102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5225

 

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act. Provides that the Department of Labor shall develop a 5 year Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program. Specifies that the Pilot Program shall provide transportation assistance and a child care subsidy to eligible individuals participating in a qualified apprenticeship. Provides that no later than January 1, 2028, the Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report that evaluates the results of the Pilot Program and its effectiveness in assisting Program participants in entering the workforce or in obtaining better employment. Provides for the adoption of rules. Repeals Act on January 1, 2029.


LRB102 25500 SPS 34788 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5225LRB102 25500 SPS 34788 b

1    AN ACT concerning employment.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of the Apprentice
7Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program is to address
8significant barriers to individuals participating in
9apprenticeships, including lack of affordable and reliable
10transportation and lack of affordable, high-quality childcare,
11by providing subsidies to eligible individuals participating
12in apprenticeships.
 
13    Section 10. Apprentice Assistance and Support Services
14Pilot Program.
15    (a) The Department of Labor shall develop a 5 year
16Apprentice Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program. To
17be eligible for the Pilot Program, an individual is required
18to participate in an apprenticeship program accredited and
19approved by the United States Department of Labor.
20    (b) The assistance provided by the Pilot Program shall be
21as follows:
22        (1) Transportation assistance. Subject to

 

 

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1    appropriation, if an individual travels 5 miles or more to
2    a job site for work or to a classroom for apprenticeship
3    training, the individual is eligible to receive mileage
4    reimbursement at 50% of the current federal rate, or
5    reimbursement of documented expenditures on public
6    transportation, up to $500 per individual per year.
7        (2) Child care subsidy. Subject to appropriation, if
8    an individual participating in the Pilot Program enters
9    into a qualified apprenticeship in accordance with
10    subsection (a), the individual shall be eligible for a
11    child care subsidy. In order for an individual to be
12    eligible for a child care subsidy, the child must be
13    entered into a child care program licensed by the State.
14    The subsidy provided shall be as follows:
15            (A) up to $10,000 for child care paid during the
16        first year following the individual's date of
17        apprentice registration and dispatch;
18            (B) up to $7,500 for child care paid during the
19        second year following the individual's date of
20        apprentice registration and dispatch; and
21            (C) up to $5,000 for child care paid during the
22        third year following the individual's date of
23        apprentice registration and dispatch.
24    (c) To receive transportation assistance in accordance
25with paragraph (1) of subsection (b), an individual shall
26apply to the Department of Labor for reimbursement for travel

 

 

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1expenses related to the individual's apprenticeship. As part
2of the individual's application, the individual is required to
3provide documentation that the apprenticeship in which the
4individual is participating is accredited and approved by the
5United States Department of Labor.
6    (d) To receive a child care subsidy in accordance with
7paragraph (2) of subsection (b), an individual shall apply to
8the Department of Labor for child care costs incurred as a
9result of the individual's commitment to the apprenticeship.
10As part of the individual's application, the individual is
11required to provide documentation that the apprenticeship in
12which the individual is participating is accredited and
13approved by the United States Department of Labor. An
14individual shall also provide documentation of the costs of
15child care, which shall include documentation that the child
16care is utilized during the days and times in which the
17individual is participating in the apprenticeship.
18    (e) In determinations of which eligible apprentices are to
19receive assistance under the Pilot Program, priority shall be
20given to apprentices who:
21        (1) belong to a group that, based on their race,
22    color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
23    disability, or age, is underrepresented in the career
24    field of the apprenticeship;
25        (2) are displaced workers;
26        (3) were previously incarcerated, or

 

 

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1        (4) are veterans.
 
2    Section 15. Report. No later than January 1, 2028, the
3Department of Labor shall submit to the Governor and the
4General Assembly a report that evaluates the results of the
5Pilot Program and its effectiveness in assisting Program
6participants in entering the workforce or in obtaining better
7employment. The report shall include a recommendation
8regarding whether to renew the Pilot Program, and if renewal
9is recommended, if the Pilot Program should be expanded or
10otherwise enhanced.
 
11    Section 20. Rules. The Department shall adopt all rules
12necessary for the implementation of the Program created under
13this Act.
 
14    Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1,
152029.