Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee clears SB 513 to require employers to give laid‑off workers timely access to training records
Summary
SB 513, sponsored by Sen. D'Orazzo, would require employers to provide employees access to training and certification records to support job transitions; committee cleared the bill with a 4–1 vote and sent it to the Appropriations Committee.
Senate Bill 513, authored by Sen. D’Orazzo, passed the Senate Labor Committee and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee after a committee vote that recorded one no vote.
The bill would require employers to furnish employees with records of workplace training and certifications that document skills useful in obtaining new employment. Sponsor testimony described cases in which refinery workers facing planned closures could not access training records for months, hampering their ability to find new jobs or obtain college credit for prior learning.
Why it matters: Witnesses including Ron Espinosa of the United Steelworkers and Regina Fleming, a refinery operator and union representative, said workers — many of whom gained skills through on‑the‑job training rather than college degrees — need documentation to secure subsequent employment. Witnesses said withholding records until layoff notices or providing only brief access windows leaves workers unable to pursue opportunities.
Opposition witnesses did not appear in committee; committee members asked clarifying questions about record‑retention periods and potential burdens on small employers. The committee passed SB 513 as amended (ayes: Smallwood Cuevas, Cortese, Durazo, Laird; Strickland no) and sent it to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.
