BILL NUMBER: AB 1523INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Perea JANUARY 18, 2012 An act to add Section 2704.76 to the Streets and Highways Code, relating to workforce training, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1523, as introduced, Perea. Preapprenticeship training program: high-speed rail. Existing law, the California High-Speed Train Act, creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed train system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law, the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes. This bill would appropriate $2,000,000 from the High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Fund to the authority for the purposes of funding a 3-year pilot project in the Central Valley to train unemployed workers for high-speed rail construction jobs. The bill would require the authority to work with various labor organizations to train a total of 400 clients in preapprenticeship programs that will lead to direct referrals to building trades unions, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2704.76 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read: 2704.76. (a) The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Fund to the authority for purposes of this section. (b) The funds made available pursuant to this section shall be used by the authority to fund a three-year pilot project in the Central Valley to train unemployed workers for high-speed rail construction jobs. The authority shall work with the Central Valley workforce investment boards, the Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Central Labor Council, and representatives from various organized labor building trades to train a total of 400 clients in preapprenticeship programs that will lead to direct referrals to building trades unions, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 100. (2) United Association Local 246 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, Service Technicians). (3) Operating Engineers Local 3. (4) Laborers Local 294. (5) Carpenters Local Union 701. (6) Ironworkers Local Union 155. (c) The pilot project, over the full three-year project life, shall include 16 cohorts of 25 preapprentice trainees each, drawn from the following: (1) Eight cohorts from the central region of the San Joaquin Valley (Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board). (2) Four cohorts from the southern region of the San Joaquin Valley (Kern Inyo Mono Workforce Investment Board). (3) Four cohorts from the northern region of the San Joaquin Valley (Stanislaus County Workforce Investment Board). (d) Unemployed and underemployed veterans shall be recruited for inclusion in the preapprentice program through a partnership with veterans' organizations, including, but not limited to, the Helmets to Hardhats organization.