Online Jobs and Economic Support Resource Grant Program.

Existing law establishes the Employment Development Department within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth its powers and duties with respect to job creation activities. This bill would require the department, upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature, to administer the Online Jobs and Economic Support Resource Grant Program, which the bill would create for the purpose of funding inclusive, cross-jurisdictional, and innovative online platforms that support employment and earnings opportunities. The bill would specify the goals of the program, which would include reducing digital infrastructure gaps in employment and training services for individuals who face barriers to employment. The bill would also require the department, before awarding grants under these provisions, to develop and adopt guidelines and policies for the program, including a competitive award process with funding only awarded to applicants meeting specified requirements and conditions. These conditions would include the grant applicant having demonstrated experience serving underresourced populations and individuals with employment barriers. The bill would require each grant recipient, as a condition of receiving funds, to submit an annual report to the department on the use of grant funds, including aggregate demographic data and other information related to implementation of the grant. The bill would create the Online Jobs Training Fund in the State Treasury and would require moneys in that fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the grant program. The bill would authorize the department, upon appropriation of funds by the Legislature, to make grants to qualified applicants pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also require the department to post notice of the appropriation on the home page of its internet website and to send notice to specified legislative officials for distribution to certain legislative committees.