Assembly BillPassed first houseLabor
AB 805: Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.
What AB 805 does, verified August 15, 2026
The proposed bill aims to establish a career apprenticeship bridge program, administered by the division of apprenticeship standards. The program will coordinate and establish apprenticeships for individuals between 16 and 24 years old, focusing on in-school and out-of-school students. It also seeks to promote data-driven decision-making by establishing a streamlined youth apprenticeship data system. To achieve this, the division will work with the state department of education and the office of the chancellor of the California community colleges to develop parameters and guidelines for the program. Additionally, the division will submit a report to the legislature by January 1, 2028, highlighting barriers to employer participation and engagement in the program.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-08-13)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions22 total · showing 5
| Aug. 13, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Jun. 29, 2026 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jun. 18, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun. 17, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 17). |
| Jun. 09, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
Latest bill textAmended version, June 18, 2026 · 1,500 words
| Amended IN Senate June 18, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 09, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly January 05, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 805
| Introduced by Assembly Member Fong |
February 18, 2025 |
An act to add Article 8 (commencing with Section 3140) to Chapter 4 of Division 3 of the Labor Code, relating to apprenticeships.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 805, as amended, Fong. Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.
Existing law establishes the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations and requires the division, among other things, to evaluate apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs to ensure that the program evaluated is complying with its standards, as specified. Existing law requires the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to perform various functions with respect to apprenticeship programs and the welfare of apprentices.
This bill would establish the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program to be administered by the division for specific purposes, including, among other purposes, to and would authorize the division to work with the State Department of Education and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges in order to, among other things, identify resources to support youth apprenticeships. The bill would require a program applicant for a Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program to submit documentation to the chief, as specified. The bill would require the chief, before approving a Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program, to present the application, as described, to the State Department of Education to review whether specified requirements are met. The bill would authorize the chief, among other things, to issue rules and regulations that govern Career Apprenticeship Bridge Programs, as specified. The bill would authorize the division to identify county and regional intermediaries, as described, to coordinate and provide support to local educational entities, employers, and youth to implement the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California has a strong interest in expanding access to youth apprenticeship opportunities that connect high school, postsecondary education, workforce training, and pathways to good jobs.
(b) Apprenticeships and other “earn and learn” opportunities provide students with valuable paid work experience, career-connected learning, and opportunities for economic mobility.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that Career Apprenticeship Bridge Programs be implemented in a manner that promotes awareness of, access to, participation in, and successful completion of youth apprenticeship opportunities for all eligible participants.
(d) It is further the intent of the Legislature that outreach, recruitment, retention, and support efforts be conducted, to the extent feasible, for youth and young adults who face barriers to educational attainment or employment, including foster youth and former foster youth, justice-impacted youth, youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, youth from low-income households, and youth residing in communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.
(e) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the Division of Apprenticeship Standards work with county and regional intermediaries, including local educational agencies, county offices of education, community-based organizations, industry sector partners, workforce development entities, employers, and other stakeholders to support the implementation and expansion of Career Apprenticeship Bridge Programs.
SECTION 1. SEC. 2.
Article 8. Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program
3140.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) (1) “Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program” means a program within a state-approved apprenticeship program for students in grades 10 to 12, inclusive, to gain paid work experience while receiving related and supplemental instruction through a career technical education pathway.
(2) The program provides learners with an enhanced educational experience that embeds the apprenticeship model and allows them to start and complete a phase of their apprenticeship journey prior to high school graduation.
(b) “Student apprentice” means a registered apprentice who meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Is at least 16 years of age.
(2) Is enrolled full time in school in grade 10, 11, or 12.
(3) Is participating in a youth apprenticeship program.
(c) (1)“Work experience education” means a course of study that combines an on-the-job component with classroom instruction. has the same meaning as defined in Article 7 (commencing with Section 51760) of Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.
(2)“Work experience education” may be established by the governing board or body of a local educational agency pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 10070) of Subchapter 1 of Chapter 10 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(d) “Youth apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship program approved by the chief and registered with the division that does all of the following:
(1) Fulfills all registered apprenticeship requirements.
(2) Serves youth between 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive, at the time of enrollment.
(3) Offers related and supplemental instruction through school-based career technical education or academic courses, including dual enrollment courses, or the equivalent, whenever possible.
(4) Complies with labor laws for minors.
(5) Offers flexible work hours to allow for pupils to participate in on-the-job training while they are enrolled in high school.
(6) Allows for part-time employment and extended completion time to accommodate student apprentices.
3141.
(a) The Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program is hereby established, to be administered by the Division of Apprenticeship(b) The division may work with the State Department of Education and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges in order to do both of the following:
(a)To identify
(1) Identify
resources to support youth apprenticeships.(b)To identify
(2) Identify
appropriate partnerships between local educational3142.
(a) A program applicant for a Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program shall submit documentation to the chief showing all of the following:(1) The proposed program offers a minimum of 300 hours paid on-the-job training hours through a work experience education program or equivalent.
(2) The proposed program offers a minimum of 144 hours of occupation-specific, apprenticeship-related and supplemental instruction as part of a career technical education pathway or equivalent.
(3) (A) The proposed program provides participants who complete the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program with guaranteed entry and advanced standing in a state-approved apprenticeship program for the hours of paid on-the-job training and related and supplemental instruction that the participant has accrued.
(B) The requirement in this paragraph may be satisfied by either of the following:
(i) An agreement between the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program and the state-approved apprenticeship program.
(ii) Evidence that the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program is incorporated into the state-approved apprenticeship program.
(b) To the greatest extent possible, the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program shall offer a minimum of one college enrollment course, or equivalent, to enable participants to earn early college credits.
(c) (1) Before approving a Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program, the chief shall present the application to the State Department of Education to review whether the requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) are met.
(2) If the State Department of Education confirms that the requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) are met, it shall provide written notice of that fact to the chief.
(3) If the State Department of Education does not provide written notice pursuant to paragraph (2), the chief shall not approve the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.
(d) The chief may do all of the following:
(1) Require other documentation to be submitted by the applicant.
(2) Impose other requirements for approval of Career Apprenticeship Bridge Programs in consultation with the State Department of Education.
(3) Suspend, or revoke approval of, a Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program by providing written notice of the reasons for the suspension or revocation.
(e) (1) The chief, in consultation with the State Department of Education, may issue rules and regulations that govern Career Apprenticeship Bridge Programs, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations governing the approval, denial, suspension, and revocation of programs, program administration and procedures, evaluations, working conditions, and minimum standards.
(2) All rules and regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the rules and regulations adopted by the State Department of Education.
(3)A regulation may be adopted to prioritize outreach, recruitment, retention, and support for youth and young adults facing barriers to educational attainment and employment, including foster youth and former foster youth, justice-impacted youth, youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, youth from low-income households, and youth residing in communities disproportionately impacted by poverty.
(f)The Division of Apprenticeship Standards may identify county and regional intermediaries, including county offices of education, community organizations, industry sector partners, or other entities to coordinate and provide support to local educational entities, employers, and youth to implement the Career Apprenticeship Bridge Program.
Text of AB 805 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions