SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2028        FILED ON: 1/16/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 675

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to improve apprentice training..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.   Chapter 23 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 11W and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 11W.  (a)  The deputy director shall require each apprentice entering into a written agreement pursuant to this chapter, and whose occupation would require the payment of the prevailing wage pursuant to sections 26 and 27 of Chapter 149 on a public works project, to submit an application to the division for an annual apprentice identification card.  Said apprentice application shall be accompanied by a fee paid by the apprentice or the program sponsor, together with photographic prints as required by the deputy director.  Said identification card shall expire one year from the date of issue.  Each such apprentice who desires to continue in an apprentice program after the expiration of the apprentice identification card may do so only after submitting a new application to the division for an updated apprentice identification card.

(b)  The deputy director shall require each sponsor of an apprentice, whose occupation would require the payment of the prevailing wage pursuant to sections 26 and 27 of chapter 149 on a public works project, to pay an annual fee.

(c)  All other apprentices and sponsors shall pay a one time fee at the time of registration.  Such an apprentice shall receive a non photo identification card unless otherwise  required by law.

(d)  All apprentice identification cards shall contain:  the apprentice registration number or such other number as the deputy director requires; the name and business address of the appropriate apprenticeship committee or single employer sponsor; the steps of progression and related dates applicable to the apprentice; the date on which the apprentice identification card expires; and the projected date on which the apprentice is projected to complete the apprenticeship.  As a condition of apprenticeship, the apprentice shall keep the apprentice identification card on his person during all hours of employment during the apprenticeship.

(e)  The deputy director shall charge the fees necessary for the establishment and maintenance of the identification card system and for the processing of sponsor applications.  No identification card fee shall be charged to any veteran receiving GI Bill benefits through registered apprenticeship programs.

(f)  All identification card fee funds pursuant to this section shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth and deposited in a special trust account for the division and may be expended, without further appropriation, under the direction of the deputy director.