(1) The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provides for workforce development activities, including activities in which states may participate.
Existing state law provides that the California Workforce Development Board is 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, the State Budget Act of 2021, appropriates specified funds to the board for local assistance, including $10,000,000 for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for worker support and assistance, including mental health services, worker training, retraining, trauma counseling, and reasonable accommodations. Existing law additionally requires the board to allocate $10,000,000 to the VTA for worker support and facilities improvement, and requires the VTA to first prioritize worker support and assistance, including mental health services, worker training, retraining, trauma counseling, and reasonable accommodations.
This bill would require the board, any research institution under contract with the board, the VTA, and the California Health and Human Services Agency, to perform prescribed duties, including analyzing the effectiveness of the VTA's wellness center, drafting a model plan for the development and implementation of a worker wellness center, and developing a plan to encourage the establishment of worker wellness center demonstration sites statewide in transit authorities. The bill would require the VTA to provide the board, or research institutions under contract with the board, with data and outcomes from its wellness center that are necessary for the evaluation required by this bill, as specified. The bill would require the board to consult with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health laws and regulations. By imposing new duties on a local agency to report information to the board, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make its provisions operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature. No later than 2 years following appropriation, the bill would require the board to prepare and send to the Legislature a report on the results of its evaluation conducted and the plans developed pursuant to these provisions.
(2) This bill would make legislative related findings and declarations, including findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the VTA.
(3) 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.

Statutes affected:
SB1294: 39690 HSC
02/18/22 - Introduced: 39690 HSC
03/16/22 - Amended Senate: 39690 HSC
SB 1294: 39690 HSC