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Legislation Document
SPONSOR:
Rep. Berry & Sen. Sturgeon
Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Snyder-Hall, Lambert; Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Pinkney, Mantzavinos
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 432
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DELAWARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Part I, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
Chapter 46A. Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program
§ 4601A. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Applicant” means any school district, public school, or institute of higher education acting independently, or as part of a consortium with other school districts or public schools.
(2) “Healthcare facility” means an establishment that provides medical or health-related services to the public, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and specialized care centers.
(3) “Public school” means any school that is part of a reorganized school district, a vocational school, or a charter school established under Chapter 5 of this title.
§ 4602A. Establishment; statement of purpose.
(a) The Department of Labor, in partnership with the Department of Education, shall create and administer the Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program. Under this program, school districts and charter schools will place participants into clinical placements in healthcare facilities, alongside healthcare mentors, while the participants complete training and health courses to become a credentialed Delaware nurse, certified nursing assistant, or other healthcare role.
(b) The purpose of this program is to support the growing healthcare workforce demand and increase the pipeline of qualified healthcare professionals for our public schools by utilizing an apprenticeship model for training.
(c) In selecting applicants for this program, the Department shall consider all of the following:
(1) An applicant’s demonstrated interest and commitment to helping students secure a long-term career within the healthcare sector.
(2) An applicant’s established and proposed partnerships with other institutions and programs.
(3) An applicant’s commitment to diversifying the workforce and supporting underrepresented populations.
(4) An applicant’s commitment to providing on-the-job training, competitive wages and benefits, and long-term hiring opportunities to program participants.
(5) An applicant’s commitment to new healthcare professional mentoring programs, including mentor training and support programs.
(6) An applicant’s ability to meet the physical and technical standards required for the healthcare discipline.
(d) The Department of Labor shall explore and may include the following elements in the design of the Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program:
(1) Technical assistance services to be provided by programs with expertise in the apprenticeship model.
(2) National credentials that may be available for healthcare apprentice programs.
(3) Tax credits available to program participants.
(4) Federal and state funding available for training and educating healthcare mentors and apprentices.
(5) Additional incentives for recruiting program participants.
(e) The Department of Education shall align registered apprenticeship training and instruction under this chapter around existing high school career pathways and articulated credit structures, allowing participants to earn postsecondary credit for skills completed through the program.
(f) The Department of Labor shall engage with Delaware Health and Social Services and Delaware Human Resources to develop further apprenticeship programs that meet the needs of the State workforce, public, and private healthcare needs.
§ 4603A. Rules and regulations.
The Department of Labor shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations as will be necessary for the implementation of the Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program authorized by this chapter.
Section 2.
The Department of Labor shall consult with public and private stakeholders to make recommendations about degreed apprenticeship programs beyond healthcare. The Department of Labor must prepare a report of its findings under this section. The Department shall submit the report to the Governor, the Director and Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services, and the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives for distribution to all members of the General Assembly not later than May 1, 2027.
SYNOPSIS
This Act establishes a Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program to be developed by the Department of Labor in partnership with the Department of Eduation. The Departments will work together to create a program that places aspiring healthcare professionals in paid positions in healthcare facilities, while the prospective healthcare applicants complete the training and schooling necessary to become a credentialed healthcare professional. This program will complement the Educator Program to create a low-cost pathway for aspiring healthcare applicants to earn their credits and gain training.
Additionally, this Act directs the Department of Labor to engage with Delaware Health and Social Services and Delaware Human Resources to develop future apprenticeship programs to meet the needs of workforces across the State.
This Act also provides that the Department of Labor is to consult with stakeholders to make recommendations for other degreed apprenticeship programs beyond healthcare and that the Department must prepare a report of its findings and submit it to the Governor, General Assembly, and the Division of Legislative Services by May 1, 2027.