§ 8-15.7-101. Definitions

As used in this article 15.7, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Apprentice” means an individual who is sixteen years of age or older, except when a higher minimum age standard is otherwise fixed by law, and who is employed to learn an apprenticeable occupation under the standards of apprenticeship established by this article 15.7.
2. “Apprenticeable occupation” means an occupation specified by an industry that involves the progressive attainment of skills, competencies, and knowledge that are:
   1. Clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout the relevant industry or occupation;
   2. Customarily learned or enhanced in a practical way through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job, supervised learning and related instruction to supplement the learning; and
   3. Offered through a time-based, competency-based, or hybrid model that the director has determined meets the requirements of this article 15.7 and 29 CFR 29 and 30.
3. “Apprenticeship agreement” means a written agreement between an apprentice and a sponsor.
4. “Apprenticeship program” means a program that:
   1. Is established by a sponsor for training individuals for one or more apprenticeable occupations;
   2. Combines on-the-job training and related instruction according to the specifications established by federal law and this article 15.7.
5. “Certificate of completion” means a certificate awarded to an apprentice in recognition of the successful completion of an apprenticeship program.
6. “Certificate of registration” means a document issued by the SAA to a sponsor that indicates that the sponsor’s apprenticeship program is registered pursuant to this article 15.7.
7. “Department” means the department of labor and employment.
8. “Director” means the director of the SAA.
9. “Executive director” means the executive director of the department.
10. “Interagency advisory committee on apprenticeship” or “IAC” means the interagency advisory committee on apprenticeship created in section 8-15.7-104.
11. “Qualified intermediary” means an entity that demonstrates expertise in connecting employers or apprenticeship program participants to registered apprenticeship programs or in convening stakeholders to develop registered apprenticeship programs and serves employers and apprenticeship program participants by:
    1. Connecting employers to programs under the national apprenticeship system;
    2. Assisting in the design and implementation of apprenticeship programs, including curriculum development and delivery for related instruction;
    3. Supporting entities, sponsors, or apprenticeship program administrators in meeting and reporting the requirements of this article 15.7;
    4. Providing professional development activities, such as training to mentors;
    5. Supporting the recruitment, retention, and apprenticeship program completion of potential apprenticeship program participants, including nontraditional participants and apprenticeship populations and individuals with barriers to employment;
    6. Developing and providing personalized apprenticeship program participant supports, including partnering with organizations to provide access to or referrals for supportive services and financial advising;
    7. Providing services, resources, and supports for the development, delivery, expansion, or improvement of apprenticeship programs under the national apprenticeship system; or
    8. Serving as an apprenticeship program sponsor.
12. “Quality assurance assessment” means a comprehensive review conducted by the SAA regarding all aspects of an apprenticeship program’s performance, including determining whether:
    1. The apprentices are receiving on-the-job training consistent with the schedule outlined in the registered apprenticeship program standards;
    2. Scheduled wage increases are consistent with the registered apprenticeship program standards;
    3. Related instruction through the appropriate curriculum and delivery systems is compliant with federal and state standards; and
    4. The SAA is receiving notification of all new apprentices in a registered apprenticeship program, apprentices who leave a registered apprenticeship program, and apprentices who complete a registered apprenticeship program.
13. “Registered apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program that is registered by the SAA pursuant to this article 15.7.
14. “Registration of an apprenticeship program” or “registration of apprenticeship programs” means the registration by the SAA of an apprentice program that meets the basic standards and requirements established pursuant to this article 15.7 for purposes of meeting federal requirements, as evidenced by a certificate of registration.
15. “Sponsor” means an employer, a joint labor-management organization, a trade association, a professional association, a labor organization, an education and training provider, or a qualified intermediary that is applying to register an apprenticeship program.
16. “State apprenticeship agency” or “SAA” means the state apprenticeship agency created in section 8-15.7-102.
17. “State apprenticeship council” or “SAC” means the state apprenticeship council created in section 8-15.7-103.

Source: L. 2021: Entire article added, (HB 21-1007), ch. 309, p. 1879, § 1, effective July 1.