BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1378 (V. Manuel Perez)
Hearing Date: 08/12/2010 Amended: 06/16/2010
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: L&IR 4-0 VA 4-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1378 establishes the Veterans Workforce
Accountability Act for the evaluation of expenditures for
veterans' workforce development programs that are federally
funded. It requires the California Workforce Investment Board
(CWIB) to conduct an annual assessment to implement provisions
of the act, and to annually report to the Legislature as
specified.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
Annual evaluation/report ----unknown, potentially over
$250---- Federal
Admin expenses $50
$100 $100 Federal
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
The CWIB believes that an objective, informed evaluation of the
effectiveness of California's workforce programs for veterans
would require the use of outside consulting services. While the
time and cost to develop and put forward a Solicitation for
Proposals could probably be absorbed into the Board's current
budget, the estimate for the contract work is between $250,000
and $500,000. Additionally, the Board indicates the need for
one additional staff person to compile the scope of the review
and the objectives outlined in the bill, assist the contractor,
and formulate the report. These costs are estimated at $100,000
annually.
AB 1378 requires the CWIB to report to the Governor and the
appropriate legislative committees on the effectiveness of
existing job skills development, training, and referral programs
for military veterans who are transitioning to civilian work.
AB 1378 also provides that its provisions will be implemented
only to the extent that federal funds are available for these
purposes.
Specifically, AB 1378 does the following:
1) Requires the CWIB to provide a method for the comprehensive
and transparent evaluation of expenditures for veteran workforce
development programs in the state.
2) Requires the board to conduct an annual assessment
evaluating the effectiveness of those programs that assist
veterans with the transition to civilian work including the use
of approximately $18 million in federal grant funds that the
state receives from the United States Department of Labor.
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AB 1378 (M. Perez)
3) Requires the board, in consultation with the Employment
Training Panel and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to
outline, implement, and administer this act.
4) Requires the board to develop clear, comprehensive, and
transparent objectives and criteria to be used to evaluate the
effectiveness of existing workforce training and job referral
programs for veterans.
Additionally, AB 1378 provides that the assessment must evaluate
all of the following:
1) The extent to which moneys are being expended for outreach,
assessment of job skills and interests, and the referral of
veterans to prospective job placement.
2) The extent to which money is being used to assess job skills
obtained during military service that may be used for civilian
purposes.
3) How money is being used for workforce training and job
referral programs at one-stop career centers.
The California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) is responsible
for developing a comprehensive workforce development plan for
the state and assists the Governor in the development,
oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce
investment system. Each local board is required to establish at
least one full service one-stop career center which provides
jobseekers with integrated employment, education, training, and
job search services.
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs,
the total estimated national veteran population as of 2007 was
over 23 million, with approximately 2 million of those residing
in California. California currently receives $18 million
annually from the federal Department of Labor to help newly
discharged veterans access the benefits and services they need
to successfully enter civilian workforce.
AB 1378 is intended to ensure that these and other moneys
designated to assisting veterans are effectively utilized, and
that veterans have the opportunity to develop the competitive
workforce skills needed to enter the job market.