Subchapter X-C. Government Appenticeships.

§ 1–610.81. Definitions.

(1) "Apprentice" means an employee of a District agency who is employed in an apprenticeship program.

(2) "Apprenticeable occupation" means an occupation title included in the most recent version of the U.S. Department of Labor's List of Occupations Officially Recognized as Apprenticeable by the Office of Apprenticeship.

(3) "Apprenticeship" means an employment position in the District government that is part of an apprenticeship program.

(4) "Apprenticeship program" means an employment program in the District government established pursuant to this subchapter, which combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare employees for a career in a particular occupation.

(5) "Apprenticeship sponsor" means the entity responsible for registering an apprenticeship program with OAIT.

(6) "DCHR" means the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources.

(7) "DOES" means the Department of Employment Services.

(8) "Host agency" means the District government agency that employs an apprentice.

(9) "Initiative" means the District of Columbia Government Apprenticeship Initiative established by § 1-610.82.

(10) "Life skills training" means age-appropriate, non-technical skills training that helps individuals succeed in the workplace and includes training on communication, time management, appropriate work attire, and conflict resolution, and education on workplace drug testing.

(11) "OAIT" means DOES's Office of Apprenticeship, Information and Training.

(12) "Related technical instruction" means academic instruction, as required by approved apprenticeship standards, that supplements the concepts and processes of on-the-job learning in an apprenticeship program.

§ 1–610.82. Establishment of District of Columbia Government Apprenticeship Initiative.

(a) There is established a District of Columbia Government Apprenticeship Initiative ("Initiative") to create apprenticeships in District agencies.

(b)(1) DCHR and OAIT ("Administrators") shall develop and administer the Initiative in accordance with this subchapter.

(2) Each Administrator shall designate one employee to serve as the agency's Initiative coordinator.

(c)(1) The Administrators shall consult with potential host agencies and labor union representatives to identify at least 5 apprenticeable occupations in the District government in which the District will create apprenticeship programs.

(2) The Administrators shall identify apprenticeable occupations based on:

(A) Review of apprenticeable occupations within District agencies;

(B)(i) Consideration of previously open positions in District agencies;

(ii) Upcoming position openings;

(iii) Current permanent, term, and temporary positions;

(iv) Positions filled by outside contractors; and

(v) Positions that could become apprenticeships if classified at a lower grade;

(D) The long-term employment opportunities and earning potential of workers in the occupation, including outside the District government.

(3) At least one of the identified apprenticeable occupations shall be in information technology and at least one shall be in healthcare.

(d)(1)(A) The Administrators shall submit a plan for creating and administering apprenticeship programs in the apprenticeable occupations identified pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to the Council within 180 days after October 1, 2019.

(B) For each apprenticeship program, the plan shall include:

(i) The occupation covered by the apprenticeship program and the number of anticipated apprentices that will be employed in years 1, 2, and 3 of the Initiative;

(ii) Which agency or agencies will serve as host agencies;

(iii) Whether the host agency, DCHR, or another entity will serve as the apprenticeship sponsor;

(iv) The division of responsibilities between each of the Administrators, the apprenticeship sponsor, and host agencies for the development and administration of the apprenticeship program, including which entity or entities will be responsible for ensuring that apprentices receive life skills training and requesting that the University of the District of Columbia Community College provide apprentices with related technical instruction if it will not be provided directly by the host agency or apprenticeship sponsor; and

(v) A breakdown of costs by entity, including related technical instruction and life skills training.

(2) Within 2 years after October 1, 2019, the District government shall employ at least 2 apprentices in an apprenticeship program in each of the 5 apprenticeable occupations identified pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

(e) DCHR shall develop a process by which labor union representatives and potential host agencies, including independent agencies, may request the creation of an apprenticeship program in a specific occupation or agency. This process shall include DCHR meeting with labor union representatives at least 2 times per year.

(f) DOES shall post all open apprenticeship positions on its DC Networks website.

§ 1–610.83. Apprenticeship program requirements.

(a)(1) The apprenticeship sponsor shall register the apprenticeship program with OAIT in accordance with subchapter I of Chapter 14 of Title 32.

(2) An apprenticeship program shall comply with standards, rules, and regulations issued pursuant to § 32-1403; provided, that no apprenticeship agreement may conflict with the terms or conditions of a District employee's employment under this chapter.

(b) An apprenticeship program in a single occupation may have multiple host agencies.

(d) All apprenticeship programs shall include life skills training for apprentices.

(e)(1) Federal funding sources shall be used to pay for related technical instruction before local funding sources.

(2) DCHR, OAIT, or the host agency shall request the University of the District of Columbia Community College to provide apprentices with related technical instruction that is not provided directly by the host agency or apprenticeship sponsor.

§ 1–610.84. Positions for apprenticeships; apprenticeship eligibility and employment.

(a) A host agency may convert existing positions into apprenticeships or create new, lower-grade positions for the purpose of establishing apprenticeships; provided, that nothing in this subchapter may be interpreted as requiring the creation of new positions.

(b)(1) New hires and existing employees may be eligible to become apprentices; provided, that no agency may require an employee in an apprenticeable occupation hired before October 1, 2019 to become an apprentice.

(2) Notwithstanding § 1-608.01(e)(7), an apprentice shall be a resident of the District of Columbia.

(3) An apprentice shall receive compensation, benefits, and collective bargaining rights consistent with the classification of the apprentice's position under this chapter.

(4) Section 32-1410, shall govern the resolution of disputes arising from terms in an apprenticeship agreement not covered by this chapter or a collective bargaining agreement.

§ 1–610.85. Reports to Council.

(a) By December 1, 2020, and each subsequent December 1, DCHR shall report to the Council on the Initiative. The report shall include:

(1) A description of each established apprenticeship program, including:

(A) The names and roles of participating entities;

(B) The occupation covered;

(D) Apprentice grade levels and salary ranges;

(E) The number of total, new, and female apprentices, and the number of apprenticeship graduates in the previous year;

(F) Apprenticeship completion rates;

(G) Length of apprenticeships;

(H) Copies of curricula and training plans;

(I) The name of the entity providing the related technical instruction;

(J) The name of the entity providing the life skills training; and

(K) A breakdown of costs, including costs attributed to program staff, related technical instruction, and life skills training, broken down by entity and federal or local funding source; and

(2) Other information relevant to evaluating the implementation and progress of the Initiative.

(b) By October 1, 2021, DCHR shall provide to the Council a 3-year plan for the establishment of additional apprenticeship programs in apprenticeable occupations for which no apprenticeship program exists.