Economic development: California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program.

Existing law, until January 1, 2013, establishes the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program. Existing law provides for the awarding of grants for this program, and provides that this program shall only be implemented during fiscal years for which funds are appropriated for these purposes. Existing law requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as part of the program, to assist economic and workforce regional development centers and consortia to improve linkages and career-technical education pathways between high schools and community colleges, in a manner that, among other things, improves the quality of career exploration and career outreach materials. Existing law also requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop an implementation strategy for achieving this goal, as specified. The program also includes a job development incentive training component and provisions requiring the implementation of accountability measures and an independent evaluation relating to the program. This bill would generally recast and revise the provisions governing the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program that would be repealed by existing law on January 1, 2013, excluding the provisions relating to the economic and workforce regional development centers and consortia, and would establish a revised program that would operate until January 1, 2018.