- The ‘RAP” is part of the “High Demand Career Initiative” (HDCI) program.
- We find nothing that would stop illegal alien employers like this from sending illegal alien employees through the taxpayer-funded state apprenticeship program and then collecting up to $50k.
Note: The below is a partial and in progress story about legislation (SB 379) passed in 2022 under the GOP-ruled Gold Dome and signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. There is much more to say, but not today. Still investigating.
Update, Dec. 2, 2023: “During the 2022 legislative session, Governor Kemp and lawmakers partnered to pass SB 379, representing a historic investment in apprenticeships in Georgia through the HDCI Program. The HDCI Program awards up to $50,000 in funding to Georgia businesses to upskill workers through registered apprenticeships and increase skilled talent within Georgia’s high-demand industries.” Here.
“Undocumented immigrants can participate in the Registered Apprenticeship Program” – that was part of the reply received today that originated from Kimberly Burgess, M.S. Apprenticeship Coordinator at Coastal Pines Technical College, Golden Isles Campus.
A very nice man at TCSG, Danny Mitchell, informed me today that H1B workers can and do participate in the ‘RAP” which is part of the “High Demand Career Initiative” (HDCI) program.
It’s illegal to hire “undocumented immigrants.” Federal and state law requires presenting documents in the hiring process. Use of fake or stolen SSN ID is a federal and a state felony. H1B workers, (here lawfully) are in the U.S. on temporary visas that can be renewed but eventually, most temp workers leave. It is not at all clear how sending illegal aliens or foreign, temporary workers through this taxpayer-funded apprenticeship program helps “Georgia’s future workforce” or “hardworking Georgians.”
Related: What Is the H-1B visa?
“The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the United States for a specific period of time. Typically, the roles require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Occupations that qualify for the H-1B visa are typically in fields such as technology, finance, engineering, architecture, or more.” (boundless.com)
Curious? Me too (see here for an idea of the origins of the legislation that created this program).
From the TCSG website: About Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Georgia:
“A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is an employer-led workforce development model and strategy designed to provide employers with additional support to train skilled workers and meet growing workforce needs. RAPs serve as valuable investments into local workforce as they combine real work experience with classroom learning all while providing a paid job to apprentices. Furthermore, registered apprentices not only benefit from acquiring and mastering high-demand skills, but also tend to achieve higher wages, and more upward mobility within their employer and industry. Currently, Georgia has more than 10,000 active apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship Programs” (here).
- Note: Sadly, illegal aliens are also business owners and operators in Georgia. I asked this question of a House committee chairman in 2022: “What is there in the law to stop an illegal alien employer from sending an illegal alien employee through the apprenticeship program and collecting the taxpayer funded payment, up to $50K?” I may post that exchange soon.
More from Georgia.gov:
“Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) recently announced a round of $1 million in funding to create 120 new apprenticeships across the state. These apprenticeships will train students for careers in-demand industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, and provide employers with opportunities to fill their workforce needs.
This step builds upon new workforce-focused initiatives Governor Kemp signed into law earlier this year to take Georgia’s education and career training initiatives to the next level. Investment numbers show that companies choose Georgia time and again for new businesses and expanded operations, and they do that because they know Georgia has a talented workforce ready to meet their needs.
To push Georgia’s workforce training into high gear, state legislators created the High Demand Career Initiatives (HDCI) Program, which awards up to $50,000 in funding to Georgia businesses to train students and upskill workers through registered apprenticeships.”
All this was created by the passage of SB 379 in 2022. At the time, we pushed for pro-enforcement language that would have excluded blackmarket labor. We were not successful. But, we never considered that the legislature would pass a bill to pay an employer to send a temporary visa holder to an apprenticeship program in the name of expanding Georgia’s future workforce. Live and learn.
SB 379 passed in the Senate with only four “NO” votes. All Democrats. It passed in the House with only one “NO” vote, from then-Rep Phillip Singleton – a Republican.
I don’t have time to write all this up today or this week. I am hopeful that local newspapers will regard this as “news.” In most places, that is a long shot hope.
