BILL NUMBER: AB 1523	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Perea

                        JANUARY 18, 2012

   An act to add Section 2704.76 to the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to workforce training, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1523, as introduced, Perea. Preapprenticeship training program:
high-speed rail.
   Existing law, the California High-Speed Train Act, creates the
High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed train
system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law,
the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st
Century, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general
obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes.
   This bill would appropriate $2,000,000 from the High-Speed
Passenger Train Bond Fund to the authority for the purposes of
funding a 3-year pilot project in the Central Valley to train
unemployed workers for high-speed rail construction jobs. The bill
would require the authority to work with various labor organizations
to train a total of 400 clients in preapprenticeship programs that
will lead to direct referrals to building trades unions, as
specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2704.76 is added to the Streets and Highways
Code, to read:
   2704.76.  (a) The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is
hereby appropriated from the High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Fund to
the authority for purposes of this section.
   (b) The funds made available pursuant to this section shall be
used by the authority to fund a three-year pilot project in the
Central Valley to train unemployed workers for high-speed rail
construction jobs. The authority shall work with the Central Valley
workforce investment boards, the Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings
Central Labor Council, and representatives from various organized
labor building trades to train a total of 400 clients in
preapprenticeship programs that will lead to direct referrals to
building trades unions, including, but not limited to, the following:

   (1) International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 100.
   (2) United Association Local 246 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, Service
Technicians).
   (3) Operating Engineers Local 3.
   (4) Laborers Local 294.
   (5) Carpenters Local Union 701.
   (6) Ironworkers Local Union 155.
   (c) The pilot project, over the full three-year project life,
shall include 16 cohorts of 25 preapprentice trainees each, drawn
from the following:
   (1) Eight cohorts from the central region of the San Joaquin
Valley (Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board).
   (2) Four cohorts from the southern region of the San Joaquin
Valley (Kern Inyo Mono Workforce Investment Board).
   (3) Four cohorts from the northern region of the San Joaquin
Valley (Stanislaus County Workforce Investment Board).
   (d) Unemployed and underemployed veterans shall be recruited for
inclusion in the preapprentice program through a partnership with
veterans' organizations, including, but not limited to, the Helmets
to Hardhats organization.