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"Playing Defense"

Apprenticeship Requirements

Goal: repeal erie county's apprenticeship law
Background In early 2006, the Erie County Legislature passed a law requiring contractors on jobs valued at over $250,000 to have a NYS Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program. The bill was vetoed, but subsequently overriden, and the apprenticeship requirement became a mandate on businesses working with Erie County.
Recent Action The Partnership has opposed the county’s apprenticeship law since its inception, and had made it a key issue in last year’s County Executive candidate’s assessments.
Recent Progress Due to a statewide moratorium on new apprenticeship programs and inaction by the Erie County Legislature, Erie County Executive Chris Collins – following up on campaign pledge – was able to insert rulemaking into the law effectively suspending it.
Next Steps As a result of the new rules applied to Erie County’s apprenticeship law, contractors wishing to do business with Erie County need only reference the current statewide moratorium as the cause of their inability to institute an apprenticeship program to be eligible to bid on Erie County projects. While there are threats of legal action, the apprenticeship law is effectively suspended at least until the statewide moratorium is lifted.