CHAPTER 4. Forestry Corps Program [14410 - 14413]
( Chapter 4 added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. )
No later than July 1, 2019, the director shall establish a forestry corps program.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. (AB 2126) Effective January 1, 2019.)
(a) The forestry corps program shall accomplish all of the following objectives:
(1) Develop and implement forest health projects, pursuant to Section 14412.
(2) Establish forestry corps crews, pursuant to Section 14413.
(3) Provide assistance to corps members in obtaining forestry and forest technician degrees and certificates.
(4) Train corps members to operate equipment in forestry and related fields.
(5) Create pathways from the corps to degree programs and jobs.
(b) The director may partner with community colleges, trade associations, forest and timber industries, vocational educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to provide training and experience to corps members.
(c) The director shall partner with the certified community conservation corps, pursuant to Section 14507.5, where feasible, in implementing the forestry corps program.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. (AB 2126) Effective January 1, 2019.)
Forest health projects may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Fuels reduction and hazardous fuels removal.
(b) Seedling and tree planting.
(c) Cone and seed collection.
(d) Tree mortality and tree felling.
(e) Tree nursery and arborist training.
(f) Forestry and conservation awareness and educational outreach.
(g) Participation in forestry pilot
programs.
(h) Wildlands forest firefighting training.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. (AB 2126) Effective January 1, 2019.)
(a) No later than January 1, 2020, the director shall establish two forestry corps crews, one to be based in the Central Valley and the other in the Inland Empire, as follows:
(1) To the extent feasible, the Central Valley forestry corps crew shall be administered and operated as a Greater Valley Conservation Corps program and shall be available to members of the Greater Valley Conservation Corps.
(2) The Inland Empire forestry corps crew shall be administered by the department and shall be based at the Inland Empire Center.
(b) No later than January 1, 2020, the director shall establish two additional forestry
corps crews, each to be based in either a state responsibility area, as defined in Section 4102, or a very high hazard fire zone, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 635, Sec. 2. (AB 2126) Effective January 1, 2019.)