California Assembly Bill AB684 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 684AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 21, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Medina FEBRUARY 21, 2013 An act relating to  student financial aid.   workforce training.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 684, as amended, Medina.  Student financial aid:   Workforce training:  General Educational Development (GED) test preparation  and career employment training.   : grant   s.  Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts to award high school diplomas to pupils who have met specified requirements. Existing law also establishes various programs that provide financial aid for qualifying students attending postsecondary educational institutions.  Existing law establishes the California Workforce Investment Board for, among other purposes, promoting the development of a well-educated and highly skilled workforce.  This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to  enact legislation at the 2013-14 Regular Session that would make students who were high school dropouts, and   provide funding to institutions that offer instruction to persons who  are preparing for the General Educational Development (GED) test  , eligible for student financial aid to be used for both GED test preparation and subsequent career employment training at a postsecondary educational institution  .  The bill would authorize the California Workforce Investme   nt Board to provide grants from available federal and state funds to accredited institutions that provide instruction to persons who are preparing for the GED test and that apply to the board to receive grants pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the board to develop and adopt regulations and procedures for the process of receiving and evaluating applications for grants under these provisions   .  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1.  It   (a)     The Legislature finds and declares that it is important to increase the number of Californians who obtain a marketable and industry-recognized credential or degree and to advance the education and training of these students and workers so that they can keep pace with the education and skill needs of the state, its regional economies, and leading industry sectors.   (b)     Therefore, it  is the intent of the Legislature to  enact legislation at the 2013-14 Regular Session that would make students who were high school dropouts, and   provide funding to institutions that offer instruction to persons who  are preparing for the General Educational Development (GED) test,  eligible for student financial aid to be used for both GED test preparation and subsequent career employment training at a postsecondary educational institution   so that more Californians may pass the GED test and become eligible to receive   financial aid to advance in postsecondary education or vocational training  .  SEC. 2.   The California Workforce Investment Board established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 14010) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is authorized to provide grants, from state and federal funds that are available to the board for this purpose, to accredited institutions that provide instruction to persons who are preparing for the General Educational Development (GED) test and that apply to the board to receive grants pursuant to this section. The board shall develop and adopt regulations and procedures for the process of receiving and evaluating applications for grants   under this section.