91视频

There’s no end in sight to the shortage of skilled tradespeople in the construction industry. That, in short, is motivating supporters of Senate Bill 82 in the Oregon Legislature‘s 2019 session. It would direct the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to establish a new program that would provide supportive services for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs throughout the state. The program would be funded by a pass-through fee attached to certain public works projects subject to prevailing wage rates.

Kelly Kupcak, executive director of Oregon Tradeswomen Inc., worked with representatives of other pre-apprentice groups to help craft the bill. While with the Chicago Women in Trades, Kupcak in 2006 helped push for the passage of similar legislation supporting pre-apprenticeships for women and other disadvantaged groups by linking funding for training in a larger infrastructure bill.

鈥淚n Illinois they were able to get enough support from the state Legislature and governor’s office to institute a set-aside from capital improvement projects for pre-apprenticeships,鈥� Kupcak said. 鈥淭here is this ongoing demand for skilled labor, and report after report that says we can’t meet that demand.鈥�

In some ways, SB 82 is quite similar to the Illinois model. But SB 82 also offers a wide range of support for people receiving training. This includes assistance with the cost of transportation, lodging, child care, job supplies and equipment, and even housing stabilization services.

鈥淲e had suggested this is an opportunity to have an assurance of a pool of dollars that would ebb and flow based on demand,鈥� Kupcak said. 鈥淚f the state has a lot of capital projects on the books, there is an obvious need and a funding stream to get them in. In a lot of ways the model is simple, but it makes sense.鈥�

Money from the pass-through fee would go into a new State Apprenticeship and Training Supportive Services Fund. From there, money would be disbursed to qualifying pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.

The legislation also calls for establishment of new standards for approving so-called 鈥渜ualified鈥� programs.

While there would be no year-to-year guarantee of funding, the program would funnel more money into training programs at times when demand for construction workers peaks.

John Rakowitz, director of public and strategic affairs for the Associated General Contractors’ Oregon-Columbia chapter, told the 91视频 he has not yet reviewed SB 82. But he noted that given AGC‘s obvious support for workforce development, it’s likely the organization would back that bill. He added that it is just as important for the Legislature to fully fund the high school career and technical education programs that were brought to life by the passage in 2016 of Measure 98.

鈥淲e’ve been at the forefront of advocating for career technical education, and we supported Ballot Measure 98 for that reason,鈥� Rakowitz said. 鈥淎nd we want Measure 98 to be fully funded; that’s where our focus has been.鈥�

Shawn Miller, a lobbyist for Associated Builders and Contractors’ Pacific Northwest chapter, shared similar sentiments.

鈥淲e’re very supportive of apprenticeships and legislation that will increase workforce development and getting folks into the trades,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淪o, generally we’ll be supportive of a lot of those bills and support the Legislature. We can’t comment on specific bills, as we haven’t got all the positions down, and there may be another 1,000 bills introduced. There will be a lot of bills surrounding the construction industry.鈥�

SB 82 was introduced for a first reading Jan. 14 and referred to the Senate president’s desk. The following day, the bill was referred to the Senate Workforce Committee, where it awaits a hearing.

鈥淚’m excited about it,鈥� Kupcak said. 鈥淲e’ll be reaching out to legislators in the coming months to say, 鈥楬ey, here’s the impact this investment can mean for the state.’鈥