BILL ANALYSIS
AB 35
Page 1
Date of Hearing: January 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 35 (Furutani) - As Amended: January 4, 2010
Policy Committee: Higher
EducationVote:7-0
JEDE 7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Postsecondary Education
Commission (CPEC) to develop a strategic plan for connecting
education and workforce development and to report its
recommendations by July 1, 2011. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires CPEC to work with the State Department of Education
(SDE), the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and
representatives from education, business and labor
organizations to develop a strategic plan regarding the
contribution of academic and career technical education to
workforce development.
2)Requires the strategic plan to address the current state
collection of data on future workforce needs and appropriate
measures for improving data collection, the alignment of
workforce needs with future postsecondary education programs
and capacity, strategies for fostering long-term improvements
in workers' skills and knowledge, and methods for closing the
skills gap and strengthening the nexus between education and
the workforce.
FISCAL EFFECT
One-time General Fund cost of about $125,000 for CPEC for a
consulting contract and for coordinating preparation of the
strategic plan. Costs for SDE and WIB to participate in this
process would be absorbable.
AB 35
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COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The author argues that more can be done to
strengthen coordination between the community colleges, adult
education, high school career technical programs, and WIBs.
He asserts that, while many agencies are involved in workforce
development planning, these agencies fail to work cohesively,
resulting in a lack of statewide direction and coordination on
workforce development. The author believes that requiring
lead agencies involved in education to work together on a
strategic plan will "begin the conversation and reevaluation
of the state's method of educating and training the majority
of the workforce."
2)CPEC Resources Limited . While supportive of the policy goal
of this bill, CPEC is unable to absorb the additional cost of
preparing a strategic plan. The commission's General Fund
budget has been flat or declining over the last several years,
and is currently only about 50% of its 2000-01 level. Due to
concerns about CPECs limited resources and overly broad
mission, SB 316 (Scott)/Chapter 514 of 2008, stated
legislative intent with respect to the commission's workload
priorities and deleted several of the commission's statutory
reporting requirements.
3)Prior Legislation . In 2007, AB 365 (Portantino), which
required CPEC to convene a task force regarding state
workforce needs, was vetoed. The governor argued that such
statutory authority was not necessary in order for CPEC to
meet the objectives of the bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081