§ 31-11rr — Apprenticeship Connecticut initiative.

(a) There is established the Apprenticeship Connecticut initiative to develop workforce pipeline programs to train qualified entry-level workers for job placement with manufacturers and employers in other industry sectors in the state that are experiencing sustained workforce shortages. The initiative shall include, where practicable, outreach to underserved populations, including youths, to achieve success in the program and support the state's economic development progress. (b) Not later than sixty days after the receipt of funding, the Labor Commissioner, pursuant to the state workforce strategy approved by the Governor and any guidance issued by the Chief Workforce Officer pursuant to section 4-124w shall issue a request for proposals from regional industry partnerships for a workforce pipeline program to serve the workforce needs of manufacturers and other employers in the region. To be eligible to submit a proposal, a regional industry partnership shall include as members of such partnership (1) entities and organizations with expertise in regional economic and workforce development, including, but not limited to, entities offering apprenticeship or other workforce training programs, (2) the regional workforce development board, established pursuant to section 31-3k , for the applicable workforce region, and (3) at least one educational institution such as a vocational-technical school or an institution of higher education or at least one employer located in the workforce region. A regional industry partnership may include other entities, organizations or institutions that support the goals of the partnership and initiative. (c) Each proposal shall be submitted by the partnership through the regional workforce development board and shall demonstrate the targeted goal of preparing qualified entry-level workers for careers that provide a living wage. The Labor Commissioner shall specify the program components required for each proposal, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following core program components: (1) Recruitment of, and outreach efforts to, potential job seekers; (2) Placement of individuals screened and assessed who are selected to participate in a training program, with an employer identified by the partnership, upon such individual's successful completion of the training program. Such identified employer shall commit to hire one or more individuals who successfully complete the training program and may further offer related on-the-job training or other in-house training opportunities to such individual or individuals. The partnership shall seek to leverage any such training or opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and any wage-subsidy programs with employers who commit to hiring individuals, and may seek program funding for retention services; (3) (A) Training programs shall be not less than five consecutive weeks and not more than twenty-six consecutive weeks in duration. Any training program may include a preapprenticeship component or award industry-recognized certificates, as proposed by the partnership; (B) Training programs shall be developed and revised periodically through ongoing consultation with employers targeted for job placement of program participants; (4) For each core program component, identification of specific existing resources available to such partnership through the regional workforce development board, the United States Department of Labor's American Job Center system, the state Labor Department, employers, apprenticeship or other workforce training programs, educational institutions in the state or other public or private funds; and (5) The following limits shall apply to the use of any program funds awarded to a partnership: (A) Not less than seventy per cent of such funds shall be used for the training programs set forth in subdivision (3) of this subsection; (B) not less than twenty per cent of such funds shall be used for supporting services for the program, including recruitment and outreach efforts, screening and assessment, transportation, stipends, workplace tools or equipment and preemployment supports; and (C) not more than ten per cent of such funds shall be used for any other purpose, including administrative costs. (d) The Labor Commissioner, pursuant to the state workforce strategy approved by the Governor and any guidance issued by the Chief Workforce Officer pursuant to section 4-124w shall review all qualifying responses to the request for proposals, select and fund as many proposals as the commissioner deems to be well-planned and the partnership to be capable of implementing its proposal. (e) Any regional industry partnership may seek (1) to leverage tuition or financial assistance programs for purposes of the program and for the benefit of individuals participating in the program, and (2) philanthropic and employer investments to meet the goal set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section and to support retention of individuals participating in the program.

Legislative History

(P.A. 18-178, S. 45; P.A. 21-40, S. 33; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 249.) History: P.A. 18-178 effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 21-40 made technical changes; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) by substantially revising provisions re request for proposals, deleting former Subdiv. (1) designator and former Subdiv. (2) re report from regional workforce development boards, and redesignating existing Subdivs. (1)(A) to (1)(C) as Subdivs. (1) to (3), amended Subsec. (c) by replacing provision re program components required to be included in each proposal with provision re Labor Commissioner to specify program components, deleting former Subdivs. (1), (3)(A), (3)(B), (4)(A) and (5) re identification of region's most pressing workforce needs, screening and assessment of work readiness, redirecting or connecting certain individuals with alternative career resources or services, separate training programs for certain participants and duration of workforce pipeline program, respectively, redesignating existing Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (1) and amending same to make a technical change, redesignating existing Subdiv. (3)(C) as Subdiv. (2) and amending same to delete “the Labor Department's subsidized training and employment program” and make a technical change, redesignating existing Subdivs. (4)(B) and (4)(C) as Subdivs. (3)(A) and (3)(B) and amending the former to delete reference to certified preapprenticeship program offered by Labor Department and make a technical change, redesignating existing Subdiv. (6) as Subdiv. (4) and amending same to delete provision re demonstration by partnership that proposes using program funds for core program component purposes, and redesignating existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (5) and amending same to change “not more than” to “not less than”, amended Subsec. (d) by adding reference to state workforce strategy approved by Governor and guidance issued by Chief Workforce Officer, replacing “qualifications and select” with “proposals, select and fund”, deleting former Subdiv. (1) designator and provision re commissioner selection of proposals, and deleting former Subdiv. (2) re award of funds and reserving from funds awarded, effective July 1, 2021 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (c), a reference to Subdiv. (4) was changed editorially by the Revisors to Subdiv. (3) for accuracy).