Substitute Bill No. 302 proposes amendments to the tax credit system for qualified apprenticeship training programs and establishes a pilot program for middle school students interested in trades. The bill repeals and replaces Section 12-217g of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, effective January 1, 2025, and applicable to income and taxable years commencing on or after that date. The amendments include changes to the tax credit allowed for taxpayers with apprentices in manufacturing, plastics, and other trades. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that the apprenticeship must be described in subsection (d) and eliminates the limitation of the tax credit to the first half of a two-year term or the first three-quarters of a four-year term of apprenticeship. The credit is set at six dollars per hour for manufacturing trades and four dollars per hour for plastics-related trades, with a cap of $7,500 or 50% of actual wages paid to an apprentice, whichever is less. Additionally, the bill modifies the credit for apprenticeships not in manufacturing or plastics-related trades, allowing a credit of two dollars per hour upon completion of the program, with a cap of $4,000 or 50% of actual wages paid during the course of the apprenticeship.

Section 2 of the bill, effective from passage, directs the Department of Education to establish a summer pilot program for middle school students to learn about various trades during June to August of 2024. The program is to be aligned with a career pathway program and include partnerships with licensed trade professionals. By January 1, 2025, the Department of Education is required to report to the General Assembly on the program's results, including participation numbers, feedback, and recommendations for expansion. The term "trade" is defined to include occupations requiring special training, such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. The act amends Section 12-217g and adds a new section, with Section 1 taking effect on January 1, 2025, and Section 2 taking effect from passage.