Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Program

California’s Unemployment Insurance Code in Division 3, Part 1, Chapter 2, Article 7 contains the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program. Section 9920 contains three legislative findings and declarations including that all efforts funded under this article are intended to supplement and be aligned with the broader workforce and education system in the State of California.

In addition, this act is intended to focus on innovative approaches to, and proven practices for, addressing employment dislocations associated with oil, gas, and related industries. And, the primary purpose of this act is to support workers on the front lines of the state’s transition to carbon neutrality and specifically workers in California’s oil, gas, and related industries, with the services they need to enter, participate in, and complete broader workforce preparation, training, and education programs aligned with regional labor market needs.

Section 9921 established the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program, to be administered by the department, for the purpose of addressing employment dislocations associated with oil, gas, and related industries. This section defines the terms “department,” “program,” “qualified applicant,” and “target population.”

Section 9922 requires the department to award grants to qualified applicants on a competitive basis using funds to be appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the program. And, the department must accept grant applications from qualified applicants. The grant application has to identify a lead applicant who is be deemed the fiscal agent responsible for reporting and monitoring.

In addition, the department is required to develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients that include, but are not limited to, six specified items. Funding awarded for training must meet the requirements of high road.

Section 9923 requires grant recipients to be evaluated using the three established criteria. Section 9924 requires eligible activities for the program and grant funds to include at list the eleven specified items. Section 9925 states that this article remains in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.