SUMMARY: Establishes the Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program. Specifically, this bill:
1) Establishes the Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program to be administered by the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB).
2) Requires the grant program to be developed and implemented, as specified; and funded, upon appropriation from the Legislature, using money from the Recidivism Reduction Fund. Provides that implementation of the program is contingent upon the CWIB Director notifying the Department of Finance that sufficient moneys have been appropriated for this specific grant program.
3) Requires CWIB to administer the grant program as follows:
a) Develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients through a public application process, including the rating and ranking of applications that meet threshold criteria.
b) Design the grant program application process to ensure all of the following occurs:
i) There is fairness and competitiveness for smaller counties;
ii) There is fair and equitable geographic distribution of grant funds; and,
iii) There is greater consideration given to counties that have demonstrated a collaborative working relationship with local workforce investment boards and that currently have in place a workforce training program for the supervised population.
4) Requires the grant program to be competitively awarded through at least two rounds of funding, as specified, and provides that each county is eligible to apply but that a single application may include multiple counties applying jointly. Requires each application to include a partnership agreement between the county or counties and one or more local workforce investment boards that outline the actions each party agrees to undertake as part of the project proposed in the application;
5) Requires, at a minimum, each project proposed in the application to include a provision for an education and training assessment for each individual of the supervised population who participates in the project.
6) Provides that eligible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, vocational training, stipends for trainees, and apprenticeship opportunities for the supervised population. States that supportive services and job readiness activities are to serve as bridge activities that lead to enrollment in long-term training programs.
7) Provides that preference is to be awarded to applications for the following:
a) An application that proposes matching funds, including, but not limited to, moneys committed by local workforce investment boards, local governments, and private foundation funds.
b) An application submitted by a county that currently administers or participates in a workforce training program for the supervised population.
c) An application that proposes participation by one or more nonprofit community based organizations that serve the supervised population.
8) Requires an application to meet the following requirements:
a) Set a specific purpose for the use of the grant funds, as well as provide the baseline criteria and metrics by which the overall success of the grant project can be evaluated;
b) Define the specific subset of the supervised population, among the eligible supervised population that the grant money will serve;
c) 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; and,
d) 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.
9) Requires a grant recipient, as a condition of receiving funds, to agree to provide information to CWIB in sufficient detail to allow CWIB to meet specified reporting requirements.
10) States that eligible uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to, vocational training, stipends for trainees, and apprenticeship opportunities for the supervised population.
11) Requires grant recipients to report annually to CWIB regarding their use of the funds and workforce training program outcomes upon completion of the grant period.
12) Requires CWIB to submit a report, as specified, to the Legislature, using the reports from the grant recipients, by January 1, 2018 containing all the following information:
a) The overall success of the grant program, as specified;
b) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program, as specified;
c) A recommendation on the long-term viability of local workforce investment board and county collaborations on workforce training programs for the supervised population; and,
d) A recommendation on the long-term viability of county workforce training programs for the supervised population.
e) In considering the overall success and effectiveness of the grant program, the report shall include a discussion of all of the following:
i) Whether the programs aligned with the workforce needs of high-demand sectors of the state and regional economies;
ii) Whether there was an active job market for the skills being developed where the member of the supervised population was likely to be released;
iii) Whether the program increased the number of members of the supervised population that obtained a marketable and industry or apprenticeship board-recognized certification, credential, or degree;
iv) Whether the program increased the number of the supervised population that successfully completed a job readiness basic skill bridge program and enroll in a long term training program;
v) Whether there were formal or informal networks in the field that support finding employment upon release from custody; and,
vi) Whether the program led to employment in occupations with a livable wage.
13) Establishes that the provisions of this bill will sunset on January 1, 2021, unless extended.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "With orders from the U.S. Supreme Court to reduce its prison population, the state needs smart, effective policies to help local jurisdictions achieve realignment goals and reduce recidivism. Workforce development for the re-entry population is a practical strategy for improving access to a stable job. It helps improve offender outcomes, reduce the likelihood of recidivism, and promote community safety and stability." |
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, while the bill is silent on funding levels, a statewide grant program of any significance would require General Fund funding in the millions to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the breadth of the program objectives. The stated objectives are limited to "vocational training, stipends for trainees, and apprenticeship opportunities for the supervised population."
The bill requires the grant program be competitive, open to all counties, and funded, upon appropriation from the Legislature, using money from the Recidivism Reduction Fund (RRF).
The Recidivism Reduction Fund is currently projected to have at least $81 million available for the 2014-15 budget year. The Governor's Budget appropriates the entire fund. |