Bill Text: CT SB00215 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Apprenticeship Expansion Based On A Program Review And Investigations Committee Study.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-22 - File Number 130 [SB00215 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-SB00215-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2016 |
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AN ACT CONCERNING APPRENTICESHIP EXPANSION BASED ON A PROGRAM REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE STUDY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 31-22m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) When used in sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, [and] section 31-22u [, "apprentice"] and sections 5 and 6 of this act:
(1) "Apprentice" means a person employed under a written agreement to work at and learn a specific trade; ["apprentice agreement"]
(2) "Apprentice agreement" means a written agreement entered into by an apprentice, or on [his] such apprentice's behalf by his or her parent or guardian, with an employer, or with an association of employers and an organization of employees acting as a joint apprenticeship committee; [, which agreement]
(3) "Apprenticeship" means an arrangement that (A) is formalized by an apprentice agreement; (B) provides for [not less than two thousand hours of] work experience in approved trade training; [consistent with recognized requirements established by industry or joint labor-industry practice and] (C) provides for the number of hours of related and supplemental instructions prescribed by the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council; [or which agreement meets requirements of the federal government for on-the-job training schedules which are] and (D) is essential, in the opinion of the Labor Commissioner, for the development of manpower in Connecticut industries; ["council"]
(4) "Approved trade training" means a period of not less than two thousand hours of work experience in a particular trade that is consistent with recognized requirements established by industry or joint labor-industry practice that are adopted by the Labor Department; and
(5) "Council" means the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council.
Sec. 2. Section 31-22o of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
The council may adopt recommendations for minimum standards of apprenticeship and for related and supplementary instruction, encourage registration and approval of apprentice agreements, [and training programs,] and issue certificates of completion upon the verification by employers or joint apprenticeship committees of the satisfactory completion of the term of apprenticeship. The council shall formulate policies for the effective administration of sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, as amended by this act, and section 31-22u. Such policies by the council shall not invalidate any apprenticeship provision in any collective bargaining agreement between employers and employees. All apprentice programs adopted and registered with the council under said sections shall be on a voluntary basis and shall be installed for the purpose of developing skilled workers for the service trades and industries of Connecticut.
Sec. 3. Section 31-22p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
The Labor Commissioner, with the advice and guidance of the council, shall formulate [work training] approved trade training standards which will ensure necessary safeguards for the welfare of apprentices and a full craft experience in any skill, in order to provide equal opportunities to all, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age or national origin, and to provide training, employment and upgrading opportunities for disadvantaged workers to acquire a comprehensive skilled work experience and to extend the application of such standards of skill training by inclusion thereof in [apprenticeship] apprentice agreements, and shall bring together representatives of management and labor for the development of training programs and terms of apprenticeship incidental thereto and cooperate with state and federal agencies similarly interested in furtherance of training requirements in keeping with established and new processes of Connecticut industries. The Labor Commissioner shall publish information relating to existing and proposed work standards of apprenticeship, hold area conferences throughout the state for the purpose of promoting interest in skilled trades training and appoint such advisory committees as may be deemed necessary to evaluate the skilled manpower requirements of Connecticut in order to cope with any new technological changes in industry.
Sec. 4. Section 31-22q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(a) To assist in the administration of sections 31-22m to 31-22q, inclusive, as amended by this act, and section 31-22u, there shall continue to be maintained in the Labor Department a program of apprentice training. The Labor Commissioner is authorized to appoint, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 67, such personnel as may be necessary for effective administration of said sections.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the Labor Department shall develop or approve an informational campaign to distribute to Workforce Investment Boards, CTWorks One-Stop Career Centers and similar job centers within the state. The informational campaign shall include a description of the program of [apprentice training] apprenticeship maintained in the department and shall address common misperceptions regarding such program and the various opportunities and benefits that apprenticeship [training] may provide for unemployed individuals within the state.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than July 1, 2017, the Labor Department shall (1) offer apprenticeships in all licensed occupations that meet the minimum on-the-job training and coursework requirements for apprenticeships; and (2) conduct a public outreach and education campaign to encourage employers in such licensed occupations to sponsor apprentices.
(b) The Labor Department shall explore the feasibility of creating an employment trainee office capable of registering trainees for participation in licensed occupations that require training but do not offer apprenticeships. Such office shall collaborate with the Labor Department's office of apprenticeship training to provide comprehensive information regarding opportunities for training, including, but not limited to: (1) The process by which current and prospective trainees may access information relating to such training opportunities on the department's Internet web site; and (2) an accurate list of each occupation that accepts trainees within the state and the number of trainees participating in each occupation within the previous calendar year.
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than July 1, 2016, the Labor Commissioner shall identify the manufacturing occupations that employ apprentices in the state.
(b) (1) Not later than October 1, 2016, the Labor Commissioner shall convene a working group consisting of representatives from the manufacturing occupations identified pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, including, but not limited to, not less than six employers or joint labor-management training programs in the state, not less than three of which shall employ members of a labor union and not less than three of which shall not employ members of a labor union.
(2) Not later than July 1, 2017, the working group convened by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall develop approved trade training requirements that shall include not less than two of the following: A time-based approach, competency-based approach or hybrid approach, as described in 29 CFR 29.5 (b) (i) to (iii), inclusive.
(3) Not later than October 1, 2017, the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council shall review the approved trade training requirements developed pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection and shall provide recommendations for any modifications to such approved trade training requirements to the Labor Commissioner.
(4) Not later than December 1, 2017, the commissioner shall approve and implement the approved trade training requirements provided by the council pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. The Labor Commissioner may make additional modifications to such approved trade training requirements, provided such modifications are necessary for implementation pursuant to this subsection.
(c) Not later than January 15, 2018, the Labor Commissioner shall review the general statutes and the regulations of public agencies to determine the revisions to such statutes or regulations that are necessary to offer approved trade training for apprentices that are consistent with the time-based approach, competency-based approach or hybrid approach, as described in 29 CFR 29.5 (b) (i) to (iii), inclusive, and shall submit such determinations, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor.
(d) The Labor Commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, as the commissioner deems necessary to implement the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2016 |
31-22m |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2016 |
31-22o |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2016 |
31-22p |
Sec. 4 |
October 1, 2016 |
31-22q |
Sec. 5 |
from passage |
New section |
Sec. 6 |
from passage |
New section |
PRI |
Joint Favorable Subst. |