Amended  IN  Assembly  July 02, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  April 25, 2024
Amended  IN  Senate  March 20, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1460

Introduced by Senator Durazo

February 16, 2024

An act to add Section 14018 to the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to broadband.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1460, as amended, Durazo. Broadband Labor Standards Act: broadband deployment projects: model contract terms: memorandum of understanding.
Existing law establishes the California Broadband Council in state government for the purpose of promoting broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of the state and broadband adoption throughout the state and imposes specified duties on the council relating to that purpose, including taking actions to ensure that state agencies are coordinating efforts and resources to promote broadband deployment and adoption. Existing law also establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce.
This bill would enact the Broadband Labor Standards Act. The bill would require the board, by January 1, 2026, to convene relevant stakeholders and state agencies to develop model contract terms for broadband deployment projects that are awarded grants by state agencies and to provide a recommendation on a memorandum of understanding between the board and the Public Utilities Commission to enable development of high road job creation on broadband deployment projects and expand access to those jobs, as specified. By July 1, 2026, the bill would require the board to post the model contract terms on the board’s internet website and submit a report to the Legislature on specified matters, including a summary of the discussions with relevant stakeholders and state agencies to develop the model contract terms. The bill would require any model contract terms developed pursuant to the bill’s provisions to be applied to a contract related to a broadband deployment project or application entered into or amended by a state agency, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 14018 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:

14018.
 (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Broadband Labor Standards Act.
(b) By January 1, 2026, the board shall convene relevant stakeholders and state agencies, including, but not limited to, recognized labor unions, internet service providers, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Department of Industrial Relations, to do both of the following:
(1) (A) Develop model contract terms, as specified in subparagraph (B), for broadband deployment projects that are awarded grants by state agencies.
(B) The contract terms developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall serve to increase the utilization of recognized labor unions’ apprenticeships in the telecommunications sector.
(2) (A) Provide a recommendation on a memorandum of understanding between the board and the Public Utilities Commission that would enable the development of high road job creation on broadband deployment projects and expand access to those jobs for priority populations through high-quality education and training.
(B) The recommendation specified in subparagraph (A) shall ensure that the state has the workforce and industry-based training partnerships necessary to meet its broadband goals, while building pathways into the middle class and beyond for Californians who have been historically excluded from quality jobs and economic prosperity.
(c) By July 1, 2026, the board shall do both of the following:
(1) Post the contract terms developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) on the board’s internet website.
(2) (A) Submit a report to the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, which includes both of the following:
(i) A summary of discussions with relevant stakeholders and state agencies to develop model contract terms pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).
(ii) The recommendation from relevant stakeholders and state agencies on a memorandum of understanding pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(B) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subparagraph (A) is inoperative on July 1, 2030, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(d) Any contract term developed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall only be applied to a contract related to a broadband deployment project or application entered into or amended by a state agency on or after the development of the contract term, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).