Division of Apprenticeship Standards
Annual Report - 1995


CALIFORNIA APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL

Created by the Shelley-Maloney Act, the California Apprenticeship Council (CAC) is composed of six representatives from management and six from labor, two public representatives (all 14 are appointed by the Governor), the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) functions as Administrator of Apprenticeship and also is a member of the CAC. The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges are ex-officio members. The Chair of the CAC is elected by the members of the Council. In addition, the Chief, DAS, by law acts as Secretary of the CAC.

The CAC advises the DIR Director who by law is the Administrator of Apprenticeship, in the administration of California's apprenticeship programs. The principal functions of the CAC are to: (1) establish "apprenticeship" standards, including minimum wages, maximum hours and working conditions for apprentice agreements; (2) issue rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the intent of the law; (3) foster, promote and develop the welfare of the apprentice and industry, improve the working conditions of apprentices and advance their opportunities for profitable employment; (4) insure that selection procedures are impartially administered to all applicants; and (5) appellant body in matters of apprentice agreement disputes, new apprenticeship standards approval, and apprenticeship program administration.

In the later part of 1994, the CAC adopted proposed changes to its regulations, Title 8, Chapter 2, Part 1, California Code of Regulations (CCR) sections 208, Wages, Employee Benefits, and Other Compensation for Apprentices; 212, Content of Apprenticeship Program Standards; 212.2, Eligibility and Procedure for DAS approval of an Apprenticeship Program; and 212.4, Deregistration of Programs. The regulatory action was filed with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), however OAL disapproved the CAC's initial submission. The CAC during the first half of 1995 took action to correct the deficiencies pointed out by OAL and refiled its regulatory action on July 25, 1995. The OAL approved the CAC's regulatory action on September 6, 1995 and the regulation amendments became effective on October 6, 1995.

Additionally, the CAC in December 1995 adopted proposed additions to its regulations, Title 8, Chapter 2, Part 1, CCR sections 212.01, Industry Training Criteria, and 212.3, Apprenticeship Program Self-Evaluation and Monitoring. These proposed regulation adoptions were noticed to OAL and published on December 8, 1995 in the Notice Register. It is anticipated that these new CAC regulation sections will be finalized in 1996.

New apprenticeship program standards approved by the Chief, DAS, in 1995, and appealed to the CAC during 1995 were the: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Golden Gate Chapter, Painting program; ABC, Golden Gate Chapter, Carpentry program; ABC, San Diego, Sheet Metal Program; Beutler Heating & Air Conditioning Residential Sheet Metal program; ABC, Golden Gate Chapter, Plumbers program; and Associated General Contractors AGC), San Diego, Painter and Drywall Finisher program. The CAC affirmed the approval of all of the programs, however in some cases final approval was contingent upon the applicants submittal of some modifications to their submitted standards.

In addition, the CAC had two Determinations issued by the Administrator of Apprenticeship on matters of individual apprenticeship agreement disputes. The CAC upheld in both cases the Administrator of Apprenticeship's Determination.

One of major issue addressed in 1994 by the CAC's Blue Ribbon Committee on Quality Standards was establishing acceptable minimum state and industry training standards that also ensures the welfare of apprentices. The Committee, in April of 1995, had recommended to the CAC that approval be given to pilot an initial industry group to attempt to establish a minimum industry training criteria utilizing the provisions of the CAC's new proposed regulation and that consideration be given to the Sheet Metal Industry group that had volunteered to be the first. The CAC concurred and in June of 1995 the CAC Chair appointed the members of a Sheet Metal Industry Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee was composed of signatory and non-signatory sheet metal employers, non-signatory management association, labor representatives and apprenticeship coordinators/training directors of joint and unilateral employer sheet metal worker programs. The Advisory Committee after extensive meetings agreed to a set of minimum industry training standards for the occupation of sheet metal worker which was presented to the CAC at the end of the year. The CAC accepted the Sheet Metal Industry Advisory Committee's submittal and agreed to take formal adoption action, if the CAC's regulation section 212.01, Industry Training Criteria, is approved by the Office of Administrative Law.

In concurrence with the DAS Chief's recommendation the CAC established a School to Career/Apprenticeship Ad Hoc Committee on July 15, 1995 to create skilled training opportunities for high school students, by offering apprenticeship as another option for students to transition from school to careers. The Ad Hoc Committee has been meeting quarterly to discuss issues and develop a plan that will enable students to begin their apprenticeship while still in high school. Some of the issues identified and discussed included the development of a mission statement; establishment of several pilots; developing promotional material; identifying legislative needs; developing one or more models; securing industry involvement and support from the existing apprenticeship community; gaining educators and parental support; workers compensation; safety; integration of academic curriculum with technical/vocational area of study.

The CAC also in 1995 had forum sessions on the Federal Perspective on School-to-Work and on California's School to Career Plan, as well as presentations on the status of the Youth Apprenticeship Program; existing apprenticeship program sponsors' involvement with local school to career programs; and federal school-to-work grant programs in California.


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