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An Act To Expand Access to the Workforce through Apprenticeships
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA c. 1-A, sub-c. 4  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 4
EXPANDED WORKFORCE ACCESS ACT
§ 60-P. Short title
This subchapter may be known and cited as "the Expanded Workforce Access Act."
§ 60-Q. Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Applicant.     "Applicant" means an individual who applies to a licensing authority for a license.
 
2.  Apprenticeship.     "Apprenticeship" means a program that meets the federal guidelines set out in 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 29 and 29 United States Code, Section 50.
 
3.  Licensing authority.     "Licensing authority" means:
 
A.  The Board of Licensing of Auctioneers with respect to an application for licensure as an auctioneer under chapter 5-B;
 
B.  The Board of Licensing of Dietetic Practice with respect to an application for licensure as a dietetic technician under chapter 104;
 
C.  The State Board of Veterinary Medicine with respect to an application for licensure as a licensed veterinary technician under chapter 71-A;
 
D.  The Maine Board of Pharmacy with respect to an application for licensure as a pharmacy technician under chapter 117;
 
E.  The Emergency Medical Services Board with respect to an application for licensure as a basic emergency medical technician under chapter 2-B;
 
F.  The Maine Water Well Commission with respect to an application for licensure as a well driller, geothermal heat exchange well driller, geothermal heat exchange well pump installer or pump installer under chapter 69-C; and
 
G.  The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation with respect to an application for licensure under:
 
(1) Chapter 127-A as an athletic trainer;
 
(2) Chapter 126 to practice cosmetology, barbering, limited barbering, nail technology or aesthetics;
 
(3) Chapter 127 as a massage therapist or massage practitioner; and
 
(4) Chapter 22 as a limited interpreter, limited transliterator, limited deaf interpreter, certified interpreter, certified deaf interpreter or certified transliterator.
§ 60-R. Alternative path to licensure through apprenticeship
 
1.  Requirement.     Beginning January 1, 2020, a licensing authority shall grant a license to an applicant who:
 
A.  Successfully completes the 8th grade;
 
B.  Completes an apprenticeship that:
 
(1) Is approved by the Department of Labor or federal Department of Labor or otherwise permitted under state or federal law; and
 
(2) Is completed either at a school that is licensed by the State or by training with a person licensed by the State who holds the license for which the applicant applies; and
 
C.  If an examination is required by the licensing authority, passes the required examination.
 
2.  Examination.     If, in order to grant a license under this Act, a licensing authority requires an applicant to pass an examination, the licensing authority shall establish a passing score for an applicant for licensure under this Act that does not exceed the passing score that is required of a person who applies for that license under another chapter of this Title.
 
A licensing authority may not require an applicant for a license under this Act to pass an examination if the licensing authority does not require an applicant for that license under another chapter of this Title to pass that examination.
 
3.  Rulemaking.     A licensing authority shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this Act. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes an alternative path to licensure through apprenticeship for certain professions. The bill requires that, beginning January 1, 2020, the appropriate licensing authority grant to a person that has successfully completed 8th grade, passed any required examinations and completed an approved apprenticeship a license to practice as:
1. An auctioneer;
2. A dietetic technician;
3. A veterinary technician;
4. A pharmacy technician;
5. A basic emergency medical technician;
6. A well driller, geothermal heat exchange well driller, geothermal heat exchange well pump installer or pump installer;
7. An athletic trainer;
8. A cosmetologist, barber, limited barber, nail technician or aesthetician;
9. A massage therapist or massage practitioner; and
10. A limited interpreter, limited transliterator, limited deaf interpreter, certified interpreter, certified deaf interpreter or certified transliterator.