26 This bill provides for the registration of preapprenticeship training programs. Current
27 law provides for the certification of these programs. The bill provides that registered
28 preapprenticeship training programs may use grants from the Maine Apprenticeship
29 Program for tools and personal protective equipment and for funding to facilitate an
30 individual's readiness to commence on-the-job learning in a registered apprenticeship
31 program. In allocating grants among registered preapprenticeship training programs, the
32 Maine Apprenticeship Program must give priority to programs that have demonstrated
33 successful engagement and enrollment of and completion by individuals from historically
34 marginalized communities in registered preapprenticeship training programs and
35 successful placement and enrollment of and completion by individuals from historically
36 marginalized communities in registered apprenticeship programs. The bill allocates a total of $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 for grants to support registered preapprenticeship training programs and for one position in the Department of Labor to manage the grants to support registered preapprenticeship training programs. These funds must be administered and awarded to registered preapprenticeship training programs with strong direct entry links with registered apprenticeship programs through a competitive process administered by the Department of Labor through the Maine Apprenticeship Program. These funds must be directed to registered preapprenticeship
44 training programs that train individuals for priority sectors for high-wage, in-demand jobs
45 and may be used for registered preapprenticeship training program development, support
46 and staffing for grantees. At least 51% of these funds must support registered
47 preapprenticeship training programs that have demonstrated successful engagement and
48 enrollment of and completion by individuals from historically marginalized communities
49 in registered preapprenticeship training programs and successful placement and enrollment
50 of and completion by individuals from historically marginalized communities in registered
51 apprenticeship programs; that have consistently placed individuals in registered
52 apprenticeship programs that lead to jobs that pay no less than $40 per hour, including
53 benefits, indexed for inflation; and that have demonstrated the provision of strong,
54 comprehensive support services essential to ensure success.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2280, SP 995: 26.2033, 26.3209, 26.3213