BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1394
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GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 1394 (Bass)
As Amended July 14, 2009
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 28, 2009) |SENATE: |26-13|(September 4, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |78-0 |(September 9, | | | |
| | |2009) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: L. & E.
SUMMARY : Sets forth specified additional duties of the Green
Collar Jobs Council (GCJC).
The Senate amendments :
1 Add the Department of Industrial Relations as a representative
on the GCJC.
2)Specify that the GCJC shall also perform the following duties:
a) Align workforce development activities with regional
economic recovery and growth strategies; and,
b) Collaborate with community colleges and other
educational institutions, registered apprenticeship
programs, business and labor organizations, community-based
and philanthropic organizations to align workforce
development services with strategies for regional economic
development
3)Authorize the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB),
rather than the GCJC, to accept revenues, moneys, grants,
goods or services as authorized by the bill.
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4)Require the CWIB to ensure the highest level of transparency
and accountability and make information available on the CWIB
Internet Web site.
5)Specify that all revenues received under these provisions
shall be deposited into a green collar jobs account
established in the State Treasury.
6)Specify that such revenue shall only be expended for the
purpose of awarding workforce training grants implementing the
GCJC's strategic initiative.
7)Require grants to be awarded within 180 days of receipt of any
funding for that purpose.
8)Require a specified annual report to be completed on or before
April 1, 2010.
9)Make other technical changes.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
1 Authorized 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.
2)Required 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.
3)Required the GCJC to make a finding that a proposed program or
expenditure to be funded is consistent with the strategic
initiative prior to authorizing the expenditure of any funds
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made available to the state pursuant to the federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, this bill will result in minor and absorbable costs.
COMMENTS : This bill is a follow-up to AB 3018 (Nunez) from last
session, which established the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC)
within the CWIB. AB 3018 specified that the GCJC is comprised
of the appropriate representatives from the CWIB's existing
membership, including the K-12 representative, the California
Community Colleges representative, the Business, Transportation
and Housing Agency representative, the Employment Development
Department representative, and other appropriate members.
AB 3018 also required 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.
Since the enactment of AB 3018, the GCJC has met several times
and is working to develop the strategic initiative discussed
above. Following the enactment of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, the GCJC has been focusing some of its
attention on opportunities for green collar jobs made possible
as a result of that act.
According to the author's office:
"With California's unemployment rate at an all time high of
10.5%, California needs to develop short and long term
goals to put Californians back to work in jobs that provide
a livable wage. We have an opportunity to make an
investment in our existing workforce training
infrastructure. Under the federal American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, California is receiving over $400
million in job training funds to be administered through
our existing workforce infrastructure. No time is greater
than now to form partnerships with state agencies,
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community colleges, community based organizations, and
labor apprenticeship programs to train a highly skilled and
well trained workforce to meet the needs of California's
growing green economy. According to a recent report by
Next 10, titled 'California Green Innovation Index 2009,'
since 2005 the green collar job sector has continued to
grow by 10% and business establishments by 2%, while job
growth in other sectors has been only 1%. With the
infusion of federal economic stimulus funds California
stands to create thousands of jobs in energy efficiency
building retrofits, green building, solar installation and
green technology. The time is now to develop the much
needed workforce training partnerships to better serve
California."
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
This bill would add a representative of the Department
of Industrial Relations (DIR) to the Green Collar Jobs
Council (GCJC). The bill also would create the Green
Collar Jobs Account in the State Treasury and would
authorize the California Workforce Investment Board
(CWIB) to accept any revenues, moneys, grants, goods
or services from federal or state governmental
entities, philanthropic organizations, and other
sources.
This bill is unnecessary. The Employment Development
Department currently administers all funding for
grants and workforce initiatives with Workforce
Investment Act funds. Further, it is inappropriate to
include the DIR as a member of the GCJC as they are
not currently a member of the CWIB. The GCJC already
has the authority to consult with DIR as needed.
Analysis Prepared by : Ben Ebbink / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091
FN:
0003260
AB 1394
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