster preparedness, anti-poverty efforts, and
mentoring at-risk youth; and
WHEREAS state
government cannot solve all of the many challenges facing California and must effectively and
efficiently engage more volunteers to address community needs. The enhancement and better coordination of the
public and private sectors in support of volunteering is vital to improving California; and
WHEREAS service
and volunteering efforts in California
must be strengthened through improved collaboration to reach their maximum
potential; and
WHEREAS changes
to the current structure of CaliforniaVolunteers will help increase the
positive impact of volunteering and service in California; and
WHEREAS CaliforniaVolunteers can be strengthened without the need to add any new net
costs to the budget, by redirecting positions and funding from other agencies.
NOW, THEREFORE, I ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California,
by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws
of the State of California,
do hereby issue this Executive Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS
ORDERED THAT:
1. Executive Orders
S-04-06 and S-24-06 are supplemented by this Executive Order.
2. CaliforniaVolunteers
will be headed by a Secretary of Service and Volunteering, who shall be
appointed by, and who shall serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Secretary of Service and Volunteering
shall be a member of the Governor's cabinet.
3. The existing
CaliforniaVolunteers Commission will continue to serve as California's "State
Commission" for purposes of the National and Community Service Trust Act (42
U.S.C. § 12501 et seq.) and its implementing rules and regulations.
4. CaliforniaVolunteers
shall be the lead agency under the California Emergency Services Act (Gov.
Code, § 8550 et seq.) for the coordination of monetary and in-kind donations
during times of disaster. It will
cooperate with the Office of Emergency Services in fulfilling these duties.
5. The Secretary of
Service and Volunteering will collaborate with private organizations to
increase investment and participation in service and volunteering.
6. The existing
Governor's Mentoring Partnership, established as the California Mentor Council
by Executive Order W-132-96, shall be part of CaliforniaVolunteers, including
its staff and all its power and duties.
7. All state agencies
and departments are hereby directed to cooperate with and assist
CaliforniaVolunteers in carrying out its duties and increasing volunteer
opportunities within state government.
This Executive Order is not intended
to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies,
departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
I FURTHER DIRECT THAT, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given to this order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 26th day of
February 2008.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
ATTEST:
Debra Bowen
Secretary of State
