1. Investment system. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall partner with the Maine Workforce Investment System under chapter 33 to use registered apprenticeship as a key talent development approach that serves both workforce investment system participants and industry in the State. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 2. Economic development. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall cooperate with the Department of Economic and Community Development in matters relating to workforce and economic development. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 3. Outreach. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall cooperate, consult and coordinate with workforce development entities that serve individuals seeking employment. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 4. Technical assistance. The Maine Apprenticeship Program may provide sponsors with technical assistance. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 5. Federal regulations. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall ensure that all apprenticeship programs established under this chapter conform to 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 29 and 30 and any applicable regulations of the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 6. Education. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall cooperate with the Department of Education, local school authorities such as adult education and career and technical education centers and other groups in organizing and establishing related instruction for apprentices employed under approved apprenticeship agreements. A. A public educational institution or sponsor may provide related instruction according to established policies. As funds permit, the Department of Labor shall underwrite 50% of tuition costs for apprentices in good standing at public educational institutions and provide training cost assistance to sponsor groups in accordance with sponsor policies. To ensure that adequate funds are available for related instruction, the Maine Apprenticeship Program shall establish a biennial plan, including projected apprenticeship enrollments and a subsequent budget request. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] B. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall assist the Department of Education, the State's community colleges, local school authorities such as adult education and career and technical education centers and other groups in promoting, developing and establishing student preapprenticeship programs and adult preapprenticeship programs if the community colleges, local school authorities and other groups wish to do so. A participant who successfully completes a preapprenticeship program meets the qualifying standards of a registered apprenticeship program. [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] [PL 2011, c. 491, §13 (NEW).] 7. Funding. The Maine Apprenticeship Program shall apply at least 75% of program funding used for reimbursement of direct training costs toward apprenticeship programs in which the apprentice starting wage is at least 1.25 times the rate of the minimum wage established in section 664 and the ending wage, upon completion of the apprenticeship agreement, is at least 1.5 times the rate of the minimum wage. [PL 2021, c. 147, §1 (NEW).] 8. Monetary incentive program; historically underrepresented populations. To the extent that funding is available, the Maine Apprenticeship Council shall, in coordination with the department, establish a financial incentive program for registered apprenticeships to recruit historically underrepresented populations. No more than 50% of the funds granted under this program may be allocated to the registered apprenticeship sponsor, and the remaining 50% of the funds must be reserved for stipends for registered apprentices who meet the criteria established under this program. [PL 2023, c. 318, §11 (NEW).] 9. Department, Maine Apprenticeship Council to establish criteria for funding registered apprenticeships. The Maine Apprenticeship Council shall, in coordination with the department, establish criteria for funding registered apprenticeship programs. The criteria must establish benchmarks and consider the total package value that a registered apprentice graduate earns upon transitioning to journeyman status. [PL 2023, c. 318, §12 (NEW).]
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