Relating to apprenticeships

This bill relates to apprenticeships. DIVISION I —— IOWA REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP ACT. The bill replaces intermediaries with intermediary sponsors, as defined in the bill, as a class of entities that provide apprenticeship training under Code chapter 84D, the Iowa registered apprenticeship Act, and that are subject to registration with the Iowa office of apprenticeship. The bill provides that an intermediary sponsor has the sole discretion for approving employer partners, as defined in the bill, provided that such employer partners are compliant with their responsibilities outlined in the intermediary sponsor’s standards. The bill prohibits the office from canceling, suspending, or deregistering an intermediary sponsor based on the actions of employer partners. The bill authorizes the office to require an intermediary sponsor to cancel or suspend an employer partner due to the employer partner’s material breach of responsibilities as outlined in the intermediary sponsor’s standards. The bill provides procedures for such cancellation or suspension including judicial review. The bill provides procedures and standards the office must follow when canceling, suspending, or deregistering an approved apprenticeship sponsor, intermediary sponsor, or lead apprenticeship sponsor. The bill provides that such action can only be carried out by the office due to a material breach of the requirements of Code chapter 84D. The bill also provides standards for judicial review of such action and procedures for reapplication for registration following such action. DIVISION II —— IOWA PLUMBER, MECHANICAL PROFESSIONAL, AND CONTRACTOR LICENSING ACT —— APPRENTICES. The bill provides that a licensed journeyperson or master under Code chapter 105, the Iowa plumber, mechanical professional, and contractor licensing Act, may employ or supervise licensed apprentices at a ratio not to exceed three apprentices to one licensee. The bill provides that certain statutory requirements relating to qualifications and other licensing matters do not apply to apprenticeship classroom training. DIVISION III —— IOWA APPRENTICESHIP ACT. The bill adds intermediary sponsors as a class of entities that provide apprenticeship training that are eligible for financial assistance from the department of workforce development under Code chapter 84E, the Iowa apprenticeship Act. The bill provides that an apprenticeship sponsor whose apprentices receive contact hours from a lead apprenticeship sponsor is not eligible for such financial assistance.