BILL NUMBER: AB 1378INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add and repeal Section 14013.5 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce investment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1378, as introduced, V. Manuel Perez. California Workforce Investment Board: veterans' workforce program. The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 provides for workforce investment activities, including activities in which states may participate. Under existing law, the California Workforce Investment Board is responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system. Existing law requires the board, among other things, to assist the Governor with promoting the development of a well-educated and highly skilled workforce and developing the State Workforce Investment Plan. This bill would, until January 1, 2012, establish the veterans' Workforce Program for the purpose of providing a targeted workforce training assessment and referral program for veterans to identify needs for skill enhancement training for military veterans that is intended to assist those veterans with the transition to the civilian workforce, as specified. The bill would require the board, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to implement and administer the program, as provided. The bill would require the board, to annually report to the Governor and the appropriate legislative policy and budget committees on the program's effectiveness with respect to the provision of enhanced job skills and employment opportunities to military veterans who are transitioning to civilian work. The bill would provide that the program shall only be implemented with funds that are available to the state under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to the extent that the sum of at least $250,000 of those funds is available for this purpose. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14013.5 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read: 14013.5. (a) The Veterans' Workforce Program is hereby established for the purpose of providing a targeted workforce training assessment and job referral program for veterans to identify needs for skill enhancement training for military veterans, and to assist those veterans with the transition to civilian work. (b) The board, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall implement and administer the program. The board shall also develop clear program objectives, timelines for action, and appropriate criteria to evaluate program effectiveness. (c) The program shall include both of the following elements: (1) Outreach, assessment of job skills and interests, and referrals to specific training opportunities and prospective jobs. The outreach measures required by this subdivision shall also include the provision of information to veterans regarding ways to finance training opportunities that require fees or the payment of tuition. (2) Individual assessments of job skills acquired during military service that may be used, or adapted for use for civilian purposes. (d) The board shall annually report to the Governor and the appropriate legislative policy and budget committees on the program's effectiveness with respect to the provision of enhanced job skills and employment opportunities to military veterans who are transitioning to civilian work. (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends that date. SEC. 2. This program established pursuant to Section 14013.5 of the Unemployment Insurance Code shall only be implemented with funds that are available to the state under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, to the extent that the sum of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) of those funds is available for this purpose.