• Explain, Is the TAA notification letter also mailed to those workers who do not attend the Rapid Response orientation? Is TAA information shared or explained during the orientation or only via letter afterwards? Does the State utilize electronic communication methods or only written correspondence?

After a petition is certified, the Employment Development Department’s TAA program contacts the employer and requests a list of all former workers covered by the certification. The TAA program mails each worker a notification letter regarding the potential eligibility along with an application for individual TAA benefits and services. Both the Rapid Response orientation and TAA notification letter include TAA information. At this time, the State utilizes written communication.

Early intervention and TAA

The Federal Regulations of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program require coordinating the administration of the TAA program with the WIOA program to ensure trade-affected workers obtain all the benefits and services they are eligible to receive. This federal mandate can be met through WIOA/TAA co-enrollment. The state and federal goal for WIOA/TAA co-enrollment is100 percent statewide compliance. The state’s 25% AA application requires the identification of TAA fund availability and how these resources will be leveraged with the Governor’s 25% AA grant.

In June 2015, the EDD TAA program published TAA/WIOA co-enrollment guidelines, which stipulates TAA/WIOA co-enrollment begins with Rapid Response. The guidance requires WIOA Rapid Response and EDD TAA staff to coordinate Rapid Response efforts to ensure all applicable partners and required Rapid Response materials are available at each Rapid Response session. To assist Local Boards and partners, EDD has established a statewide TAA coordinator position, as well as out-stationed 5 regional TAA coordinators to provide TA to Local Boards, participate in Rapid Response orientations within their respective region, and assist in the development, coordination and monitoring/reporting of Governor’s 25% AA and NDW grant applications. TAA/WIOA comprehensive Technical Assistance Guide was included in the guidance to ensure Rapid Response staff understand and provide all potential trade affected workers with required TAA program information. The TAA/WIOA guidance is published in Workforce Services Directive WSD14-15 .

The regional TAA coordinators also participate in RRRRTs and the annual statewide RRRT conference to provide program status updates and further develop coordination among WIOA partners and other local and state stakeholders.

Additionally, the EDD’s TAA program notifies all workers identified in a TAA petition through a TAA notification letter mailed directly to each worker. Although the notification letter is mailed to workers after they attend a Rapid Response orientation, the letter reinforces to the workers that TAA benefits and others services may be able to assist them in their transition back to the workforce. The letter outlines each benefit and service, clarifies program deadline dates, and provides access information to additional program guidance and job center locations.

Alternative Training Models

The State Plan utilizes alternative training models as a key component of the strategies described in chapter3 of this Plan. “Earn and learn” models are also embedded in the three policy objectives of “Fostering demand-driven skills attainment,” “Enabling upward mobility for all Californians, “and “Aligning, Coordinating, and Integrating Programs and Services.” These alternative work models will be valuable in serving those with barriers, especially those identified as priority of service populations. Additionally, the State Board, working with the EDD, who administers the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and local ETPL administrators, have revised the ETPL Policies and Procedures, which includes guidance on how to utilize cohort-based training to facilitate the delivery of pre-apprenticeship and other skills to enable to participants successful entry into employment and a career pathway.

In addition, the Employment Training Panel has recently taken large strides in their efforts to partner with Local Boards to implement new employee training to provide qualified and skilled new workforce, using incumbent worker training as a means to enable labor retention and ensure workers have access to employer valued training programs to further their careers along the continuum of their career pathways.

Registered Apprenticeship

The incorporation of approved apprenticeships is a key facet and focus of the State Plan. One of the goals discussed in the State Plan is to produce a million “middle skill” industry valued credentials between 2016 and 2026. Apprenticeships will be a key strategy and component in enabling the State to achieve this goal. In initial efforts, the State Board has been working closely with the DIR/DAS and Local Boards to ensure pre-apprenticeships were conducted in coordination with the DAS approved apprenticeship. To accomplish this, AB 554 was the first step in ensuring quality pre-apprenticeship training curriculum was developed jointly between the Local Boards, the DAS approved apprenticeship and the regional Apprenticeship Coordinating Councils. These steps would more readily ensure the participants’ acceptance into an approved apprenticeship program.

Another piece of the above goal is to double the number of people enrolled in apprenticeship programs during the same time period. Consistent with the WIOA provision regarding Training Services, administration of the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and the eligibility of Apprenticeships for inclusion on the ETPL, the State Board has been working the DIR/DAS and the EDD, to ensure all the approved apprenticeship programs are included on the ETPL. The revised ETPL Policy and Procedures are included in Directive WSD15-07.

In addition, the Governor recently enacted AB 509 (H. Perea, Chapter 558, Statutes of 2015), which exempts specified pre-apprenticeship programs from state licensing requirements when they meet certain criteria. This provides a more efficient pathway from training into an apprenticeship program.

The State’s criteria regarding local area transfer of funds between the adult and dislocated worker programs.

WIOA, upon approval by the Governor, allows for the transfer of up to 100 percent of funds between the adult and dislocated worker funding streams in order to allow Local Boards flexibility to provide services that meet the needs of the Local Area. State policy is included in Directive WSD15-23.

Transfer Criteria

In California, EDD has been given authority to approve transfers on behalf of the Governor. Transfer requests can be submitted any time during the two-year life of the funds. Transferred funds must stay within the original year of allocation and time period (i.e., July 1, first allocation funds, or October 1, second allocation funds).

The Local Area must submit transfer requests in writing to EDD. The transfer request must include the reason and/or rationale for the transfer, and be approved and signed off by the Local Board. Considerations for review and approval by EDD include the following:

• Changes in planned services to eligible participants.

• Unexpected layoffs requiring additional funds.

• Changes in the goals for serving eligible participants.

• Changes in labor market conditions.

• Effect of training on jointly funded employment and training programs in AJCCs.

• Effect on existing agreements for the delivery and/or coordination of employment and training services.

• Effect on current state and Local Area employment and training systems.

• Effect on the employment and training needs of eligible participants in the Local Area.

  Implications of transferring 100 percent of funds

  To the extent that a Local Area requests to transfer its entire allocation of dislocated worker funds to the adult program, the Local Area must be aware of the following implications pertaining to the transfer:

• EDD will not consider Local Area requests for funding from the WIOA Dislocated Worker 25 Percent Additional Assistance funds to mitigate the loss of dislocated worker funds resulting from the transfer.

• All transfers of funds are subject to the WIOA adult program priority of service requirement stated in WIOA Section 134(c)(3)(E).

  Participants

Participants served with transferred funds will be subject to the performance outcomes of the new funding source. For example, funds transferred from the dislocated worker to the adult program will be attributed to the adult program and subject to adult accountability and performance outcomes.