SECTIONS 3110-3112 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 3110-3112

3110. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California State Government Volunteers Act.

3111. As used in this chapter:
(a) "Volunteer" means any person who, of his own free will,
provides goods or services, without any financial gain, to any state
agency, as defined in Section 11000;
(b) "Administrative volunteer" means any person serving
voluntarily on boards, commissions or other similar bodies with
California state government; and
(c) "Direct service volunteer" means any person involved in
specific volunteer service that includes one to one relationships or
assistance to recipients of government services.

3112. The Legislature finds and declares that:
(a) Since the spirit of volunteerism has long animated generations
of Americans to give of their time and abilities to help others, the
state would be wise to make use of volunteers in state service
wherever practically possible.
(b) The spirit of citizen initiative and self-reliance that has
prevailed throughout the United States for over the past two
centuries needs to be recognized and fostered whenever possible in
meeting the basic human needs in the state.
(c) In every community or neighborhood there are individuals who,
by their personality, concern, experience, commitment, and training,
can serve as citizen action leaders.
(d) There presently exists sufficient resources to assist citizen
action efforts. There are an infinite number of skilled, experienced
community groups, and volunteer organizations available to help
mobilize citizen initiatives. Such groups include business and
fraternal organizations, churches, women's organizations, voluntary
action centers, schools and other community organizations in both the
public and private sectors.
(e) Legal and market disincentives and impediments need to be
eliminated in order to establish an optimum environment for citizen
initiative and volunteer action.
(f) There is a need for a clearinghouse, to provide information
concerning resources and alternatives to foster self-reliance and
citizen action.
(g) It is not the intent of the Legislature that volunteers
replace or supplant public employees, where such employees are
providing services deemed necessary for the government to perform,
but that they add new dimensions to providing of governmental
services.