SB 1310 Summary

• Establishes an agricultural workforce development program administered by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office to provide reimbursement to food-producing agricultural organizations for apprenticeship costs.

• Requires participating organizations to pay apprentices at least Arizona's state minimum wage and prioritizes organizations owned by farmers and ranchers in rural, tribal, or historically underserved areas.

• Appropriates $500,000 annually from the state general fund to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office to implement the program, with up to 10 percent available for administrative costs.

• Directs the Cooperative Extension Office to adopt rules establishing organization qualifications, apprentice selection criteria, reimbursement processes, and accounting requirements for tracking apprenticeship costs.

• Requires annual reporting to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives on the program's effectiveness by December 1 each year.