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.