S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: Sec. 15.13 of S.L. 2017-57 transfers the Apprenticeship Program (renamed "ApprenticeshipNC") and the Apprenticeship Council from the Department of Commerce to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office. The Director of ApprenticeshipNC is under the supervision of the President of the North Carolina Community College System or the President's designee. The Director must supervise clerical, technical, and professional staff appointed to administer the ApprenticeshipNC program. The State Board of Community Colleges sets the terms of office for members of the Apprenticeship Council. Current members of the Apprenticeship Council must serve the remainder of their terms. The Department of Commerce must update the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Plan to indicate the transfer of administration to the Community Colleges System Office.

Additionally, this section repeals and recodifies the statutes related to the Apprenticeship Program and the Apprenticeship Council, with certain modifications. In addition to the existing identified purposes of the program, ApprenticeshipNC will (i) coordinate workforce education and customized training tools to fill talent pipeline gaps, as appropriate, with local business and industry; and (ii) leverage the collaborative and regional structure of the community college service areas with the Collaboration for Prosperity Zones set out in G.S. 143B-28.1.

This section became effective July 1, 2017.