Bill Text: CA AB579 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 579 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Apprenticeship: fire protection: firefighter preapprenticeship program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 14-8)

Status: (Passed) 2017-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 344, Statutes of 2017. [AB579 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB579-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 579

CHAPTER 344

An act to add Section 13159.15 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to apprenticeship, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

[ Approved by Governor September 28, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2017. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 579, Flora. Apprenticeship: fire protection: firefighter preapprenticeship program.

Existing law provides for apprenticeship programs within the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, which is within the Department of Industrial Relations, sponsored by specific entities and employers, and requires the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to perform various functions with respect to apprenticeship programs and the welfare of apprentices.

This bill would require the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, in collaboration with the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CAL-JAC), to develop a statewide firefighter preapprenticeship program designed to recruit candidates from underrepresented groups. This bill would require the preapprenticeship program to meet specified objectives. This bill would also require CAL-JAC to deliver the pilot classes established by the preapprenticeship program using existing facilities and training models. This bill would require CAL-JAC to provide the program model to fire protection agencies, and would authorize a fire protection agency to then use that model and related resources to establish a local preapprenticeship program for recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups. This bill would reference an appropriation made in the Budget Act of 2017–18 to the division to establish the preapprenticeship program and would require the division to use those funds for specified purposes.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 13159.15 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

13159.15.

(a) The Division of Apprenticeship Standards, in collaboration with the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CAL-JAC), shall develop a statewide firefighter preapprenticeship program designed to recruit candidates from underrepresented groups.

(b) The firefighter preapprenticeship program funded by the division shall meet both of the following objectives:

(1) Create training and curriculum based on California firefighter standards designed to prepare candidates from underrepresented groups with the skills, competencies, and mentorship needed to pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), and the written tests and oral components common to the California hiring process that are necessary for a candidate to be eligible for consideration and hire with fire protection agencies.

(2) Provide Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training to candidates from underrepresented groups, preparing them to meet the necessary minimum qualification required by the majority of fire protection agencies.

(c) CAL-JAC shall deliver the pilot classes established through the preapprenticeship program using existing facilities and training models in order to minimize the costs of the program. CAL-JAC shall provide the preapprenticeship program model to fire protection agencies. That program may include curriculum, course set up and outlines staffing and equipment requirements, and recruitment strategies developed pursuant to this section. A protection fire agency may then use those resources to establish a local preapprenticeship program for recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups.

(d) The Division of Apprenticeship Standards shall provide the oversight and technical assistance in the development of this preapprenticeship program.

(e) For purposes of this section, “underrepresented groups” means groups that CAL-JAC determines are currently underrepresented in the firefighter profession.

SEC. 2.

Subject to an appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act of 2017–18 to the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for the purpose of funding the firefighter preapprenticeship program established pursuant to Section 13159.15 of the Health and Safety Code, both of the following shall apply:

(a) The division may use 5 percent of funds appropriated pursuant to this section for purposes of direct and indirect expenses incurred in administering the program.

(b) The division shall use all remaining funds appropriated pursuant to this section to contract with the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee to develop and deliver curriculum, other materials, and instructors necessary to implement the firefighter preapprenticeship pilot program.

SEC. 3.

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:

An appropriation to fund this measure was included in the Budget Act of 2017–18 which has been enacted and signed. In order for the appropriated funds to be used as intended, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.