BILL NUMBER: AB 3 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez
DECEMBER 1, 2008
An act to add Section 399.25 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3, as introduced, V. Manuel Perez. Energy: renewable energy
workforce readiness program.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission is vested with
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations. The Public Utilities Act imposes various duties and
responsibilities on the commission with respect to the purchase of
electricity by electrical corporations and requires the commission to
review and adopt a procurement plan and a renewable energy
procurement plan for each electrical corporation pursuant to the
California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. The program
requires that a retail seller of electricity, including electrical
corporations, purchase a specified minimum percentage of electricity
generated by eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, in any
given year as a specified percentage of total kilowatthours sold to
retail end-use customers each calendar year (renewables portfolio
standard).
This bill would require the commission, by January 1, 2011, to
establish a Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Program to ensure
green collar career placement and advancement opportunities within
California's renewable energy manufacturing, construction,
installation, maintenance, and operation sectors that is targeted
towards specified populations. The program would award training
grants, on a competitive basis, to implement and operate renewable
energy worker training and education programs in the state. The
commission would be required to submit to the Legislature, by January
1, 2012, a report on the implementation of the program. The bill
would require the commission to implement the program, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, using moneys from an unspecified
fund.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(1) California is fortunate to have some of the finest solar,
wind, and geothermal resources in the world, giving California the
opportunity to lead the United States in the development of renewable
energy technologies and the creation of green collar jobs.
(2) A 2006 analysis performed by the Renewable Energy Policy
Project looked at the employment gains throughout the United States
and found that, of all the 50 states, California has the greatest
potential to generate new renewable energy manufacturing activity.
(3) The Governor issued Executive Order S-14-08, increased the
state's renewable portfolio standard to 33 percent by 2020,
positioning California's economy, technology centers, financial
institutions, businesses, workers, and consumers to benefit from the
state's renewable energy efforts.
(4) California's investment in the production of renewable energy
and associated infrastructure could be targeted to strengthen sectors
and regions of the state economy suffering from high unemployment
rates and poverty.
(5) Educational institutions, in collaboration with labor and
community-based organizations, play a significant role in the
progress of renewable energy curriculum and career job placement
within emerging renewable energy industries.
(6) California's 80th Assembly District is recognized as
California's renewable energy zone with the most potential for
renewable energy development and also possesses one of the highest
unemployment rates in the state.
(7) Educational institutions in the 80th Assembly District, such
as Imperial Valley College, College of the Desert, Palo Verde
Community College, University of California at Riverside, and
California State San Bernardino are seeking to establish
collaborations with local labor and renewable energy organizations
but lack infrastructure, technical assistance, and resources.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish the
"California Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Program" in order
for educational entities, labor organizations, local governments, and
community-based organizations to work collectively to prepare
California's youth, military veterans, and workers for the economy of
the future.
SEC. 2. Section 399.25 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
399.25. (a) In furtherance of the requirements of this article,
no later than January 1, 2011, the commission, in consultation with
other appropriate state agencies, shall establish a Renewable Energy
Workforce Readiness Program to ensure green collar career placement
and advancement opportunities within California's renewable energy
manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, and operation
sectors. The program shall be targeted at all of the following
populations:
(1) Low-income and disadvantaged populations.
(2) At-risk youth.
(3) Formerly incarcerated nonviolent offenders.
(4) Displaced and incumbent workers in transition.
(5) Veterans of past or present military service.
(b) The Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Program shall award
workforce training grants, on a competitive basis, to applicants that
can identify and involve target worker populations and demonstrate
the ability to implement and operate renewable energy worker training
and education programs in California. Eligible applicants include
any of the following entities:
(1) Nonprofit organizations.
(2) Local governments.
(3) Labor organizations.
(4) Community colleges.
(5) Postsecondary educational institutions.
(6) Local workforce training partnerships and collaboratives.
(c) In evaluating an application for a grant, the commission shall
assign higher priority to an application that satisfies one or more
of the following criteria:
(1) Serves individuals in families with incomes less than 250
percent of the federal poverty level.
(2) Includes collaboration with community-based nonprofit
organizations, labor organizations, and educational institutions with
expertise in serving low-income adults or youth.
(3) Links adult remedial education with occupational skills
training.
(4) Ensures that supportive services are integrated with education
and training, and delivered by organizations with direct access to
and experience with targeted populations.
(5) Involves employers and labor organizations in the
determination of relevant skills and competencies, ensuring that the
certificates or credentials that result from the training are
recognized by employers and labor organizations.
(6) Leverages additional public and private resources to fund
readiness programs, including cash or in-kind matches from
participating employers, nonprofits, or labor organizations.
(d) The commission shall collect and analyze labor market data,
track workforce trends, document academic and occupational
competencies, identify future skill needs, promote and support local
workforce training initiatives, and provide technical assistance and
capacity building to energy partnerships and apprenticeship training
programs, related to renewable energy and workforce development in
California.
(e) No later than January 1, 2012, the commission shall report to
the Legislature on the implementation of this section. The report
shall include a description of the entities receiving funding, the
activities carried out by these entities, and an assessment of the
results achieved by the program.
(f) The commission shall implement this section using moneys,
appropriated by the Legislature, from the fund established pursuant
to Section ____.