Bill > SB390

This bill establishes the State Apprenticeship Agency Act, which creates a new State Apprenticeship Agency within the Office of Skills Development to serve as the state's official registration and oversight body for apprenticeship programs. The bill eliminates the previous Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee and replaces it with a new Arkansas Apprenticeship Council, which will serve in an advisory capacity. The new agency will be responsible for registering apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, developing a state-level apprenticeship completion credential, and establishing rules for apprenticeship programs that align with federal regulations. The agency will be led by the Director of the Office of Skills Development, who will be tasked with applying for federal recognition by December 31, 2025. The bill defines key terms related to apprenticeships, such as "apprentice," "on-the-job training," and "related technical instruction," and outlines the requirements for registering an apprenticeship program. The new Apprenticeship Council will be composed of seven members representing employers, employees, and the public, with a majority focused on the construction industry, and will provide advice, community outreach, and help establish training standards and enforcement mechanisms for apprenticeship programs in Arkansas.

Education

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb390&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R