| Chapter 212 |
| 2023 -- H 6477 Enacted 06/21/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAYS TO EARNING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE ACT |
Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Giraldo, Sanchez, Potter, Cruz, and Boylan |
| Date Introduced: June 02, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by |
| adding thereto the following chapter: |
| CHAPTER 112 |
| APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAYS TO EARNING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE ACT |
| 16-112-1. Short title. |
| This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Apprenticeship Pathways to Earning |
| a Bachelor’s Degree Act.” |
| 16-112-2. Definitions. |
| As used in this section: |
| (1) “Apprenticeship” means an apprenticeship program that meets the standards |
| established in the National Apprenticeship Act, 29 CFR C.F.R. Part 29, and that is registered with |
| the department of labor and training. |
| (2) “Board” means the board of education. |
| 16-112-3. Implementation. |
| (a) By January 1, 2024, each state public higher education institution shall adopt policies |
| establishing nontraditional pathways to earning a bachelor’s degree at the state's public higher |
| education institutions through the inclusion of credits earned through apprenticeships, as further |
| provided in subsection (e) of this section. |
| (b) The policies adopted by each higher education institution shall be subject to review and |
| approval of the board of education. The board shall reject or modify any policies that are unduly |
| burdensome for students seeking the apprenticeship pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree. This |
| review shall be completed by April 1, 2024. |
| (c) In addition, the board of education shall adopt policies to uniformly address the |
| following: |
| (1) The form and manner in which registered apprenticeships may be determined to be |
| eligible for inclusion in a nontraditional pathway to earning a bachelor's degree, including through |
| public-private partnerships or an application process. |
| (d) No later than September 1, 2024, the board shall convene a workgroup, including, but |
| not limited to, representatives from the department of labor and training, the office of the |
| postsecondary commissioner, public higher education institutions, the state apprenticeship council, |
| and the construction trades. The purpose of the workgroup is to advise the board regarding the |
| implementation of nontraditional pathways to earning a bachelor’s degree, including assisting with |
| the review pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and with the development of the plan required |
| by § 16-112-4. |
| (e) The policies that shall be adopted by each public higher education institution shall |
| include, but not be limited to: |
| (1) The process by which a student may request academic credit for registered |
| apprenticeship coursework and experience; |
| (2) The number of credits a student may earn through coursework and experience hours in |
| a registered apprenticeship; |
| (3) The development of clear guidelines distinguishing credit-bearing and non-credit- |
| bearing apprenticeship coursework including, but not limited to, standardizing the process of |
| assigning credit to apprenticeship coursework; and |
| (4) Guidelines to determine degree majors towards which credits for apprenticeships may |
| be earned, including giving priority to majors that have both a low completion rate and a hiring |
| need by employers existing in the state. |
| (f) The policies of the public higher education institutions adopted pursuant to this section |
| shall become effective beginning August 1, 2024. |
| 16-112-4. Reporting. |
| No later than August 1, 2025, the board shall provide the governor, the president of the |
| senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives a plan for increasing the number of students |
| who earn credit towards and/or complete bachelor's degrees from a Rhode Island public institution |
| of higher education through a registered apprenticeship. The board may create additional reporting |
| requirements to focus on data collection for the purposes of program progress, goals, and |
| participation. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC003125 |
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