People with disabilities: pilot civil service apprenticeship program: environmental service technicians: correctional facilities.

Assembly Member Wilson's proposal to create a civil service apprenticeship program would establish new pathways for people with disabilities to work as environmental service technicians in California correctional facilities. The program, set to launch by July 1, 2026, requires coordination among six state departments including the California Department of Human Resources, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Department of Rehabilitation.

The legislation responds to employment data showing a 7.2% unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities in 2023, compared to 3.5% for those without disabilities. According to the bill's findings, California has over 7 million residents with disabilities who face systemic barriers to workforce participation. The apprenticeship program aims to provide structured entry into civil service roles within the state prison system.

Implementation requires collaboration between human resources, corrections, rehabilitation, industrial relations, prison industry, and general services departments, with input from employee representatives. While the bill establishes the program's framework and timeline, it does not allocate new funding, indicating costs must be absorbed within existing department budgets. The pilot program will operate specifically within facilities under Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation jurisdiction, creating a focused testing ground for the apprenticeship model.