2014 -- S 2825

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LC005269

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HUMAN RESOURCE

INVESTMENT COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, Doyle, Miller, and P Fogarty

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-102-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-102 entitled "Rhode

Island Human Resource Investment Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-102-11. State Work Immersion Program. -- (a) (1) The council shall develop a state

work immersion program and a non-trade apprenticeship program. For the purposes of this

section work immersion shall mean a temporary, paid work experience that provides a

meaningful learning opportunity and increases the employability of the participant. The programs

shall be designed in order to provide post-secondary school students and unemployed adults with

a meaningful work experience, and to assist businesses by training individuals for potential

employment.

      (2) Funding for the work immersion program will be allocated from the job development

fund account and/or from funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act. Appropriated funds

will match investments made by businesses in providing meaningful work immersion positions

and non-trade apprenticeships.

      (b) For each participant in the work immersion program, the program shall reimburse

eligible businesses up to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of not more than two hundred (200) hours

of work experience and during a period of ten (10) weeks. If an eligible business hires a program

participant at the completion of such a program, the state may provide reimbursement for a total

of seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost of the work immersion position.

      (c) The council shall create a non-trade apprenticeship program and annually award

funding on a competitive basis to at least one new initiative proposed and operated by the

Governor's Workforce Board Industry Partnerships. This program shall meet the standards of

apprenticeship programs defined pursuant to section 28-45-9 of the general laws. The council

shall present the program to the State Apprenticeship Council, established pursuant to chapter 28-

45 of the general laws, for review and consideration.

      (d) (c) An eligible participant in the programs established in subsections subsection (b)

and (c) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and must be a Rhode Island resident. Provided,

however, any non-Rhode Island resident, who is enrolled in a college or university located in

Rhode Island, is eligible to participate while enrolled at the college or university.

      (e) (d) In order to fully implement the provisions of this section, the council is authorized

to promulgate rules and regulations. In developing rules and regulations, the council shall consult

with the Governor's Workforce Board. The rules and regulations shall define eligible businesses

that can participate in the programs created by this section.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-102 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Human

Resource Investment Council" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-102-12. Non-trade apprenticeship program. – (a) Program establishment. The

council shall create a non-trade apprenticeship program and annually award funding on a

competitive basis to at least one new initiative proposed and operated by the governor's

workforce board industry partnerships. This program shall meet the standards of apprenticeship

programs defined pursuant to § 28-45-9. The council shall present the program to the state

apprenticeship council, established pursuant to chapter 45 of title 28, for review and

consideration.

     (b) Program incentive. Contingent upon annual appropriation, for each apprentice

enrolled in a non-trade apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section, the council

shall establish a wage reimbursement incentive, in accordance with the following provisions:

     (i) Reimbursement would be allowed for the participating business of up to fifty percent

(50%) of actual wages paid to the apprentice, or one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is less;

     (ii) The maximum that any one employer may receive within any twelve (12) month

period under the terms of this section is five thousand dollars ($5,000); and

     (iii) An employer shall not be eligible for the wage reimbursement for an apprentice

under the terms of this section until after the completion of the probationary period required

pursuant to § 28-45-9(2)(viii).

     (c) In order to fully implement the provisions of this section, the council is authorized to

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promulgate rules and regulations. In developing rules and regulations, the council shall consult

with the governor's workforce board. The rules and regulations shall define eligible employers

that can participate in the program created by this section.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HUMAN RESOURCE

INVESTMENT COUNCIL

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     This act would provide for a wage reimbursement incentive for employers participating

in the non-trade apprenticeship program and permits the human resource development council to

establish rules and regulations for the program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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