BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
Ted W. Lieu, Chair
Date of Hearing: June 29, 2011 20011-2012 Regular
Session
Consultant: Alma Perez Fiscal:Yes
Urgency: No
Bill No: AB 1310
Author: Furutani
Version: As amended May 27, 2011
SUBJECT
Career technical education and workforce development
KEY ISSUE
Should the Legislature require that education and workforce
development agencies in the state work together on the creation
of a strategic state plan for the coordinated delivery of
education and workforce development?
PURPOSE
To require that specified state agencies create a working group
responsible for the development of a state strategic plan on
education and workforce development.
ANALYSIS
The federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 provides for
activities and programs for job training and employment
investment in which states may participate, including work
incentive and employment training outreach programs.
Existing law, following passage of the WIA, established the
California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) and charged it with
the responsibility of developing a unified, strategic planning
process to coordinate various education, training, and
employment programs into an integrated workforce development
system that supports economic development. CWIB also assists in
the development of the State Workforce Investment Plan.
Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to deliver
comprehensive workforce services to jobseekers, students, and
employers at comprehensive One-stop Career Centers to, among
other things, make outreach, intake, job search and placement
assistance, and other related services available in one
location.
Existing law creates the Labor and Workforce Development Agency
consisting of the Office of the Secretary of the Agency, The
Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), the California
Workforce Investment Board, the Department of Industrial
Relations (DIR), and the Employment Development Department
(EDD).
Existing law establishes the public school system of this state,
which includes among other schools, secondary, postsecondary
(University of California, the California State University and
the California Community Colleges) and technical schools.
Existing law establishes the California Community College
Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWDP) to advance
California's economic growth and global competitiveness through
education, training, and services that contribute to continuous
work force improvement, technology, deployment, and business
development.
This Bill would require specified state agencies to work
together on the development of a strategic plan for connecting
the delivery of education and workforce development in the
state.
Specifically, this bill would:
1)Require that the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Agency, in conjunction with the California Workforce
Investment Board, the Office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, the State Department of
Education, and the California Postsecondary Education
Commission �in cooperation with representatives from
education, business and labor organizations] develop the
Hearing Date: June 29, 2011 AB 1310
Consultant: Alma Perez Page 2
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
strategic plan.
2)Provide that the strategic plan should include, among other
things, how the state determines appropriate measures for
evaluating and collecting data on future workforce needs.
3)State that it is the intent of the Legislature that Secretary
of Labor and Workforce Development solicit input from K-12
and postsecondary education institutions, local workforce
investment boards, regional occupational centers and programs,
adult school programs, and other appropriate entities in
developing recommendations for the strategic plan.
4)Provide that the strategic plan shall be funded from the
federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the federal Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of
2006, the federal Wagner-Peyser Act, or other available
federal funds for workforce development, or from philanthropic
sources.
COMMENTS
1. Need for this bill?
Currently, there are various agencies in the state tasked with
the responsibility of developing a unified, strategic planning
process to coordinate various education, training, and
employment programs into an integrated workforce development
system. The California Workforce Investment Board, the
California Community College Economic and Workforce
Development Program are among them.
According to the California Workforce Investment Board,
partner strategic plans include:
Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth With
Disabilities Project Strategic Plan
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
Strategic Plan
California Department of Energy Strategic Plan
California Public Utilities Commission's Strategic Plan
California Energy Commission Plan
Hearing Date: June 29, 2011 AB 1310
Consultant: Alma Perez Page 3
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
With a record high unemployment rate and the livelihood of
people on the line, the author
and proponents believe that strengthening our policy efforts
by requiring that our education
and workforce development leaders work together to create a
state plan that connects the dots
between our education system and employment will help
decrease our unemployment rate
and get Californians back to work.
This bill would require that the Secretary of Labor and
Workforce Development Agency, in conjunction with the
California Workforce Investment Board, the Office of the
Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the State
Department of Education, and the California Postsecondary
Education Commission �in cooperation with representatives from
education, business and labor organizations] develop this
strategic state plan.
2. Proponent Arguments :
According to the author, as California reaches a startling
unemployment rate of 11.7 percent the state needs a
comprehensive strategy to get Californians back into jobs to
help reenergize our economy. The author argues that now more
than ever, displaced workers, high school graduates, veterans,
foster children, and others who may not have completed their
high school degrees must be prepared for meaningful
employment. According to the author, a recent report,
California's Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs, identifies the need
for retraining middle-skill jobs that encompass nearly 50% of
future jobs with meaningful incomes. Unfortunately, the
author argues, more can be done to strengthen the coordination
between community colleges, adult schools, high school career
technical programs, workforce investment boards or a variety
of public, private, and non-profit training centers.
Additionally, the author states that many agencies involved in
workforce development already have a type of plan or strategy
for the delivery of training, yet they fail to significantly
work cohesively or integrate. This bill would require the lead
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Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
agencies involved in education and career training of the
state's workforce to conduct stakeholder meetings. The
information gathered would be used to provide recommendations
to the Legislature regarding the development of a single state
strategic plan on workforce development.
Supporters agree and concur that California schools, employer
and students could all benefit from our state having a clearer
plan to develop our workforce and direct students to
successful, career pathways and that career technical
education is important to the future health and growth of
California's economy, it is important that California develop
such a strategic plan.
3. Opponent Arguments :
None received.
4. Prior Legislation :
AB 35 (Furutani) of 2009: Held in Senate Appropriations
Committee
This bill would have required the California Workforce
Investment Board to assist the Office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the Board of Governors to
develop a strategic plan for connecting education and
workforce development in the state.
AB 365 (Portantino) of 2007: Vetoed by the Governor
This bill would have required the California Postsecondary
Education Commission in cooperation with the Labor and
Workforce Development Agency to convene a Task Force on State
Workforce Needs. In his veto message, Governor Schwarzenegger
wrote:
"I am supportive of efforts to align state workforce needs
with program development at postsecondary education
institutions. However, statutory authority is not
necessary for the California Postsecondary Education
Commission to meet the objective of convening meetings with
the relevant entities, and developing recommendations.
Therefore, this bill is unnecessary."
Hearing Date: June 29, 2011 AB 1310
Consultant: Alma Perez Page 5
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
SUPPORT
California Association of Leaders for Career Preparation
California Business Education Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California State Building and Construction Trades Council
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
OPPOSITION
None received
Hearing Date: June 29, 2011 AB 1310
Consultant: Alma Perez Page 6
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations