Changes apprentice rules on public works projects

Existing law requires payment of the general prevailing rate of per diem wages be paid to workers employed on public works, except as specified, and generally requires a contractor or subcontractor to be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations to be qualified to bid on, to be listed in a bid proposal, or to engage in the performance of any public work contract. Existing law authorizes the department to adopt rules and regulations for this purpose.

Existing law requires contractors on public works projects to comply with various requirements for employing apprentices. Among other things, existing law requires contractors to pay the prevailing rate of per diem wages for apprentices in the trade to which the apprentice is registered and to employ apprentices only at the work of the craft or trade to which the apprentice is registered, as specified.

This bill would authorize every apprentice to perform any of the tasks or duties of a journeyperson of the same craft or trade in accordance with the scope of work for the craft or trade established by the Director of Industrial Relations.

Existing law also requires contractors on public works projects that employ workers in an apprenticeable craft or trade to employ apprentices in a specified ratio. Existing law defines “apprenticeable craft or trade” for this purpose to mean a craft or trade determined as an apprenticeable occupation in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the California Apprenticeship Council.

This bill would, instead, define “apprenticeable craft or trade” to mean a craft or trade as determined by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to existing public works law that is identified as an apprenticeable occupation in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the California Apprenticeship Council.