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Committee clears bill clarifying liability for apprentices and work‑based learners
Summary
House Bill 10‑98 clarifies that employers who host unpaid or paid apprentices and work‑based learners must provide workers' compensation and enter written agreements with schools or intermediaries. Industry groups backed the change; the committee approved 7‑0.
A legislative committee advanced House Bill 10‑98, which aims to remove liability uncertainty for employers, schools and intermediaries by making workers' compensation the primary remedy for injuries to students and apprentices participating in eligible work‑based learning programs.
Representative Commons, sponsor of the bill, said the measure is designed to scale up apprenticeships and other work‑based learning across the state by providing a predictable liability framework and requiring a written agreement that identifies which party will secure workers' compensation coverage.
Business and industry groups including the Indiana Chamber, Indiana Pork Producers, the Builders Association and the Indiana Manufacturers Association testified in support, saying uncertainty about insurance and underwriting has discouraged employer participation. Camille Blunt of the Indiana Chamber said the bill removes a major barrier to employer engagement and helps scale talent development programs tied to state workforce goals.
The committee adopted a negotiated amendment that clarified program definitions and participant categories, then moved the bill forward by a 7‑0 vote. Sponsors said the bill intentionally leaves room for future adjustments to address small‑employer concerns about underwriting and premium costs as programs expand.
