AB1224:v98#DOCUMENTBill Start
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 16, 2023
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1224
Introduced by Assembly Member Bryan
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February 16, 2023 |
An act relating to environmental justice. An act to add Division 8.1 (commencing with Section 15010) to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to workforce development.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1224, as amended, Bryan.
Environmental justice. Workforce development: green jobs survey.
Existing law establishes the Labor and Workforce Development Agency in state government under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. Existing law charges the agency with various duties relating to coordinating workforce programs and overseeing specified departments, boards, and panels, including the Employment Development Department and the California Workforce Development Board.
Existing law establishes the California Workforce Development Board, formerly named the California Workforce Investment Board, as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce
investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. Existing law requires the board to establish a committee known as the Green Collar Jobs Council to, among other things, consult with other state agencies, higher education representatives, local workforce investment boards, industry representatives, and specified others in the development of a strategic initiative relating to the training and development of a skilled workforce to meet the needs of California’s emerging green economy.
This bill would require the Labor Market Information Division of the Employment Development Department to conduct, upon appropriation by the Legislature, a green jobs survey, as specified, to gather information about statewide green job industry strengths. The bill would require the division to create a standard operating definition of “green job” based on the results of the survey for the purpose of employment in California, as described. The bill would require
the California Workforce Development Board to incorporate the survey’s findings into education outreach, as specified, and would require the Workforce Services Branch of the Employment Development Department to incorporate the survey’s findings into appropriate communications or educational materials relating to job opportunities for persons seeking employment.
Existing law requires the California Environmental Protection Agency to develop a model environmental justice mission statement for boards, departments, and offices within the agency, and defines environmental justice for these purposes.
This bill would provide that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation relating to environmental justice.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NOYES
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Climate change is a proven threat to the safety and well-being of Californians. The State of California has prioritized and mandated a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2035 pursuant to Section 38562.2 of the Health and Safety Code, and by doing so, created a need for trained workforce to fill positions within this advancing economy, as declared in Part 8.5
(commencing with Section 15550) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) In California, the operating definition of “green job” is outdated and not reflective of current industry capability, aptitude, and ambition. In moving our economy toward a greener future, we must use up-to-date data to inform California’s workforce in achieving the goals set forth in Section 38562.2 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature’s climate commitment estimates that 4,000,000 new green jobs will be created statewide, budgeting an investment of $315,000,000 to provide training and education for these green workers.
(d) Many green jobs are high-road jobs that typically have better pay and benefits, while offering upward career mobility and safe workplaces. As research shows that
occupational segregation is a significant factor in the pay gap, providing pathways for all underrepresented populations into good green jobs will contribute to advancing pay equity overall.
(e) California’s 45 local workforce development boards provide vital training and outreach services for the advancement of California’s workforce.
SEC. 2.
Division 8.1 (commencing with Section 15010) is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:DIVISION 8.1. Green Jobs Survey
15010.
(a) The Labor Market Information Division of the Employment Development Department shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, conduct a green jobs survey as a California-specific survey to the appropriate scope of the federal Green Goods and Services survey and the federal Green Technologies and Practices survey to gather information about statewide green job industry strengths.(b) Notwithstanding any law, the division shall provide for a public comment opportunity during the initial development process of the survey described in subdivision (a) and to be determined upon appropriation thereafter. The public comment may be in the form of a hearing including presubmitted digital comments over a period of time not to exceed 30 days.
(c) The division shall create a standard operating definition of “green job” based on the results of the survey for the purpose of employment in California, reflecting any position contributing, either directly or indirectly, to the goals set forth in Section 38562.2 of the Health and Safety Code. This definition shall not interfere with any definition set forth by the federal government subject to federal funding or tax exemption.
(d) Upon the survey’s completion, the California Workforce Development Board shall incorporate the survey’s findings into education outreach to local workforce development boards, job fairs, and relevant internal and associated external workshops and training programs.
(e) The Workforce Services Branch of the Employment Development Department shall incorporate the survey’s findings into
appropriate communications or educational materials relating to job opportunities for persons seeking employment.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation relating to environmental justice.