Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Apprenticeship topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montana panel backs statute changes to keep state apprenticeship program in federal good standing
Summary
A Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs hearing heard proponents of House Bill 7-21, which makes four statutory changes to bring Montana apprenticeship law into alignment with a federal audit and preserve the state approving agency (SAA) status that allows in‑state flexibility.
Representative Schumer opened consideration of House Bill 7-21, telling the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee the measure ‘‘brings the state up to federal code’’ for registered apprenticeship.
Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, testified that the bill responds to a federal audit that identified nonconforming sections of Montana’s apprenticeship statute. ‘‘This bill does 4 things,’’ Swanson said, and she summarized the changes: remove a provision that had the department providing non‑apprenticeship on‑the‑job training inside the apprenticeship statute; clarify the statute to reflect the state's two local workforce areas and the consolidated statewide workforce innovation board; specify required contents of apprenticeship agreements (including the supervisor‑to‑apprentice ratio); and codify a limit allowing up to 50% prior‑learning credit for new apprentices transferring relevant experience.
Swanson emphasized preserving Montana’s SAA (state approving agency) status, which she said gives the state flexibility to approve customized apprenticeship programs without returning to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. She gave examples—such as a women's prison program for law‑enforcement dog training—and warned that remaining out of compliance could jeopardize that status.
Jay Reardon of the Montana State Building and Construction Trades Council and Dwayne Woke of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers offered proponent testimony supporting the bill’s practical impact, including clarifying that the 50% prior‑learning credit does not reduce existing apprentices’ earned time when they transfer between programs.
Committee members asked for program lists and details; Swanson said an annual apprenticeship report exists and that a public portal (Employ Montana) will expand access to apprenticeship information starting in May 2025. Representative Schumer asked the committee to concur on the bill following the presentation. The hearing concluded with no opponents recorded and proponents urging passage.
The next procedural step for HB 7-21 is committee consideration for concurrence and possible floor action.
