Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.

The program's target population was narrowed from 'in-school and out-of-school individuals from 16 to 24 years of age' to specifically 'high school students' (grades 10-12 per the new definitions). The out-of-school youth focus was removed from the core program purposes.

New regulatory authority allows the Chief to adopt rules prioritizing outreach, recruitment, retention, and support for youth facing barriers including foster youth, justice-impacted youth, youth experiencing homelessness, youth from low-income households, and youth in communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.

A new Section 3140 defines four key terms: 'Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program' (a program within a state-approved apprenticeship for grades 10-12 students gaining paid work experience through a CTE pathway), 'student apprentice' (at least 16, full-time in grade 10-12, in a youth apprenticeship program), 'work experience education' (combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction), and 'youth apprenticeship program' (approved by the chief, serves ages 16-24, offers school-based CTE instruction, complies with minor labor laws, offers flexible hours and part-time employment).

New Section 3142 establishes specific program requirements: minimum 300 hours of paid on-the-job training through work experience education, minimum 144 hours of occupation-specific apprenticeship-related instruction as part of a CTE pathway, guaranteed entry and advanced standing in a state-approved apprenticeship program upon completion, and at least one college enrollment course for early college credits where possible.

The purpose of establishing a 'streamlined youth apprenticeship data system to promote data-driven decisionmaking' was removed from the program's stated purposes.

A new approval process requires the Chief to present applications to the State Department of Education for review. The SDE must provide written confirmation that requirements are met before the Chief can approve a program. The Chief may also require additional documentation, impose other requirements, suspend or revoke program approval, and issue rules and regulations governing programs.

The requirement to develop and maintain a public dashboard on the division's website by January 1, 2030 was replaced with a requirement to submit annual reports to the Legislature on program outcomes starting January 1, 2030.

New requirement for the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to submit an annual report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2030 and every year after that, covering program outcomes including number of enrollees, completion rates, college enrollment rates, and the number of graduates who continue into a registered apprenticeship program.

The program's stated purpose now explicitly includes 'high school students' in addition to the existing 16-to-24 age range language, clarifying that high school students are a target population.

The fast-track approval process requirement now specifically references 'industry pathways for preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs,' making the scope of what must be approved more explicit.

The bill was renumbered from adding Article 7 (starting at Section 3130) to adding Article 8 (starting at Section 3140) in Chapter 4 of Division 3 of the Labor Code, likely to avoid a codification conflict with another bill.

Subdivision lettering in Section 3140 was cleaned up to remove duplicate letters that appeared in the Assembly version.

The bill text was reformatted from a traditional legislative document with line numbers and page headers into a web-based layout that includes site navigation (home, accessibility, FAQ, search, etc.) and a different visual structure. No changes to the actual legal content were made.

The entire postsecondary education component was deleted. The bill no longer states legislative intent to enact future legislation on college and career programs, and all references to the California Community Colleges, CSU, UC, independent institutions, and private postsecondary educational institutions as segments of postsecondary education were removed.

The Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program was renumbered from Article 7 (Section 3130) to Article 8 (Section 3140), indicating it now follows another article already in the Labor Code.

Two new program purposes were added: a process for approving industry pathways for preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for individuals beginning in high school and connecting with college-level apprenticeships, and a process for approving industry pathways for apprenticeship programs for individuals in adult education programs.

A new Section 3141 was added requiring the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to: (a) work with the State Department of Education and the CCC Chancellor's office to develop program parameters and guidelines; (b) identify county and regional intermediaries such as county offices of education, community organizations, and industry sector partners; (c) adopt regulations for a fast-track approval process for the new youth pathways; (d) submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2028 identifying barriers to employer participation; and (e) develop and maintain a public dashboard by January 1, 2030 tracking participant outcomes.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now carries identifiable state fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee review.

Added Article 7 (Section 3130) to Chapter 4 of Division 3 of the Labor Code, expanding the bill's scope from postsecondary education intent to creating a new apprenticeship program in labor law.

Established the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program to be administered by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards with six specific purposes including coordinating apprenticeships for ages 16-24, approving industry pathways, providing paid training to out-of-school youth, creating a data system, identifying resources, and forming partnerships between educational agencies and employers.

Defined the target population as in-school and out-of-school individuals from 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive, with specific provisions for paid training and supportive services for out-of-school youth.

Changed the fiscal committee designation from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now carries state fiscal implications due to the new program establishment.