Lawmakers Approve Apprenticeship Hiring Reforms

Connecticut’s state House unanimously approved apprenticeship hiring reforms for the skilled trades May 28.

House passage of HB 1465 followed the Senate’s unanimous approval two weeks earlier.

The bill allows skilled trades companies held to the 3:1 apprenticeship hiring ratio to apply for an exemption from the Department of Consumer Protection.

Current law in Connecticut mandates a 1:1 jobsite ratio, requiring one journeyperson or contractor on-site for each apprentice across the vast majority of registered apprenticeship trades. 

However, the electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, piping and sheet metal occupations are held to a 3:1 ratio, severely limiting their ability to expand their workforce, and in turn support the state’s housing, infrastructure, and electric grid improvement needs.

Needed Reforms

The reform measure follows several years of efforts by the skilled trades industry to overhaul the burdensome ratio. 

The original concept, introduced in the Commerce Committee by Rep. Jill Barry (D-Glastonbury) and sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, received overwhelming support from businesses, apprentices and aspiring apprentices, journeymen, parents, legislators, and construction groups.

The reform measure follows several years of efforts by the skilled trades industry to overhaul the burdensome ratio. 

Barry and Rep. Tim Ackert (R-Coventry), a small electrical company business owner, testified in support of the bill. 

Organizations such as CBIA, Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut, Independent Electrical Contractors of New England, Connecticut Heating and Cooling Contractors Association, and Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut testified in support of the bill.

Rep. Stephen Meskers (D-Greenwich) and Sen. Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) took a lead role in drafting the initial legislation, focusing on ensuring the adjustment to the apprenticeship hiring ratio was grounded in safety and through data-driven analysis.

Waiver Process

The General Law Committee also released similar legislation, with Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Branford) leading a bipartisan support for the SB 1465, which was approved unanimously.

Based on the bill, contractors can submit a waiver to DCP that provides basic entity information and proof of the need to hire additional apprentices.

DCP is then required to respond to the request to grant the contractor the ability to hire additional apprentices within 10 days.

“Reforming the existing apprenticeship hiring ratio was one of the business community’s top priorities.”

CBIA’s Paul Amarone

“Reforming the existing apprenticeship hiring ratio was one of the business community’s top priorities heading into the legislative session,” said CBIA’s Paul Amarone.

“Legislators from both sides of the aisle, notably Rep. Tim Ackert, Rep. Jill Barry, Rep. Stephen Meskers, Sen. Joan Hartley, and Sen. Paul Cicarella played a key role in listening to the concerns of small construction businesses and addressing them head on.

“We look forward to the Governor signing the bill into law and providing more opportunities for growth for hundreds of small businesses.”

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Paul Amarone (860.244.1978)