Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 555 First Substitute (2023GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Moss, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/17/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides that a public school student participating in a youth apprenticeship is considered a volunteer government worker for purposes of workers' compensation and risk management;
• provides that an internship through an institution of higher education or public or private school may be with compensation;
• provides that an intern participating in an internship through an institution of higher education or public school is considered a volunteer government worker for purposes of workers' compensation and risk management;
• creates an apprenticeship intermediary position to foster relationships between the Talent Ready Utah Program, local education agencies, and industry partners;
• defines terms; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

TALENT READY UTAH PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jefferson Moss
Senate Sponsor: 
Ann Millner
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill makes changes to provisions related to internships and apprenticeships.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides that a public school student participating in a youth apprenticeship is
considered a volunteer government worker for purposes of workers' compensation
and risk management;
▸ provides that an internship through an institution of higher education or public or
private school may be with compensation;
▸ provides that an intern participating in an internship through an institution of higher
education or public school is considered a volunteer government worker for
purposes of workers' compensation and risk management;
▸ creates an apprenticeship intermediary position to foster relationships between the
Talent Ready Utah Program, local education agencies, and industry partners;
▸ defines terms; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53B-16-401
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 365
53B-16-403
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1997, Chapter 10
53B-34-103
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 362
53G-7-901
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 374
53G-7-903
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 354
ENACTS:
35A-6-104.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
35A-6-104.5
 is enacted to read:
 35A-6-104.5.
Youth apprenticeships -- Workers' compensation -- Risk
management.
(1) As used in this section, "youth apprentice" means an individual who is:
(a) participating in a youth apprenticeship; and
(b) enrolled in a public school.
(2) A youth apprentice is considered to be a volunteer government worker of the public
school in which the individual is enrolled, solely for purposes of:
(a) receiving workers' compensation medical benefits; and
(b) coverage by the Risk Management Fund created in Section 
63A-4-201
.
(3) Receipt of medical benefits under Subsection (2) shall be the exclusive remedy
against the school and the cooperating employer for all injuries and occupational diseases as
provided under Title 34A, Chapter 2, Workers' Compensation Act, and Chapter 3, Utah
Occupational Disease Act.
Section 2. Section 
53B-16-401
 is amended to read:
53B-16-401.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Cooperating employer" means a public or private entity which, as part of a work
experience and career exploration program offered through an institution of higher education,
provides interns with training and work experience in activities related to the entity's ongoing
business activities.
(2) "Institution of higher education" means any component of the state system of higher
education as defined under Section 
53B-1-102
 that is authorized by the board to offer
internship programs, and any private institution of higher education which offers internship
programs under this part.
(3) "Intern" means a student enrolled in a work experience and career exploration
program under Section 
53B-16-402
 that is sponsored by an institution of higher education,
involving both classroom instruction and work experience with a cooperating employer, [
for
which the student receives no compensation
] 
regardless of whether the student receives
compensation
.
(4) "Internship" means the work experience segment of an intern's work experience and
career exploration program sponsored by an institution of higher education, performed under
the direct supervision of a cooperating employer.
Section 3. Section 
53B-16-403
 is amended to read:
53B-16-403.
Interns -- Workers' compensation medical benefits -- Risk
management.
(1) An intern participating in an internship under Section 
53B-16-402
 is considered to
be a volunteer worker of the sponsoring institution of higher education solely for purposes of
:
(a)
 receiving workers' compensation medical benefits[
.
]
; and
(b) coverage by the Risk Management Fund created in Section 
63A-4-201
.
(2) Receipt of medical benefits under Subsection (1) shall be the exclusive remedy
against the institution and the cooperating employer for all injuries and occupational diseases
as provided under Title 34A, Chapter 2, Workers' Compensation Act, and Chapter 3, Utah
Occupational Disease Act.
Section 4. Section 
53B-34-103
 is amended to read:
53B-34-103.
Talent Ready Utah Program.
(1) There is created the Talent Ready Utah Program administered by the commissioner.
(2) The commissioner, with the approval of the board, shall appoint a director of the
talent program.
(3) The director of the talent program
:
(a) shall appoint, with the approval of the commissioner, an apprenticeship
intermediary, to carry out the duties described in Subsection (5); and
(b)
 may appoint 
other
 staff with the approval of the commissioner.
(4) The talent program shall coordinate with the talent board to:
(a) further education and industry alignment in the state;
(b) coordinate the development of new education programs that align with industry
demand;
(c) coordinate or partner with other state agencies to administer grant programs;
(d) promote the inclusion of industry partners in education;
(e) provide outreach and information to employers regarding workforce programs and
initiatives;
(f) develop and analyze stackable credential programs;
(g) determine efficiencies among workforce providers;
(h) map available workforce programs focusing on programs that successfully create
high-paying jobs; and
(i) support initiatives of the talent board.
(5) The apprenticeship intermediary appointed by the director under Subsection (3)
shall, in coordination with the talent program and at the direction of the talent board, foster
relationships between industry partners, local education agencies, and the talent program,
including by:
(a) increasing awareness for the talent program;
(b) recruiting industry partners;
(c) connecting high school students to participating employers, apprenticeship
opportunities, and work-based learning opportunities;
(d) working with local education agencies to:
(i) integrate talent program apprenticeship opportunities and work-based learning
opportunities;
(ii) connect high school students with higher education opportunities;
(e) training mentors at participating employers in vocational education practices for
youth;
(f) holding meetings with education partners and industry partners to discuss
curriculum needs and industry needs;
(g) working with institutions of higher education and local education agencies to
ensure industry-recognized credential programs are fully stackable; and
(h) performing other duties as directed by the talent board.
Section 5. Section 
53G-7-901
 is amended to read:
53G-7-901.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Cooperating employer" means a public or private entity which, as part of a work
experience and career exploration program offered through a school, provides interns with
training and work experience in activities related to the entity's ongoing business activities.
(2) "Intern" means a student enrolled in a school-sponsored work experience and career
exploration program under Section 
53G-7-902
 involving both classroom instruction and work
experience with a cooperating employer, [
for which the student receives no compensation
]
regardless of whether the student receives compensation
.
(3) "Internship" means the work experience segment of an intern's school-sponsored
work experience and career exploration program, performed under the direct supervision of a
cooperating employer.
(4) "Internship safety agreement" means the agreement between a public or private
school and a cooperating employer in accordance with Section 
53G-7-904
.
(5) "Private school" means a school serving any of grades 7 through 12 which is not
part of the public education system.
(6) "Public school" means:
(a) a public school district;
(b) an applied technology center or applied technology service region;
(c) the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind; or
(d) other components of the public education system authorized by the state board to
offer internships.
Section 6. Section 
53G-7-903
 is amended to read:
53G-7-903.
Interns -- Workers' compensation medical benefits -- Risk
management.
(1) An intern participating in an internship under Section 
53G-7-902
 is considered to
be a volunteer government worker of the sponsoring public school, or an employee of the
sponsoring private school, solely for purposes of
:
(a)
 receiving workers' compensation medical benefits[
.
]
; and
(b) for an intern participating through a sponsoring public school, coverage by the Risk
Management Fund created in Section 
63A-4-201
.
(2) Receipt of medical benefits under Subsection (1) shall be the exclusive remedy
against the school and the cooperating employer for all injuries and occupational diseases as
provided under Title 34A, Chapter 2, Workers' Compensation Act, and Chapter 3, Utah
Occupational Disease Act.