- Update, Nov. 27, 2023: I sent this to the ‘news tips” at Atlanta TV stations (11 Alive, WSB, Fox 5, CBS 46) several days ago. If any of them did a story, I have not seen it on Twitter/X (I don’t watch TV news of any description). I also sent to the liberal AJC.
I am pasting the notes I collected this morning below. I say again: I have 2022 emails on this from a House Committee chairman that I may share at a later date.
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—> UPDATE: Nov. 26 –
About the High Demand Career Initiatives (HDCI) Program
See guidelines, employer awards and application. Here.
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Notes:
I spoke to Danny Mitchell (TCS) HDCI Program Manager) Nov 20, 11:20 AM
H1B employees and refugee employees can participate (and are). Apprentices need not be TCSG students. TCSG is merely admin on funding. When asked about illegals, told me I “would need to talk to the lawyers…”
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APPRENTICESHIP SB 379 (2022)
Want to become a registered apprenticeship partner?
Apprenticeships Open Doors for Georgia’s Future Workforce
Coastal Pines Technical College
“Becoming a registered apprenticeship partner with Coastal Pines Technical College is an easy 3-step process. The registered apprenticeship program is designed to help businesses fill workforce needs by establishing apprenticeship employment pathways. The companies listed below have established a partnership with Coastal Pines Technical College to meet the demands of the local workforce within their business environment.” Here.
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“…Upon successful completion of the requirements of a contract under this article, the
61 board shall provide a contract completion award to the employer sponsor. The contract
62 completion award amount shall be determined based on the number of hours of education
63 and training required for the successful completion of the apprenticeship under such
64 apprenticeship program but shall not exceed $10,000.00 per apprentice.
65 (e) Each employer sponsor shall only be eligible to enter into contracts under this article
66 for up to five apprentices per year.
67 (f) An apprenticeship sponsor may assist with the application for and completion of an
68 apprenticeship contract authorized by this article.
‘Apprentice’ means a person who is at least 15 years of age, except where a higher minimum age is required by law, who is employed in an eligible apprenticeable occupation, and is registered in Georgia with the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
(2) ‘Apprenticeable occupation’ means an occupation approved for apprenticeship by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
Illegal alien business owner operator can get tax dollars to send an illegal alien employee through the GA apprentice program. (?)
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The constant refrain from the people who run the state government in Georgia is that employers need more workers to make more profit. If I understand this, the GOP-ruled legislature passed a bill which was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp to use tax dollars to pay employers to send existing staff to this apprenticeship program so they can increase the employers’s profits.
“In 2022, the High Demand Career Initiatives (HDCI) Program, authorized by Georgia Senate Bill 379, was signed into law by Governor Brian P. Kemp. As Georgia’s first-ever state-funded apprenticeship initiative, the HDCI Program represents a historic investment by the State of Georgia in registered apprenticeships. The HDCI Program provides funding to Georgia employers to incentivize the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs throughout the state. This program aimed to both upskill Georgians and increase skilled talent within Georgia’s high-demand industries.”
About Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Georgia
A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is an employer-led workforce development model and strategy designed to provide employers with additional support to train skilled workers and meet growing workforce needs. RAPs serve as valuable investments into local workforce as they combine real work experience with classroom learning all while providing a paid job to apprentices. Furthermore, registered apprentices not only benefit from acquiring and mastering high-demand skills, but also tend to achieve higher wages, and more upward mobility within their employer and industry. Currently, Georgia has more than 10,000 active apprentices in Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
PRESS RELEASE
TCSG Announces Availability of $1 Million in Funding To Support Apprenticeships
ATLANTA, GA–
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), announces the availability of $1 Million in High Demand Career Initiatives (HDCI) Program funds to support the development and expansion of registered apprenticeships in Georgia’s high-demand industries. The program is focused on supporting Registered Apprenticeship expansion in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agribusiness, Automotive, Construction, E-Mobility, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Supply Chain, Film and Entertainment, Public Services, and Information Technology.
“Apprenticeships are not just an investment in a company’s workforce, they’re an investment in the future of Georgia’s workforce,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “They offer a mechanism for employers to develop their own talent pipeline and offer attractive career pathways to new and existing employees.”
