Labor: apprenticeship: Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeships Grant Program.

Removed the requirement for the department to issue a competitive request for applications from qualified organizations providing registered preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.

Removed the detailed definition of 'qualified organizations' (community-based organizations, workforce boards, unions, nonprofits, local education agencies, registered program sponsors) and their eligibility criteria, including the requirement to have operated at least two equity-focused cohorts over the past four years or to have marketed/recruited for women or nonbinary individuals in construction programs.

Removed prioritization criteria for grant awards based on serving participants who are low-income, unemployed or underemployed, single parents or primary caregivers, residents of communities disproportionately impacted by poverty or unemployment, or from populations historically underrepresented in apprenticeship and skilled trades.

Removed the specific list of permitted uses for grant funds, which had included direct participant stipends to offset lost wages, supportive services (childcare, transportation, case management, housing referrals), career navigation and job placement services, outreach activities, worksite culture improvements (mentoring, mental health support, training), and administrative costs.

Removed grantee reporting requirements that had mandated outcome data including enrollment and completion numbers, stipend distribution, supportive services distribution, outreach funding uses, gender demographics, and employment retention outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-program exit.

Removed the requirement for the department to provide a summary report to the Legislature under Government Code Section 9795 for ongoing oversight, budget evaluation, and potential program expansion.

A new subsection was added listing five explicit program goals: (1) provide opportunities to train for a construction career with greater access to registered preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, (2) increase awareness of these programs as an on-ramp into construction careers, (3) increase the number of underrepresented populations registered in and completing programs, (4) increase the number employed in construction trades, and (5) increase retention in the construction trades.

The legislative counsel's digest was revised to note that the bill 'would state the goals of the program' in addition to establishing it, reflecting the new subsection.

Subsection lettering was reorganized (the rules and regulations provision moved from subsection (i) to subsection (c)), and page numbers shifted from 95 to 94 due to formatting changes. No substantive content was removed.

Changed 'The bill would require authorize the grants to be used only for specified purposes' to 'The bill would authorize the grants to be used only for specified purposes,' removing the redundant word 'require.'

Added the word 'department' after 'agency' in two places (the prioritization provision and the reporting provision) to clarify which entity is responsible.

Fixed redundant language in subsection (f): 'shall only may be used only for' changed to 'may be used only for.'

Removed duplicate words: 'grantees grantees' corrected to 'grantees' and 'post program postprogram exit' corrected to 'postprogram exit.'

The program was renamed from 'California Women's Preapprenticeship and Stipend Program' to 'Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeships Grant Program,' shifting from a women-specific focus to one covering women, nonbinary individuals, and underrepresented populations.

Administrative authority shifted from the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to the Department of Industrial Relations through its Division of Apprenticeship Standards. The entire new Chapter 5 (Sections 3160-3160.6) in Division 3 was replaced with a single Section 107.7.3.

The $50 million General Fund appropriation and continuous appropriation language were removed. The program now operates only 'upon appropriation by the Legislature,' making it contingent on future funding rather than funded at enactment.

Eligible applicants changed from 'eligible entities' (organizations with experience serving women through workforce development, including community colleges and public education institutions) to 'qualified organizations' (community-based organizations, workforce boards, unions, nonprofits, local education agencies, and registered program sponsors) that must be a registered preapprenticeship or apprenticeship program or in collaboration with one, and must have operated at least two equity-focused cohorts in the past four years.

Permitted grant uses were revised: training-related costs (instruction, curriculum, tools, PPE, certifications) were removed; outreach to target populations and worksite culture improvements (mentoring, mental health support, training for journey workers and contractors) were added. Stipends now cover both registered preapprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs rather than preapprenticeship only.

Reporting requirements were modified to include the qualifier 'if applicable to the purpose of the grant,' added gender demographics reporting, added outreach funding usage reporting, and split enrollment/completion data into separate categories for preapprenticeship versus apprenticeship programs.

The vote requirement changed from two-thirds majority to simple majority, and the appropriation designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' reflecting the removal of the direct funding provision.

A new Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeships Grant Program is established under the Department of Industrial Relations (Division of Apprenticeship Standards), separate from the existing California Women's Preapprenticeship and Stipend Program under the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

The new program's stipends can be used for both registered preapprenticeship AND registered apprenticeship programs, whereas the existing LWDA program only covers preapprenticeship training.

The new program expands beneficiary scope from women only to include nonbinary individuals and underrepresented populations in building and construction career pathways.

Qualified organizations for the new program must either be a registered preapprenticeship or apprenticeship program (or be in collaboration with one, validated by letters of support) AND have operated at least two equity-focused cohorts over the past four years, or have marketed/recruited/advocated for women or nonbinary individuals in registered construction programs.

The new program's reporting requirements add gender demographics for participants, amount and uses of outreach funding, and employment retention outcomes at 6 and 12 months post program exit (rather than just retention outcomes).

New allowable uses of grant funds include outreach to women, nonbinary individuals, and underrepresented populations, and worksite culture improvements focused on mentoring, community building, mental health support, and training for apprentices, journey workers, contractors, and managers.

New definitions added to Labor Code Section 107.7: 'Department' (Department of Industrial Relations), 'Director' (Director of Industrial Relations), 'Registered' (registered with Division of Apprenticeship Standards), and 'Unit' (Women in Construction Priority Unit).

Entirely new Chapter 5 (Sections 3160-3160.6) added to Division 3 of the Labor Code, establishing the California Women's Preapprenticeship and Stipend Program within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Voting requirement changed from simple majority to two-thirds vote, and appropriation and fiscal committee designations changed from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting the bill's new status as an appropriations measure.

Section 3160 adds legislative findings declaring that women are underrepresented in registered apprenticeships, preapprenticeship programs are evidence-based but lack income support, California has no dedicated state-funded program for this purpose, and federal WANTO funding is insufficient to meet statewide demand.

Section 2 appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the agency for the program. Section 3160.5 provides for continuous appropriation of moneys made available without regard to fiscal years.

Defines 'eligible entities' as those with demonstrated experience serving women through workforce development programs, including community-based organizations, workforce development organizations, labor-management partnerships, community colleges, and other public education institutions.

Agency must prioritize grant applications from entities serving women who are low-income, unemployed or underemployed, single parents or primary caregivers, residents of communities disproportionately impacted by poverty or unemployment, or from populations historically underrepresented in apprenticeship and skilled trades.

Grants must be used for: direct participant stipends to offset lost wages, training-related costs (instruction, tools, PPE, certifications), supportive services (childcare, transportation, case management, housing referrals), career navigation and job placement, and administrative costs.

Grantees must report outcome data including enrollment, completion, stipend distribution, placement into apprenticeships or employment, and retention at 6 and 12 months. The agency must provide a summary report to the Legislature under Government Code Section 9795.

Agency is authorized to issue rules, regulations, guidelines, policies, or procedures including application criteria, grant requirements, and performance measures (Section 3160.6).

Section 3160.1 adds definitions for 'Agency' (Labor and Workforce Development Agency), 'Eligible entities,' and 'Program.'