BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1394 (Bass)
Hearing Date: 7/6/2009 Amended: 6/18/2009
Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: L&IR 5-1
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1394 would authorize the California Workforce
Investment Board (CWIB) to accept any revenues, moneys, grants,
or services from federal and state entities, philanthropic
organizations, and other sources to be used for purposes
relating to the administration of the Green Collar Job Council
(GCJC) strategy initiative. This bill would require that all
revenues received pursuant to those provisions be deposited into
a green collar jobs account by the Economic Development
Department (EDD) and require that revenue expended for the
purpose of awarding workforce training grants implementing the
strategic initiative. This bill would permit the GCJC to
solicit and make recommendations for grant applications to award
these revenues and green workforce training funds received by
the state under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 or any other funding sources.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
GCJC grants program $200 to $500 initially, future costs
depend- Special*
participation on grant or greenwork force
training funds
being available
* Federal, state, other sources
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
The CWIB was established by Executive Order in response to the
mandate of the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) 1998 to
assist the Governor in setting and guiding policy in the area of
workforce development. The CWIB is charged with developing a
comprehensive workforce development plan for the state as
described in the Workforce Training Act of 2008 and with federal
responsibilities outlined in the Workforce Investment Act of
1998.
Chapter 312/2008 (AB 3018, Nunez) established the GCJC under the
CWIB. The GCJC is tasked with understanding the current and
future workforce needs of the Green/Clean economy, developing a
comprehensive strategy to prepare California's workforce to meet
the needs of businesses supporting the economy and ensure that
efforts aimed at improving worker's skills are coordinated and
effective.
The GCJC is comprised of the appropriate representatives from
the CWIB existing membership, including the K-12 representative,
the California Community Colleges representative, the Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency representative, the EDD
representative, and other appropriate representatives. The CWIB
may call on
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AB 1394 (Bass)
other state agencies and representatives of various non
governmental entities to serve as consultants to the GCJC in the
development of the strategic initiative.
The current process for awarding funds is with the CWIB using
EDD staff resources. This bill authorizes the GCJC to begin
soliciting and review grant applications and making funding
recommendations. The GCJC does not have staff to perform these
functions which appear to overlap the existing process. In
order to administer the grants as cost effectively as possible
and to ensure full input on grant decisions, staff recommends
the bill be amended (page 4, lines 7-14)
as follows:
(e) Revenue received by the department pursuant to
subdivision (d) shall only be expended after consultation with
the CWIB and the GCJC for the purpose of awarding workforce
training grants implementing the strategic initiative.
(f) The GCJC, in collaboration with the department shall be
responsible for soliciting and reviewing grant applications, and
making grant funding recommendations to the CWIB. Grants shall
be awarded within 120 180 days of receipt of any funding for
that purpose.