Administered by TCSG, the HDCI Program provides up to $10,000 in funding awards to incentivize employers to upskill Georgians through registered apprenticeships and increase skilled talent within Georgia’s high-demand industries.
William ‘Danny’ Mitchell
(TCSG) HDCI Program Manager
Office of Workforce Development
O: 404.679.5474 | C: 470.487.2591 | wmitchell@ tcsg.edu
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“A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a robust & comprehensive training model that helps employers transform and develop entry-level employees into high-skilled talent. RAPs serve as a strategy for building talent pipelines and retaining skilled employees.
A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a work-based learning system that fulfills workforce needs by preparing individuals for skilled trades through paid On-the-Job Learning (OJL) with Related Technical Instruction (RTI).
Most RAPs are completed in 1-4 years, with actual timelines determined by United States Department of Labor (USDOL) guidelines. The Apprentice will participate in Related Technical Instruction (RTI) – which may include online coursework – as well as work alongside a skilled tradesperson for the Employer partner (OJL) on their way to earning a degree, certification, and/or license, in addition to receiving a nationally recognized USDOL credential in their desired skilled trade.” Here from TCSG.
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“Good morning….,
Thank you so much for reaching out to me regarding the Registered Apprenticeship Program offered at Coastal Pines Technical College. The apprenticeship program is an on-the-job training program that is offered to current students at Coastal Pines. You must be enrolled in an academic program at the college to participate.”
There are two pathways to participation in the program:
Pathway 1 – Current Coastal Pines Student Placement
- This pathway allows current students to be placed in an apprenticeship employment position with one of 31 apprenticeship partners.
If you are not enrolled at the college, you would need to apply for admissions and be accepted to the college.
- Link to the Admissions Application:https://coastalpines.edu/admissions/apply-now
- It is FREE Application Month for the month of November. You can apply for free using the codeMATCH23
- You would work with the Office of Admissions to get admitted and then an academic advisor would work with you to select classes.
Pathway 2 – Apprenticeship Partner Employees Can Enroll in Classes
- If you are an employee at a participatingApprenticeship Partner and you need to gain an additional skill or trade, the company can choose to send you to the college to enroll in an academic program that aligns with the job you have at the company.
Undocumented immigrants can participate in the Registered Apprenticeship Program. They will need to have the ability to pay out of pocket for tuition/fees/books associated with their academic program. The rate of tuition and fees are more for foreign students (non-us citizens).
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Take Care,
Kimberly
| Kimberly Burgess, M.S.
Coastal Pines Technical College Golden Isles Campus Apprenticeship Coordinator |
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Here on a page liked to the U.S. DOL site
NPS PROGRAM REGISTRATION AND ADHERENCE TO FEDERAL, STATE,
AND LOCAL LAW REQUIREMENTS (page 6)
The Office of Apprenticeship’s registration of an apprenticeship program on a nationwide
basis under the National Program Standards of Apprenticeship (and the registration of
individual apprentices under the same program) does not exempt the program sponsor,
7
and/or any employer(s) participating in the program, and/or the individual apprentices
registered under the program from abiding by any applicable Federal, State, and local
laws or regulations relevant to the occupation covered by the program, including those
pertaining to occupational licensing requirements and minimum wage and hour.
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Governor Kemp and TCSG Announce Historic Apprenticeship Investment
ATLANTA, GA–Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) today announced $1 million in awards for the inaugural Registered Apprenticeships program as part of the High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI). These investments will create 120 new apprenticeships throughout the state across multiple industries in need of workers following generational investment and job creation in the Peach State, including healthcare, manufacturing, and construction.
“Providing opportunity for hardworking Georgians to thrive has always been and will remain a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Apprenticeships open doors both for our students to gain quality, on-the-job experience and for employers to fill their workforce needs. This innovative approach will ensure the next generation has the skills they need to succeed in the best state to live, work, and raise a family.”
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TRIDENT Refit Facility, Kings Bay Apprenticeship Program
Overview
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