California Assembly Bill AB1378 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1378AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 4, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Perez FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add  and repeal Section 14013.5 of   Section 14013.5 to  the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce investment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1378, as amended, 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   Accountability Act  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   method for the comprehensive and transparent evaluation of expenditures for veteran workforce development programs in the state  , as specified. The bill would require the board  to conduct an annual assessment of those programs, and  , in consultation with the Employment Training Panel  , the Department of Veterans' Affairs,  and  representatives of the Departmentof Veterans Affairs,   representatives of the Employment Development Department,  to implement and administer  the program   provisions of the act  , 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   the  effectiveness  with respect to the provision of enhanced job skills and employment opportunities to   of existing job skills development, training, and referral programs for  military veterans who are transitioning to civilian work. The bill would provide that the  program   provisions of the bill  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   to the extent that federal funds are made  available  to the state  for  this purpose   the purposes of the bill  . 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 Accountability Act is hereby established for the purpose of providing a method for the comprehensive and transparent evaluation of expenditures for veteran workforce development programs in the state. The board shall conduct an annual assessment evaluating the effectiveness of those programs that assist veterans with the transition to civilian work, which are funded with federal moneys provided to the state, including the approximately eighteen million dollar ($18,000,000) annual grant that the state receives from the United States Department of Labor. (b) The board, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and representatives of the department shall outline, implement, and administer this section. The board shall also develop clear, comprehensive, and transparent objectives, and appropriate criteria that may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing workforce training and job referral programs for veterans. (c) The assessment required to be prepared pursuant to this section shall evaluate all of the following: (1) The extent to which moneys are being expended for outreach, assessment of job skills and interests, and the referral of veterans to specific training opportunities and prospective jobs. The outreach measures required to be assessed pursuant to this subdivision shall also include an evaluation of the provision of information to veterans regarding ways to finance training opportunities that require fees or the payment of tuition. (2) The extent to which moneys are being expended for the assessment of job skills acquired during military service that may be used, or adapted for use, for civilian purposes by the veteran client. (3) The extent to which moneys are being expended to provide workforce training and job referral programs for eligible veterans at one-stop career centers. (d) The board shall annually report to the Governor and the appropriate legislative policy and budget committees on the effectiveness of existing job skills and employment opportunities provided to military veterans who are transitioning to civilian work. (e) This section shall only be implemented to the extent that federal funds are made available to the state for purposes of this section.   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.