BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1213
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 22, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
William W. Monning, Chair
AB 1213 (Skinner) - As Introduced: February 27, 2009
SUBJECT : Employment: California Governor's Committee on
Employment of People with Disabilities.
SUMMARY : Adds the Superintendent of Public Instruction as a
member of the California Governor's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities (CGCEPD).
EXISTING LAW
1)Requires the Governor to rename and establish, within the
Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the existing
California Governor's Committee on Employment of Disabled
Persons as the "California Governor's Committee on Employment
of People with Disabilities" (CGCEPD).
2)Establishes the membership of the CGCEPD.
3)Requires CGCEPD to do the following:
a) Consult with and advise the LWDA and the California
Health and Human Services Agency on all issues related to
the full inclusion in the workforce of persons with
disabilities;
b) Coordinate and provide leadership, as necessary, with
regard to efforts to increase inclusion in the workforce of
persons with disabilities;
c) Provide support to the State Workforce Investment Board
(WIB) and the local one-stop center in their efforts to
achieve compliance specified provisions of this bill
relating to the establishment of one-stop career centers;
d) Meet quarterly with the California Health Incentive
Improvement Project; as specified.
e) Report annually to the Legislature and the Governor on
the employment status of Californian's with disabilities;
and,
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f) Make grants available to counties and local workforce
investment boards when funds are available.
1)Require the Governor to authorize the secretary of the LWDA,
in collaboration with the secretary of the California Health
and Human Services Agency, to make available the expertise of
state employees and programs to support the employment-related
needs of individuals with disabilities. Specifies that the
agency's duties be funded using existing resources.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Background information provided by the author's
office states the CGCEPD staffed by the Employment Development
Department (EDD) under LWDA is tasked with bringing together
agencies and experts to design all components of the
"Sustainable, Comprehensive Strategy" related to the full
inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. The
CGCEPD is required to meet quarterly. Its members are divided
into four subcommittees (Agency Liaison Subcommittee, Business
Liaison Subcommittee, Education and Employment Subcommittee and
Policy and Planning Subcommittee) which all work on the
Comprehensive Strategy.
When the "Workforce Inclusion Act, AB 925 (Aroner) of 2002, was
enacted there was no involvement of individuals responsible for
the educational programs for young Californians with
disabilities. Currently there is no publicly elected official
on the CGCEPD. Disability advocates who have worked closely
with the Department of Education argue that the Superintendent
of Public Instruction should be required to participate in the
CGCEPD. The Superintendent is the only nonpartisan
constitutional officer who oversees public education. The
Superintendent is responsible for shaping and implementing
educations laws and regulations. Limited representation by a
representative from public education creates a void that hinders
the CGCEPD's effectiveness when coordinating with ongoing
educational programs for people with disabilities.
The Obama Administration has identified a working plan to
empower people with disabilities. Under the plan the first step
is to provide educational opportunities to people with
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disabilities through the Individuals with Disabilities
Educations Act (IDEA). With the passing of the federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) this January, IDEA
was granted $12.2 billion in order to provide adequate funding
to schools for the implementation of the Act. In addition, the
Administration will continue to examine ways to increase the
number of students with disabilities entering the workforce and
higher education.
In California, $1.2 billion of the ARRA funding will go toward
elementary and secondary schools with large populations of
disadvantaged students (Title 1 schools and others with IDEA
programs. Now more than ever California requires adequate
coordination between various agencies and stakeholders to ensure
that these funds serve youth and adults with disabilities.
The author's stated intent of this bill is to broaden the CGCEPD
adding the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to be a member
of the CGCEPD, thereby, ensuring that educational programs
remain a priority when planning workforce development for youth
and adults with disabilities, better policy development,
interagency coordination and smoother transition of youth from
school to the workforce.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT :
The World Institute on Disability agrees to the addition of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to the CGCEPD to ensure the
group has the capability to address the variety of policy and
operational issues affecting students with disabilities in the
educational arena as well as the critical transition from school
to the world of work.
PRIOR LEGISLATION :
AB 925 (Aroner) Chapter 1088, Statutes of 2002, revised and
expanded programs for working people with disabilities.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
World Institute on Disability
AB 1213
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Lorie Erickson / L. & E. / (916)
319-2091