(a)
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that every California youth should be encouraged to reach his or her full potential, but that many youths require guidance and support to reach their goals and make positive changes in their lives.
(b)
The Legislature finds and declares that conserving or developing natural resources, and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters through the use of California’s young women and men, is beneficial not only to the youth of the state by providing them with educational and work opportunities, but also is beneficial for the state’s economy and its environment.
(c)
The Legislature further finds and declares that the California Conservation Corps continues to offer California a unique opportunity to meet both the goal of increasing understanding and appreciation of the environment and the goal of helping youths become productive adults.
(d)
The Legislature therefore reaffirms its intent that the corps’ mission includes increasing awareness of and improving our natural resources, but more importantly, includes instilling basic skills and a healthy work ethic in California youth, building their character, self-esteem, and self-discipline, and establishing within them a strong sense of civic responsibility and understanding of the value of a day’s work for a day’s wages.
(e)
It is the further intent of the Legislature that corpsmembers graduate from the corps with good work habits, positive attitudes, and broadened professional horizons. It is the intent of the Legislature that the corps blend academic and job skills training with personal growth opportunities in order to develop productive youths who can make substantial contributions as California workers and citizens.
(f)
It is the further intent of the Legislature, in memory of Brien Thomas “B.T.” Collins and John E. “Jack” Dugan, and on behalf of their passion, support, and commitment to the mission of the corps, to ensure that the corps is an entrepreneurial and incentive-based program with stable and predictable funding. In pursuit of that goal, it is the intent of the Legislature that all state agencies look to the corps first to perform those projects that meet the mission of the corps.