The California Senate unanimously passed legislation authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, Monday, 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 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, according to Becker’s office.