(a) The Council on Apprenticeship and Training is established and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of Labor and shall consider matters relating to apprenticeship and occupational training and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor, Secretary of the Department or Director of Industrial Affairs. The Council may study, research, plan and advise the Director, the Secretary and the Governor on matters it deems appropriate, in order to enable the Division to function in the best possible manner.

(b) The Council on Apprenticeship and Training, upon the effective date of this chapter, shall be composed of the members of the State Council on Apprenticeship and Training whose terms, as of the effective date of this chapter, have not expired, with the exception of the Chairperson of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations whose term shall end as of the effective date of this chapter. Each member shall serve on the Council on Apprenticeship and Training for the period of the member’s unexpired term, unless the member vacates the member’s position by resignation, death or incapacity or unless the person retires and ceases to be a working member of an employee organization or employer. The Council shall be composed of 7 members, 6 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. Three of the appointed members shall be representatives of employee organizations and 3 of the appointed members shall be representatives of employers. The Director of the Department for Vocational Education shall be an ex officio voting member of the Council. The State Supervisor of the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, shall be a consultant to the Council. The terms of the newly appointed members shall be staggered. The first 2 appointees shall serve for a term of 1 year, the next 2 appointees shall serve for a term of 2 years and the next 2 appointees shall serve for a term of 3 years. Thereafter, all new appointees shall serve for a term of 3 years, provided, however, that the Governor may appoint members for terms of less than 3 years to ensure that the Council members’ terms expire on a staggered basis.

(c) At least 3, but no more than 4, of the newly appointed members of the Council shall be affiliated with 1 of the major political parties and at least 2, but no more than 3, of the newly appointed members shall be affiliated with the other major political party; provided, however, that there shall be no more than a bare majority representation of 1 major political party over the other major political party. Any person who declines to announce a political affiliation shall also be eligible for appointment as a member of the Council.

(d) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident to their duties as members of the Council.

(e) A Chairperson of the Council shall be chosen by the members of the Council from among its members and shall serve in that capacity for a term of 1 year and shall be eligible for reelection.

(f) Any appointment, pursuant to this section, to replace a member whose position becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the member’s term shall be filled only for the remainder of that term.

29 Del. C. 1953, § 8512; 57 Del. Laws, c. 571, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 203, §§ 1, 2.