BILL NUMBER: S294
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to apprenticeship training
 
PURPOSE:
To establish a minimum level of participation in construction work
performed by persons engaged in a certified apprenticeship program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends Section 811 of the Labor Law to add subdivision 3 which would
establish a minimum of ten percent of the labor hours of the total
construction workforce performing work pursuant to a construction
contract as defined by this section, shall be performed by a person or
persons participating in a certified apprenticeship program.
Section 3. Sets forth an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The purpose of an apprenticeship program is to provide instruction and
on the job training under the supervision of skilled and qualified
personnel in the construction field. The benefit is to ensure that our
future workforce possesses the requisite skills to safely provide quali-
ty work in an often dangerous and demanding profession. However, there
is presently no requirement that participants in certified apprentice-
ship programs be utilized on jobsites, which is counterproductive to
this purpose.
Under the supervision of the Department of Labor and the state appren-
ticeship and training council and the state joint apprenticeship commit-
tee, this amendment establishes a requirement that ten percent of the
labor hours of the total construction workforce performing work pursuant
to a construction contract be participants in certified apprenticeship
programs.
Such a provision will have the added benefit of reducing labor costs
associated with construction projects in that apprentices work at a
lower pay scale in comparison to journeyman, while providing the oppor-
tunity for valuable on the job training.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Shall take effect immediately.