Bill Text: CA AB643 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 643 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Apprenticeship programs: career fairs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 324, Statutes of 2021. [AB643 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB643-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 643

CHAPTER 324

An act to add Section 3074.2 to the Labor Code, relating to apprenticeship.

[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2021. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 643, Ramos. Apprenticeship programs: career fairs.

Existing law provides for the establishment of apprenticeship programs in various trades, to be approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations in any trade in the state or in a city or trade area whenever the apprentice training needs justify the establishment.

This bill would require a school district or school to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of a career or college fair it is planning to hold, as specified.

By imposing specified requirements on school districts and schools conducting career and college fairs, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) Apprenticeship programs are vital to the strength of our state’s workers and the vitality of our state’s economy, both by providing industry skilled workers and expanding the number of well-paid workers in our communities.

(b) Apprentices learn skills applicable to stable careers necessary to the continuing development of our state.

(c) The Legislature has recognized the importance of apprenticeship programs through its ongoing focus on these programs.

(d) Organized labor, public agencies, and businesses share a priority to expand and utilize apprenticeship programs. As such, apprenticeship programs have expanded significantly in recent years, from 53,951 apprentices registered in 2012 to 80,464 in 2018.

(e) The current academic climate in high schools often emphasizes college preparedness while the benefits and opportunities of apprenticeship programs for students exiting high schools are commonly overlooked.

(f) Since many apprenticeship programs have high school diploma or GED requirements, these programs may encourage high school students to work towards graduation.

(g) It should be a goal of the Legislature to ensure high school students are made aware of the opportunities afforded to them through apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 2.

Section 3074.2 is added to the Labor Code, to read:

3074.2.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Career fair” means an event where multiple private businesses, government agencies, university representatives, or career technical school representatives are invited by a school or school district to present career options or career technical education options for students.

(2) “College fair” means an event where multiple college or university representatives are invited by a school or school district to present college options to students.

(3) “School” means public schools, including, but not limited to, charter schools and alternative schools.

(b) (1) A school district or school that is planning to hold a college or career fair shall notify each apprenticeship program in the same county as the school district or school of the college or career fair. In determining the county location of an apprenticeship program, the school district or school shall rely on the database of approved apprenticeship programs published by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards on its internet website.

(2) The notification shall include both of the following:

(A) The planned date and time of the college fair or career fair.

(B) The planned location of the college fair or career fair.

(3) Notice shall be delivered before the planned date of the college or career fair either by first-class mail or by electronic mail pursuant to the contact information contained in the database of approved apprenticeship programs published by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards on its internet website.

(c) School districts and schools are encouraged by the Legislature to host apprenticeship fair events, in the style of college and career fair events that are focused on local apprenticeship programs and career technical education opportunities.

SEC. 3.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.