SB 1251: California Training Benefits Program.

Existing law, until January 1, 2019, establishes the California Training Benefits Program, which authorizes an unemployed individual who files a claim for unemployment compensation benefits or extended duration benefits to apply to the Employment Development Department for a determination of potential eligibility for benefits during a period of training or retraining. Existing law prohibits the payment of benefits under the program during a period of training or retraining for any week or part of any week that an individual receives training or retraining benefits, allowances, or stipends, as defined, from sources other than the program, as specified. Existing law provides for the payment of unemployment benefits from the Unemployment Fund, which is continuously appropriated for this purpose.

This bill would delete the repeal of the California Training Benefits Program, thereby providing for its operation in perpetuity. The bill would also delete the prohibition on the payment of benefits when an individual receives training or retraining benefits, allowances, or stipends from other sources, as described above. By establishing the program in perpetuity, and by broadening the number of individuals potentially eligible for benefit payments during training and retraining, the bill would result in the payment of additional amounts from the Unemployment Fund, thereby making an appropriation.