BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 1310 (Furutani)
Hearing Date: 8/25/2011 Amended: 5/27/2011
Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: L&IR 6-0
_________________________________________________________________
____
BILL SUMMARY: AB 1310 would require the Secretary of Labor and
Workforce Development, in conjunction with the California
Workforce Investment Board (CWIB), the California Community
Colleges (CCCs), the State Department of Education, and the
California Postsecondary Education Commission to develop a
strategic plan for connecting the delivery of education and
workforce development in the state.
_________________________________________________________________
____
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Strategic plan for education $150-$300 through June
2013Federal
delivery and workforce
development
_________________________________________________________________
____
STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED.
Workforce development is a term used to describe comprehensive
career-related services delivered to persons seeking to improve
their earning potential and career options by increasing skill
levels or educational levels. Workforce development services
are provided by public and private sector organizations
including local businesses and industry associations, local
workforce investment boards and the one-stop career centers they
operate, local post-secondary, adult and private vocational
schools, and apprenticeship programs. Services may include
career exploration and planning, job readiness instruction,
industry-driven education, occupational skill development,
vocational technical training, and job placement and retention
services. Workforce development entities focus on establishing
educational and training programs which match career pathways
and support the development of the pool of skilled workers
businesses and industries need to compete and succeed in a
AB 1310 (Furutani)
Page 1
changing economy.
California's Strategic Two-Year Plan for Title I of the
Workforce Investment Act was revised in June, 2010. The CWIB
convened regional transformation roundtables throughout the
state, bringing together representatives from CCCs, local K-12
districts, regional occupational programs, local workforce
investment boards, state level agencies and economic development
corporations. The plan, among other things, includes partnering
by the CWIB with education in order to ensure educational
pathways in California's learning institutions are aligned with
the occupational opportunities available in its economy.
The CCCs Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) program is a
primary mission of the CCCs and implemented to advance
California's economic growth and global competitiveness through
education, training, and services that contribute to continuous
workforce development, technology deployment, and business
development. CCCs create new curricula for business and
industry that adapts to new technology and skill sets.
This bill would require the agency, in cooperation with
representatives from education, business, and labor
organizations, to make recommendations in the strategic plan
that address the contribution of academic and career technical
education, at all levels of education and workforce development.
There is no date by which the strategic plan shall be
completed.
The CWIB is responsible for assisting the Governor in performing
the duties and responsibilities required by the federal
Workforce Investment Act of 1998. All members of the board are
appointed by the Governor and represent the many facets of
workforce development - business, labor, public education,
higher education, economic development, youth activities,
employment and training, as well as the Legislature. Staff
notes the CWIB may be the more appropriate lead agency as the
LWDA Secretary already sits on the CWIB representing the
Governor and most of the workforce programs are represented on
the CWIB.
The strategic plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of
the following provisions:
- How the state determines appropriate measures for evaluating
AB 1310 (Furutani)
Page 2
and collecting data on future workforce needs.
- The alignment of workforce needs with future postsecondary
education programs and capacity at both the state and regional
levels.
- Strategies for fostering long-term improvements in workers'
skills and knowledge.
- Methods for closing the skills gap and strengthening the nexus
between education and the workforce.
- Appropriate measures for improving data collection on future
workforce needs
This bill states the strategic plan shall be funded from
specified federal funds or from philanthropic sources. If
federal funds are used, the source would be the five percent
(approximately $25 million) of discretionary Workforce
Investment Account funds available to the Governor.
This bill is similar to AB 35 (Furutani) 2010, which was held on
the Suspense File. AB 35 would have required the CWIB and the
CCCs to develop a strategic plan, containing specified elements,
for connecting education and workforce development in the state.
The CCCs would have been required to provide the staffing and
resources necessary for developing and reporting the strategic
plan.
The proposed amendment would allow DOF to determine if
sufficient non-state funds are available.
Staff recommends this bill be amended to strike out the
reference to the Commission on Postsecondary Education which was
defunded in the 2011 Budget Act.