9118-9118.5
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.