BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2156
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 2156
(Levine) - As Introduced February 17, 2016
SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: higher education
regional workforce coordination
SUMMARY: Requires the California State University (CSU), and
requests the University of California (UC), to participate in
regional conversations pursuant to the Federal Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Specifically, this bill:
1)Finds and declares the following intent of the Legislature:
a) In order to meet the demands of today's regionally based
economy, all of California's institutions of higher
education must be involved in geographic workforce
development initiatives that seek to align our education
system with regional workforce needs; and,
b) For the UC to continue its mission in educating our
state's top students and offering the highest quality of
professional degrees, and for the CSU to continue its
mission in educating the bulk of our state's undergraduate
students.
AB 2156
Page 2
2)Requires the CSU and requests the UC to participate in
regional conversations pursuant to WIOA.
3)Requires the CSU and requests the UC to submit a report to the
Legislature on or before January 1, 2018, on both of the
following:
a) Efforts they have made to increase the number of degrees
in order to meet regional labor demands; and,
b) Identify barriers to addressing regional workforce
demands and the progress that is needed to overcome these
barriers.
EXISTING LAW: Requires, no later than January 31, 2016, the
California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to submit to the
Director of Finance, to the State Board of Education, and, to
the Legislature, a plan approved by the Chancellor and the SPI
to distribute funds from among others, to the Adult Education
Block Grant Program consortia: The federal Adult Education and
Family Literacy Act (Title II of the federal Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act) (Education Code (EC) Section
84915).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA).
Signed into law on July 22, 2014, by President Obama, WIOA
supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act
AB 2156
Page 3
and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The Act will help job seekers and workers access employment,
education, training, and support services to succeed in the
labor market and match employers with skilled workers they need
to compete in the global economy. Among others, at the state
level WIOA aligns establishes unified strategic planning across
"core" programs, which include, Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker
and Youth programs; Adult Education and Literacy programs; the
Wagner-Peyser Employment Service; and Title I of the
Rehabilitation Act programs. Additionally, WIOA aligns the
performance for core programs, and adds new ones related to
services to employers and postsecondary credential attainment.
To note, state performance goals must reflect economic
conditions and participant characteristics; makes available data
on training providers' performance outcomes; and, requires third
party evaluations of programs.
The Act took effect generally, on July 1, 2015. However, the
State Unified Plans and Common Performance Accountability
provisions take effect on July 1, 2016.
Current job shortages. According to a December 2015 report by
California Competes, entitled, "Mind the Gap: Delivering on
California's Promise for Higher Education," California is facing
a 2.4 million degree gap in 2025. California Competes finds
that this gap presents a significant challenge to the state and
notes that it becomes even more pressing when looking at the
disparities underneath the total. The report finds that Blacks
and Latinos are least likely to graduate from a UC and that many
more Latino students (and fewer Asians) receive
sub-baccalaureate credentials in comparison to bachelor's
degrees. Additionally, the report finds that Blacks are most
likely to receive a credential at a private institution,
including for-profits, where tuition costs are higher than in
the public segments.
AB 2156
Page 4
Purpose of the measure. According to the author, current law,
as directed by WIOA, requires Community Colleges and K-12s that
receive federal funding to participate in regional workforce
development conversations. The author states, "California as a
whole is moving towards regional collaboration of career
pathways development. The Administration has signaled their
support for this shift in the Governor's January Budget
proposal, where Governor Brown allocated $200 million to
implement the Strong Workforce Program. As a part of that
funding, Community Colleges are expected to collaborate
regionally with their educational, workforce, labor and civic
partners to expand access to career technical education programs
that meet each region's workforce needs."
The author argues that, "This outreach should include both the
UC and CSU campuses. This bill complements those efforts by
bringing the CSU and UC campuses to the table."
Policy considerations. As presently drafted, this measure tasks
the CSU and requests the UC to participate in regional
conversations. It is presently unclear as to what is meant by
"participate."
Moving forward, the author may wish to provide clarity as to
what is meant by "participate" in order to ensure that the
segments fully comply with the requirements established under
this measure.
Additionally, the CCC Chancellor's Office is one of the state
leaders in ensuring that the state is in compliance with WIOA
and collaborating on a regional level.
AB 2156
Page 5
Moving forward, the author may wish to encourage the CSU and UC,
to partner with the CCCCO.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
North Bay Leadership Council
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
AB 2156
Page 6