AN ACT Relating to expanding registered apprenticeship programs; adding a new section to chapter 49.04 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

(a) Review existing registered apprenticeship programs;

(b) Analyze barriers to statewide expansion of registered apprenticeship programs and preapprenticeship programs; and

(c) Recommend policies to implement strategies that increase registered youth and adult apprenticeships.

(2) The apprenticeship council and the workforce training and education coordinating board shall consult individuals from the public and private sectors with expertise in apprenticeships, including representatives of labor unions, professional technical organizations, and business and industry in the development of their recommendations.

(3) The apprenticeship work group is established to review the work being done by the governor's office concerning students' preparation for pathways towards a living wage, to study policy recommendations, and to advise the legislature on a future statewide cross-sector registered apprenticeship system.

(a) The work group shall consist of the following members:

(i) The chair and ranking members of the senate higher education and workforce development committee;

(ii) The chair and ranking members of the house of representatives higher education committee;

(iii) The chair and ranking members of the senate labor and commerce committee;

(iv) The chair and ranking members of the house of representatives labor and workplace standards committee; and

(v) One representative from each of the agencies collaborating in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) The work group shall choose two cochairs, one from among its legislative membership and one representative of a state agency. The apprenticeship council and the workforce training and education coordinating board shall convene the initial meeting of the work group.

(c) Legislative members of the work group are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.

(d) The expenses of the work group must be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Work group expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

(e) The work group shall meet three times before October 15, 2018.

(4) The work group shall consolidate its findings and recommendations into one report delivered to the governor and the higher education and labor committees of the legislature by October 15, 2018.

(5) This section expires December 31, 2018.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 49.04 RCW to read as follows:

Subject to appropriations, the department of labor and industries shall, through the supervisor of apprenticeship, employ a coordinator to do outreach to the private sector and assist industries in establishing registered apprenticeship and training programs where they do not exist.

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