SECTIONS 9118-9118.5 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 9118-9118.5

9118. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) The talents of our elders will prove to be vital to the
prosperity and well-being of California.
(b) California's seniors possess an abundance of experience,
perspective, wisdom, time, and goodwill that Californians fail to
cherish, and to use, for our common good.
(c) Currently, persons age 55 years and older have the lowest rate
of volunteerism among adults.
(d) California's seniors represent enormous civic potential, and
they are underutilized.
(e) California's seniors should be provided opportunities for
civic involvement.

9118.5. (a) The Legislature requests that the Governor's Office on
Service and Volunteerism, in formulating its Unified State Plan for
Service, and in coordination with the Corporation for National and
Community Service and other involved entities including, but not
limited to, the California Department of Aging and the State
Department of Social Services, pursue resources to develop an Elder
Corps master plan to expand opportunities for engaging California's
seniors, and to set standards for the effective training and
supervision of volunteers.
(b) The master plan described in subdivision (a) should also
include recommendations for exploring the feasibility of
incorporating the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program as a state
program authorized under the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act
pursuant to Division 5 (commencing with Section 9000).
(c) The master plan described in subdivision (a) shall be
completed only if and when private funding is received for that
purpose.
(d) The Legislature requests that the Governor's Office on Service
and Volunteerism work with the Corporation for National and
Community Service to ensure that California's portion of the federal
funds expected to be received through President Bush's USA Freedom
Corps are used, in part, to enhance senior volunteer opportunities
and intergenerational involvement, building off current programs and
structures and utilizing the best practices of volunteer management.