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S 1303

Relates to designating, as peace officers, public safety officers of the Chautauqua Institution within the grounds of and properties owned by the Chautauqua Institution

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 1 co-sponsor

Public projects over $1M must allocate a growing share of hours to apprentices: 5% at 6 months, 10% at 1 year, 15% at 2 years; affects contractors and approved programs.

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Bill Summary · S 1303

Summary — S 1303 (2025): Apprenticeship requirements on projects over $1 million

Bill number: S 1303
Title (from text): An Act providing opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensuring for a skilled workforce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Introduced: January 8, 2025 (filed); Presented by Sen. Lydia Edwards
Committee status / actions: Read twice and referred to Committee on Rules and Administration (04/03/2025); referred to Labor & Workforce Development (02/27/2025); hearing scheduled 06/10/2025 (11:00 AM–1:00 PM, B‑1). (See timeline below for all listed actions.)

Purpose / intent

To expand on-the-job training opportunities for apprentices and strengthen the skilled trades pipeline in Massachusetts by requiring a minimum share of labor hours on qualifying projects to be performed by apprentices enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs.

Key provisions

  • Amends three statutory locations to add the same apprenticeship requirement:
    • Chapter 149, Section 26 (public works / building contracts)
    • Chapter 149A, Section 6 (public construction procurement)
    • Chapter 30, Section 39M (procurement for certain public building projects)
  • Applicability: projects with a total cost over $1,000,000 where employees are paid hourly wages and subject to the prevailing wage (i.e., prevailing‑wage public projects).
  • Apprenticeship requirement (phased in after enactment):
    • 6 months after passage: apprentices must perform 5% of total hourly trade hours (by trade) on the project.
    • 1 year after passage: 10% of total hourly trade hours.
    • 2 years after passage: 15% of total hourly trade hours.
  • Apprentices must be enrolled in “bona fide” apprentice training programs as defined in sections 11H and 11I of Chapter 23 and approved by the Division of Apprentice Training within the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development.
  • Requirements must also comply with apprentice-to-journeyperson ratios set by applicable trades license boards.

Who is affected

  • Contractors and subcontractors working on qualifying public projects (>$1M) who hire hourly tradespeople and are subject to prevailing wage laws.
  • Registered apprenticeship programs and apprentices seeking on‑site hours and completion opportunities.
  • State agencies and divisions responsible for apprenticeship approval and enforcement (Division of Apprentice Training, procurement/oversight agencies).
  • Trades license boards (for ratio compliance).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Likely increases demand for apprentices and expands training opportunities on public projects, supporting long‑term workforce development.
  • May raise compliance and administrative requirements for contractors (tracking apprentice hours by trade, ensuring program approval).
  • Potential short‑term cost or bidding effects if contractors must restructure crews or increase training capacity; could also incentivize hiring and program growth.
  • Enforcement mechanisms, penalties, and reporting requirements are not detailed in the text provided and would affect practical implementation.

Legislative timeline (selected)

  • Filed: 01/08/2025 (Senate Docket No. 150)
  • Read twice and referred to Committee on Rules and Administration: 04/03/2025
  • Hearing scheduled: 06/10/2025, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM, B‑1 (Other listed actions in the source include referral to Labor & Workforce Development and various concurrence/committee notes.)

Sponsors and related measures

  • Sponsors (as listed in the provided materials): Lydia Edwards (presenter) and a list of petitioners; additional named sponsors/cosponsors in the provided data include several federal senators and state legislators (see record).
  • Related/companion bills listed: HR 1329 (companion), A 4646 (companion), SD 150 (replaces), prior-session bills S 7283, S 421, S 385.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a plain‑language one‑page explainer for contractors and apprenticeship programs on compliance steps; or
- Identify likely implementation questions (reporting, monitoring, exemptions) that a committee might ask.

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

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