Unemployment benefits: training: teacher credentialing.

Under the California Training Benefits Program, until January 1, 2015, an unemployed individual, who is otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits, and who files a claim for unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits, or federal-state extended benefits or any federally funded unemployment compensation benefits, may apply to the Employment Development Department for a determination of potential eligibility for benefits during a period of training or retraining. Existing law requires a determination of automatic eligibility for those benefits if any of specified conditions apply. Existing law requires, if training or retraining is not authorized under those provisions governing automatic eligibility for those benefits, that a determination of potential eligibility for benefits be issued to the unemployed individual if the Director of Employment Development finds that specified criteria apply. Under existing law, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing is authorized to issue teaching credentials in single subject instruction or specialist instruction in, among other subjects, math, science, and special education. Existing law also requires the commission to adopt general standards for the accreditation or approval of preparation programs for teachers. This bill would extend the repeal date of the California Training Benefits Program to January 1, 2019. The bill would also require a determination of automatic eligibility for benefits under the California Training Benefits Program to be issued to an unemployed teacher, as defined, who is otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits, if the Director of Employment Development finds that the unemployed teacher is a permanent or probationary public school teacher who participates in a credential preparation program or training program approved or accredited by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for additional certification in math, science, or special education, for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and was laid off, as specified. This bill would make those changes operative on January 1, 2014. Because the bill would extend the operation of the California Training Benefits Program and make various changes to existing eligibility requirements for training and retraining benefits, which would result in additional amounts being payable from the Unemployment Fund for those benefits, the bill would make an appropriation.