
Senate Bill 191:
An Act Concerning The Department Of Consumer Protection And Occupational Licensing, would phase out licenses and fees that don’t have educational or professional prerequisites.
For some licenses,
Sen. Linares said, “the only thing required to receive the license is to
pay a fee to the state. This essentially amounts to another tax on
business, particularly small businesses. For some
individuals, this tax keeps them from
participating in an occupation
for which they could create a successful business.”
Eliminating the
license requirement for non-certificate professions would give
businesses additional capital that could be put back into the business,
Sen. Linares said. It could also open professions to individuals
who might create a successful business, but cannot afford the license
fee.
Sen. Linares also spoke in favor of
Senate Bill 353: An Act Concerning Allowable Hiring Ratios Regarding Apprentices, Journeymen And Contractors. The bill would increase the number of apprentices that could be trained by a contractor or journeyman.
Apprenticeships, he said, offer one of the most effective ways for the state to address the skills gap for workers and business.
“Current state rules
on the ratio of how many apprentices can be trained by a journeyman or
contractor stifle the system,” Sen. Linares said. “Businesses cannot
hire the number of apprentices they might like
to train and young people seeking employment and eager to learn a trade
are turned away.”
State law requires
the number of contractors or journeymen conducting training to equal or
exceed the number of apprentices being trained. At one of the more
extreme ends, the law requires 26 journeymen to
train 10 apprentices.
Sen. Linares said he
believes apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to provide
business with the skilled workforce it needs while providing workers
with the training that will lead to meaningful
employment.
“I hope both SB 191
and SB 353 will be moved favorably out of this committee,” Sen Linares
said. “I look forward to voting on them in the Senate.”
Sen. Linares’ proposal,
Senate Bill 422: An Act Concerning The Creation Of An Apprenticeship Program For Identified Job Growth Industries
is scheduled for a public hearing before the legislature’s Higher
Education and Employment Committee later in the month. The purpose
of the bill is to create a private-public partnership apprenticeship
program for industries displaying job growth potential.
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