Bill > S1303

This bill aims to increase apprenticeship opportunities in Massachusetts by requiring that a growing percentage of labor hours on public construction projects over one million dollars be performed by apprentices in state-approved apprenticeship training programs. Specifically, the bill amends three chapters of Massachusetts law (Chapter 149, Chapter 149A, and Chapter 30) to mandate that for projects exceeding $1 million, contractors and subcontractors must use apprentices for a specified percentage of total work hours, with apprenticeship hours increasing over time: 5% of total hours six months after the act's passage, 10% after one year, and 15% after two years. These apprentices must be part of bona fide apprenticeship training programs approved by the division of apprentice training in the executive office of labor and workforce development and must comply with apprentice ratios established by trades license boards. The goal is to provide more opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensure a skilled workforce in Massachusetts by gradually increasing apprenticeship requirements on public construction projects.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1303