Sacramento, California - Governor Brown signed key workforce training legislation today, which was authored by local Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella).  AB 1270 (Garcia and Hernández), makes the first round of changes to conform California workforce training laws with the new Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

AB 1270 was sponsored by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and represents the first of several bills that will transform the state's existing fragmented set of workforce and education programs into a unified and business-responsive network.

“Maintaining an effective education and workforce training system is essential for a strong and productive workforce," said Garcia, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.  "Given the rapidly changing business environment, California must have an integrated system for providing the workforce and entrepreneurs that can shape the state's long-term economic growth."

AB 1270 was supported by a range of business and industry groups including the California Chamber of Commerce, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, California Primary Care Association, Association of California School Administrators, California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors, California Workforce Association, La Cooperativa Campesina de California and SIATech.

Further policy changes will be deliberated over the next few months and added to the 2016 legislation.