Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment system and the alignment of education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. The act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce investment system.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to strengthen California’s workforce development infrastructure by modernizing outdated administrative requirements that slow the delivery of workforce investments and guidance to local partners. The bill also would state the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation to authorize the Employment Development Department to issue operational directives, bulletins, and guidance documents, developed in consultation with local boards and stakeholders, and followed by the adoption of formal regulations, as specified.