The CA Senate Passes Josh Becker's Bill to Expand 'Earn & Learn' Opportunities for Vulnerable Workers

The California Senate unanimously passed legislation by Senator Josh Becker on May 3 to provide opportunities for training paired with employment for veterans, the unhoused, people exiting the justice system, and other vulnerable jobseekers who are often shut out of the workforce.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on our state’s most vulnerable workers,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula. “Even before COVID 19 struck, workers with barriers to employment – our veterans, the housing insecure and formerly incarcerated persons – were struggling to find opportunities to earn a living. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support of my bill to give these community members a better chance at success in our workforce through innovative training and work models.”

Senate Bill 779, the senator’s first to clear the Senate, provides greater opportunity by expanding the types of “earn and learn” programs recognized by the California Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. The bill specifies that transitional jobs and subsidized jobs, as provided by worker cooperatives and employment social enterprises, known as ESEs, are embraced by the California Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. As such, they may be considered by the state Labor Workforce Development Boards when funding “earn and learn” programs.

The bill now moves to the Assembly for review.