State Apprenticeship Agency

The act creates the state apprenticeship agency (SAA) in the department of labor and employment (department) and specifies that it exercises its powers, duties, and functions, including rule-making, regulation, licensing, and registration, the promulgation of rates and standards, and the rendering of findings, orders, and adjudications, independently of the executive director of the department. The executive director of the department is required to appoint the director of the SAA. The purpose of the SAA is to:

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship concerning apprentices and registered apprenticeship programs;
• Accelerate new apprenticeship program growth and assist in promotion and development; and
• Oversee apprenticeship programs, including registration, required standards for registration, certification, quality assurance, record-keeping, compliance with federal laws and standards, and provision of administrative and technical assistance.

The director of the SAA is authorized to promulgate rules to implement the state apprenticeship registration program.

The director of the SAA is required to establish the state apprenticeship council (SAC) and an interagency advisory committee (IAC) on apprenticeship. The governor and the director of the SAA appoint the members of the state apprenticeship council and the interagency advisory committee.

The SAC is charged with overseeing registered apprenticeship programs for the building and construction trades in this state and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and standards. The IAC is charged with the same responsibilities for all other apprenticeships not in the building and construction trades. Both entities are charged with:

• Registering with and maintaining the standards of the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship and developing standards for registration for their respective apprenticeship programs;
• Resolving conflicts and complaints that arise between parties to apprenticeship agreements;
• Reviewing apprenticeship program performance;
• Making recommendations concerning apprenticeship programs to the director of the state apprenticeship agency;
• Providing technical and professional guidance and promoting best practices;
• Developing administrative policies to ensure safety and quality standards;
• Providing an annual report to the executive director of the department of labor and employment; and
• Advising the SAA concerning their assigned functions and formulating policies for their respective industries.

The act establishes a joint resolution committee of the state apprenticeship council and the interagency advisory committee to resolve conflicts between the 2 entities and to define their respective jurisdictions.

Additionally, the act requires the state apprenticeship agency to accept applications for registration of apprenticeship programs beginning July 1, 2023. The state apprenticeship agency may deregister an apprenticeship program for noncompliance with the requirements in the act. The state apprenticeship agency shall conduct a hearing upon request of the SAC or the IAC regarding issues of noncompliance and deregistration.

The apprenticeship program is repealed, effective September 1, 2029, after a review of the director's functions is performed.

To implement this act, $485,249 is appropriated to the department of labor and employment for use by the SAA. From this amount $85,072 is appropriated to the department of law, and $78,598 is appropriated to the office of the governor.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)