California § 14017.2 - The California Workforce Development Board shall allocate the funds appropriated

§ 14017.2. The California Workforce Development Board shall allocate the funds appropriated

(a) The California Workforce Development Board shall allocate the funds appropriated to the board pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 19.56 of the Budget Act of 2025, as amended by Assembly Bill 102 of the 2025–26 Regular Session, to the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity for workforce development strategies, such as education, high-road training partnerships, and other job training programs, preapprenticeships, transitional jobs, or supportive services, including stipends, for underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income individuals to ensure a skilled and sufficient workforce for the scale of rebuilding and recovery of areas in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura impacted by the 2025 wildfires and to support underemployed and unemployed low- to moderate-income workers affected by the fires. This also includes rapid response and layoff aversion, recruitment services, financial incentives, and customized training opportunities for businesses impacted by the fires and those hiring impacted workers as part of the rebuild and recovery. The funds are also for new or expanded job and business centers and operations near the fire zones to ensure close proximity of programs and services for dislocated and impacted workers and businesses. (b) The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity shall reallocate six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) to the Economic Development Collaborative to be used for the purposes specified in this section. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the California Workforce Development Board may use up to 5 percent of the total allocation for state administration. (d) The California Workforce Development Board shall allow the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity to subcontract with other entities to fulfill the provisions and intent of subdivision (a). (e) The California Workforce Development Board shall require quality standards and practices, as defined in subdivisions (s) and (t) of Section 14005. (f) In developing and implementing workforce development strategies funded pursuant to this section, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity shall focus on employment in public and private sector jobs in construction, utilities, firefighting, health care, social services, education, childcare, housing, and shelter assistance, or other areas essential to emergency response, disaster relief, recovery, rebuilding, and regional economic development and resilience. (g) To ensure there is a direct pipeline into the workforce, individuals participating in workforce programs funded pursuant to this section shall have access to expedited licensing and certification, if feasible.