BILL ANALYSIS
AB 3
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 3 (V. Manuel Perez) - As Amended: April 13, 2009
Policy Committee: Labor and
Employment Vote: 5-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California Workforce Investment Board
(CWIB) to implement a new green collar job placement grant
program by January 1, 2011. Specifically, the bill:
1)Requires CWIB to establish a Renewable Energy Workforce
Training Initiative to ensure green collar career placement
and advancement opportunities within renewable energy
manufacturing, construction and services industries.
2)Specifies that the initiative be targeted toward low income
populations, at risk youth, formerly incarcerated nonviolent
offenders, displaced workers, and veterans of military
service.
3)Requires the initiative to award "workforce training grants,"
on a competitive basis, to local governments, non-profit
organizations, state-approved apprenticeship programs,
community colleges, post-secondary educational institutions,
local workforce training partnerships and regional
occupational programs.
4)Establishes various criteria for awarding grants.
5)Requires the CWIB to collect and analyze labor market data
relating to renewable energy and workforce development in
California.
6)Requires the Initiative to report to the Legislature on the
implementation of these requirements no later than January 1,
2012.
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7)Provides that these requirements shall be implemented using
moneys appropriated from an unspecified fund.
FISCAL EFFECT
Unknown, potentially major (millions of dollars) expenditures to
fund grant program and comply with analyses and reporting
requirements of this bill.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill is intended to facilitate workforce
training to fulfill the expected growth in demand for properly
trained workers in California's green technology industries.
The author indicates that the initiative is targeted toward
low-income, disadvantaged populations, as a means of offering
a pathway out of poverty.
2)Background. Green jobs are generally defined as jobs that
provide products and services which use renewable energy
resources, reduce pollution, conserve energy and natural
resources, and reconstitute waste. In 2008, the Legislature
passed AB 3018 (Nunez), Chapter 312/2008, which establishes
the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC) within the California
Workforce Investment Board (CWIB). AB 3018 requires the GCJC
to develop a strategic initiative to identify and develop the
framework, funding, strategies, programs, policies,
partnerships, and opportunities necessary to address the
growing need for a highly skilled and well-trained workforce
to meet the needs of California's emerging green economy.
AB 1394 (Bass), also currently before this committee, is a
follow-up measure to AB 3018. Among other things, AB 1394
authorizes the GCJC to accept any revenues, moneys, grants,
goods, or services from federal and state public entities,
local philanthropic organizations, and other sources, to be
used for purposes relating to the administration and
implementation of a strategic initiative the GCJC is required
to develop. AB 1394 also requires the GCJC to confer with the
appropriate state and local agencies to coordinate the award
of grant funds and green workforce training funds received by
the state under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009.
AB 3
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Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081