BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    






Senate Committee on Industrial Relations     1999-2000  
Regular Session Hilda L. Solis, Chair
                                        Fiscal:   Yes
                                        Urgency:  Yes


                      Bill No: SB 178 
                       Author: Polanco
                  Version: March 16, 1999
     
Subject:

Workforce Investment

Support:

La Cooperativa 

Opposition:

None

Purpose:

To establish the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment  
and its membership and duties.

Analysis:

Presently, job training programs in the state operate under  
a myriad of programs, administered by numerous state  
agencies with separate funding streams.  One of those  
programs is the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) funded  
by the U.S. Department of Labor.  In 1998, Congress  
abolished JTPA and created the Workforce Investment Act  
(WIA).  During the next two years (1999-2000), California,  
as well as other states, will be required to phase out  
JTPA, and implement WIA.

The implementation of WIA will require the establishment of  
a state level governing body, state oversight and  
administrative procedures, state guidelines for  
coordination and collaboration, local governing bodies,  
designation of geographical service areas, and  
establishment of a local service delivery model, among  
other issues.









  
This Bill  

 1.   Creates the Governor's Council on Workforce  
  Investment and Economic
       Development, with members appointed by the Governor  
  and Legislature, which
       would advise the Governor with regard to preparation  
  of the state's Workforce
       Investment Plan as required by federal law.



2.   Expresses various requirements, provisions and intent  
of the federal Workforce
      Investment Act.  Expresses need for coordination of  
all state workforce programs.

3.   Requires that the composition of the council shall  
include representatives of advocacy
      groups of specific target populations, as well as  
academics and researchers with
      expertise in economic development and workforce  
preparation.

4.   Provides for the appointment by the Governor of staff  
to assist the council in its
      duties.

5.   Provides for funding in the annual Budget Act for the  
support of the council,
      commencing with the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

6.   Appropriates $20,000 from the General Fund to the  
Governor for startup costs
      relating to the council. 

7.   Contains an urgency clause.

Comments:

Hearing Date:  March 24, 1999                          SB  
178  
Consultant: Clem Meredith                              Page  
2                             
Senate Committee on Industrial Relations 









1.  Proponents  :
  
  This bill is designed to establish the state council,  
  which would be responsible of implementation of the  
  federal Workforce Investment Act.  The bill also seeks to  
  establish broad based representation on the council.

  This bill is one of several legislative vehicles, which  
  will contain provisions for WIA implementation.  It is  
  understood that all vehicles will be substantially  
  amended as they move through the process.  This bill may  
  need to return to this policy committee for hearing when  
  it returns for concurrence in Assembly amendments.

2.  Opponents  :

  None





















Hearing Date:  March 24, 1999                          SB  
178  
Consultant: Clem Meredith                              Page  
3                             
Senate Committee on Industrial Relations