Bill Text: CA AB685 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 685

Introduced

Bill Title: Workforce training: CaliforniaVolunteers: youth job corps.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB685 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB685-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 685

Introduced by Assembly Member Ramos

February 13, 2023

An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 14125) to Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce training.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 685, as introduced, Ramos. Workforce training: CaliforniaVolunteers: youth job corps.

Under existing law, by executive order, CaliforniaVolunteers is established in the Office of the Governor and is charged with overseeing programs and initiatives for service and volunteerism. Existing law authorizes CaliforniaVolunteers to form a nonprofit public benefit corporation or other entity exempt from income taxation, as provided, to raise revenues and receive grants or other financial support from private or public sources, for purposes of undertaking or funding any lawful activity authorized to be undertaken by CaliforniaVolunteers. Existing federal law, the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, also requires the state to create a commission to carry out specified duties relating to national service programs to be eligible for grants or allotments under certain programs, or to receive distributions of approved national service positions. Existing state law continues into existence the Board of Commissioners under CaliforniaVolunteers for purposes of meeting the requirements of the federal act and the act’s implementing rules and regulations.

#CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps is a program of the CaliforniaVolunteers.

This bill would establish in statute the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps Program. The bill would require the CaliforniaVolunteers to expand the program, upon appropriation by the Legislature, which would fund supportive services, as specified, that are necessary for homeless youth and current or former foster youth to enable their participation in the workforce development program, as defined. Under the bill, grants would be awarded on a competitive basis. The bill would require the CaliforniaVolunteers to conduct outreach activities and to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants to ensure that grants are awarded to qualified applicants providing a broad spectrum of supportive services. The bill would prescribe definitions, duties for the CaliforniaVolunteers, and requirements for applications and applicants, including the requirement that applicants agree to provide the office any information that the office deems necessary to meet reporting requirements and other grant requirements. The bill would require the CaliforniaVolunteers to evaluate how grants awarded under the program address the needs of eligible targeted populations and, beginning one year after the initial award of grant funds, to post an annual report on its internet website regarding the progress and success of the program.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

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

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(a) As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s “California Comeback Plan,” the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps program created a $185,000,000 investment for youth workforce development activities to 13 of the largest cities and counties in California.

(b) The first phase awarded $150,000,000 for youth workforce development in the 13 largest cities in California, and in phase two saw $35,000,000 awarded to counties and smaller cities through a competitive process.

(c) The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps program provides up to two years of meaningful employment to underserved youth.

(d) The program targets low-income, former foster, justice-involved, and unemployed youth and young adults between 16 and 30 years of age.

(e) The main focus of the program is placement in subsidized work experience opportunities in key service areas.

(f) The program includes wraparound services like case management, resume preparation, special job training, and other benefits to help ensure both the short-term and long-term success of the youth enrolled.

(g) The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program addresses three critical issues: COVID-19 recovery, food insecurity, and climate action.

(h) Through the program, youth engage with their communities in meaningful ventures as they develop their job skills and pursue careers in public service.

(i) Of the funds appropriated, expenditure of $185,300,000 associated with the Promoting Workforce Stability initiative is contingent upon adoption of statutory changes codifying the intent and details of implementation, including definitions, stipend and reimbursement amounts, related terms of service for participating regional center staff and direct service providers, key implementation timelines, and specification of metrics for the tracking of outcomes.

(j) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this act will require the CaliforniaVolunteers to expand the program, which would fund supportive services, as specified, that are necessary for every youth to succeed, California must focus on targeted youth furthest from opportunity, those facing persistent educational opportunity gaps, especially students of color, indigenous students, low-income students, rural students, students with disabilities, and systemimpacted youth, including youths who are at risk of disconnection or are disconnected from the education system or employment and those unhoused or in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal legal systems.

(k) For participating youth, wraparound support services and the engagement of families, caregivers, and youth serving community-based organizations and support networks are critical and essential.

(l) Establishing pipelines for youth to enter growth industries for on-the-job training that allows them to earn and learn is a proven practice that can transform their participation in the labor force fostering economic security and prosperity as well as strengthening the sustainability of the overall economy.

(m) Under this act, grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.

