1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session House Bill 3181 Sponsored by Representatives SOSA, MCLAIN; Representatives ANDERSEN, FRAGALA, MCDONALD, NELSON, PHAM H, WALTERS, Senator PHAM K (Presession filed.) SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: The Act creates the Task Force on Youth Apprenticeship. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it.(Flesch Readability Score: 80.2). Establishes the Task Force on Youth Apprenticeship. Requires the task force to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to business and labor not later than December 1, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027. Declares an emergency, effective on passage. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to a task force on youth apprenticeships; and declaring an emergency. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. (1) The Task Force on Youth Apprenticeship is established. (2) The task force consists of 13 members appointed as follows: (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from among the members of the Senate, including one member from the majority party and one member from the mi- norityparty. (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from among members of the House of Representatives, including one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party. (c) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, shall appoint the following nine members: (A) A representative of the Bureau of Labor and Industries; (B) A representative of the Department of Education; (C) A representative of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission; (D) A representative of employer interests; (E) A representative of labor interests; (F) A student who has participated in a youth apprenticeship program; (G) A representative of an organization that supports the interests of youth and young adults; (H) A representative with experience and involvement in workforce development initi- atives;and (I) A social services representative. (3) The task force shall perform a comprehensive study of youth apprenticeship programs in the United States including the youth workforce development activities and investments occurring in this state. NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted. New sections are in boldfaced type. LC 3155 HB3181 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 (4) At a minimum, the task force shall examine: (a) Inefficiencies and barriers within the existing youth apprenticeship system that in- hibit accessibility, transferability and implementation of youth apprenticeship programs across high schools and post-secondary institutions; (b) Processes for developing consistent criteria and standards for youth apprenticeship programs; (c) Best practices for approving youth apprenticeship programs; (d) A youth apprenticeship system that provides flexibility in the administration of adult apprenticeship programs designed to include adults 18 to 24 years of age and youth appren- ticeship programs designed for high school students and students in post-secondary insti- tutions,including: (A) Ways to increase coordination across those programs; and (B) Flexible options to obtain industry-recognized credentials for students who enter into a youth apprenticeship program during high school but who will not complete the program before the student’s expected high school graduation date; (e) The methods used to measure the terms of apprenticeship, including: (A) Time-based approaches that require a specified minimum number of hours of on- the-joblearning; (B) Competency-based approaches that measure skill acquisition through an apprentice’s successful demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge; and (C) Hybrid approaches that combine the time-based and competency-based approaches; (f) How best to increase coordination between state agencies that support youth appren- ticeship program initiatives to maximize participation in such programs and promote full access to the services and benefits made available through such programs; (g) Potential funding sources for supporting youth apprenticeship programs, including existing funding sources that may be leveraged to provide such support; and (h) Available funding streams for businesses that may be used to reduce barriers to participation in youth apprenticeship programs. (5) A majority of the voting members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the task force. (7) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select one member of the task force to serve as chairperson and another to serve as vice chairperson, with the duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of the offices as the President and the Speaker determine. (8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint- ment to become immediately effective. (9) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting members of the task force. (10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force. (11) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to business and labor no later than December 1, 2026. The report must in- clude: [2] HB3181 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (a) An evaluation and findings from the study described under this section regarding youth apprenticeship programs in other states and regions that could serve as a model for youth apprenticeship programs in this state. (b) Recommendations for addressing barriers to implementing a robust youth appren- ticeship system in this state, including any recommendations for changes to statutes, ad- ministrative rules and education and outreach efforts. (c) Identified best practices for administering youth apprenticeship programs. (d) An assessment of the feasibility of establishing a youth apprenticeship framework that is capable of being implemented on a statewide basis. (12)(a) The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall provide staff support to the taskforce. (b) The director may contract with a third party to assist the task force in conducting the study described under this section. (13) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the task force are nonvoting members of the task force and may act in an advisory capacity only. (14) Members of the task force are entitled to compensation or reimbursement for ex- penses as provided in ORS 292.495. (15) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance of the duties of the task force and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027. SECTION 3.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect on its passage. [3]