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AB-2157 • 2026

Workforce development: Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program: extension and assessment.

Workforce development: Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program: extension and assessment.

Budget Education Energy Labor Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Connolly (A) , Bryan
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an indefinite extension beyond July 1, 2027; it only removes the specific end date.

Extending Help for Oil and Gas Workers

This law extends a program that helps workers who lost jobs in oil, gas, or related industries. It also requires the Employment Development Department to contract with the University of California, Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education to assess the program's success and develop recommendations for making it permanent.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program indefinitely beyond July 1, 2027.
  • Requires the Employment Development Department to contract with the University of California, Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education within 120 days after appropriation by the Legislature to assess the program's success.
  • Requests the development of a recommended program design for turning the pilot into a permanent one that can support displaced fossil fuel workers during the clean energy transition.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Workers who lost jobs in oil, gas, or related industries.
  • The Employment Development Department and the University of California, Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education.

Terms To Know

Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program
A program that helps workers who lost jobs in oil, gas, or related industries to find new work or learn new skills.
Employment Development Department
The state agency responsible for helping people find jobs and providing training programs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how much money will be given to the program.
  • The exact details of the permanent program are yet to be determined by further study.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on L. & E.

  3. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  4. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2157, as introduced, Connolly.
Workforce development: Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program: extension and assessment.
Existing law establishes, until July 1, 2027, the Displaced Oil and Gas Worker Pilot Program, to be administered by the Employment Development Department (department), for the purpose of addressing employment dislocations associated with oil, gas, and related industries. That program requires the department, using funds to be appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the program, to award grants on a competitive basis to qualified applicants, as specified, for specified eligible activities.
This bill would extend the program indefinitely by removing the July 1, 2027, repeal date. The bill would also require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to contract within 120 days with the University of California, Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education (labor center) to complete an assessment analyzing the success of the
program, as described. The bill would also require the department to work with the labor center to develop a recommended program design for turning the program from a pilot into a permanent program able to support displaced fossil fuel workers during the clean energy transition, as described. The bill would require the assessment to be submitted to the Legislature no later than 18 months after the execution of the contract.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF