BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1224
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Date of Hearing: January 4, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Sandre Swanson, Chair
AB 1224 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) - As Introduced:
February 18, 2011
SUBJECT : Employment Training Panel; 3-year plan; veterans.
SUMMARY : Requires the Employment Training Panel (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 ETP in the Employment Development Department
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 the 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 the 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.
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
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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 : According to the 2011-2012 ETP Strategic Plan (Plan)
the fundamental goal of the ETP is to support job creation and
retention, through training. Strategies for achieving this goal
are directly tied to the current state of the economy,
California's key industries, and workforce training trends. The
ETP is also continuing to take strategic steps to coordinate
more effectively with both the public and private sectors in the
leveraging and expenditure of alternative funding which is
intended broadly to develop both the economy and the workforce.
The Plan outlines, among other things, that the need for
employment training assistance for veterans is increasing, due
to the number of active and reservist personnel who have
performed military service in recent years and are returning
home. Some veterans have returned to the California civilian
workforce and found their previous jobs are gone. A U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs study, " War Veterans Face Job
Search Woes ", found that nationwide 18 percent of the veterans
who sought jobs within one to three years of discharge were
unemployed, while one out of four who did find jobs earned less
than $22,000 a year.
To help combat this, the Plan also states the ETP will continue
to partner with other State agencies to develop initiatives for
the training and employment of veterans and will increase
outreach to veteran organizations with the intent of developing
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training projects that focus on meeting veterans' training
needs. In August 2011, Governor Brown issued Executive Order
B-9-11 creating the California Interagency Council on Veterans
(CICV) with the purpose of identifying and prioritizing the
needs of California's veterans and coordinating activities at
all levels of government in order to meet those needs. The CICV
will consist of a wide array of veterans' organizations and
stakeholders, including the ETP. The ETP will continue outreach
to veterans by working with local chambers, ethnic chambers,
business groups, high-tech conferences, and business community
workshops. The ETP also serves veterans through its core
program, primarily through contracts with multiple employers.
This bill will ensure the ETP includes in its 3-year plan, a
description of the goals, objectives, and strategies to continue
to support target populations of military veterans and members
of the National Guard.
PRIOR LEGISLATION :
AB 1567 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) of 2009 was nearly
identical to this bill. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1567,
stating in part that the 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 veterans community.
Additionally, the veto message stated that AB 1567 would reduce
ETP's flexibility to meet the changing needs of California's
employers and workers.
AB 3066 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) of 2008 was similar to
this bill, but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion-Department of California, AMVETS-Department of
California, California State Commanders Veterans Council
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Lorie Erickson / L. & E. / (916)
319-2091