BILL NUMBER: AB 1827	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 10, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Arambula and Solorio

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2010

    An act to amend Section 1266 of the Unemployment
Insurance Code, relating to unemployment insurance.   An
act to add Section 14236 to the Unemployment Insurance Code,
relating to workforce development. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1827, as amended, Arambula.  Unemployment insurance:
retraining benefits.   Workforce development: one-stop
career centers.  
   Existing law provides for the payment of unemployment compensation
benefits to eligible unemployed persons during the period that the
person is unemployed, and requires the Employment Development
Department to implement and administer the unemployment compensation
program. Existing law, the California Workforce Investment Act,
declares that it is the intent of the Legislature to deliver
comprehensive workforce services to job seekers, students, and
employers through a system of one-stop career centers to, among other
things, make job outreach, intake, job search and placement
assistance, and other related services available in one location.
 
   This bill would require the department, commencing on or before
July 1, 2011, to provide in-person unemployment benefit assistance at
all state one-stop career centers, as prescribed. The bill would
require that the unemployment benefit assistance services required to
be provided at these one-stop career centers be funded with existing
moneys available to the department for the administration of the
unemployment compensation program, as specified.  
   Existing law provides for unemployment compensation benefits to
eligible persons who are unemployed through no fault of their own.
Existing law declares that it is the policy of this state to assist
these individuals by providing unemployment compensation benefits,
extended duration benefits, and other federally funded unemployment
benefits, including those available under the federal Trade Act of
1974, as amended by the federal Trade Act of 2002, during a period of
retraining.  
   This bill would additionally specify that it is the policy of the
state to assist unemployed individuals by providing retraining
benefits available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 14236 is added to the 
 Unemployment Insurance Code   , to read:  
   14236.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing on or before
July 1, 2011, the department shall provide in-person unemployment
benefit assistance at all state one-stop career centers, as follows:
   (1) The department shall ensure that customer service personnel at
those career centers are fully trained regarding the policy, laws,
and regulations governing eligibility, claims processing, and
procedures for the payment of unemployment compensation benefits to
eligible individuals.
   (2) Printed information regarding eligibility and the process for
filing claims for unemployment compensation benefits shall be made
available at all one-stop career centers.
   (b) The unemployment benefit assistance services required to be
provided at one-stop career centers pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
be funded with existing moneys available to the department for the
administration of the unemployment insurance compensation program.
The department shall reallocate existing resources, including staff
and equipment to implement the assistance required to be provided
under this section. The department shall also work with the state's
one-stop career center partners to use existing resources and office
space in one-stop career centers to accommodate customer service
personnel.  
  SECTION 1.   Section 1266 of the Unemployment
Insurance Code is amended to read:
   1266.  Experience has shown that the ability of a large number of
the population of California to compete for jobs in the labor market
is impaired by advancement in technological improvements, the
widespread effects of automation and relocation in our economy, and
foreign competition as set forth in petitions certified under the
federal Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Title 19, United States Code,
Sections 2101 et seq.). The Legislature finds that many individuals
in California are lacking in skills which would make them competitive
in the labor market. They are in need of training or retraining in
skills required in demand occupations. It is the policy of this state
to assist these individuals by providing unemployment compensation
benefits, extended duration benefits, and other federally funded
unemployment compensation benefits, including those available under
the federal Trade Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-618), as amended by the
federal Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-210), and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 110-5) during a
period of retraining to qualify them for new jobs in demand
occupations and thus avoid long-term unemployment.