Workforce development: workplace rights curriculum.

Existing law establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for 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 the board to assist the Governor with specified tasks in that regard, including the identification and dissemination of information on best practices, including the development and review of statewide policies affecting the coordinated provision of services through the state's one-stop delivery system, as specified. The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires local workforce development boards to be established in each local area of a state to assist the local chief elected official in planning, oversight, and evaluation of local workforce investment, and requires each local board to perform various duties consistent with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Existing law requires each local board to develop and submit to the Governor a comprehensive 4-year local plan, in partnership with the appropriate chief local elected official, that includes specified elements. This bill would require the California Workforce Development Board to assist the Governor with partnering with the Labor Commissioner and other subject matter experts in developing workplace rights curriculum to be provided to all individuals receiving individualized career services, supportive services, or training services through the California workforce system, as specified. The bill would require each local workforce development board to ensure the provision of workplace rights training consistent with that workplace rights curriculum. The bill would require the comprehensive 4-year local plan to include a description of how the local board plans to comply with this requirement. By imposing additional duties on local workforce development boards, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the California Workforce Development Board to partner with the Employment Development Department and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to ensure that local workforce development boards and one-stop career center providers are complying with those requirements. Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature that universal access to career services is available to adult residents, regardless of income, education, employment barriers, or other eligibility requirements, and requires career services to include specified components, including job search and placement assistance. This bill would require career services to include workplace rights training consistent with the curriculum developed by the California Workforce Development Board for all individuals receiving individualized career services, supportive services, or training services through the one-stop system. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.