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Committee advances bill to expand youth apprenticeships and career education pathways
Summary
SB 845, which implements parts of the Career Education Master Plan and California Youth Apprenticeship Committee recommendations to expand youth apprenticeships (including allowing high‑school credit and easing employer liability), passed to Appropriations after unanimous committee support.
Senator Perez presented SB 845 to expand youth apprenticeships in California by strengthening work‑based learning, clarifying pathways, and removing barriers to employer participation. The bill aligns with the Career Education Master Plan and recommendations from the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee.
Sponsors and witnesses included Roman Vogelsang of the California Workforce Association and Ryan Gensler of CareerWise USA. Gensler told the committee that barriers to scaling youth apprenticeships include complex regulations, employer liability concerns, and challenges integrating apprenticeships into high school graduation requirements. SB 845 would, among other things, allow schools to manage liability insurance and make apprenticeships count toward graduation credits.
Support testimony also came from local governments and workforce boards. No opposition witnesses were recorded at the hearing. The committee voted to pass SB 845 to Appropriations (vote recorded 4–0), with proponents arguing the measure would expand access to high‑quality career pathways beginning as early as 10th grade and help students earn credit aligned with higher education standards.
