(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Employer" means an individual or organization located or operating in the State that employs a registered apprentice. (3) "Fund" means the Maryland Pay Per Apprentice Program Fund. (4) "Program" means the Maryland Pay Per Apprentice Program. (5) "Registered apprentice" means an employee who participates in a registered apprenticeship program. (6) "Registered apprenticeship" means an apprenticeship program that is registered with, and approved by, the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning. (7) "Sponsor" means an individual, association, committee, organization, intermediary, or employer in whose name or title the registered apprenticeship program is or is to be registered. (b) There is a Maryland Pay Per Apprentice Program in the Department. (c) The purposes of the Program are to: (1) develop a well-trained, productive workforce that meets the needs of the State's economy; and (2) help employers and sponsors offset costs, including recruitment, education, training, and accommodations for disabilities or materials, associated with hiring newly registered apprentices. (d) The Department shall administer the Program and establish: (1) requirements for incentive applications; (2) a process for reviewing incentive applications and awarding incentives to eligible employers or sponsors; (3) the maximum award eligibility per newly registered apprentice subject to fund availability; (4) the maximum amount of incentives that an eligible employer or sponsor may receive each year; and (5) a process for monitoring and evaluating outcomes, assessing compliance, and taking corrective action, including requiring reimbursement of incentives, should an employer or sponsor fail to meet the requirements of the Program. (e) (1) There is a Maryland Pay Per Apprentice Program Fund. (2) The purpose of the Fund is to provide incentives under the Program. (3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. (4) (i) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. (ii) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. (5) The Fund consists of: (i) money appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (9) of this subsection; (ii) money collected due to noncompliance with Program requirements; (iii) interest earnings of the Fund; and (iv) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. (6) The Fund may be used only for providing incentives under the Program and administrative expenses related to the Program. (7) (i) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. (ii) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. (8) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. (9) For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation for the Fund. (f) (1) Subject to this subsection, an employer or a sponsor may apply for and be awarded an incentive under the Program. (2) An employer or a sponsor may apply for only one grant for a newly registered apprentice who: (i) has been employed for at least 7 months; and (ii) is within the initial year of employment with the applicant. (3) An employer or a sponsor may be awarded only one grant per each newly registered apprentice per year. (4) An employer or sponsor awarded a grant under the Program shall attest to its intent to retain an apprentice through the duration of the full apprenticeship and after completion of the apprenticeship, unless an apprentice leaves on the apprentice's own accord or has been dismissed for cause. (5) If an incentive is awarded to an employer or a sponsor on behalf of a newly registered apprentice, another employer or sponsor may not apply for an incentive under the Program for the same newly registered apprentice. (g) The Department may adopt regulations to carry out this section.
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