Public Works Contracts - Apprenticeship Requirements (Maryland Workforce Apprenticeship Utilization Act)

HB 1017 requires contractors and subcontractors on Maryland public works projects to employ a specific percentage of qualified apprentices or journeyworkers, replacing previous options that allowed payments to apprenticeship programs instead. It directly affects all contractors working on qualifying public projects, including those for the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College, and Baltimore City Community College. The bill mandates the Secretary of Labor to annually set the required apprenticeship percentage and allows waivers under certain circumstances. This law revises existing procurement rules to strengthen on-the-job training requirements for public construction projects.