Bill > S3076

This bill aims to bolster the skilled workforce in Massachusetts by increasing the utilization of apprentices on public projects and establishing a commission to study and improve apprenticeship programs. Specifically, for public works projects exceeding one million dollars, the bill mandates that a progressively increasing percentage of work hours, starting at 5% six months after enactment and rising to 15% within two years, must be performed by apprentices enrolled in approved training programs. These programs must be recognized by the state's division of apprentice training or the U.S. Department of Labor and have successfully graduated at least one apprentice in the past five years, with no requirement for these programs to be registered under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Additionally, the bill creates a special commission on apprenticeships, composed of state officials, labor representatives, and industry experts, tasked with evaluating and recommending improvements to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across various sectors, with a focus on public works, construction, transportation, infrastructure, and emerging industries, and is required to report its findings and legislative proposals by January 1, 2027.