Experience has shown that the ability of a large number of the population of California to compete for jobs in the labor market is impaired by advancement in technological improvements, the widespread effects of automation and relocation in our economy, and foreign competition as set forth in petitions certified under the federal Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Title 19, United States Code, Sections 2101 et seq.). The Legislature finds that many individuals in California are lacking in skills that would make them competitive in the labor market. They are in need of training or retraining to upgrade their skills required in demand occupations. It is the policy of this state to assist these individuals by providing unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits, and other federally funded unemployment compensation benefits, including those available under the federal Trade Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-618), as amended by the federal Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-210), during a period of retraining to qualify them for jobs in demand occupations and thus avoid long-term unemployment.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 591, Sec. 3. (AB 2058) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative on date (no later than July 1, 2011) prescribed in Section 1274.20.)