03/26/2008 GAAS:144:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | En Español |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement after Senate Vote on Administration-Sponsored Bill to Eliminate Hurdles for Volunteering
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the
following statement after the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee
rejected SB
1345. The legislation allows volunteers to work on public works projects,
such as river cleanups, by permanently exempting them from a requirement to be
paid prevailing wages.
"Government has its job to do, but government cannot do
it all - the real action comes from the people. From the raging Southern California wildfires to the devastating Bay Area
oil spill, we have seen the positive difference Californians make through
volunteering. Without this law, public works projects - like building
playgrounds or cleaning up beaches, rivers and parks - will be in jeopardy of
not being completed. There have been no complaints to the Labor Commissioner,
so it's time to make this common-sense law
permanent."
In 2006, volunteers contributed approximately 858
million hours of service to the California economy - a value of more than
$17.4 billion. A one percent increase in the number of Californians who
volunteer would equal approximately 365,000 new volunteers contributing 48
million hours.
