SB180: SB180 High Demand Apprenticeship Program; opportunities for apprenticeship sponsors to enter into apprenticeship program contracts with State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia; provide

Georgia's High Demand Apprenticeship Program lets the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia pay employers who run successful apprenticeships. Previously the law focused on 'employer sponsors' entering these contracts. This bill adds 'apprenticeship sponsors' as a separate category that can also apply for and enter into these contracts, alongside employer sponsors, throughout the program's rules on contracts, completion awards, apprentice limits, and program regulations. The bill keeps the existing award amounts: up to $10,000 per apprentice for contracts signed before July 1, 2024, and up to $5,000 per apprentice for contracts signed on or after that date, plus a possible $2,500 bonus per apprentice paid 12 months into an apprenticeship. It also keeps the cap of ten apprentices per sponsor per year (five before the end of Fiscal Year 2024). The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Adds 'apprenticeship sponsors' as a category eligible to apply for and enter into apprenticeship program contracts with the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, alongside employer sponsors.
• Extends eligibility for contract completion awards (up to $10,000 or $5,000 per apprentice depending on contract date) to apprenticeship sponsors as well as employer sponsors.
• Extends the $2,500 per apprentice bonus paid 12 months into an apprenticeship to apprenticeship sponsors, not just employer sponsors.
• Applies the existing annual apprentice caps (up to ten per year currently) to both employer sponsors and apprenticeship sponsors.
• Updates the rules and regulations section (O.C.G.A. § 20-4-154) so that agreement terms between the board and either an employer sponsor or apprenticeship sponsor are covered.

Employers and other organizations that sponsor apprenticeships in Georgia, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, which administers contracts and awards, and apprentices participating in high-demand occupation training programs.

By opening up program contracts and financial awards to apprenticeship sponsors in addition to employer sponsors, the bill could let more types of organizations, such as third-party training groups, formally participate in and get paid for running state-recognized apprenticeships, potentially expanding access to apprenticeship training statewide.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-4-151 to revise subsections (b), (d), and (e) and paragraph (2) of subsection (g), adding 'apprenticeship sponsor' as an eligible party for contracts, completion awards, and the 12-month bonus.
• Subsection (d) keeps the award cap at $10,000 per apprentice for contracts signed before July 1, 2024, and $5,000 per apprentice for contracts on or after that date.
• Subsection (e) keeps the annual apprentice limit at five per sponsor through Fiscal Year 2024 and ten per sponsor from Fiscal Year 2025 onward.
• Paragraph (g)(2) keeps the $2,500 per apprentice funding award paid 12 months after an apprenticeship begins, now available to apprenticeship sponsors too.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-4-154 to include apprenticeship sponsors in the rules governing agreement terms with the board.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as immediate upon the Governor's signature or the bill becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-04-28Effective Date 2025-04-28
2. 2025-04-28Act 19
3. 2025-04-28Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-28House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-28House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-10House Second Readers (House)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2025

   53 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #151

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 28, 2025

   158 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 14 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #334

• apprenticeships
• workforce training
• technical colleges
• job training funding