BILL NUMBER: SB 923 VETOED DATE: 09/30/2014 To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 923 without my signature. This bill would create the Educational Apprenticeship Innovation Prize (EdPrize), a competitive grant program that would be administered by the California Department of Education to promote apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship and career pathways between local schools, community colleges, and local businesses. While the bill is intended to provide EdPrize applicants special consideration under the California Career Pathways Trust, it instead creates a new and duplicative program that does not have an appropriation. I share the author's sentiments about the importance of apprenticeship programs. The state has invested $500 million dollars over the past two years to fund the Career Pathways Trust. This investment of public funds encourages partnerships between K-12 schools, community colleges and the business community, and includes apprenticeship programs. I strongly encourage apprenticeship programs to apply for the $250 million that is currently available. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.