Brooklyn Draisey at The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports legislation to change areas of Department-approved Training and Apprenticeship Programs has moved out of Subcommittee and Committee in the Iowa State Legislature with amendments already established and more, perhaps, to come. Representatives of Builders, Carpenters, Plumbers and more expressed both general support for, and specific concerns with, the legislation during Subcommittee, including Jake Friedrichsen, a Lobbyist for Plumbers and Steam Fitters Local 33, who thanked the Subcommittee for responding to their needs. “Prior to session, we met with you all and talked about three ways we could help recruit and retrain more Apprentices,” Friedrichsen said. “That was increased dollars for Apprenticeships, allow Department-approved training and make it easier for high school graduates to learn about high quality Apprenticeships, and this Bill includes all three of those things.” House Study Bill 674 would make intermediary sponsors, defined as an “entity that provides Apprenticeship training to multiple employers and serves as the sponsor of the Apprentices,” eligible to provide Apprenticeship training, and they have “sole discretion” to approve partner employers. If the Bill is signed into law, State appropriations to the Apprenticeship Training Program Fund would increase from $3 million to $4.5 million.

To Read This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: 'Iowa Skilled Workforce Act' moves through subcommittee and committee • Iowa Capital Dispatch