Bill Text: CA AB1268 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Unemployment insurance: veterans' unemployment: Veterans

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-28 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Roth. [AB1268 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB1268-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1268	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member John A. Pérez
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Muratsuchi)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Article 2 (commencing with Section 337.01) to
Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of, and to repeal Sections 325.5
and 325.6 of, the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to
unemployment insurance, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1268, as introduced, John A. Pérez. Unemployment insurance:
veterans' unemployment: Veterans Workforce Development and Employment
Office.
   Existing law authorizes the Employment Development Department
within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to perform various
functions and duties with respect to job creation and retention
activities. Existing law requires the department to research the
needs of veterans throughout the state and develop a profile of
veterans' employment and training needs and to develop a statewide
plan for the equitable distribution of employment funds for veterans'
employment services. Existing law further requires the department to
seek federal funding for these purposes and to submit an annual
report to the Legislature, as provided, following any fiscal year in
which state funds support the Veterans Employment Training services
program. Under existing law, the expense of administration of these
programs is paid out of the Unemployment Administration Fund, a
continuously appropriated fund.
   This bill would establish the Veterans Workforce Development and
Employment Office within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency
for the purpose of coordinating state veterans workforce development
and employment programs and services. The bill would require the
office to administer specified state and federal unemployment
programs and services for veterans, and would require the office to
develop a plan, by May 1, 2014, in collaboration with the department
for the transfer of its responsibilities from the department, and to
transfer staff from the department to the office according to that
plan. The bill would further require the office to research the needs
of veterans throughout the state, develop a profile of veterans'
employment and training needs, develop a statewide plan for the
equitable distribution of employment funds for veterans' employment
services, and develop a strategy and program for identifying
employers and small businesses interested in hiring veterans and
establish the means by which appropriate training and placement may
occur. The bill would also require the office to seek federal and
other funding for these research and development purposes and to
submit an annual report to the Legislature, as specified. By
authorizing expenditure of money in the Unemployment Administration
Fund for a new purpose, the bill would make an appropriation.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Many veterans, especially post-9/11 veterans, experience
higher unemployment rates than the general public.
   (b) California's veteran employment programs are underperforming
compared to other states.
   (c) Federal tax credits and other federal initiatives exist for
veterans and for employers interested in hiring veterans that need to
be better promoted to encourage their use by an increasing number of
employers that are interested in hiring veterans.
   (d) The voters' approval of Proposition 39 at the November 6,
2012, statewide general election, holds the potential of generating
significant funding for veteran job training and employment
opportunities and, therefore, supports the establishment of an office
within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
   (e) The Veterans Workforce Development and Employment Office
established by this act will coordinate veteran job training and
employment programs, and will furthermore coordinate those efforts
with the work of the Workforce Investment Board, the Employment
Training Panel, and the Employment Development Department.
  SEC. 2.  Section 325.5 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is
repealed. 
   325.5.  The department, in consultation and coordination with
veterans' organizations and veteran service providers, shall do all
of the following:
   (a) Research the needs of veterans throughout the state and
develop a profile of veterans' employment and training needs.
   (b) Develop a statewide plan for the equitable distribution of
employment funds for veterans' employment services.
   (c) Seek federal funding for purposes of subdivision (a).

  SEC. 3.  Section 325.6 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is
repealed. 
   325.6.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state
supported Veterans Employment Training services meet the same
performance standards as those required by the federal Workforce
Investment Act for services provided to veterans.
   (b) Following any fiscal year in which state funds support the
Veterans Employment Training services program, the Employment
Development Department shall provide an annual report to the
Legislature, on or before November 1, regarding the following
performance measures:
   (1) The number of veterans receiving individualized, case managed
services.
   (2) The number of veterans who receive individualized, case
managed services entering employment.
   (3) The retention rate for veterans who enter employment.
   (4) The average earnings for veterans entering employment.

  SEC. 4.  Article 2 (commencing with Section 337.01) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code,
to read:

      Article 2.  Veterans Workforce Development and Employment
Office


   337.01.  For purposes of this article, the following definitions
apply:
   (a) "Department" or "EDD" means the Employment Development
Department.
   (b) "DVOP" means the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program.
   (c) "LVER program" means the federal Local Veterans' Employment
Representatives program.
   (d) "Office" means the Veterans Workforce Development and
Employment Office, as established under Section 337.05.
   337.05.  The Veterans Workforce Development and Employment Office
is hereby established within the Labor and Workforce Development
Agency for the purpose of coordinating state veterans workforce
development and employment services. The office shall do all of the
following:
   (a) Administer the programs and services described in the federal
Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program, including, but not limited to,
overseeing the federal LVER program and the DVOP, as currently
administered by the department.
   (b) Collaborate with the EDD and develop a plan, on or before May
1, 2014, whereby responsibility for the administration of these
programs shall be transferred from the EDD to the office.
   (c) Transfer all administrative and support staff responsible for
the administration of the DVOP and the LVER programs from the EDD to
the office, in accordance with the plan developed under subdivision
(b).
   (d) Coordinate its efforts with the Department of Veterans Affairs
in this state and the Governor's Interagency Council on Veterans.
   337.10.  The office, in consultation and coordination with
appropriate state agencies and departments, veterans' organizations,
and veterans service providers, shall do all of the following:
   (a) Research the needs of veterans throughout the state and
develop a profile of veterans' employment and training needs.
   (b) Develop a statewide plan for the equitable distribution of
employment funds for veterans' employment services.
   (c) Develop a strategy and program for identifying both major
employers and small businesses interested in hiring veterans and
establish the means by which any appropriate training and placement
may occur.
   (d) Seek federal and other funding for purposes of subdivision
(a).
   337.15.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that
state-supported veterans employment training services meet the same
performance standards as those required by the federal Workforce
Investment Act for services provided to veterans.
   (b) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the
office shall provide an annual report to the Legislature, on or
before November 1 of each year, regarding the following performance
measures:
   (1) The number of veterans receiving individualized, case managed
state employment services.
   (2) The number of veterans who receive individualized, case
managed state employment services entering employment.
   (3) The retention rate for veterans who enter employment.
   (4) The average earnings for veterans entering employment.
   (c) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted
in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
                     
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