(n) The act will require grantees to conduct outreach activities and to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants to ensure that grants are awarded to qualified applicants addressing three critical issues: COVID-19 recovery, food insecurity, and climate action.

(o) The act keeps definitions, duties for the CaliforniaVolunteers, and requirements for applications and applicants, including the requirement that applicants agree to provide the office any information that it deems necessary to meet reporting requirements and other grant requirements.

(p) The act requires the CaliforniaVolunteers to evaluate how grants awarded under the program address the needs of eligible targeted populations and, beginning one year after the initial award of grant funds, to post an annual report regarding the progress and success of the program.

SEC. 2.

Article 8 (commencing with Section 14125) is added to Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:

Article 8. Youth Access to Workforce Training

14125.

(a) The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps Program is hereby established in statute.

(b) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps Expansion.

14126.

As used in this article:

(a) “Applicant” means a community-based organization, local workforce development board, or nonprofit organization that helps individuals who face barriers to employment get supportive services, meets the standards of the program, and submits an application for a grant.

(b) (1) “Homeless youth” means a person up to 30 years of age, who has been verified as a homeless child or youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of Section 11343a of Title 42 of the United States Code, as it read on January 1, 2021, by at least one of the following:

(A) A homeless services provider, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 103577 of the Health and Safety Code.

(B) The director, or the director’s designee, of a federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs program.

(2) “Targeted youth” means a person who is less than 30 years of age who meets either of the following criteria:

(A) The person is, or has been, the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and who was removed from the person’s home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 361 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) A person who is, or has been, the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and who was removed from the person’s home by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(C) Includes, but is not limited to, youth who are low income, unemployed, justice involved, out of school, in foster care, or engaged with mental health or substance abuse.

(d) “Program” means the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Job Corps Program as established by this article.

(e) “Supportive services” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following and, for purposes of this section, these services shall be interpreted consistently with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128):

(1) Linkages to community services.

(2) Assistance with transportation.

(3) Assistance with childcare and dependent care.

(4) Assistance with housing.

(5) Needs-related payments.

(6) Assistance with educational testing.

(7) Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

(8) Legal aid services.

(9) Referrals to health care.

(10) Assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools, including items such as eyeglasses and protective eyewear.

(11) Assistance with books, fees, school supplies, and other necessary items for students who are enrolled in postsecondary education classes.

(12) Payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications.

(f) “Workforce development program” means the services described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d) of Section 14013.

14127.

(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the office shall expand the program to fund supportive services that are necessary for homeless youth and current or former foster youth in order to enable their participation in the workforce development program. Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis consistent with this article.

(b) The office, pursuant to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), shall develop regulations to implement this program, including criteria, policies, and guidelines for the award of supportive services grant funds to applicants. The office shall develop methods to evaluate how grant projects adequately serve the needs of eligible homeless youth and current or former foster youth.

(c) The office shall conduct outreach activities and provide technical assistance to eligible applicants to ensure that grants are awarded to qualified applicants providing a broad spectrum of supportive services.

14128.

(a) Application forms for the program shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) A description of the permitted purposes for which program grants may be awarded, the requirements of the program oversight and monitoring process, and other required terms of the grants.

(2) A description of the requirement that grant recipients report to the CaliforniaVolunteers on their use of the funds on an annual basis and upon completion of the grant period.

(3) An acknowledgment pursuant to which an applicant shall agree to provide any information to the office that it deems necessary to meet reporting and other grant requirements.

(b) A completed application shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) A detailed description of the proposed supportive services to be provided.

(2) An explanation of how the supportive services to be provided will serve targeted youth and assist these populations in obtaining and completing workforce development programs.

(3) A description of the process through which the needs of participants will be assessed and how those needs will be met in the most cost-effective manner possible, including through the referral to, and utilization of, other public and private programs and services that may be available.

(4) An acknowledgment that the applicant agrees to provide any information to the office that the office deems necessary to meet reporting requirements and other grant requirements.

14129.

The office shall evaluate how grants awarded under the program address the needs of eligible targeted populations. Beginning one year after the initial grant funds are awarded, and annually thereafter until all grant funding has been awarded and all grant periods completed, the office shall post an annual report on its internet website regarding the progress and success of the grant program.