BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2696
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Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Sandre Swanson, Chair
AB 2696 (Bass) - As Introduced: February 19, 2010
SUBJECT : Green Collar Jobs Council.
SUMMARY : Sets forth additional specified duties of the Green
Collar Jobs Council (GCJC). Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) to
accept any revenues, moneys, grants, goods, or services from
the federal and state public entities, local philanthropic
organizations, and other sources, to be used for purposes
relating to the administration and implementation of a
strategic initiative the GCJC is required to develop.
2)Establishes a Green Collar Jobs Account (Account) in the State
Treasury and specifies that:
a) All revenue received under these provisions be deposited
into the account; and,
b) The revenue shall only be expended for the purposes
related to administration and implementation of the
strategic initiative and for awarding workforce training
grants.
3)Requires the GCJC, in addition to its current duties, do the
following:
a) Assist in identifying and linking green collar jobs
opportunities in local workforce investment areas (LWIAs),
encouraging regional collaboration to meet regional demand;
and,
b) Collaborate with community colleges, and other
educational institutions, registered apprenticeship
programs, business and labor organizations, and
community-based and philanthropic organizations to align
workforce development services with strategies for regional
economic growth.
4)Requires the GCJC to confer with the appropriate state and
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local agencies to coordinate the award of grant funds and
green workforce training funds received by the state under the
federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
5)Requires, by April 1, 2011 and annually thereafter, the CWIB
to report to the Legislature on the status of GCJC activities,
grants awarded, and its development and implementation of
green workforce strategic initiative.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
This bill is a follow-up to AB 3018 (Nunez) from the 2008
session, which established the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC)
within the CWIB. AB 3018 specified that the GCJC is comprised
of the appropriate representatives from the CWIB's existing
membership, including the K-12 representative, the California
Community Colleges representative, the Business, Transportation
and Housing Agency representative, the Employment Development
Department (EDD) representative, and other appropriate members.
AB 3018 also required the GCJC to develop a strategic
initiative to identify and develop the framework, funding,
strategies, programs, policies, partnerships, and opportunities
necessary to address the growing need for a highly skilled and
well-trained workforce to meet the needs of California's
emerging green economy.
The GCJC convened for the first time on February 11th, 2009 (and
has met regularly thereafter), and adopted the following vision
statement:
"Over the next 18 to 24 months the Council will identify
and facilitate the development of the framework, funding,
strategies, programs policies, partnerships and
opportunities necessary to address the need for a highly
skilled and well-trained workforce in support of
California's green businesses and economy. Through its
work, the Council will serve as a catalyst for the creation
of sustainable regional sector strategies that will be
managed through regional partnerships."
Following the enactment of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the GCJC has been focusing some
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of its attention on opportunities for green collar jobs made
possible as a result of ARRA.
According to the author's office statement, "With California's
unemployment rate at an all time high of 10.5%, California needs
to develop short and long term goals to put Californians back to
work in jobs that provide a wage. We have an opportunity to
make an investment in our existing workforce training
infrastructure. Under the federal American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, California is receiving over $400
million in job training funds to be administered through our
existing workforce infrastructure. No time is greater than now
to form partnerships with state agencies, community colleges,
community based organizations, and labor apprenticeship programs
to train a highly skilled and well trained workforce to meet the
needs of California's growing green economy. According to a
recent report by Next 10, titled California Innovation Index
2009 , since 2005 the green collar job has continued to grow by
10% and business establishments by 2%, while job growth in other
sectors has been only 1%. With the infusion of federal economic
stimulus funds California stands to create thousands of jobs in
energy efficiency building retrofits, green building, solar and
green technology. The time is now to develop much needed
workforce training partnerships to better serve California."
PREVIOUS AND RELATED LEGISLATION:
AB 1394 (Bass) of 2009 was substantially similar to this bill.
AB 1394 was vetoed by the Governor. In his veto message, the
governor stated that AB 1394 was unnecessary because the EDD
currently administers grants and WIA funding and that GCJC
already has the power to consult with the Department of
Industrial Relations.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
AB 2696
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Analysis Prepared by : Shannon McKinley / L. & E. / (916)
319-2091