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AB-1268 Unemployment insurance: veterans’ unemployment: Veterans Workforce Development and Employment Office.(2013-2014)

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1268

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   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.