| 1 | 1 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 338Introduced by Assembly Member SolacheJanuary 28, 2025 An act to add Section 14017.2 to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce development, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 338, as introduced, Solache. Workforce development: the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura: 2025 wildfires.Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment system and the alignment of education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. The act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce investment system. This bill would appropriate the sum of $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires. The bill would require those local workforce development boards to demonstrate quality standards and practices, as specified, and to focus on employment in jobs in certain professions and industries, including construction, firefighting, and health care, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding. The bill would require individuals participating in programs funded by the bill to have access to expedited licensing and certification.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14017.2 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:To ensure that the State of California is able to meet the immediate need to coordinate and mobilize workforce to rebuild communities in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025 that have resulted in the urgent need for a skilled workforce to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in those counties impacted by the wildfires. |
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| 3 | 3 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 338Introduced by Assembly Member SolacheJanuary 28, 2025 An act to add Section 14017.2 to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce development, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 338, as introduced, Solache. Workforce development: the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura: 2025 wildfires.Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment system and the alignment of education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. The act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce investment system. This bill would appropriate the sum of $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires. The bill would require those local workforce development boards to demonstrate quality standards and practices, as specified, and to focus on employment in jobs in certain professions and industries, including construction, firefighting, and health care, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding. The bill would require individuals participating in programs funded by the bill to have access to expedited licensing and certification.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO |
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| 9 | 9 | | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION |
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| 11 | 11 | | Assembly Bill |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | No. 338 |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | Introduced by Assembly Member SolacheJanuary 28, 2025 |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | Introduced by Assembly Member Solache |
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| 18 | 18 | | January 28, 2025 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | An act to add Section 14017.2 to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce development, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 23 | 23 | | |
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| 24 | 24 | | ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST |
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| 25 | 25 | | |
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| 26 | 26 | | AB 338, as introduced, Solache. Workforce development: the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura: 2025 wildfires. |
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| 28 | 28 | | Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment system and the alignment of education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. The act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce investment system. This bill would appropriate the sum of $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires. The bill would require those local workforce development boards to demonstrate quality standards and practices, as specified, and to focus on employment in jobs in certain professions and industries, including construction, firefighting, and health care, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding. The bill would require individuals participating in programs funded by the bill to have access to expedited licensing and certification.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura. |
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| 30 | 30 | | Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment system and the alignment of education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. The act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce investment system. |
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| 31 | 31 | | |
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| 32 | 32 | | This bill would appropriate the sum of $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires. The bill would require those local workforce development boards to demonstrate quality standards and practices, as specified, and to focus on employment in jobs in certain professions and industries, including construction, firefighting, and health care, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding. The bill would require individuals participating in programs funded by the bill to have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 34 | 34 | | This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. |
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| 35 | 35 | | |
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| 36 | 36 | | This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura. |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | ## Digest Key |
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| 40 | 40 | | ## Bill Text |
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| 42 | 42 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14017.2 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:To ensure that the State of California is able to meet the immediate need to coordinate and mobilize workforce to rebuild communities in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025 that have resulted in the urgent need for a skilled workforce to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in those counties impacted by the wildfires. |
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| 44 | 44 | | The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: |
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| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 1. Section 14017.2 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 1. Section 14017.2 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read: |
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| 51 | 51 | | |
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| 52 | 52 | | ### SECTION 1. |
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| 54 | 54 | | 14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 56 | 56 | | 14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 58 | 58 | | 14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires.(b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005.(c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding.(d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 62 | 62 | | 14017.2. (a) The sum of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the California Workforce Development Board to allocate to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative to train, upskill, and retrain underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires. |
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| 64 | 64 | | (b) The South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall demonstrate quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005. |
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| 65 | 65 | | |
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| 66 | 66 | | (c) In developing and implementing workforce strategies funded pursuant to this section, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Collaborative shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, housing and shelter assistance, and other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief recovery and mitigation, and rebuilding. |
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| 68 | 68 | | (d) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification. |
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| 70 | 70 | | SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:To ensure that the State of California is able to meet the immediate need to coordinate and mobilize workforce to rebuild communities in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately. |
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| 72 | 72 | | SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:To ensure that the State of California is able to meet the immediate need to coordinate and mobilize workforce to rebuild communities in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately. |
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| 74 | 74 | | SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: |
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| 76 | 76 | | ### SEC. 2. |
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| 78 | 78 | | To ensure that the State of California is able to meet the immediate need to coordinate and mobilize workforce to rebuild communities in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately. |
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| 80 | 80 | | SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025 that have resulted in the urgent need for a skilled workforce to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in those counties impacted by the wildfires. |
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| 82 | 82 | | SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025 that have resulted in the urgent need for a skilled workforce to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in those counties impacted by the wildfires. |
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| 84 | 84 | | SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances facing the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to extreme wildfires beginning in January 2025 that have resulted in the urgent need for a skilled workforce to support the rebuilding and recovery of areas in those counties impacted by the wildfires. |
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| 86 | 86 | | ### SEC. 3. |
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