AB 345: Apprenticeship programs: approval process.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified February 3, 2026

What AB 345 does, verified February 3, 2026

This bill would require the state to establish a process for approving new apprenticeship programs within 30 days of receiving an application. If the chief of the division of apprenticeship standards fails to make a final determination within six months, the program would have conditional approval if it meets certain conditions, including approval by the US Department of Labor. The bill would also establish a one-year timeline for the chief to make a final determination on new apprenticeship program applications. The bill does not apply to building and construction trades or firefighter programs. The bill would expand the scope of an existing crime related to discrimination in apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs, making it a state-mandated local program.

Bill journey

✓IntroducedComplete

2In CommitteeCurrent

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Corey JacksonAuthor · California State Assembly

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Recent actions8 total · showing 5

Feb. 02, 2026	From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Jan. 31, 2026	Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
May. 23, 2025	In committee: Held under submission.
Apr. 23, 2025	In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
Mar. 19, 2025	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Full action history, 3 earlier actionsConnect Plus

Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 29, 2025 · 699 words

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 345

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

January 29, 2025

An act to add Section 3075.2 to the Labor Code, relating to apprenticeship.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 345, as introduced, Jackson. Apprenticeship programs: approval process.

Existing law provides for apprenticeship programs within the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations, sponsored by specific entities and employers, and requires the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to perform various functions with respect to apprenticeship programs and the welfare of apprentices, including the approval of new apprenticeship programs. Existing law makes any person who willfully discriminates in any recruitment or apprenticeship program, as specified, guilty of a misdemeanor.

This bill would require the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to confirm the completeness of an application for a new apprenticeship program within 30 days of receiving the application. The bill would provide that, where the chief has not made a final determination on a completed application for a new program within 6 months of receiving the application, the program shall have conditional approval to operate if it satisfies specified conditions, including approval by the United States Department of Labor. The bill would require the chief to make a final determination on an application for a new apprenticeship program within one year of receiving a completed application. The bill would provide its provisions do not apply to apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades or to firefighter programs.

Because the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime with respect to willful violations of provisions of the law related to discrimination in apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 3075.2 is added to the Labor Code, to read:

3075.2.

(a) (1) Within 30 days of receiving an application for a new apprenticeship program, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards shall confirm the completeness of the application, and notify applicants if any components of the application are incomplete.

(2) This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit the Division of Apprenticeship Standards from requesting additional information as necessary throughout the review process.

(b) (1) If the chief, in consultation with the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, has not made a final determination on a completed application for a new apprenticeship program within six months of receiving the completed application, the program shall have conditional approval if it satisfies all of the following:

(A) The program has been approved by the United States Department of Labor.

(B) The program has documented employer commitments that demonstrate both of the following:

(i) A capacity to employ apprentices.

(ii) The ability to provide on-the-job training.

(C) The program has an identified local educational agency partner to ensure the theoretical instruction component of the apprenticeship meets educational standards.

(2) A program that has conditional approval to operate shall be subject to specific reasonable conditions the Division of Apprenticeship Standards deems necessary and appropriate.

(d) For purposes of this section, “conditional approval” means the temporary authorization to operate an apprenticeship program, pending final review.

(e) This section shall not apply to apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades and firefighter programs.

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

Text of AB 345 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions