BILL NUMBER: AB 1224	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 9, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Veterans Affairs (Cook (Chair), Pan
(Vice Chair), Block, Gorell, Nielsen, V. Manuel Pérez, Williams, and
Yamada)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to  amend Sections 987.60, 987.67, 987.71, 987.785,
987.79, and 987.84 of, and to add Section 987.93   to, the
Military and Veterans Code, and to  amend Section 10205 of the
Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to  the employment
training panel   veterans, and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1224, as amended, Committee on Veterans Affairs. 
Employment training panel: 3-year plan: training programs: veterans:
National Guard members.   Veterans: veterans' farm and
home purchases: Employment Training Panel: training programs. 

   The Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1974 authorizes the
Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in acquiring homes
and farms, including cooperative dwelling units, by generally
providing that the department may purchase a farm or home that the
department then sells to a purchaser, as defined.  
   This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to
adopt regulations to implement the act described above for
cooperative dwelling units in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act. The bill would also revise provisions relating to
forfeiture and the calculation of net gain in connection with the
sale of a cooperative dwelling units.  
   The Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1974 requires the
purchaser to make an initial payment of at least 2% of the selling
price of the property or a higher amount as determined by the
Department of Veterans Affairs based on the creditworthiness of the
purchaser.  
   This bill would eliminate the requirement that the higher amount
determined by the department to be paid by the purchaser be based on
the creditworthiness of the purchaser. 
   Existing law establishes the Employment Training Panel (ETP) in
the Employment Development Department, and prescribes the membership
and functions and duties of the ETP with regard to the development
and implementation of specified employment training programs.
Existing law requires the ETP, among other things, to establish a
3-year plan, as specified, that is required to be updated annually,
as provided, and requires that the updated plan be submitted to the
Governor and the Legislature not later than January 1 of each year.
Existing law requires the ETP, in carrying out its responsibilities
related to the plan, to maintain a system to continuously monitor
economic and other data required under the plan, and requires that
the plan include specified components to identify and address
employment training needs in the state.
   This bill would additionally require that the plan include a
statement describing the employment training goals, objectives, and
strategies that may be implemented to support target populations in
need of employment training, including military veterans and members
of the National Guard. 
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute. 
   Vote:  majority   2/3  . Appropriation:
no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 987.60 of the  
Military and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.60.  (a) The department may acquire the farm or home from its
owner or may contract with a veteran for the construction of a
dwelling and other improvements for a farm or home, upon the terms
agreed under all of the following terms and conditions:
   (1) The department is satisfied of the desirability of the
property submitted.
   (2) The veteran has agreed with the department that he or she, or
members of his or her immediate family, will actually reside on the
property within 60 days from the date of purchase by the department,
or, if the residence on the property is not complete on the date of
purchase, within 60 days after the residence is completed, and will
continue to reside on the property until all payments due the
department have been paid or the farm or home is sold, except where
the occupancy requirement is waived pursuant to Section 987.62.
   (3) If the department is to contract with a veteran for the
construction of a dwelling and other buildings, or for the purchase
of a mobilehome, all of the following are required:
   (A) The veteran shall be the owner of the real property on which
the dwelling and other buildings are to be constructed, or shall be
the owner of the real property or shall be the owner of an undivided
interest in common in a portion of a parcel of real property on which
a mobilehome  or cooperative dwelling unit  is to be
situated, and agrees to convey that property to the department
without cost.
   (B) The veteran has paid a reasonable fee set by the department to
cover the cost of any preliminary service of the department that may
be necessary to process the application.
   (C) The veteran has filed with the department adequate plans and
specifications for the improvements to be constructed upon the real
property, together with a contract, executed by a contractor licensed
by the State of California for the construction of the improvements
in accordance with the plans and specifications within 12 months
after the acquisition of the property by the department. The
department may require a bond or other security instrument executed
by the contractor in an amount determined by the department providing
for compliance with the terms of the contract and for the payment of
persons furnishing material or labor on the job, executed by a
surety company, or other financial institution, authorized to do
business in the State of California. The department may also require
course-of-construction insurance for public liability, property
damage, and workers' compensation.
   (D) The plans, specifications, contract, and other required
documents or security instruments are approved by the department.
   (E) The veteran has placed in escrow all sums of money to be
advanced by him or her, where the cost is in excess of the maximum
that may be expended by the department.
   (b) As used in this section "immediate family" includes only the
veteran's spouse, natural or adoptive dependent children, and parents
only if the parents are dependent upon the veteran for 50 percent or
more of their support.
   SEC. 2.    Section 987.67 of the   Military
and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.67.  (a)  Notwithstanding subdivision (c), before
  Before  the purchase of any property by the
department there shall be filed with the department (1) an
appraisement of the market value of the property by an employee or an
authorized agent of the department, (2) an appraisement of the
market value of the property by either the Federal Housing
Administration or the Veteran's Administration, and in addition there
may be filed with the department an appraisement of the market value
of the property by an authorized appraiser of a banking corporation
formed under the laws of this state or of a national banking
association having a place of business in this state, or (3) an
appraisement of the market value of the property by an appraiser
licensed or certified in this state. Each appraisement shall be
certified by the maker thereof. The certification shall state that it
is made in good faith, and that the valuation is honestly determined
and represents the bona fide opinion of the maker.
   (b) The department shall establish guidelines to ensure greater
participation of state-licensed or state-certified real estate
appraisers and shall establish an outreach program to effectively
disseminate information concerning the participation to professional
appraisal associations or trade groups.
   SEC. 3.    Section 987.71 of the   Military
and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.71.  (a) The purchaser shall make an initial payment of at
least 2 percent of the selling price of the property or a higher
amount that shall be determined by the department  , based on
the creditworthiness of the purchaser  . The department may
waive the initial payment in any case where the value of the
property as determined by the department from an appraisal equals the
amount to be paid by the department plus at least 5 percent. In the
case of a purchase requiring a loan guaranty by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, the department may waive the initial
payment and the purchaser shall pay the loan guaranty fee, which may
be added to the loan amount. The department may require the purchaser
to pay a loan origination fee, not to exceed 1 percent of the loan
amount, which may be added to the loan amount.
   (b) The balance of the loan amount may be amortized over a period
fixed by the department, not exceeding 40 years for farms or homes,
not including cooperative housing stock related to mobilehomes, and
not exceeding 30 years for mobilehomes, including cooperative housing
stock related to mobilehomes, located in mobilehome parks, as
defined in Section 18214 of the Health and Safety Code, together with
interest thereon at the rate determined by the department pursuant
to Section 987.87 for these amortization purposes.
   (c) The department may, in order to allow the veteran to purchase
the home selected without incurring excessive monthly payments, at
the time of initial purchase, postpone the commencement of payment of
the principal balance for a period not to exceed five years if the
veteran's current income meets the standards for purchase on these
terms and if the department determines, in accordance with previously
established criteria for these determinations, that the veteran's
income can reasonably be expected to increase sufficiently within the
five-year period to make the transition to fully amortized principal
and interest payments, so long as the total term of the contract of
purchase does not exceed 40 years, or 30 years where the contract
relates to a mobilehome located in a mobilehome park, as defined in
Section 18214 of the Health and Safety Code.
   (d) The purchaser on any installment date may pay any or all
installments still remaining unpaid.
   (e) In any individual case, the department may for good cause
postpone, from time to time, upon terms the department determines to
be proper, the payment of the whole or any part of any installment of
the purchase price or interest thereon.
   (f) Each installment shall include an amount sufficient to pay the
principal and interest on the participation contract to which the
interest of the department is subject, and any amount as may be
required by a covenant or provision contained in any resolution of
issuance.
   (g) When a purchaser makes an initial payment of less than 20
percent of the selling price of the property, the department shall do
all of the following:
   (1) Take prudent measures to minimize losses from loan defaults
and loan delinquencies.
   (2) (A) Ensure the continued financial solvency of the loan
program by charging fees to cover the costs, as determined by the
department, of any loan guaranty, primary mortgage insurance, or
other similar arrangement.
   (B) Fees charged under this paragraph may be included in the
amount of the loan, collected in advance, or collected as part of the
monthly payment.
   (h) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the department may provide
initial payment assistance to lower income first-time purchasers by
providing a deferred-payment second loan, upon which simple interest
shall be charged at a rate established by the department.
   (2) A deferred-payment second loan described in paragraph (1) is
subject to all of the following conditions:
   (A) The loan may not exceed 3 percent of the selling price of the
farm or home.
   (B) The loan shall be secured by a deed of trust or, if authorized
by the department, another form of security.
   (C) The loan shall be due and payable upon the payment in full of
the contract or upon the sale or transfer of the farm or home.
   SEC. 4.    Section 987.785 of the   Military
and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.785.   Whenever   Except as otherwise may
be provided by the department pursuant to regulations promulgated by
the department with respect to a cooperative dwelling unit owned by
a limited equity housing cooperative, whenever  the department
cancels a contract and takes possession of a property pursuant to
Section 987.77 and elects to sell the property covered by a forfeited
contract, the department may, at its option, establish a procedure
for listing the property for sale, together with similarly located
properties, with a licensed real estate broker. The department may,
in this connection, prepare schedules of properties available for
sale by geographic areas and may offer a schedule from time to time
to any licensed real estate broker within the geographic area covered
by the schedule for a fee which shall be sufficient to cover the
costs to the department in compiling the schedules and making them
available. If the department enters into a real estate listing
agreement, exclusive or otherwise, with a licensed real estate
broker, the department shall cooperate with the broker in all
customary respects and make the property available at reasonable
times for inspections by prospective purchasers.
   SEC. 5.    Section 987.79 of the   Military
and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.79.   The   (a)    
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the  department
may, in the contract of purchase with a veteran, provide that, in
the event of default by the veteran and forfeiture of his or her
rights under the contract and subsequent sale of the property by the
department, it may pay to the veteran any net gain realized by the
department upon the sale. The department is the sole judge of the net
gain. 
   (b) The net gain realized by the department upon the sale of a
cooperative dwelling unit owned by a limited equity housing
cooperative shall be determined in accordance with regulations
established by the department. 
   SEC. 6.    Section 987.84 of the   Military
and Veterans Code   is amended to read: 
   987.84.   The   Except as may otherwise be
permitted by the department pursuant to regulations established by
the department, the  right to declare a forfeiture for breach of
a condition contained in any deed to real property or in any
cooperative dwelling unit ownership documents may not be enforced as
against the interest of the department in said property or any
portion thereof.
   SEC. 7.    Section 987.93 is added to the  
Military and Veterans Code   , to read:  
   987.93.  The department may adopt regulations to implement this
article for cooperative dwelling units in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

   SEC. 8.    Section 10205 of the  
Unemployment Insurance Code   is amended to read: 
   10205.  The panel shall do all of the following:
   (a) Establish a three-year plan that shall be updated annually,
based on the demand of employers for trained workers, changes in the
state's economy and labor markets, and continuous reviews of the
effectiveness of panel training contracts. The updated plan shall be
submitted to the Governor and the Legislature not later than January
1 of each year. In carrying out this section, the panel shall review
information in the following areas:
   (1) Labor market information, including the state-local labor
market information program in the Employment Development Department
and other relevant regional or statewide initiatives and
collaboratives.
   (2) Evaluations of the effectiveness of training as measured by
increased security of employment for workers and benefits to the
California economy.
   (3) The demand for training by industry, type of training, and
size of employer.
   (4) Changes in skills necessary to perform jobs, including changes
in basic literacy skills.
   (5) Changes in the demographics of the labor force and the
population entering the labor market.
   (6) Proposed expenditures by other agencies of federal Workforce
Investment Act funds and other state and federal training and
vocational education funds on eligible participants.
   (b) Maintain a system to continuously monitor economic and other
data required under this plan. If this data changes significantly
during the life of the plan, the plan shall be amended by the panel.
Each plan shall include all of the following:
   (1) The panel's objectives with respect to the criteria and
priorities specified in Section 10200 and the distribution of funds
between new-hire training and retraining.
   (2) The identification of specific industries, production and
quality control techniques, and regions of the state where employment
training funds would most benefit the state's economy and plans to
encourage training in these areas, including specific standards and a
system for expedited review of proposals that meet the standards.
   (3) A system for expedited review of proposals that are
substantially similar with respect to employer needs, training
curriculum, duration of training, and costs of training, in order to
encourage the development of proposals that meet the needs identified
in paragraph (2).
   (4) The panel's goals, operational objectives, and strategies to
meet the needs of small businesses, including, but not limited to,
those small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. These strategies
proposed by the panel may include, but not be limited to, pilot
demonstration projects designed to identify potential barriers that
small businesses may experience in accessing panel programs and
workforce training resources, including barriers that may exist
within small businesses.
   (5) The research objectives of the panel that contribute to the
effectiveness of this chapter in benefiting the economy of the state
as a whole.
   (6) A priority list of skills or occupations that are in such
short supply that employers are choosing to not locate or expand
their businesses in the state or are importing labor in response to
these skills shortages.
   (7) A review of the panel's efforts to coordinate with the
California Workforce Investment Board and local boards to achieve an
effective and coordinated approach in the delivery of the state's
workforce resources.
   (A) The panel will consider specific strategies to achieve this
goal that include the development of initiatives to engage local
workforce investment boards in enhancing the utilization of panel
training resources by companies in priority sectors, special
populations, and in geographically underserved areas of the state.
   (B) Various approaches to foster greater program integration
between workforce investment boards and the panel will also be
considered, which may include marketing agreements, expanded
technical assistance, modification of program regulations and policy,
and expanded use of multiple employer contracts. 
   (8) Training goals, objectives, and strategies that may be
implemented to support target populations in need of employment
training, including military veterans and members of the National
Guard. 
   (c) Solicit proposals and write contracts on the basis of
proposals made directly to it. Contracts for the purpose of providing
employment training may be written with any of the following:
   (1) An employer or group of employers.
   (2) A training agency.
   (3) A local workforce investment board with the approval of the
appropriate local elected officials in the local workforce investment
area.
   (4) A grant recipient or administrative entity selected pursuant
to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, with the approval of
the local workforce investment board and the appropriate local
elected officials.
   These contracts shall be in the form of fixed-fee performance
contracts. Notwithstanding any  provision of  law to
the contrary, contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter shall
not be subject to competitive bidding procedures. Contracts for
training may be written for a period not to exceed 24 months for the
purpose of administration by the panel and the contracting employer
or any group of employers acting jointly or any training agency for
the purpose of providing employment training.
   (d) Fund training projects that best meet the priorities
identified annually. In doing so, the panel shall seek to facilitate
the employment of the maximum number of eligible participants.
   (e) Establish minimum standards for the consideration of
proposals, which shall include, but not be limited to, evidence of
labor market demand, the number of jobs available, the skill
requirements for the identified jobs, the projected cost per person
trained, hired, and retained in employment, the wages paid successful
trainees upon placement, and the curriculum for the training. No
proposal shall be considered or approved that proposes training for
employment covered by a collective bargaining agreement unless the
signatory labor organization agrees in writing.
   (f) Ensure the provision of adequate fiscal and accounting
controls for, monitoring and auditing of, and other appropriate
technical and administrative assistance to, projects funded by this
chapter.
   (g) Provide for evaluation of projects funded by this chapter. The
evaluations shall assess the effectiveness of training previously
funded by the panel to improve job security and stability for
workers, and benefit participating employers and the state's economy,
and shall compare the wages of trainees in the 12-month period prior
to training as well as the 12-month period subsequent to completion
of training, as reflected in the department's unemployment insurance
tax records. Individual project evaluations shall contain a summary
description of the project, the number of persons entering training,
the number of persons completing training, the number of persons
employed at the end of the project, the number of persons still
employed three months after the end of the project, the wages paid,
the total costs of the project, and the total reimbursement received
from the Employment Training Fund.
   (h) Report annually to the Legislature, by November 30, on
projects operating during the previous state fiscal year. These
annual reports shall provide separate summaries of all of the
following:
   (1) Projects completed during the year, including their individual
and aggregate performance and cost.
   (2) Projects not completed during the year, briefly describing
each project and identifying approved contract amounts by contract
and for this category as a whole, and identifying any projects in
which funds are expected to be disencumbered.
   (3) Projects terminated prior to completion and the reasons for
the termination.
   (4) A description of the amount, type, and effectiveness of
literacy training funded by the panel.
   (5) Results of complete project evaluations.
   (6) A description of pilot projects, and the strategies that were
identified through these projects, to increase access by small
businesses to panel training contracts.
   (7) A listing of training projects that were funded in high
unemployment areas and a detailed description of the policies and
procedures that were used to designate geographic regions and
municipalities as high unemployment areas.
   In addition, based upon its experience in administering job
training projects, the panel shall include in these reports policy
recommendations concerning the impact of job training and the panel's
program on economic development, labor-management relations,
employment security, and other related issues.
   (i) Conduct ongoing reviews of panel policies with the goal of
developing an improved process for developing, funding, and
implementing panel contracts as described in this chapter.
   (j) Expedite the processing of contracts for firms considering
locating or expanding businesses in the state, in accordance with the
priorities for employment training programs set forth in subdivision
(b) of Section 10200.
   (k) Coordinate and consult regularly with business groups and
labor organizations, the California Workforce Investment Board, the
State Department of Education, the office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, and the Employment Development
Department.
   (l) Adopt by regulation procedures for the conduct of panel
business, including the scheduling and conduct of meetings, the
review of proposals, the disclosure of contacts between panel members
and parties at interest concerning particular proposals, contracts
or cases before the panel or its staff, the awarding of contracts,
the administration of contracts, and the payment of amounts due to
contractors. All decisions by the panel shall be made by resolution
of the panel and any adverse decision shall include a statement of
the reason for the decision.
   (m) Adopt regulations and procedures providing reasonable
confidentiality for the proprietary information of employers seeking
training funds from the panel if the public disclosure of that
information would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to the
employer supplying the information. The panel may not withhold
information from the public regarding its operations, procedures, and
decisions that would otherwise be subject to disclosure under the
California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
   (n) Review and comment on the budget and performance of any
program, project, or activity funded by the panel utilizing funds
collected pursuant to Section 976.6.
   SEC. 9.    This act is an urgency statute necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety
within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go
into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
 
   In order for the state to offer employment training and housing
finance opportunities to veterans, including cooperative dwelling
loans, as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act go into
immediate effect.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 10205 of the Unemployment
Insurance Code is amended to read:
   10205.  The panel shall do all of the following:
   (a) Establish a three-year plan that shall be updated annually,
based on the demand of employers for trained workers, changes in the
state's economy and labor markets, and continuous reviews of the
effectiveness of panel training contracts. The updated plan shall be
submitted to the Governor and the Legislature not later than January
1 of each year. In carrying out this section, the panel shall review
information in the following areas:
   (1) Labor market information, including the state-local labor
market information program in the Employment Development Department,
the California Economic Strategy Panel, and other relevant regional
or statewide initiatives and collaboratives.
   (2) Evaluations of the effectiveness of training as measured by
increased security of employment for workers and benefits to the
California economy.
   (3) The demand for training by industry, type of training, and
size of employer.
   (4) Changes in skills necessary to perform jobs, including changes
in basic literacy skills.
   (5) Changes in the demographics of the labor force and the
population entering the labor market.
   (6) Proposed expenditures by other agencies of federal Workforce
Investment Act funds and other state and federal training and
vocational education funds on eligible participants.
   (b) Maintain a system to continuously monitor economic and other
data required under this plan. If this data changes significantly
during the life of the plan, the plan shall be amended by the panel.
Each plan shall include all of the following:
   (1) The panel's objectives with respect to the criteria and
priorities specified in Section 10200 and the distribution of funds
between new-hire training and retraining.
   (2) The identification of specific industries, production and
quality control techniques, and regions of the state where employment
training funds would most benefit the state's economy and plans to
encourage training in these areas, including specific standards and a
system for expedited review of proposals that meet the standards.
   (3) A system for expedited review of proposals that are
substantially similar with respect to employer needs, training
curriculum, duration of training, and costs of training, in order to
encourage the development of proposals that meet the needs identified
in paragraph (2).
   (4) The panel's goals, operational objectives, and strategies to
meet the needs of small businesses, including, but not limited to,
those small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. These strategies
proposed by the panel may include, but not be limited to, pilot
demonstration projects designed to identify potential barriers that
small businesses may experience in accessing panel programs and
workforce training resources, including barriers that may exist
within small businesses.

     (5) The research objectives of the panel that contribute to the
effectiveness of this chapter in benefiting the economy of the state
as a whole.
   (6) A priority list of skills or occupations that are in such
short supply that employers are choosing to not locate or expand
their businesses in the state or are importing labor in response to
these skills shortages.
   (7) A review of the panel's efforts to coordinate with the
California Workforce Investment Board and local boards to achieve an
effective and coordinated approach in the delivery of the state's
workforce resources.
   (A) The panel will consider specific strategies to achieve this
goal that include the development of initiatives to engage local
workforce investment boards in enhancing the utilization of panel
training resources by companies in priority sectors, special
populations, and in geographically underserved areas of the state.
   (B) Various approaches to foster greater program integration
between workforce investment boards and the panel will also be
considered, which may include marketing agreements, expanded
technical assistance, modification of program regulations and policy,
and expanded use of multiple employer contracts.
   (8) Training goals, objectives, and strategies that may be
implemented to support target populations in need of employment
training, including military veterans and members of the National
Guard.
   (c) Solicit proposals and write contracts on the basis of
proposals made directly to it. Contracts for the purpose of providing
employment training may be written with any of the following:
   (1) An employer or group of employers.
   (2) A training agency.
   (3) A local workforce investment board with the approval of the
appropriate local elected officials in the local workforce investment
area.
   (4) A grant recipient or administrative entity selected pursuant
to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, with the approval of
the local workforce investment board and the appropriate local
elected officials.
   These contracts shall be in the form of fixed-fee performance
contracts. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, contracts entered
into pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to competitive
bidding procedures. Contracts for training may be written for a
period not to exceed 24 months for the purpose of administration by
the panel and the contracting employer or any group of employers
acting jointly or any training agency for the purpose of providing
employment training.
   (d) Fund training projects that best meet the priorities
identified annually. In doing so, the panel shall seek to facilitate
the employment of the maximum number of eligible participants.
   (e) Establish minimum standards for the consideration of
proposals, which shall include, but not be limited to, evidence of
labor market demand, the number of jobs available, the skill
requirements for the identified jobs, the projected cost per person
trained, hired, and retained in employment, the wages paid successful
trainees upon placement, and the curriculum for the training. No
proposal shall be considered or approved that proposes training for
employment covered by a collective bargaining agreement unless the
signatory labor organization agrees in writing.
   (f) Ensure the provision of adequate fiscal and accounting
controls for, monitoring and auditing of, and other appropriate
technical and administrative assistance to, projects funded by this
chapter.
   (g) Provide for evaluation of projects funded by this chapter. The
evaluations shall assess the effectiveness of training previously
funded by the panel to improve job security and stability for
workers, and benefit participating employers and the state's economy,
and shall compare the wages of trainees in the 12-month period prior
to training as well as the 12-month period subsequent to completion
of training, as reflected in the department's unemployment insurance
tax records. Individual project evaluations shall contain a summary
description of the project, the number of persons entering training,
the number of persons completing training, the number of persons
employed at the end of the project, the number of persons still
employed three months after the end of the project, the wages paid,
the total costs of the project, and the total reimbursement received
from the Employment Training Fund.
   (h) Report annually to the Legislature, by November 30, on
projects operating during the previous state fiscal year. These
annual reports shall provide separate summaries of all of the
following:
   (1) Projects completed during the year, including their individual
and aggregate performance and cost.
   (2) Projects not completed during the year, briefly describing
each project and identifying approved contract amounts by contract
and for this category as a whole, and identifying any projects in
which funds are expected to be disencumbered.
   (3) Projects terminated prior to completion and the reasons for
the termination.
   (4) A description of the amount, type, and effectiveness of
literacy training funded by the panel.
   (5) Results of complete project evaluations.
   (6) A description of pilot projects, and the strategies that were
identified through these projects, to increase access by small
businesses to panel training contracts.
   (7) A listing of training projects that were funded in high
unemployment areas and a detailed description of the policies and
procedures that were used to designate geographic regions and
municipalities as high unemployment areas.
   In addition, based upon its experience in administering job
training projects, the panel shall include in these reports policy
recommendations concerning the impact of job training and the panel's
program on economic development, labor-management relations,
employment security, and other related issues.
   (i) Conduct ongoing reviews of panel policies with the goal of
developing an improved process for developing, funding, and
implementing panel contracts as described in this chapter.
   (j) Expedite the processing of contracts for firms considering
locating or expanding businesses in the state, in accordance with the
priorities for employment training programs set forth in subdivision
(b) of Section 10200.
   (k) Coordinate and consult regularly with business groups and
labor organizations, the California Workforce Investment Board, the
State Department of Education, the office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, and the Employment Development
Department.
   (l) Adopt by regulation procedures for the conduct of panel
business, including the scheduling and conduct of meetings, the
review of proposals, the disclosure of contacts between panel members
and parties at interest concerning particular proposals, contracts
or cases before the panel or its staff, the awarding of contracts,
the administration of contracts, and the payment of amounts due to
contractors. All decisions by the panel shall be made by resolution
of the panel and any adverse decision shall include a statement of
the reason for the decision.
   (m) Adopt regulations and procedures providing reasonable
confidentiality for the proprietary information of employers seeking
training funds from the panel if the public disclosure of that
information would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to the
employer supplying the information. The panel shall not withhold
information from the public regarding its operations, procedures, and
decisions that would otherwise be subject to disclosure under the
California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
   (n) Review and comment on the budget and performance of any
program, project, or activity funded by the panel utilizing funds
collected pursuant to Section 976.6.