The California Workforce Association advances our mission by promoting, enhancing and serving the interest of local workforce investment boards and other workforce development partners. Thanks to the action and support of our members, CWA has sponsored legislation that has been passed by the state legislature. CWA has a reputation as a renowned state, national and international resource.

We provide access to legislative tracking technology for our board and affiliate members to give them with the tools necessary to carryout their legislative agenda.

In addition to our statewide efforts, CWA plays an instrumental role to help shape national policy. We work in Washington D.C. to influence policy around Workforce Investment Act reauthorization, on-the-job training, sector strategies, and other programs critical to workforce development.

State Legislation

SB 1401 (Lieu-D) Sector Strategies

On February 24th, 2012 Senator Ted Lieu introduced Senate Bill 1401, a bill that would establish Sector Strategies as the framework for workforce development in California.

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SB 1402 (Lieu-D) Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program Reauthorization

On February 24th, 2012 Senator Ted Lieu introduced Senate Bill 1402, a bill that would reauthorize the Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program.

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This bill would make it unlawful for employers to discriminate against the unemployed when advertising or making hiring decisions.

SB 912 (Lieu-D) Employment Development Department: Training Expenditure Reports

This bill would require EDD to provide a report, within 6 months after the end of the 2nd program year of the 2-year period of availability for expenditure, regarding training expenditures made by local WIBs. The bill would also require the report to identify the amount of leveraged funding used for training services.

SB 1070 (Steinberg-D) California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program: Career-Technical Education Pathways

This bill would reauthorize the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program, and improve the CTE pathways between high schools and community colleges.

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On Tuesday, March 13th, 2012, the California Employment Development Department released a draft directive providing guidance for implementation of Workforce Investment Act training expenditure requirements imposed by Senate Bill 734. EDD is in the process of reviewing the draft directive and will soon be providing guidance on implementation.

Federal Legislation

H.R. 4297 (Foxx, Mckeon, Heck) The Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012

The Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 (H.R. 4297) introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), and Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) consolidates 27 existing job training programs into a single Workforce Investment Fund aimed to assist state and local workforce investment boards in developing comprehensive workforce development systems to get Americans back to work.

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H.R. 4227 (Tierney) The Workforce Investment Act of 2012

The Workforce Investment Act of 2012 – introduced by Reps. John Tierney (D-MA), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and George Miller (D-CA) – will improve the nation’s workforce investment infrastructure, focusing on finding workers jobs and careers through strategic partnerships with in-demand sector employers, community colleges, labor organizations, and non-profits.

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This bill would "consolidate and streamline redundant and ineffective federal workforce development programs to increase accountability, reduce administrative bureaucracies and put Americans back to work." This bill would consolidate 33 of the 47 programs into 4 funding streams.

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This bill would amend the Workforce Investment Act to increase employer engagement and improve training opportunities for in-demand occupations. In addition, the bill would mandate that 2/3 of the Board be represented by employers.

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On Tuesday, October 11th the Senate voted against the American Jobs Act. The Act aimed to save or create 125,400 California jobs, including 51,500 jobs building California roads, highways, bridges and mass-transit, 37,300 jobs preventing California teacher, policy and firefighter layoffs, and an additional 36,600 jobs fixing California schools.

We expect to see Congress take up portions of the Act for consideration, with a focus on jobs and job creation. 

The American Jobs Act website offers this two page fact sheet with additional information on what this means for California.

2011 Legislative Report

CWA produces an annual Legislative Report that details CWA sponsored legislation and all bills that impact the workforce development system. This report is a complete look at all the bills we tracked this legislative session.

View 2011 Legislative Report

Archived Reports

2010 Legislative Report

Governor Signs AB 2058

In an effort to stop the suspension of Unemployment Insurance benefits from flowing to unemployed Californians, the California Workforce Association and the California Labor Federation co-sponsored Assembly Bill 2058, authored by Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego).

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