DCP boards plan policies after law shifts apprentice ratio relief from Labor to Consumer Protection

The Department of Consumer Protection’s licensing boards discussed implementation of a new state law that shifts the administrative process for apprenticeship ‘‘ratio relief’’ from the Department of Labor (DOL) to the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).

Board Chair Dave opened the discussion by summarizing meetings among board chairs, DCP staff and the commissioner and asked DCP staff to explain how the new law will work in practice. John Messner, Department of Consumer Protection staff, said the substantive hiring-ratio statute ‘‘did not change’’ and that the existing ratio — ‘‘1 to 1 up to 3’’ with higher numbers requiring additional journey-person coverage — remains in force. "The statute itself did not change. So the statute remains the same," Messner said.

Messner described the new process: contractors who request relief to add apprentices will file with DCP. For requests to add…