(a) The panel may allocate money in the fund for any of the following purposes:

(1) Reimbursement of reasonable training costs, and administrative costs incurred by contractors. In making a determination of costs to be reimbursed under this paragraph, the panel may allocate funds in accordance with any of the following methods:

(A) For purposes of providing simplified fixed-fee performance contracts, a flat rate per hour for categories of training that are substantially similar with respect to content, methodology, and duration, as determined by the panel, not to exceed the reasonable and normal costs for the training. The panel shall periodically adjust the standardized rates established pursuant to this paragraph to reflect changes in training costs.

(B) A complete review of the proposal and its costs, including a budget listing the planned costs of training, including personnel, fringe benefits, equipment, supplies, fees for consulting or administrative services, and other costs attributable to training; the services provided by subcontractors; the length and complexity of the training; the method of training; the wages and occupations following training; whether the trainees are new hires or retrainees; and the cost of similar training that the panel has funded previously. The cost of administration shall not exceed 15 percent of the training costs under this paragraph, except that for new hire training the panel may fund administrative costs of up to 25 percent of the training cost.

(C) The panel may modify the specific requirements of this paragraph as they apply to employers or contractors proposing projects that involve training for a significant number of small employers in the same project.

(D) A contractor is prohibited from utilizing any funds earned or paid as advances or progress payments for the purpose of making payments to any other individual or entity, either directly or indirectly, for costs incurred as a finder’s fee or for other compensation related to the predevelopment or development phase of a training program, which is based on a percentage of the preliminary or final panel award to the contractor for the training project.

(2) (A) Costs of program administration incurred under this chapter. These costs shall be reviewed annually by the Department of Finance and the Legislature and determined through the normal budgetary process.

(B) The panel’s administrative costs, exclusive of the cost of administering Section 976.6, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total amount annually appropriated for expenditure by the panel. Expenditures for marketing, research, and evaluations provided under the contract to the panel that otherwise would have been provided directly by the panel shall not be included in this limitation.

(3) Service related to the purposes of this chapter provided by the Small Business Development Centers.

(b) For all training contracts, the panel shall establish requirements for in-kind contributions by either the contractor or the employer that reflect a substantial commitment on the part of the contractor or the employer to the value of the training. In developing these requirements, the panel shall take into account the ability of the contractor or the employer, because of size or financial condition, to make any contribution, and the ability of the Employment Training Fund to meet the demand for training authorized by this chapter. In developing policies regarding in-kind contributions, the panel shall hold public hearings.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 225, Sec. 72. Effective August 16, 2004.)