BILL ANALYSIS �
SJR 10
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SENATE THIRD READING
SJR 10 (Lieu)
As Introduced April 22, 2013
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :30-1
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 7-0
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|Ayes:|Roger Hern�ndez, Morrell, | | |
| |Alejo, Chau, Gomez, | | |
| |Gorell, Holden | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Urges the Congress of the United States (Congress) to
reauthorize the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and to
include policies and strategies in support of WIA, as specified.
Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative
findings and declarations:
1)Over eight million people were served nationally by the public
workforce system funded by the federal WIA (29 U.S.C. Sec.
2801 et seq.), a 234% increase in participation rates in just
two years and over 4.3 million WIA participants found jobs
through the public workforce system.
2)The policy of investing in a highly productive workforce
through programs that foster skills, attainment, and human
capital development is important to ensure that California and
the United States can compete in the global economy by
providing opportunities for career advancement and upward
mobility for WIA service recipients.
3)While the national economy is beginning to expand, there
continue to be areas of high unemployment throughout
California that are lagging behind the nation's recovery from
the recession.
4)The federal budget for Fiscal Year 2010 and going forward has
reduced available funding for an array of national workforce
programs targeting dislocated workers, low-income adults,
veterans, disconnected young adults, and other highly
vulnerable groups in the labor market.
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5)The Department of Labor has been extremely supportive of
operating and evaluating the Adult and Dislocated Workers
Program and Youth Employment and Youth Build programs.
6)Policies need to be established to ensure program
responsiveness to the needs of employers, workers, and
students who benefit from investment in the workforce and to
encourage collaboration between state and local workforce
investment boards and the stakeholders whom they serve,
including businesses, unions, nonprofit organizations, K-12
programs, career technical education programs, basic skills
programs, and systems of higher education including community
colleges.
7)Policies need to be established to link program service
delivery strategies to data analysis, ensuring that program
practices are evidence based and to ensure that programs and
services are outcome oriented and accountable, measuring
results for program participants, including outcomes related
to program completion, skills attainment, employment, and
earnings.
8)Policies need to be established to ensure that programs are
accessible to employers, workers, and students, including
disadvantaged populations and individuals with employment
barriers.
9)Congress should include measures in the WIA to ensure that
state and local workforce investment boards are representative
of relevant stakeholders, including business and labor leaders
from statewide, regional, and locally competitive or emergent
industry sectors.
10)Congress should include measures in the WIA to utilize
demand-driven strategies, including sector-based strategies
that are connected to regional economies and labor markets,
particularly those strategies that link investment in skills
attainment with the skills needs of competitive or emergent
industry sectors.
11)Congress should include measures in the WIA to expand
opportunities for skills attainment, lifelong learning, and
enrollment in learn and earn programs which prepare workers
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for jobs with a future
12)Congress should include measures in the WIA to ensure
adequate funding for programs that have demonstrated success
in engaging at risk populations, including high risk youth,
and are instrumental in developing a competitive workforce.
These include career pathways programs, summer youth
employment programs, contextualized adult basic skills
education and G.E.D. literacy programs, vocational training,
and incumbent worker programs.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : The author points out that a shattered job market and
record high unemployment rates has left Californians with the
toughest job crisis in over 50 years. At a time when workers,
families and communities need more support, states are facing
difficult budget challenges. Every dollar of workforce funds
must be invested in high quality employment services that
connect workers with good paying jobs. The federal Workforce
Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 provides participating states with
funding for job training and employment investment programs.
WIA is the largest single source of federal funding for
workforce development activities.
There is broad consensus that well educated and trained workers
are more productive and successful in labor markets. However,
targeting these efforts towards the jobs sectors that are best
positioned to make gains if investments are made is essential
and requires the use of current economic and labor market data.
The law authorizing WIA expired in 2003, although Congress has
continued to appropriate funding for the program annually.
Analysis Prepared by : Lorie Alvarez / L. & E. / (916)
319-2091
FN: 0001690