California’s Employment Development Department

California’s Unemployment Insurance Code contains a number of provisions related to the Employment Development Department (EDD), which are contained in Division 3, Part 1, Chapter 2. Section 9500 requires the EDD to administer all job training and placement programs and services for eligible persons as defined in this division, except as otherwise provided by federal statute or regulation.

Section 9502 authorizes the EDD director to establish such offices as are appropriate for the administration of this part. Offices administering programs under this part must be established to the fullest extent possible in economically disadvantaged areas.

Article 2 deals with powers and duties. Section 9600 requires the EDD to represent the state and local governments upon their request in dealing with the federal government regarding the kinds and quality of job training and placement, employability, and related programs contained in the statewide plan. The department is required to develop a statewide plan and area plans to coordinate all programs it administers present the plans annually to the Legislature.

Section 9600.7 requires the department to have the authority to administer the requirements of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in order to ensure state compliance with the objectives and requirements of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Section 9601 allows the department to enter into any contractual agreements with public agencies, community action agencies, private organizations and individuals which are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part. Priority in contracts for services to carry out the provisions of this part must be given to community action agencies.

Section 9602 requires the director to designate economically disadvantaged areas. These areas are to be priority areas for services provided under this part. To the fullest extent possible, offices are required to be established within the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas designated by the director. The department is required to the extent permitted by law provide services under this part in accordance with the four specified priorities:

Section 9602.5 requires the department to establish, in conjunction with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department of Education, and the Chancellor’s office of the California Community Colleges, a systemwide policy of actively promoting the training of women in nontraditional occupations. The term “nontraditional occupations” defined.

Section 9604 requires the department to establish necessary data systems which will provide administrative information on persons served including, but not limited to, the three specified items of information. The department is also required to compile annually a report for the state and its principal labor market areas and the report has to contain specified data.

Section 9605 requires the department to engage in nine specified duties. And the State Personnel Board and other state and local agencies are required to cooperate to the maximum extent feasible to achieve the purposes of this division.

Section 9606 requires the state manpower program to serve the needs of employers by providing them with referrals of qualified job applicants. In addition, the manpower program is required to assist those individuals who are ready for employment, those who are employable with some direct assistance, and those individuals who are potentially employable.

Section 9607 requires the director to establish community employment development centers. Within the director’s administrative discretion, he or she must determine the number, location and management structure for community employment development centers based on identified community needs. Each center is responsible for designated tasks.

Section 9608 requires the director to establish an intake system to appraise the individual needs of applicants. Each community employment development center is required to provide four key services. Section 9609 requires the department to administer manpower service funds and to provide, in a balanced and flexible manner, needed services.

Section 9610 allows the director to enter into contracts for public and private job training and placement programs as may be required, and must maintain quarterly projections of manpower needs in the public and private sector in each area.

Section 9612 requires the department’s employees to be subject to the State Civil Service Act, except for exempt appointees. Members of the California Commission on Aging shall continue to be appointed by the Governor.

Section 9613 requires the director to make every effort to secure to the fullest extent possible federal funds available for participation under this part and provide that effective and comprehensive placement and manpower information services are made available to eligible persons, both youth and adults, who are served by the department, using funds available to the department under federal law.

Section 9615 states that eligible persons who are registrants under state law must receive priority for services. The department has to use up to 50% of the funds available to it in order to provide for job services.

Section 9616 requires the department, in coordination with the United States Department of Defense and the various branches of the military of the United States, to determine which military occupational specialties have civilian counterpart jobs that require licensure by state or local agencies. The department also has to determine if any procedural, financial, technological, educational, or bureaucratic barriers exist that impede military personnel reentering the civilian workforce from acquiring these licenses.

Section 9616.1 requires the department to convene groups that represent local department field offices, county welfare departments, local workforce investment areas, and community colleges for the purpose of developing a local plan on how these entities will regularly coordinate employer outreach activities and the solicitation of entry-level and other job listings, in order to reduce duplication of effort and to enhance the overall job development activities.

Section 9617 utilizes funds for the purposes of providing competitive grants to faith-based organizations that are not owned or operated as pervasively sectarian organizations. Those organizations receiving funding must demonstrate that they are able to meet the specified six criteria in the provision of services.

The department is required to provide technical assistance to organizations as needed to enable them to meet the six criteria specified, as well as to collect and analyze specified information as it relates to the organizations funded under this section.

Section 9618 requires the department to administer a solar training program. The department is required to coordinate with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and the State Contractors’ License Board to ensure solar energy product and service providers in California possess and maintain the necessary skills, training, and certification.

Section 9619 allows the department to award grants to regional collaboratives for the creation of regional nursing simulation laboratories that will allow additional nursing students to have access to clinical educational facilities. No single grant made under this section may exceed $250,000.