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Bill wants apprenticeship program at local college
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Posted on Mar 01 2006
The House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require Northern Marianas College to create an apprenticeship program and stop the hiring or renewal of foreign workers who have similar jobs as students certified under the training program.
The lawmakers see the creation of a U.S.-registered apprenticeship program as a “fresh approach” to developing a skilled local workforce and reducing the Commonwealth’s reliance on nonresident workers.
Authored by Rep. Justo Quitugua, House Bill 15-27 would mandate NMC to focus on technical trades.
The proposed legislation seeks to earmark at least $1.5 million of nonresident workers fees solely to the NMC apprenticeship program. It would require the Finance secretary to reserve $75,000 each for the youth employment training programs on Tinian and Rota.
In addition, the bill would earmark $575,000 for the Department of Labor for use in enforcing laws on local worker preference.
According to the bill, U.S. citizens who have finished high school would be given priority in the NMC apprenticeship program. The program’s account would cover all tuition and fees for students who qualify for apprenticeship. Students would also receive a stipend based on funds availability.
Non-U.S. citizens may be enrolled in the program depending on space availability. They would also have to pay full tuition and related fees.
Employers would be required to pay students certified under the apprenticeship program a salary of one dollar above the prevailing minimum wage.
The bill would task the Finance Department to transfer an initial $1.5 million to the NMC apprenticeship account once the program has been established. NMC may use only up to 50 percent of these funds for personnel costs.
Once enacted, H.B. 15-27 would prohibit the Department of Labor from approving new job applications or renewal applications for nonresident workers with similar occupations of students certified under the NMC apprenticeship program.
