BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 342 Page 1 SENATE THIRD READING SB 342 (Jackson) As Amended August 17, 2015 Majority vote SENATE VOTE: 35-0 ------------------------------------------------------------------ |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 Page 2 | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 SB 342 Page 3 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 SB 342 Page 4 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 SB 342 Page 5