BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 342
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB
342 (Jackson)
As Amended August 17, 2015
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 35-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Labor |7-0 |Roger Hernández, | |
| | |Harper, Chu, Low, | |
| | |McCarty, Patterson, | |
| | |Thurmond | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonta, | |
| | |Calderon, Chang, | |
| | |Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Holden, Jones, Quirk, | |
| | |Rendon, Wagner, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
SB 342
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| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Requires the California Workforce Development Board
(CWDB) to assist the Governor in helping individuals with
barriers to employment, including low-skill, low-wage workers,
the long-term unemployed, and members of single-parent
households, achieve economic security and upward mobility by
implementing policies that encourage the attainment of
marketable skills relevant to current labor market trends and
defines "earn and learn", as specified and incorporates language
adopted pursuant to AB 1270 (Garcia), Chapter 94, Statutes of
2015, to avoid chaptering issues.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides, under the former federal Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (WIA), for activities and programs for job training and
employment investment in which states can participate,
including work incentive and employment training outreach
programs.
2)Establishes the CWDB and charged it with the responsibility of
developing a unified, strategic planning process to coordinate
various education, training, and employment programs into an
integrated workforce development system that supports economic
development.
3)Requires the CWDB, in collaboration with specified state and
local partners, and the local workforce investment boards
(LWIBs) to develop a strategic workforce plan to address the
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state's economic, demographic, and workplace needs.
4)Provides that the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA), signed into law on July 22, 2014, replaces the
WIA. Among other things, the new federal WIOA is designed to
help job seekers access employment, education, training, and
support services to succeed in the labor market and to match
employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the
global economy.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor/absorbable costs to CWDB to implement workforce
policies consistent with the requirements of this bill.
COMMENTS: According to the author this bill seeks to prioritize
funding for onsite compensated job training, keeping in line
with the WIOA, by emphasizing the benefit of onsite job training
for individuals with barriers to employment. The author points
out that under this bill the CWDB would be directed to implement
policies encouraging the attainment of marketable skills
relevant to current labor market trends, which will lead to
economic security and upward mobility for those underserved
individuals with barriers to employment.
Members of the CWDB are appointed by the Governor and represent
the many facets of workforce development - business, labor,
public education, higher education, economic development, youth
activities, employment and training, as well as the Legislature.
The CWDB has adopted Sector Strategies as the statewide
framework for workforce development, and is working closely with
the Economic Strategy Panel, other State Agencies and
departments and its 49 local Workforce Investment Boards to
support the emergence of effective statewide and regionally
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driven sector initiatives.
Currently, the CWDB is responsible for assisting the Governor in
all the functions outlined in the now outdated Workforce
Investment Act of 1998. Through its broad membership, the CWDB
encourages collaboration among both State and local public and
private entities that have a vested interest in workforce
issues.
Federal WIOA
The federal WIOA was signed into law by President Obama on July
22, 2014, and is the first legislative reform of the public
workforce system in more than 15 years. WIOA supersedes the
WIA. WIOA brings together, in strategic coordination, the core
programs of federal investment in skill development, including
employment and training services for adults, dislocated workers,
youth, and individuals with disabilities. WIOA also authorizes
programs for specific vulnerable populations including Indian
and Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farmworker
programs, among others.
See policy committee analysis for prior and related legislation.
Analysis Prepared by:
Lorie Alvarez / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN:
0001516
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