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Senate advances apprenticeship bill to expand 'Talent Ready' programs and create coordination position

Utah State Senate · February 25, 2019
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Senate Bill 138, presented by Senator Andrick, would establish a professional apprenticeship framework (modeled on a Swiss approach) connecting Talent Ready Utah, GOED, higher education and school districts; the sponsor said an ongoing general-fund FTE (~$165,000) would be needed for coordination, and the Senate read the bill for a third time.

Senator Andrick presented the Utah Apprenticeship Act (SB138) to create a coordinated professional-apprenticeship program connecting Talent Ready Utah, GOED, technical colleges and K–12 districts to develop stackable credentials and career pathways. An amendment (Amendment 1) clarified a board appointment line to allow the State Board of Education chair’s designee to serve where specified.

The sponsor said the proposal targets non-trade, professional apprenticeships (banking, insurance, IT, financial services) and allows trainees to start as young as 16, earn stackable credentials and receive applicable higher-education credit. The sponsor said several school districts committed to implementing the program day one and that coordination would require a GOED FTE at an ongoing cost estimated in the fiscal note at about $165,000 per year to train districts, recruit industry partners and oversee approvals.

Senators asked for more detail on the fiscal note and the new position’s duties; the sponsor explained the coordinator would recruit businesses and associations, compile information, work with GOED, and provide direct in-district training and technical assistance. After discussion and adoption of Amendment 1, the Senate voted to read the bill for a third time (roll-call recorded 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent). The bill now proceeds toward a third-reading vote on the floor and further coordination with GOED and school districts for implementation.

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