Provides relative to apprentices. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 322 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes Section 23:386 to create a new category of apprentice called a Louisiana Youth Apprentice with distinct eligibility requirements separate from the existing definition of apprentice. The bill retains all existing apprentice definitions and requirements under Paragraph A while adding Paragraph B to establish the youth apprentice designation. A Louisiana Youth Apprentice must be no older than twenty-four years of age and must have entered into a written apprentice agreement that requires a minimum of three hundred seventy-five hours of reasonably continuous employment combined with participation in an approved training program that results in both a high school diploma or equivalent and an advanced industry-based credential, certificate of technical studies, or equivalent or more advanced credential.

The practical effect of this legislation is to create a lower-hour entry pathway for younger workers into apprenticeship programs. Young people between sixteen and twenty-four years old may now participate in Louisiana Youth Apprentice programs requiring only three hundred seventy-five hours of employment rather than the two thousand hours typically required for standard apprenticeships. This structure allows younger workers to gain practical work experience while simultaneously completing high school requirements and obtaining industry-recognized credentials. Employers participating in these youth apprentice programs can access a young workforce to fill entry-level positions while providing educational pathways toward more advanced certifications.

The bill operates within the existing apprenticeship framework established in Louisiana Revised Statutes Chapter 23 and the Louisiana Administrative Code standards referenced in Section 23:386. The Louisiana Youth Apprentice definition builds upon rather than replaces the existing apprentice definition, ensuring consistency with established apprenticeship standards under LAC 40:IX.301 and LAC 40:1X.317. The legislation aligns with Louisiana's workforce development objectives by creating a targeted program for youth participation while maintaining regulatory consistency with existing apprenticeship approval processes and educational requirements. The effective date of August 1, 2026 allows time for program implementation and regulatory alignment before the provision becomes operative.