Relating to apprenticeships and establishing an Iowa office of apprenticeship and Iowa apprenticeship council

This bill shall be known and may be cited as the Iowa registered apprenticeship Act. The bill establishes the Iowa office of apprenticeship within the department of workforce development, to be operated and managed by the director of the department. The bill provides for duties of the office, which generally pertain to procedures for the voluntary registration of apprenticeships with the office in accordance with regulations of the federal department of labor, office of apprenticeship. Eligible apprenticeship programs must be established pursuant to an apprenticeship agreement between an apprentice and an apprenticeship sponsor and involve work in an apprenticeable profession, as those terms are defined in the bill, and must be registered with the federal department of labor, office of apprenticeship, or the Iowa office of apprenticeship. To be eligible for registration with the Iowa office of apprenticeship, an apprenticeship program must include employer involvement, on-the-job training, related training instruction from a lead apprenticeship sponsor, paid work experience, and receipt of a portable state or nationally recognized credential; and must be in compliance with applicable federal regulations and rules of the office, among other requirements. The bill provides for additional duties of the office relating to registered apprenticeship programs. The bill also establishes the Iowa apprenticeship council as an advisory council within the department of workforce development. Members of the council are appointed by the governor for three-year terms and must be familiar with apprenticeable occupations. The director of the department serves as an ex officio, nonvoting member. The council shall advise the Iowa office of apprenticeship regarding the duties set forth in the bill and provide community outreach and education regarding the benefits of apprenticeship. The bill requires licensing authorities, as defined in the bill, to grant an occupational license to any applicant who has successfully completed an apprenticeship in compliance with program standards for apprenticeships as outlined in federal regulations, subject to a valid apprenticeship agreement, and under the supervision of an eligible employer; has received a passing score on any examination deemed to be necessary for licensing by a licensing authority; and is otherwise eligible to receive a license. The bill prohibits licensing authorities from establishing examination requirements for applicants who complete a registered apprenticeship as provided in the bill that differ from other applicants. The bill provides that a sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program under the bill is responsible for the administration and supervision of on-the-job training and related technical instruction for each apprentice in the apprenticeship program. When training is provided by a lead apprenticeship sponsor or intermediary, the employer of the apprentice is responsible for the administration and supervision of on-the-job training, and the lead apprenticeship sponsor or intermediary is responsible for related technical instruction for each apprenticeship.