Assembly Bill No. 2204
CHAPTER 348

An act to add and repeal Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15563) of Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to employment.

[ Approved by Governor  September 16, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State  September 16, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2204, Boerner Horvath. Clean energy: Labor and Workforce Development Agency: Deputy Secretary for Climate.
Existing law, the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, expresses a goal of creating good-paying energy efficiency and clean energy jobs in California. Existing law also expresses the state’s policy that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 100% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100% of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2045.
Existing law establishes in state government the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, under the supervision of the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, which consists of the Office of the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and the California Workforce Development Board, among others.
This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the position of Deputy Secretary for Climate within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, to be appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate, for the purpose of assisting in the oversight of California’s workforce transition to a sustainable and equitable carbon neutral economy.
This bill would require the deputy secretary to coordinate with relevant state agencies to track the progress of the state moving toward 100% clean energy, as defined, and create or coordinate programs with other state agencies to retrain and upskill workers for clean energy jobs and jobs in related fields.
The bill would make the operation of the act contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2046.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) California is a national and international leader on subnational climate change policy, demonstrating that it is possible to reduce emissions while promoting innovation and economic growth.
(2) California’s climate leadership has led to unprecedented growth in clean energy industries and jobs, where one out of six clean energy jobs in America in 2019 was located in the state.
(3) One of the major hurdles in transitioning existing fossil fuels activities to clean energy ones has been the potentially negative economic consequences to workers, businesses, and communities. Planning, setting goals, and conducting ongoing assessments are needed to ensure an equitable and just transition to a zero-emissions future.
(4) According to a report conducted by the Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, A Program for Economic Recovery and Clean Energy Transition in California (June 2021), one-half of all fossil fuel-based jobs in the state will be eliminated by 2030 as the state moves toward reaching its emissions targets. Under this scenario, the total number of workers who would be displaced and need reemployment is 32,000 over a 10-year period.
(5) Despite the state’s greenhouse gas reduction achievements, California lacks a robust workforce development strategy to shift to a clean energy economy and transition to a zero-emissions future.
(6) A strong and comprehensive policy is also needed to invest new financial resources in communities that are seeking to diversify and grow their local and regional economies in a manner that is both sustainable and equitable.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish the position of a deputy secretary within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to assist in the oversight of the state’s climate workforce transition.

SEC. 2.

 Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15563) is added to Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  3. Deputy Secretary for Climate

15563.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Agency” means the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
(b) “Clean energy” means renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources as described by Section 454.53 of the Public Utilities Code.
(c) “Deputy secretary” means the Deputy Secretary for Climate appointed pursuant to Section 15563.2.
(d) “Energy Commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

15563.2.
 Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the position of Deputy Secretary for Climate is hereby established within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for the purpose of assisting in the oversight of California’s workforce transition to a sustainable and equitable carbon neutral economy. The deputy secretary shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

15563.4.
 The deputy secretary shall do all of the following:
(a) Coordinate with relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Energy Commission, the Office of Planning and Research, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Agency, the State Lands Commission, the California Geological Survey, the Public Utilities Commission, and the State Air Resources Board, to track the progress of the state moving toward 100 percent clean energy, including by doing all of the following:
(1) To the extent possible, identifying the timing and location of fossil fuel facility closures and short-term and long-term workforce transition needs, including projected impacts on workers, businesses, and communities related to workforce development, training, job loss, and job creation.
(2) In coordination with the relevant state agencies, establishing recommended strategies and timelines for workers to transition from fossil fuel-based jobs to clean energy jobs and jobs in related fields.
(3) Tracking clean energy jobs and the transition of workers from fossil fuel-based jobs to clean energy jobs and jobs in related fields to increase access to training and employment opportunities.
(b) Create or coordinate programs with other state agencies to retrain and upskill workers for clean energy jobs and jobs in related fields, including, but not limited to, by doing all of the following:
(1) Identifying training needs and gaps in current state programs.
(2) Determining what skills will likely be needed in the state’s clean energy workforce over the next 25 years.
(3) Prioritizing workforce development funding and programming in communities experiencing growing income disparities due to the transition to a carbon neutral economy.
(c) On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, submit a report to the Legislature on key findings and recommendations regarding the development and implementation of the workforce transition to a sustainable and equitable clean energy economy, including challenges, achievements, and measurable progress toward creating clean energy jobs. The deputy secretary shall submit the report to the Legislature required by this subdivision in compliance with Section 9795.

15563.6.
 (a) This chapter shall become operative only upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for the purposes of implementing this chapter.
(b) This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2046, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2046, deletes or extends that date.