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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2012

For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Gardiner (916) 651-4011 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

SIMITIAN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF SENATE FELLOWSHIPS


SACRAMENTO—State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced the availability of applications for the 2012-2013 California Senate Fellows program.

The program provides college graduates an opportunity to become full-time Senate staff at the state Capitol in Sacramento for 11 months beginning in October 2012.  Fellows are assigned to the personal or committee staff of a Senator and also participate in academic seminars with Senators, senior staff, journalists, lobbyists, and state government officials. The fellowship program is jointly operated by the California Senate and the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University.

Fellows are paid a stipend of $1,972 per month plus health, vision, and dental benefits.  They earn 6 units of graduate credit from Sacramento State for the academic portion of the program.

“If you want to gain first-hand knowledge of the legislative process, there’s no better way than through the Fellows Program,” said Simitian. “In the years I’ve been in the Legislature, fellows have been indispensable members of my team.”

Former Senate Fellows include current members of Congress and the California Legislature, judges, and numerous other elected officials and community leaders.

Fellows participate in a broad range of activities, including researching policy issues, developing legislative proposals, analyzing and staffing legislation, assisting with constituent inquiries and casework, participating in meetings as the Senator’s representative, and writing press releases and speeches. A five-week orientation provides background on state government, the legislative process, and major policy issues.

Applicants must be at least 20 years of age and a graduate of a four-year college or university by September 1, 2012.  There is no preferred major.  Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are encouraged to apply.

Applications may be requested by calling the program office at (916) 278-6906.  Applications and brochures are also available on the Senate’s Web site (http://sfela.senate.ca.gov/) and the program Web site (http://www.csus.edu/calst/senate).

The deadline for submitting applications is February 22, 2012.  Eighteen Fellows will be selected in May after an initial screening of applications and a subsequent panel interview of finalists.

The California State Assembly and the Executive Branch also offer Fellows programs.

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