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AB-1114 Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program (2017-2018)

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Date Published: 03/31/2017 04:00 AM
AB1114:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 30, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1114

Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia

February 17, 2017

An act to amend Sections 1234.2 1234, 1234.2, and 1234.3 of the Penal Code, relating to recidivism.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1114, as amended, Eduardo Garcia. Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program
Existing law, until January 1, 2021, establishes the Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program to be administered, as provided, by the California Workforce Development Board. Existing law establishes grant program eligibility criteria for counties and provides that eligible uses for grant funds include, but are not limited to, vocational training, stipends for trainees, and apprenticeship opportunities for the supervised population, which include individuals on probation, mandatory supervision, and postrelease community supervision. Existing law requires the board to develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients and requires the board to ensure that grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Existing law requires the board, by January 1, 2018, to submit a report to the Legislature containing specified information, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program.
This bill would expand the scope of the supervised population served by the program to include persons who are on parole and persons who are supervised by, or under the jurisdiction of, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bill would also require the board to design the grant program application process to ensure ensure, among other things, that grants are allocated equitably among the grant partners based on services and activities provided in support of the success of participants and that nonprofit community-based organizations are competitive in applying for funds as the lead applicant. The bill would also require that an application provide for a partnership with a lead community-based organization with a track record of success in effectively serving the supervised population, as specified. The bill would make other changes to the application process and criteria for the award of grants, including identifying additional applicants who are to be awarded preference.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 1234 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1234.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “California Workforce Development Board” means the California Workforce Development Board established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 14010) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(b) “Earn and learn” has the same meaning as in Section 14005 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(c) “Grant program” means the Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program.
(d) “Supervised population” means those persons who are on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or postrelease community supervision and are supervised by, or are under the jurisdiction of, a county. county or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 1234.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1234.2.
 The California Workforce Development Board shall administer the grant program as follows:
(a) Develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients through a public application process, including, but not limited to, the rating and ranking of applications that meet the threshold criteria set forth in this section.
(b) Design the grant program application process to ensure all of the following occurs:
(1) Outreach and technical assistance is made available to eligible applicants, especially to small population and rural counties.
(2) Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Multiyear grants may be awarded.
(3) Small and rural counties are competitive in applying for funds.
(4) Applicants are encouraged to develop implement evidence-based, best practices for serving the workforce training and education needs of the supervised population.
(5) Nonprofit community-based organizations are competitive in applying for funds as the lead applicant.

(5)

(6) The education workforce and training needs of one or both of the following are addressed:
(A) Individuals with some postsecondary education who can enter into programs and benefit from services that result in certifications, and placement on a middle skill career ladder.
(B) Individuals who require basic education as well as training education, training, or “earn and learn” experience in order to obtain entry level jobs where there are opportunities for career advancement.

(6)

(7) Grants are allocated equitably among the grant partners based on services and activities provided in support of the success of participants.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 Section 1234.3 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1234.3.
 (a) The grant program shall be competitively awarded through at least two rounds of funding, with the first phase of funding being awarded on or before May 1, 2015.
(b) Each county is eligible to apply, and a single application may include multiple counties applying jointly. Each application shall include a partnership agreement between one or more community-based organizations that work directly with the supervised population, the county or counties counties, and one or more local workforce development boards that outline the actions each party agrees to undertake as part of the project proposed in the application.
(c) Each project proposed shall allocate grant funds that reflect the role each party plays in the proposed project.

(c)

(d) At a minimum, each project proposed in the application shall include a provision for an education and training assessment for each individual of the supervised population who participates in the project. The assessment may be undertaken by the applicant or by another entity. A prior assessment of an individual may be used if, in the determination of the California Workforce Development Board, its results are accurate. The California Workforce Development Board may delegate the responsibility for determining the sufficiency of a prior assessment to one or more local workforce development boards.

(d)

(e) Eligible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, vocational training, stipends for trainees, and earn and learn opportunities for the supervised population. Supportive services and job readiness activities shall serve as bridge activities that lead to enrollment in long-term training programs.

(e)

(f) Preference shall be awarded to applications for the following:
(1) An application that proposes matching funds, including, but not limited to, moneys committed by local workforce development boards, local governments, and private foundation funds. funds for the express purpose of providing services to the supervised population.
(2) An application submitted by a county partnership that currently administers or participates in a workforce training program for the supervised population.

(3)An application that proposes participation by one or more nonprofit community-based organizations that serve the supervised population.

(4)

(3) An application that proposes participation by one or more employers employers, including mission-driven social enterprises and nonprofit organizations with a track record of employing a workforce comprised of formerly incarcerated individuals, who have demonstrated interest in employing individuals in the supervised population, including, but not limited to, earn and learn opportunities and intent to hire letters for successfully completing the program.
(4) Applicants that have a nonprofit organization that works directly with the supervised population as the lead or co-lead of the project in order to leverage this experience.
(5) Applicants that use grant funds primarily to support the direct provision of workforce and training services to the supervised population.
(6) Applicants that propose projects which align with the California Workforce Development Board’s strategic plan.

(f)

(g) An application shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Set a specific purpose for the use of the grant funds, funds that aligns with the services to be provided and the role of each partner, as well as provide the baseline criteria and metrics by which the overall success of the grant project can be evaluated.
(2) Define the specific subset or subsets of the supervised population, among the eligible supervised population that the grant money will serve. serve, with priority given to those individuals with the highest risk of returning to incarceration.
(3) Define the industry sector or sectors in which the targeted supervised population will be trained, including the current and projected workforce within the region for those jobs, the range of wage rates, and the training and education requirements within those industry sectors.
(4) Define the general methodology and training methods proposed to be used and explain the manner in which the progress of the targeted supervised population will be monitored during the grant period.
(5) Provide for a partnership with a lead community-based organization with a track record of success in effectively serving the supervised population. This organization shall use its expertise in working with the targeted population to provide critical supports, services, and workforce readiness skills and to collaborate with the workforce partners to transition clients successfully into training programs.

(g)

(h) As a condition of receiving funds, a grant recipient shall agree to provide information to the California Workforce Development Board in sufficient detail to allow the California Workforce Development Board to meet the reporting requirements in Section 1234.4.