AB 295

This bill makes changes to certain workforce development programs

administered by the Department of Workforce Development.

Youth apprenticeship

Under current law, DWD administers a youth apprenticeship program. Under

that program, DWD is required to approve and maintain a list of occupational areas,

commonly referred to as “career clusters,” including, at a minimum, 16 specific

career clusters. DWD is required to develop curricula for the approved career

clusters. This bill does the following:

1. Requires DWD to enter into contracts to facilitate the development of

curricula for approved career clusters.

2. Requires DWD, in developing curricula for approved career clusters, to have

at least one occupational pathway for each approved career cluster.

Local youth apprenticeship grants

Under current law, DWD administers a local youth apprenticeship grant

program. The program awards grants to local partnerships that consist of one or

more school districts, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, individuals,

and other persons for the implementation and coordination of local youth

apprenticeship programs.

Under current law, the maximum amount of a grant awarded to a local

partnership under the local youth apprenticeship grant program is up to $1,100 per

youth apprentice. This bill requires the grants to be $1,700 per youth apprentice.

Career and technical education incentive grants and completion awards

Current law requires DWD to approve industry-recognized certification

programs designed to 1) mitigate workforce shortages and 2) prepare individuals for

occupations as fire fighters, emergency medical responders, or emergency medical

services practitioners. Current law requires DWD to award incentive grants to

school districts with industry-recognized certification programs equal to $1,000 for

each student in the school district who obtains a high school diploma and successfully

completes an approved program.

This bill increases the amount of incentive grants to $2,000 for each student in

the school district who obtains a high school diploma and successfully completes an

approved program.