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Oregon education subcommittee reviews apprenticeship participation on university and college construction projects
Summary
The Education Subcommittee reviewed reports showing apprenticeship participation and minority/women workforce figures across public university and community college capital projects, acknowledged receipt of the reports and moved them to the full committee for consideration.
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Education Subcommittee on Thursday reviewed reports from the Oregon Community College Association and the Coalition of Oregon Public Universities detailing apprenticeship utilization and participation by women, minority individuals and veterans on state bond-funded capital projects.
The presentations, delivered by John Wyckoff of the Oregon Community College Association and Mary Moller of the Coalition of Oregon Public Universities, summarized projects across community colleges and public universities and explained statutory reporting requirements. "This report reflects over 160,000 hours of apprenticeship statewide," Moller said, noting university reports also include data on veterans and benefit costs.
Wyckoff outlined that Senate Bill 455 amended state law to add apprenticeship reporting requirements for community college capital projects funded with Article XI-G bond proceeds and contracts of $8,000,000 or more, citing ORS 350.379. He told the committee that community colleges must report annually the amount of work performed by apprentices, women and minority individuals for qualified contracts entered on or after Jan. 1, 2021.
Committee members pressed presenters on data collection and contractor awareness. Representative McIntyre asked whether the reported figures refer to construction workers, and Wyckoff confirmed they do. Senator Frederick asked whether contractors know about the hiring expectations and how difficult it is to track participation; Wyckoff acknowledged tracking is "a reasonably significant amount of work for the colleges" and said he would follow up about contractors' awareness.
Several members highlighted workforce benefits tied to the projects. Senator Weber praised Tillamook Bay Community College's new nursing program and facility, noting the program had graduated 16 nurses and that apprentices were heavily involved during construction. Members also asked whether the reports present raw counts in addition to percentages; Wyckoff said the colleges retain the raw numbers necessary to derive percentages and can provide them.
The Department of Administrative Services recommended the subcommittee acknowledge receipt of the reports. "Our office recommends that the subcommittee acknowledge receipt of the agency's report," Stacy Chase of DAS said. The Legislative Fiscal Office likewise recommended acknowledgment to the full committee. Co-chair moved to forward the request to the full committee with the LFO recommendation; no opposition was voiced and the motion was carried.
The subcommittee was told the Higher Education Coordinating Commission will return at the next meeting to present on spending and efficiencies. The subcommittee acknowledged receipt of the apprenticeship utilization reports and referred them to the full committee for further consideration.
