BILL NUMBER: AB 1903INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong FEBRUARY 16, 2010 An act to amend Section 10529 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce development. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1903, as introduced, Fong. California Workforce and Economic Information Program. Existing law establishes the California Workforce and Economic Information Program that requires the Employment Development Department, among other things, to coordinate with specified state agencies in developing economic and workforce information. Existing law requires that the services provided by the existing labor market information system within the department include specified workforce and economic information that meets certain requirements regarding the provision of economic and workforce information. This bill would additionally require that the services provided by the existing labor market information system within the department include a comprehensive search engine that includes, but is not limited to, a database of public higher education career technical education programs, career assessment tools, and a job search database, and would require that this search engine be made available to job seekers who apply online for unemployment compensation benefits. 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 10529 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read: 10529. (a) The services provided by the existing labor market information system within the department shall include workforce and economic information that does all of the following: (1) Provides data and information to the state Workforce Investment Board created pursuant to Section 2821 of Title 29 of the United States Code, to enable the board to plan, operate, and evaluate investments in the state's workforce preparation system that will make the California economy more productive and competitive. (2) Provides data and information to the California Economic Strategy Panel for continuous strategic planning and the development of policies for the growth and competitiveness of the California economy. (3) Identifies and combines information from various state data bases to produce useful, geographically based analysis and products, to the extent possible using existing resources. (4) Provides technical assistance related to accessing workforce and economic information to local governments, public-sector entities, research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and community groups that have various levels of expertise, to the extent possible using existing resources. (5) Provides a comprehensive search engine that includes, but is not limited to, a database of public higher education career technical education programs, career assessment tools, and a job search database. This search engine shall be made available to job seekers who apply online for unemployment compensation benefits. (b) The department shall coordinate with the State Department of Education, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the State Department of Social Services, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, the Department of Finance, and the Franchise Tax Board in developing economic and workforce information. The department shall also solicit input in the operation of the program from public and private agencies and individuals that make use of the labor market information provided by the department.