Bill Text: CA SB964 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Workforce development program: high-speed rail.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-09-30 - In Senate. To unfinished business. (Veto) [SB964 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB964-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 964	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 15, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alquist
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Steinberg)
   (Coauthors: Senators Ducheny and Leno)

                        FEBRUARY 5, 2010

   An act to add Section 185039 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to workforce training, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 964, as amended, Alquist. Workforce development program:
high-speed rail.
   Existing law, the California High-Speed Train Act, creates the
High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed train
system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law,
the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st
Century, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general
obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes.
   This bill would require the authority to contract with the
 California Community Colleges Chancellor's office 
 Employment Development Department  to develop a labor
market assessment of the workforce and identify the education and
skills needed for  high-speed rail, and to develop a
comprehensive workforce training and certification program or
programs to facilitate the availability of that workforce 
 construction, operation, and maintenance of the high-speed train
system  . The bill would require the authority and the 
chancellor's office   department  to form 
a Jobs Advisory Task Force   an advisory committee
 , as specified, to advise the authority and the 
chancellor's office   department  on the 
establishment and operation of training and certification programs
required to produce an adequate skilled workforce for this project
  availability of skilled labor relative to the
high-speed train project and on options for workforce training
programs in that regard  . The bill would require the labor
market assessment to be  submitted to the Legislature and 
incorporated into the authority's biennial revised business plan.
   This bill would appropriate  $25,000,000  
$500,000  from the High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Fund to the
authority for these purposes. The bill would also make related
legislative findings and declarations.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The construction of the 800-mile high-speed train system in
California is estimated to be a 10-year construction project
providing approximately 600,000 construction jobs and 450,000
permanent jobs for the California economy.
   (b) Constructing,  implementing   maintaining
 , and operating  high-speed rail   a
high-speed train system  will require a large traditional labor
pool and many unique skill sets not typical in a more conventional
transportation construction project. To fully construct 
high-speed rail   a high-speed train system  using
California labor, there is a need for skilled and trained 
engineers in many disciplines, construction workers, electricians,
train system service and control system operators  
individuals in the fields of engineering and electrical power
systems, materials experts, control system and computer system
technicians  , and specialized maintenance workers, among
others. To ensure the availability of these labor skills and
resources  needed for construction of the high-speed train system
 and to maximize the extent of California labor force
participation in the completion of the high-speed train 
project   system  , it is crucial that the state
immediately begin the actions necessary to achieve these resource
goals and requirements.
   (c) As a critical first step, it is important for the state to
have a full assessment of the labor needs to  develop
  plan for  this transportation "mega project," and
to provide the necessary training and educational opportunities so
that Californians, to the greatest extent possible, may participate
in, and benefit from, this historic and transformative public works
project.
   (d) As part of its responsibilities and function to plan for the
development  and implementation of a high-speed
 rail   train  system in California, it is
essential that the High-Speed Rail Authority work collaboratively
with the state's  Employment Development Department, the 
University of California, California State University, California
Community Colleges, the California Workforce Investment Board, the
California Department of Education, and labor representatives and
related organizations with expertise in trade apprenticeship
programs, to assess the labor needs and  provide 
 recommend actions to ensure  adequate workforce training
 is available  for the construction, operation, and
maintenance of a high-speed  rail   train 
system in this state.
   (e) The Legislature finds and declares that it is 
necessary   appropriate  to utilize funds from
Proposition 1A of 2008, the Safe, Reliable, High-Speed Passenger
Train Bond Act for the 21st Century (Chapter 20 (commencing with
Section 2704) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code),
 to properly plan for the development of the high-speed rail
network, the largest public works project undertaken in this state,
and to ensure the availability of a sufficient labor pool and
expertise to effectively and expeditiously complete the project.
  for the purposes set forth in Section 185039 of the
Public Utilities Code, as added by this act. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 185039 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   185039.  (a)  Pursuant to its duty to plan for the development of
a high-speed  rail network   train system 
in California, the authority shall contract with the 
California Community Colleges Chancellor's office to (1) develop a
labor market assessment of the workforce and identify the education
and skills needed to construct, operate, and maintain a high-speed
rail network in California; and (2) develop a comprehensive workforce
training and certification program or programs to facilitate the
availability of a skilled, in-state workforce to participate, to the
maximum extent feasible, in the construction, operation, and
maintenance of the high-speed rail network.   Employment
Development Department to collaboratively develop a labor market
assessment of the workforce and identify the education and skills
needed to (1) construct the high-speed train system authorized for
bond funding under the Safe, Reliable, High-Speed Passenger Train
Bond Act for the 21st Century (Chapter 20 (commencing with Secti
  on 2704) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code)
and (2) operate and maintain the high-speed train system, as
necessary to aid the authority in planning the construction of the
high-speed train system. The assessment shall include a recommended
strategy to ensure workforce training programs are available to
facilitate the availability of a skilled, in-state workforce to
participate, to the maximum extent feasible, in the construction of
the high-speed train system. 
   (b) To achieve the objectives described in subdivision (a), the
authority and the  California Community Colleges Chancellor's
office shall form a Jobs Advisory Task Force to advise the two
agencies on the availability of skilled labor, by region, necessary
to perform the tasks associated with building, operating, and
maintaining a high-speed rail system. In addition, the task force
shall participate and advise the agencies on the establishment and
operation of training and certification programs required to produce
an adequate skilled workforce for this project.  
Employment Development Department shall establish an advisory
committee to advise both agencies on the availability and potential
availability of skilled labor, by region, necessary to (1) construct
the high-speed train system and (2) operate and maintain the
high-speed train system, as necessary to aid the authority in
planning the construction of the high-speed train system. In
addition, the advisory committee shall advise both agencies on
workforce training   programs and funding options available,
or proposed to be available, to ensure a qualified skilled workforce
in California may participate in the construction of the high-speed
train system. 
   (c)  (1)    Members of the  Jobs
Advisory Task Force   advisory committee 
established pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include, but not be
limited to, representatives from the following organizations:

   (1) The High-Speed Rail Authority.  
   (A) The authority.  
   (2) 
    (B)  The state's higher education institutions,
including the University of California, the California State
University system, and the California Community College Chancellor's
office. 
   (3) 
    (C)  The California Workforce Investment Board. 

   (4) The California 
    (D)     The State  Department of
Education. 
   (5) 
    (E)  Labor organizations with expertise in operating
apprenticeship programs for the skills necessary to build, operate,
and maintain a high-speed  rail   train 
system. 
   (6) The State 
    (F)     The  Employment Training
Panel. 
   (2) The authority may include parties in addition to those
identified in paragraph (1) as members of the advisory committee.

   (d) The assessment and  certification and training
programs   recommendations  developed pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall consider the short-term and long-term labor
needs for the project, including the need for specific skills in
specific regions of the state. 
   (e) The assessment produced pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
submitted to the fiscal committees and the policy committees of the
Legislature with jurisdiction over transportation and labor matters
by January 1, 2012. The assessment shall be submitted in compliance
with Section 9795 of the Government Code. This subdivision shall
become inoperative on January 1, 2016, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of
the Government Code.  
   (e) 
    (f)  The assessment produced pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall be incorporated in the authority's biennial revised business
plan and submitted to the Legislature for its review pursuant to
Section 185033. 
   (f) 
    (g)  The sum of  twenty-five million dollars
($25,000,000)   five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000)
 is hereby appropriated from the High-Speed Passenger Train
Bond Fund to the authority for purposes of this section.