AB 235 Summary

• Establishes the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship to advise on apprenticeship programs and standards outside building and construction trades, with six appointed members plus ex officio representatives from state agencies.

• Transfers authority over non-building and non-firefighter apprenticeship programs from the California Apprenticeship Council to the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, while maintaining Council authority over building trades and firefighter programs.

• Requires the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to develop and implement a preapprenticeship program approval process by January 1, 2019, with standards for curriculum, recruitment, and partnerships with registered apprenticeship programs.

• Allows apprenticeship terms to be measured by hours completed (2,000 hours on-the-job plus 144 hours instruction), competency demonstration, or a hybrid approach, except building trades and firefighter programs must use the time-based approach.

• Expands the crime of willful discrimination in apprenticeship programs to include preapprenticeship programs and establishes penalties of up to $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment.