Committee adopts amendment to clarify apprenticeship funding splits and reporting; SB 1458 reported favorably

The Committee on Education Postsecondary adopted a delete-all amendment to Senate Bill 1458 and then reported the bill favorably with a committee substitute.

Senator Desigli, the bill sponsor, and Senator Sigley, who explained the amendment, said the changes aim to increase transparency around how state funding flows to pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship providers working with local education agencies (LEAs). The amendment requires providers and their LEA partners to determine an "equitable split of funding per role and per training agreement," prohibits LEAs from imposing fees beyond the contract, and requires annual reporting by Nov. 30 detailing agreements, program costs and LEA expenditures, including personnel hours and total funds received.

The amendment also directs the Department of Education to develop a standard contract template and clarifies traditional roles in agreements; when an LEA serves solely an administrative function, the amendment caps administrative fees at 10% of overall funding for that agreement.

Senator Harrell asked which entity would monitor the expenditures; supporters said DOE already receives extensive reporting and that the amendment further specifies the information to be reported. Carol Bowen of the Associated Builders and Contractors testified in support and said the language builds on existing reporting. No funding request was attached to the amendment, proponents said.

The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and later recorded roll-call approval of the committee substitute; the clerk announced the CCS for SB 1458 was reported favorably.