BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1224
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Date of Hearing: April 26, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 1224 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) - As Introduced:
February 18, 2011
SUBJECT : Employment training panel: 3-year plan: training
programs: veterans: National Guard members.
SUMMARY : Expands the Employment Training Panel (ETP) 3-year
plan to include projects that support veterans and members of
the California National Guard. Specifically, this bill :
1 Requires the ETP to include in its 3 year plan, a
description of the goals, objectives, and strategies to
support target populations, including military veterans and
members of the National Guard.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides for the establishment of employment training programs
and specifies which individuals qualify as "eligible
participants" of the training programs.
2)Establishes the Employment Training Panel (ETP) in the
Employment Development and requires the Governor to appoint
the executive director and two assistant directors of ETP
specifying that at least one assistant director have
experience serving the needs of small business.
3)Provides that ETP is governed by eight panel members. Seven
are appointed by the Governor and the leadership of the
Legislature and have backgrounds in business management and
employee relations, as specified. The Secretary of Business,
Transportation and Housing, or his/her designee, shall serve
as an ex officio, voting member.
4)Specifies the duties of ETP to include entering into contracts
for training in job-related vocational skills, as specified
and permits the ETP, subject to certain requirements, to
delegate its authority to approve contracts for new hire
training to any entity, as specified, for purposes of serving
the needs of small businesses.
AB 1224
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5)Requires the ETP, among other things, to establish a 3-year
plan, as specified, that must be updated annually to establish
minimum standards for the consideration of proposals,
including the identification of employers, and to develop a
process by which local workforce investment boards may apply
for marketing resources for the purpose of identifying local
employers that have training needs reflecting the priorities
of the panel. Authorizes the ETP to delegate its authority to
approve contracts for training to local workforce investment
boards, as provided.
6)Requires the ETP to allocate its annual funds for the training
programs designed for individuals who are currently working
and receiving specified benefits, as provided.
7)Authorizes the ETP to utilize funds in the Employment Training
Fund (ETF) for, among other expenditures, the purpose of
funding up to five licensed nurse training programs to train
individuals who are currently working as nurse assistants or
caregivers in a health facility, as defined.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : The ETP is one of several departments within the
Labor and Workforce Development Agency that assists employers in
strengthening their competitive edge by providing funds to
off-set the costs of job skills training necessary to maintain
high-performance workplaces.
In recent years, the ETP has faced significant reductions in its
funding. In fiscal year (FY) 2007-08, ETP's appropriation was
almost 30 percent below its historical funding level. The ETP
has also experienced a 27 percent reduction in staff in the past
few years. Thus, the panel could maximize the effects of
current resources by identifying target populations, including
veterans and National Guard members.
The Plan outlines ETP's strategies for accomplishing its mission
in the next fiscal year based on an assessment of various
factors including the state of the economy, priority industries,
ETP's economic development role, employer demand for training,
key workforce trends and training needs, and ETP's budget and
available resources. The Plan must, "?identif�y]?specific
industries, production and quality control techniques, and
AB 1224
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regions of the state where employment training funds would most
benefit the state's economy and plans to encourage training in
these areas,?" (UIC section 10205 (b) (2))
Veterans are a potential target population; they have less than
national average employment retention rates. In 2010, the
employment retention rate in California for non-disabled
veterans was 72 percent, which is four percent below the
national average. Employment retention among disabled veterans
was 70 percent, three percent below the national average. The
employment retention rate reflects the percentage of individuals
still employed two quarters after receiving employment services
from a state workforce agency.
Related Legislation:
AB 1567 (Committee on Veterans Affairs, 2009) was vetoed by
Governor Schwarzennegger.
The veto message states that ETP already supports employment
training for
military veterans and its annual strategic planning process
already puts a strong focus on developing training projects and
partnerships in the veteran community. Governor Schwarzennegger
stated that this bill would reduce ETP's flexibility to meet the
changing needs of California's employers and workers.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion-Department of California, AMVETS-Department of
California, California State Commanders Veterans Council
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Lizette Mata / V. A. / (916) 319-3550