An Act to Strengthen Maine's Workforce Through Certified
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1117
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: WEBB
Amends: 26 MRSA §3213

Legislative Document
No. 1117
H.P. 736
House of Representatives, March 18, 2025
An Act to Strengthen Maine's Workforce Through Certified 
Preapprenticeship Training Programs
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WEBB of Durham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §3213, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 705, §12, is amended 
to read:
6.  Funding.  As funds are available, the Maine Apprenticeship Program, through the 
department and in consultation with the Maine Apprenticeship Council, shall make 
available grants to support certified preapprenticeship training programs under this section.  
A certified preapprenticeship training program shall use the grants to provide meaningful 
support and stipends to facilitate enrollment and participation in the program.  Support may 
include funding for child care, transportation, training materials, membership fees and 
costs, tools and personal protective equipment and reimbursement of other expenses that 
may be incurred by a student an individual to facilitate the student's individual's attendance 
and participation in the certified preapprenticeship training program.; funding for 
assistance to address obstacles to and to identify and access services necessary for 
successful participation in the certified preapprenticeship training program; and funding 
for facilitating an individual's readiness to commence on-the-job learning in a registered 
apprenticeship program.  Stipends may include cash payments.  In allocating grants among 
certified preapprenticeship training programs, the Maine Apprenticeship Program shall 
give priority to programs that have demonstrated successful enrollment of students from 
historically marginalized communities. allocate at least 51% of total grant funding to 
support certified preapprenticeship training programs that have:
A.  Demonstrated successful engagement and enrollment of and completion by 
individuals from historically marginalized communities and successful placement and 
enrollment of and completion by individuals from historically marginalized 
communities in registered apprenticeship programs;
B.  Consistently placed individuals in registered apprenticeship programs that result in 
a total package value of no less than $35 per hour upon graduation from the registered 
apprenticeship program, based on Maine Apprenticeship Program evaluations as 
required pursuant to section 3204, subsection 2.  On January 15, 2026 and each January 
15th thereafter, the minimum total package value amount under this paragraph must be 
increased by the increase, if any, in the cost of living. The increase in the cost of living 
is measured by the percentage increase, if any, as of August of the previous year over 
the level as of August of the year preceding that year in the Consumer Price Index for 
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI-W, for the Northeast Region, or its 
successor index, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of 
Labor Statistics or its successor agency, with the amount of the minimum total package 
value increase rounded to the nearest multiple of 5¢; and
C.  Demonstrated the provision of strong, comprehensive support services essential to 
ensure success.
Certified preapprenticeship training programs that cannot produce proof that graduates are 
employed in the field of their preapprenticeship after a period of 6 months following 
successful completion of their certified preapprenticeship training program or are 
represented by a labor organization are ineligible for grants under this subsection.
Funding for grants to support preapprenticeship training programs must be awarded to 
certified preapprenticeship training programs with strong direct entry links with registered 
apprenticeship programs through a competitive process administered by the department 
through the Maine Apprenticeship Program and to certified preapprenticeship training 
programs that train individuals for priority sectors for high-wage, in-demand jobs.
Funding for grants to support certified preapprenticeship training programs may also be 
used for program development, support and staffing for grantees.
SUMMARY
This bill provides that preapprenticeship training programs may use grants from the 
Maine Apprenticeship Program for membership fees and costs, tools and personal 
protective equipment; for assistance to address obstacles to and to identify and access 
services necessary for an individual's successful participation in a preapprenticeship 
program; and for facilitating an individual's readiness to commence on-the-job learning in 
a registered apprenticeship program.  At least 51% of total grant funding must support 
preapprenticeship training programs that have demonstrated successful engagement and 
enrollment of and completion by individuals from historically marginalized communities 
in registered apprenticeship programs; that have consistently placed individuals in 
registered apprenticeship programs that lead to jobs that pay a total package value of no 
less than $35 per hour, indexed for inflation; and that have demonstrated the provision of 
strong, comprehensive support services essential to ensure success.
The bill provides that certified preapprenticeship training programs that cannot prove 
that graduates are employed in the field of their preapprenticeship or are represented by a 
labor organization are ineligible for grants.  It provides that any funds provided to support 
preapprenticeship training programs must be administered and awarded to programs with 
strong direct entry links with registered apprenticeship programs through a competitive 
process administered by the Department of Labor through the Maine Apprenticeship 
Program.  These funds must be directed to preapprenticeship training programs that train 
individuals for priority sectors for high-wage, in-demand jobs and may be used for program 
development, support and staffing for grantees.