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SB 1691

IL WORKS-APPRENTICE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Graciela Guzmán and 4 co-sponsors

Expands and clarifies pathways from high school and community programs into registered construction apprenticeships while boosting funding, oversight, and bid-credit incentives.

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Bill Summary · SB 1691

Bill Summary — SB 1691 (Illinois) — "IL WORKS — APPRENTICE"

Status / procedural history
- Bill number: SB 1691 (104th Illinois General Assembly)
- Introduced: February 5, 2025 by Senator David Koehler. Co‑sponsors added: Sen. Karina Villa (2/26/2025), Sen. Doris Turner (3/4/2025), Sen. Adriane Johnson (3/5/2025). Readings and referrals in February–March 2025 (first read 2/5/2025; referred to Assignments; additional Senate actions noted 2/10–3/11/2025).
- Note: the packet provided included unrelated Arizona draft language for a separate SB 1691; this summary focuses on the Illinois bill amending the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act.

Purpose and intent
SB 1691 amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act to (1) broaden and clarify definitions related to apprenticeships and community-based organizations, (2) change how Illinois Works Fund monies are categorized geographically, (3) add representation to the Illinois Works Review Panel, and (4) refine reporting and program eligibility for the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship and Bid Credit programs. The overall aim is to strengthen pipeline development into registered apprenticeship programs (including high‑school–based pathways) and to direct funding and oversight to better serve underrepresented populations in construction trades.

Key provisions and changes
- Definitions
- Clarifies “apprentice” and “apprenticeship program” to reference programs approved/registered with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
- For bid-credit eligibility, defines an eligible “apprentice” as someone who has completed the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, is working in construction/building trades, and has Department‑approved certification showing anticipated entry into a registered apprenticeship within 12 months of completing preapprenticeship.
- Expands “community‑based organization” to explicitly include high‑school–based programs and specifies qualifying criteria (serving underrepresented populations; knowledge of construction trades; ability to recruit/prescreen/provide preapprenticeship training and employment pathways; and a plan to provide preparatory classes, workplace‑readiness, barrier‑reduction strategies, and prerequisites for apprenticeship entry).
- Clarifies “labor hours” (includes contractor/subcontractor hourly workers; excludes certain supervisory/owner hours) and reaffirms that “underrepresented populations” include minorities, women, and veterans.

  • Illinois Works Fund and funding allocation

    • Requires Illinois Works Fund allocations to be categorized by Illinois Department of Transportation regions (text lists Regions 1, 3, 4, and 5).
    • Retains/clarifies prior transfer authority (historical transfer of up to $50 million from Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund).
    • Adds an ongoing transfer mechanism: beginning July 1, 2024 and each July 1 thereafter, the State Comptroller shall direct a transfer of $20,000,000 from the Capital Projects Fund to the Illinois Works Fund (or as soon thereafter as practical).

  • Program administration and reporting

    • Confirms the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program and the Illinois Works Bid Credit Program (bid credits create virtual dollars contractors/subcontractors can use toward future state public works bids).
    • Requires each community‑based organization receiving Illinois Works Fund money to submit an annual report to the Illinois Works Review Panel by April 1 detailing outreach/activities and participant data (recruitment, screening, completion, and placements broken out by race, gender, age, and veteran status, plus number placed into construction apprenticeship programs).

  • Governance/oversight

    • Adds one member to the Illinois Works Review Panel: a representative of a community‑based organization that addresses high‑school–based workforce programs.

Who is affected
- Community‑based organizations (including high‑school–based programs) seeking Illinois Works funding and participating in preapprenticeship delivery.
- Individuals in preapprenticeship programs and those transitioning into registered apprenticeships (eligibility for bid credits tied to completion and certification).
- Contractors and subcontractors bidding on state public works projects (participation incentives through bid credits and requirements tied to workforce participation of underrepresented groups).
- Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (program administration and oversight).
- Illinois Works Review Panel (additional member and expanded reporting to review).

Potential impacts
- Strengthens high‑school and community routes into registered apprenticeships and clarifies eligibility for bid credit incentives, potentially increasing the pipeline from diverse and younger candidate pools into construction trades.
- Directs and stabilizes funding by region and via an annual $20 million transfer mechanism (beginning July 1, 2024), increasing predictable resources for preapprenticeship providers.
- Improves transparency and accountability through annual reporting and expanded panel representation focused on high‑school workforce programs.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current law vs. changes in SB 1691, or
- Extract the exact text changes for each amended statutory subsection.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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