Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program

Existing law, until January 1, 2021, establishes the Supervised Population Workforce Training Grant Program to be administered, as provided, by the California Workforce Development Board. Existing law establishes grant program eligibility criteria for counties and provides that eligible uses for grant funds include, but are not limited to, vocational training, stipends for trainees, and apprenticeship opportunities for the supervised population, which include individuals on probation, mandatory supervision, and postrelease community supervision. Existing law requires the board to develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients and requires the board to ensure that grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Existing law requires the board, by January 1, 2018, to submit a report to the Legislature containing specified information, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program. This bill would expand the scope of the supervised population served by the program to include persons who are on parole and persons who are supervised by, or under the jurisdiction of, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bill would also require the board to design the grant program application process to ensure, among other things, that grants are allocated equitably among the grant partners based on services and activities provided in support of the success of participants and that nonprofit community-based organizations are competitive in applying for funds as the lead applicant. The bill would also require that an application provide for a partnership with a lead community-based organization with a track record of success in effectively serving the supervised population, as specified. The bill would make other changes to the application process and criteria for the award of grants, including identifying additional applicants who are to be awarded preference.