BILL NUMBER: AB 1378	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to add and repeal Section 14013.5 of the Unemployment
Insurance Code, relating to workforce investment.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1378, as introduced, V. Manuel Perez. California Workforce
Investment Board: veterans' workforce program.
   The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 provides for
workforce investment activities, including activities in which states
may participate. Under existing law, the California Workforce
Investment Board is responsible for assisting the Governor in the
development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's
workforce investment system. Existing law requires the board, among
other things, to assist the Governor with promoting the development
of a well-educated and highly skilled workforce and developing the
State Workforce Investment Plan.
   This bill would, until January 1, 2012, establish the veterans'
Workforce Program for the purpose of providing a targeted workforce
training assessment and referral program for veterans to identify
needs for skill enhancement training for military veterans that is
intended to assist those veterans with the transition to the civilian
workforce, as specified. The bill would require the board, in
consultation with the Employment Training Panel and representatives
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to implement and administer
the program, as provided. The bill would require the board, to
annually report to the Governor and the appropriate legislative
policy and budget committees on the program's effectiveness with
respect to the provision of enhanced job skills and employment
opportunities to military veterans who are transitioning to civilian
work.
   The bill would provide that the program shall only be implemented
with funds that are available to the state under the federal
Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to the extent that the sum of at
least $250,000 of those funds is available for this purpose.
   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.  Section 14013.5 is added to the Unemployment Insurance
Code, to read:
   14013.5.  (a) The Veterans' Workforce Program is hereby
established for the purpose of providing a targeted workforce
training assessment and job referral program for veterans to identify
needs for skill enhancement training for military veterans, and to
assist those veterans with the transition to civilian work.
   (b) The board, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel
and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall
implement and administer the program. The board shall also develop
clear program objectives, timelines for action, and appropriate
criteria to evaluate program effectiveness.
   (c) The program shall include both of the following elements:
   (1) Outreach, assessment of job skills and interests, and
referrals to specific training opportunities and prospective jobs.
The outreach measures required by this subdivision shall also include
the provision of information to veterans regarding ways to finance
training opportunities that require fees or the payment of tuition.
   (2) Individual assessments of job skills acquired during military
service that may be used, or adapted for use for civilian purposes.
   (d) The board shall annually report to the Governor and the
appropriate legislative policy and budget committees on the program's
effectiveness with respect to the provision of enhanced job skills
and employment opportunities to military veterans who are
transitioning to civilian work.
   (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends
that date.
  SEC. 2.  This program established pursuant to Section 14013.5 of
the Unemployment Insurance Code shall only be implemented with funds
that are available to the state under the federal Workforce
Investment Act of 1998, to the extent that the sum of at least two
hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) of those funds is available
for this purpose.