SPONSOR: Grier
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Workforce Development by a vote of 11 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 9 to 1.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 1688.
This bill creates the "Expanded Workforce Access Act of 2020". Beginning January 1, 2021, licensing authorities are required to grant a license to any applicant that has completed the 8th grade, completed a federally-approved apprenticeship program, and passed any necessary examination. The passing score for any examination cannot be higher than the passing score required for any non- apprenticeship license, and there cannot be an examination required for an apprenticeship license if there isn't one required for a non-apprenticeship license.
For some types of apprenticeships, the number of working hours required cannot be more than the number of educational hours required for a non-apprenticeship license.
These provisions do not apply to occupations specified in the bill.
This bill is the similar to HB 470 (2019).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that apprenticeships help people get proper training. Supporters also stated that Missouri needs a skilled workforce and that Missouri is leading the country in apprenticeships. Apprenticeships help people learn a skill and will help decrease the unemployment rate.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Grier; Associated General Contractors of Missouri; St. Louis Regional Chamber; Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry; and Opportunity Solutions Project.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Statutes affected: