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Lawmakers question CWDB staff reductions while supporting apprenticeship grant expansions

Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation · April 23, 2026
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Summary

The California Workforce Development Board said its staffing reductions reflect the end of one‑time grant cycles but proposed expanding apprenticeship and pre‑apprenticeship grants (raising annual apprenticeship grants from $3M to $20M through 2030). Senators asked how cuts would affect grant administration and vulnerable workers; CWDB and DoF said reductions follow expiring one‑time funding.

The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) presented its budget requests to the subcommittee on April 21, seeking to right‑size staff after a surge of one‑time grant funding and to expand apprenticeship and pre‑apprenticeship support.

Joelle Ball, CWDB chief deputy, explained the board staffed up in response to a temporary influx of state grant funding and is proposing reductions as those grant cycles close. Emily Sunohara, deputy director of operations, said the proposed staffing adjusts the board toward baseline funding levels while preserving policy functions.

Committee members, led by Senator Durazo,…

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