An Act To Expand Apprenticeship Programs and Scholarship Programs with Funding from Identification of Ineffective Economic Development Tax Incentives
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §2006, sub-§5-A, ¶P is enacted to read:
(1) Collaborate with industry associations in the State to identify opportunities for apprenticeships that meet the needs of the industries covered by those associations and that are in high-wage, high-demand jobs;
(2) Identify and develop specific requirements and qualifications for entry into apprenticeships and establish standards for corresponding preapprenticeship skills training programs that result in an industry-recognized credential certifying that the individual is ready to enter apprenticeship;
(3) Collaborate with the Department of Labor's career centers, workforce investment boards, a statewide system of centers that supports access to education and the workforce for women, a national organization that prepares women for transportation construction jobs, the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and other appropriate partners to identify, assess and prepare a pool of qualified candidates seeking to enter apprenticeship;
(4) Using funds appropriated to support this paragraph, enroll in the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program established in section 2033 all individuals who are eligible for services under that program and who are engaged in an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship skills training program under this paragraph;
(5) Provide for funds available under this paragraph to be used for on-the-job training, tuition, services available under the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program and other services necessary to implement this paragraph;
(6) Enter into formal agreements with industry associations and employers to hire apprentices directly from the pool of individuals who have successfully completed a preapprenticeship skills training program under this paragraph; and
(7) Register all newly employed apprentices with nationally recognized apprenticeship programs and ensure that the programs meet both state and federal apprenticeship standards.
Sec. 2. Apprenticeship program. The Department of Labor shall expand apprenticeship programs under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 2006, subsection 5-A, including apprenticeships for high-wage, high-demand occupations under Title 26, section 2006, subsection 5-A, paragraph P, and increase the availability of scholarships for those apprenticeship programs under the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program under Title 26, section 2033 to the extent permitted by revenue savings identified under section 3.
Sec. 3. High-demand allied health care training programs. The Maine Community College System shall develop and implement a plan to expand programs for training in high-demand allied health care occupations at all campuses of the Maine Community College System. The plan must provide for the creation of at least 2 classes of 10 students at each community college campus in the first year of the programs under the plan and 4 classes of 10 students at each campus in the 2nd year of the programs. The plan must provide that 2/3 of the enrollment in the programs must be reserved for participants in the apprenticeship program established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 2006, subsection 5-A, paragraph P and 2/3 of the students from the apprenticeship program must be eligible for the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program under Title 26, section 2033. The cost of implementing the plan under this section must be paid 1/3 by the Maine Community College System from existing funding and 2/3 from the General Fund. For the purposes of this section, "high-demand allied health care occupations" includes but is not limited to phlebotomists, medical laboratory technicians, medical technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory technicians, surgical technicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and pharmacy technicians.
Sec. 4. Funding. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall contract with the University of Maine System to perform an independent analysis of the tax expenditures identified as economic development incentives, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 13070-J, to evaluate the effectiveness of those incentives in fostering economic development in the State. The analysis must identify how economic development incentives can be modified to provide up to $10,000,000 in revenue savings that are adequate to fund the expansion of the apprenticeship programs under Title 26, section 2006, subsection 5-A and the expansion of the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program established under Title 26, section 2033. The commissioner shall submit the analysis and the commissioner's recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development by January 15, 2012.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE
Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
Initiative: Provides funds for 2/3 of the cost to implement a plan to expand training programs for high-demand allied health care occupations.
| GENERAL FUND | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
|
All Other
|
$840,000 | $1,680,000 |
summary
This bill requires the Maine Jobs Council, through the Standing Committee on Apprenticeship, to establish apprenticeships in high-wage, high-demand occupations and requires the Department of Labor to increase the availability of apprenticeship programs and competitive skills scholarships for students in apprenticeship programs. The bill also requires the Maine Community College System to expand training programs for high-demand allied health care occupations. The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services is directed to contract with the University of Maine System to evaluate tax expenditures identified as economic development incentives for effectiveness and to identify up to $10,000,000 in revenue savings to fund the expansions in apprenticeships and scholarships.