03/05/2024
March 4, 2024 Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, SB 302
Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
March 5, 2024
Good morning, Representative Haddad, Senator Slap, Representative Haines, Senator Kelly and members of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding Senate Bill 302: AN ACT EXPANDING THE TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS AND ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN INTERESTED IN TRADES. My name is Danté Bartolomeo, and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor.
The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) appreciates that the intent of SB 302 is to (1) expand the tax credit for qualified apprenticeship training programs to all such programs (A) in industries beyond manufacturing, construction, and plastics-related trades, and (B) regardless of the number of hours required for completion, and (2) establish a pilot program during the summer to introduce students in grades four to six, inclusive, to various trades. While CTDOL would be glad to participate in conversations on ways to promote the trades, we have several significant concerns with this proposal as written.
Section 1 of SB 302 would greatly expand access to the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit. As background, before a company applies to the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) for the tax credit, they must first send CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training (OAT) a worksheet to prove that the company meets the criteria for the tax credit. OAT staff then goes through the process of verifying the company’s submission and upon review, will issue a letter to the company verifying that they qualify for the credit which the company will include in their tax return to DRS. In addition, OAT periodically includes information that the tax credit is available to the state’s construction and manufacturing partners. OAT business service representatives also inform all new companies about the tax credits. CTDOL’s primary concern regarding Section 1 is that the proposal has the potential of drastically increasing the staff time necessary to implement the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit program but does not include any additional funding.
Section 2 of SB 302 requires CTDOL and the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to jointly establish a pilot program that would launch in June 2024, and continue through August 2024, to introduce students in grades four to six, inclusive, to various trades. We appreciate the committee’s interest in promoting the trades to young learners, however we have significant concerns with the feasibility of the program outlined in the section, as well as the timing to implement the program. CTDOL has many concerns with Section 2. First, our agency does not have experience creating trades education programs, nor does it have the expertise or resources to create such a program. Second, we have concerns about placing young students in hazardous working conditions, like those found in most trade shops. Third, Section 2 also lacks funding for this new undertaking that would require additional staff to implement. Lastly, even if funding were provided and the other issues outlined were addressed, a start date of June 2024 would not allow enough time to complete the steps that would be necessary to stand this program up.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify, and we look forward to continuing to work with you on ways to promote the trades.
Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer