Apprenticeship: preapprenticeship programs for women.

Existing law provides for the establishment of apprenticeship programs in various trades, to be approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations in any trade in the state or in a city or trade area whenever the apprentice training needs justify the establishment. This bill would require the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to develop curricula for, and to provide certification for, preapprenticeship programs for women in the construction trades, to be regulated under these provisions. The bill would establish criteria for the selection of persons or organizations to administer the preapprenticeship programs and would provide the requirements for a preapprenticeship program to seek reimbursement of its expenses for providing its services. The bill would make a one-time appropriation of $500,000 from the General Fund to the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to develop a curriculum and certification process for these preapprenticeship programs. The bill would provide that the funding of the operation of the programs would be upon further appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would make legislative findings in support of these provisions.