County agencies: interns and student assistants: hiring preference.

Existing law authorizes state and local agencies to establish procedures governing employment within their respective jurisdictions, subject to applicable civil service rules. Existing law requires state agencies, when hiring for internships and student assistant positions, to give preference to a qualified applicant who is, or has been, a dependent child in foster care, a homeless youth, or a formerly incarcerated youth. Existing law requires the preference to be granted to applicants up to 26 years of age and requires county welfare departments, in connection with termination of dependency proceedings, to provide dependent children with information notifying them that they may be eligible for this preference. This bill would similarly require each county to develop a hiring preference program for disadvantaged groups, as defined, when hiring for internship and student assistant positions. The bill would also require county welfare departments to notify dependent children, who are subject to termination of dependency proceedings, that they may be eligible for the program. By imposing new duties on counties, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.