The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Apprenticeship Council), which is part of the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), establishes apprenticeship program standards, approves apprenticeship training programs, issues completion certificates, and otherwise governs the programs. The Apprenticeship Council currently has several subcommittees, including subcommittees on electrical apprenticeships, childcare in the trades, and compliance review and retention. To be eligible for registration, apprenticeship program standards must conform to the rules established by the Apprenticeship Council.
Subcommittees and Work Groups. The Apprenticeship Council is required to establish economic or industry sector-based subcommittees to promote collaboration within each industry and review curricula for apprenticeship programs in each industry. The subcommittees must be established in the following areas:
L&I must assign an industry liaison to each subcommittee. Each subcommittee must report to the Apprenticeship Council at least annually on the participation in existing apprenticeship programs, the progress in developing new apprenticeship programs, and any review of competencies and curricula.
The Governor must establish a committee of state agency human resources managers to undertake the development of appropriate apprenticeship programs for state agencies, involving the collective bargaining representatives for their agencies as potential apprenticeship pathways are considered and developed. The current registered apprenticeship program for industrial insurance at L&I must be consulted as a model for other agencies.
Apprenticeship Program Eligibility. L&I must require apprenticeship programs seeking approval to provide a plan for future sustainability of the program. No apprenticeship program may be approved without demonstrating that, within ten years of approval, the program will be financially sustainable, independent of any state funds provided to start the program.
When evaluating applications for new apprenticeship programs, the Apprenticeship Council must consider whether graduating apprentices will earn a living wage, the availability of a career ladder to graduating apprentices, or the existence of non-wage benefits as factors in the approval process.
Grant Programs. The bill establishes a grant program for technology and remote learning infrastructure modernization. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, L&I may award one-time grants to existing state registered joint apprenticeship programs for modernizing technology and remote learning infrastructure.
The bill also establishes a grant program for wrap-around support services to mitigate barriers to beginning or participating in state registered apprenticeship programs. Support services include provisions for child care, health care, transportation to job sites, and other support services necessary to mitigate barriers to starting or participating in apprenticeship programs. Subject to availability of appropriated funds, L&I may award grants to nonprofit organizations and joint apprenticeship training committees that provide or connect apprentices to wrap-around support services, including child care, professional clothing, required tools, or transportation.
The bill also establishes a grant program for updating equipment in existing state registered apprenticeship programs. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, L&I may award grants to existing state registered joint apprenticeship programs to upgrade equipment necessary for the program.
Studies and Reports. L&I must conduct an apprentice retention study by collecting data from apprentices that are six months into their apprenticeships on the barriers and challenges new apprentices encounter that may prevent them from continuing their apprenticeships. L&I must aggregate the data by trade and post it on a dashboard on its public website annually. L&I must use the data to work with apprenticeship coordinators to implement an early alert response system to connect apprentices with support and wrap-around services. By December 1, 2026, L&I must report its findings to the Legislature.
L&I must also develop a list of options for incentivizing apprenticeship utilization in the private sector, especially in nontraditional industries that have lower apprenticeship utilization rates. By December 1, 2022, L&I must submit a report to the Legislature detailing the list of options.
By December 1, 2022, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in collaboration with Career Connect Washington, must submit a report to the Legislature detailing the requirements and options for, and any barriers to, high schools having a career pathways day once per year for students in their junior year on a teacher professional development day.
Other Provisions. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, L&I must provide vouchers to cover the cost of driver's education courses for students enrolled in state registered youth apprenticeship programs.
PRO: Many Americans quit their jobs during the pandemic, and apprenticeships can help fix the labor shortage. Apprenticeships are a way to connect people currently earning low wages with higher earning jobs. There are good examples of apprenticeships in nontraditional fields with career ladders that allow people to earn better credentials. Washington compares well with other states based on number of apprentices and wage outcomes. Wrap-around support services that are in the bill are critical to individuals completing apprenticeships. The grant programs are much needed, and having the money go directly to the programs is good because many times they have to go through the community colleges to upgrade equipment. Opening up state agency apprenticeships may be a good way to solve staffing problems at certain agencies.
CON: There is no definition of living wage, which may delay approval of programs. The bill should also allow grant funding to go to new programs instead of only existing programs. Also, the grant programs should not be limited to only joint programs. Federal reciprocity should be included in the bill. Apprenticeships take too long to be approved and there are no assurances that, after spending the money to start a program, that it will be approved. There are ways to fix the shortage of programs, such as allowing multiple per geographic region, that the bill does not do.
OTHER: The bill should not restrict funding to joint programs. The language regarding future sustainability could put funding at risk. The subcommittees in the bill may duplicate the work of the centers of excellence. Addressing curricula should be left to the colleges. The bill should address rural communities and rural challenges because apprenticeships are not readily available in rural areas.