SB 825: State prisons: preapprenticeship program.

(1)Existing law establishes a system of state prisons under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing law authorizes the department to institute various programs for inmates, including programs for education and job training.

This bill would require the department to develop guidelines for inmate participation in preapprenticeship training programs, as specified. The bill would also require the department to coordinate with local state-approved apprenticeship programs and local building trade councils so that inmates who complete an inmate preapprenticeship program have a pathway to employment upon release.

(2)Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and various local agencies to use the design-build procurement process for specified public works under different laws.

This bill would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award contracts for construction projects over $500,000 using the design-build contracting process or construction manager at-risk contracts, as defined, if, on or before September 30, 2019, the department enters into a 10-year community workforce agreement with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California that applies to all construction contracts over $500,000. The bill would require the community workforce agreement to include provisions to encourage work opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals who have completed an inmate preapprenticeship program and that support hiring opportunities for women and military service veterans. program and include a plan for outreach and retention of women and military service veterans to help increase employment opportunities in the building and construction trades. The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to renew or modify the agreement for 5-year terms.