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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/24/2024 02:59 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=29908
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 27, 2019 09:37 AM
From: Representative James B. Struzzi, II
To: All House members
Subject: Bringing the Apprenticeship and Training Act into Compliance with Federal Law
 
In a time when we are struggling to meet current and future workforce needs across the Commonwealth, apprenticeship programs are the solution we need.

I am preparing to introduce legislation that will require the Department of Labor and Industry to conduct a review of the Apprenticeship and Training Act and report any changes necessary to comply with federal apprenticeship requirements to the House and Senate L&I Committees.

We are missing an opportunity in Pennsylvania and it is time to fix that.

In 2008, the USDOL revised its apprenticeship standards and mandated a specific set of criteria for each state to achieve by 2010. It is now 2019 and Pennsylvania remains out of compliance with these federal standards. Although the Governor has included this matter in his regulatory agenda (PA Bulletin – Feb. 4, 2017), with the comment that legislative changes will be necessary, it is my understanding that the Department of Labor and Industry has never requested or recommended the statutory changes that will be necessary to comply with federal requirements.

My legislation will simply require the department to conduct a 90-day review of the act, in consultation with the State Apprenticeship Council and USDOL, and report the changes necessary to the relevant legislative committees.

Updating our law to comply with federal requirements is the first step to open the door for more students and adult workers to enter apprenticeship programs, help solve our workforce needs, improve our economy and create more opportunities for families and business growth.

There is no excuse for PA’s apprenticeship law and program to remain out of compliance. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation.

Introduced as HB1840