California Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act: earn and learn programs.

Existing law establishes the California Workforce Development Board for purposes of assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. Existing law requires, as part of the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the board to, among other things, identify opportunities for "earn and learn" job training opportunities that meet the industry's workforce demands and that are in high road, high-demand jobs. Under existing law, "earn and learn" programs include, but are not limited to, transitional and subsidized employment particularly for individuals with barriers to employment. Existing law also establishes the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative for purposes of providing supplemental funding and services to ensure the success of individuals either preparing to enter or already enrolled in workforce and education programs operating under the policy vision and state plan of the act. Existing law provides funding for the initiative upon appropriation by the Legislature and states that eligible activities for initiative and grant funds include, but are not limited to, earn and learn training. Existing law also establishes a prison to employment program to award grants for specified purposes, including to provide earn and learn opportunities for formerly incarcerated and other justice-involved individuals participating in the program. This bill would amend the list of "earn and learn" programs by specifying that an "earn and learn" program includes transitional jobs, as described in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and subsidized employment with an employer of record, which may include, but not be limited to, an employment social enterprise, as defined, or a worker cooperative, as defined, particularly for individuals with barriers to employment.