Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Good afternoon, everyone. This is the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. It is Tuesday, 04/07/2026, at two in the afternoon. So we are here to have a walkthrough of H-eight zero three, which is an active range of friendship program. So we have our legislative council with us, Rick Segal. Rick, good afternoon.

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Good afternoon.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Thank you for joining us.

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Thank you for having me. Kirk Segal with the Office of Legislative Counsel. Okay, H-eight zero three. This is a bill that means the apprenticeship language in Title 21. I I believe it was two, maybe three years ago I guess when this was overhauled. This committee, I wasn't here, but this committee really kind of revamped the Vermont apprenticeship program quite a bit and

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Very quickly too. That's my understanding. At the end of the century. Yes,

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: so my understanding and, if you have questions about this, I will take them down. A lot of these questions will probably be answered by Department of Labor. This is their language for the most part. So if there are any intent or reasoning behind these changes, of course, we'll take down your questions about it, but I may not know right now as to why these changes have been requested. Most of it appears to be technical and perhaps because of federal changes that the state also needs us. It's very similar to the state workforce board, which every state has to have one, but when federal law changes, they seem to update how their workforce language works as well, so same with apprenticeship programs. Okay, so we are again, we're in Title 21 Chapter 13, the apprenticeship chapter in the definition section, updating the definition of non traditional currently apprenticeship population striking through the term apprenticeship. So just so it says non traditional population means a group of individuals, new phrase, who had historically been excluded from various occupations, and the rest of the language stayed the same, individuals from the same gender, race, or ethnicity, members of which comprise fewer than 25% of the program participants and a principal, I wouldn't say occupation. A A principal, maybe it's just hard for me to say. So new, another definition change: non traditional apprenticeship industry or occupation. I want to know why apprenticeship is struck through here but not on '23, could be a reason for that. First to industry sector or occupation that represents fewer than 10% of the principal occupations or the programs under the National Apprenticeship System and adding the phrase using the calendar year 2023 as the benchmark. Okay, that's probably important,

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: I don't

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: know at this time, but maybe if I were to label Philison as to why that would be the recommended department here. Okay, underserved communities means the population sharing a particular characteristic as well as geographic communities who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. This term includes individuals who, and you have a long list of groups, racial groups, cultural groups based on all kinds of different characteristics. So striking through this specific language and adding in these different areas. So going back up to the clean language, this term includes individuals who face employment barriers based on age or former incarceration, live in rural areas, lack access to transportation options or high speed internet, are veterans or spouses of veterans, and are otherwise adversely affected by poverty, discrimination, or inequality, and in striking through individuals may belong to more than one underserved community and face intersecting barriers.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Probably has to do with federal guidance. We'll find out. We'll hear from day on.

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Okay, now into Section eleven thirteen, the Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program, subsection E. The Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program shall develop and disseminate a strategic plan once every five years beginning on July 2024, which shall include information on how the program will implement the requirements of its chapter. A couple of capitalization changes in A and B and then striking through American status and replacing it with language access needs. And then grammatical correction, it's career technical education, not career, and technical education. Subdivision G, a summary of how allocated funds were used and analysis of the impact from these funds, including uses of any federal funds awarded during the year. And another technical change. Remember we had that defined? Eleven fourteen Vermont Apprenticeship Advisory Board under the duties of the board adding a couple of new duties. Seven, ensure that the registered apprenticeship program addresses barriers to participation and completion of the program including underserved populations. Strengthen relationships with community partners that serve any underserved populations and historically marginalized communities that have not previously accessed traditionship programs and individuals who face specific barriers to participation in the program, as evidenced by disproportionate lack of participation in apprenticeship programs. Okay. Eleven nineteen apprentices registered agreement under what the agreement shall contain striking through social security number. So just the date of birth and not the social. I believe the social is optional later. It's not required. To conform with to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Act under federal law and for compliance with reporting and analysis of the Vermont Rateship and British Program, voluntary disclosure of the apprentices' race, color, national origin, place of birth, sex, gender, gender identity, primary language spoken, age, veteran status, striking through ethnicity.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: Do you know why we're striking the social security and not just adding in ITIN?

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Not a question I can answer now.

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: I will note that. I mean The priority will be here on Friday. Mean, that would would cover all just popped in iTunes as well.

[Kirk Segal (Office of Legislative Counsel)]: Okay, so going down to what's in the apprenticeship agreement, adding a number fourteen and fifteen, a statement that the apprentice will be accorded equal opportunity in all phases of the apprenticeship employment and training without discrimination because of race, color, and origin, other characteristics, and optional fields for the social security number of the apprentice and demographic characteristics of the apprentice. So that's the optional. Again, there's probably a reason for that, but a question for labor. Under the Pre Apprenticeship Program, striking through registered and replacing certified looks to be a technical change. Under the Youth Apprenticeship Programs, a youth apprenticeship program is one that prepares a youth apprentice for acceptance to an apprenticeship program and is designed for youth apprentices who, in striking the herd, start the program while still enrolled high school and instead who have not completed secondary education, are in an educational program approved by the agency of education, and are enrolled in a career technical education program. A youth apprenticeship program may be registered by the Department of Labor submitting after a regional CTE center submits the following information. Okay, next page. So under what the regional CTE center must submit a description of related classroom based instruction which may be fulfilled through dual or concurrent enrollment and of course striking through secondary post secondary because of the changes above. Seven, whether and how the program is aligned with the high school diploma requirements, driving through and career clusters. Nine) If a program includes paid work during or outside the school year and outside the school day. A progressively increasing and clearly defined schedule of wages to be paid to the youth apprentice as skills are mastered. How the program prepares the youth apprentice for placement and further education employment for a registered apprenticeship program. Striking through the terms by which the program grants advanced standing or credit to individuals applying for the youth apprenticeship with demonstrated competency or acquired experience training their skills and replacing that with a statement of advanced standing that specifies the advanced standing requirements by which participating employers and the program will grant credit to students who are interested in transferring to full apprenticeship program upon completion of the youth apprenticeship program. 12 is new and accounting of costs for the program covered by the participating partners, grants, or other sorts of funds. 13 is new and assurance that school staff and pool air partners and others involved in the program are aware of youth legal protections regarding child labor, wage payment, youth apprenticeship, and other applicable laws and regulations. C is new and an apprenticeship plan submitted in conformity shall be developed in partnership with apprenticeship sponsors for specific occupational areas and semi high schools. The Act would take effect 07/01/2026. That is HK03. One letter for representative

[Michael Marcotte (Chair)]: of the Micklus. K. Just just so you. So probably is that we will put this into s one seven three because we need to get. We will have Jay Ramsey will be with us on Friday at eleven. Do you have questions? Wish the idea or background to this. Do have any questions for Rick? Rick, thank you. We will have Sophie who is at 02:30, so we'll go offline now till 02:30.