(a) The State Department of Labor shall develop and conduct employee training and registered apprenticeship programs, in cooperation with participating appointing authorities and the Department of Human Resources. The Department of Human Resources shall assist appointing authorities in utilizing such programs, and in developing the apprenticeships which are established pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) The Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, in cooperation with the Department of Labor and other participating appointing authorities, shall develop and annually revise a list of employment classifications in the classified service which are appropriate for apprenticeship training by December 31.
(2) For purposes of the craft training requirement under § 6960A of Title 29, the Department of Labor shall maintain a list of crafts for which there are approved and registered craft training programs in this State as follows:
a. An updated list must be published by January 31 each year.
b. At the time of the annual January update, the list must include all of the following:
1. All of the crafts that had 1 or more active Delaware registered apprentices complete their apprenticeship during the previous 2 years.
2. The amount of the payment that satisfies the craft training requirement under § 6960A of Title 29 for each craft. The Secretary of Labor, with the concurrence of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Controller General, shall establish the amount of the payment which shall be the average annual related technical instruction cost. The annual related technical instruction cost is calculated using the cost or tuition for 1 person to attend training for each craft in each adult education division vocational-technical school district offering training for the craft.
(3) The list of approved programs under paragraph (b)(2) of this section may be updated during the year to add craft training programs after a program is approved and registered.
(4) The amount of the payment under paragraph (b)(2)b.2. of this section must be reviewed at least once every 3 years and the review must consider all of the following:
a. The amount of moneys collected.
b. The number of additional programs created.
c. Changes in the cost or tuition for related technical instruction.
d. The number of contractors who have complied with the craft training requirement by making payments.
(c) The Apprenticeship and Training Section of the Department of Labor shall establish procedures for the coordination of programs developed under this section, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources.
(d) Subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources and the procedures established by the Apprenticeship and Training Section of the Department of Labor, each participating agency shall determine the location and positions in which apprenticeships are to be established.
(e) The Secretary of Labor shall include in the Secretary’s annual report the following:
(1) A review of the development and operation of training and apprenticeship programs.
(2) The current list of apprenticeable classifications.
(3) A summary of the agencies and types of positions involved.
(4) A summary of registered apprenticeships.
(5) The number of persons who applied for apprenticeship positions under this section.
(6) The number of persons who were accepted into the apprenticeship programs established under this section.
(7) The number of persons who successfully completed apprenticeships under this section and the number of persons who failed to complete apprenticeships under this section.
(8) The number of persons who remain employed after successfully completing apprenticeships.
(9) A summary of other training programs established.
(10) A summary of characteristics of applicants and participants in the program deemed pertinent by the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources.
(f) Nothing in this section may operate to invalidate or supersede a collective bargaining agreement of an employee organization and the State.
(g) The recruitment, selection, and training of apprentice trainees during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, housing status, or any other basis protected under Chapter 7 of this title. The State will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship programs and will operate the training program as required under the State plan for equal employment in apprenticeship and training. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) “Housing status” means an individual, family, or youth’s overnight residence regardless of permanence or habitability.
(2) “Protective hairstyle” includes braids, locks, and twists.
(3) “Race” includes traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and a protective hairstyle.
(h) The Department of Labor shall file a report on the development of apprenticeship programs in January, 1986.