Subdivision 1. Investigations. In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the commissioner may investigate registered apprenticeship programs and applicants for program registration to determine whether there are any grounds for deregistration of a registered program or for the denial of an application. Persons requested by the commissioner to provide information or produce documents shall respond within 30 days of the commissioner's service of the request.

Subd. 2. Grounds. (a) The commissioner may deregister a registered apprenticeship program or deny an application for registration if:

(1) the program does not comply with any requirement of Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 29 or 32, this chapter, or any rule adopted pursuant to section 178.041;

(2) the program does not have at least one registered apprentice in each trade or occupation, except for the following specified periods of time:

(i) within the first 30 days after the date a program is registered; or

(ii) within one year of the date that a program graduates an apprentice in a trade or occupation and the date of registration for the next apprentice in that trade or occupation; or

(3) the program is not conducted, operated, or administered in accordance with the program's registered standards or with the requirements of this chapter, including but not limited to:

(i) failure to provide on-the-job learning;

(ii) failure to provide related instruction;

(iii) failure of an employer to pay the apprentice a progressively increasing schedule of wages consistent with the apprentice's skills acquired; or

(iv) persistent and significant failure to perform successfully.

(b) The commissioner may deregister an apprenticeship program at the written request of the sponsor in a manner consistent with the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 29, section 29.8(a).

Subd. 3. Reinstatement. If the commissioner deregisters a registered apprenticeship program, the sponsor may request reinstatement not before one year after the effective date of the deregistration. The commissioner may, as a condition of reinstatement, require the sponsor to comply with reasonable conditions the commissioner considers necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.

Subd. 4. Orders; hearings related to orders. (a) If the commissioner determines that a registered apprenticeship program should be deregistered or that an application for registration should be denied, the commissioner shall issue to and serve on the sponsor an order deregistering the program's registration or denying the application for registration.

(b) An order issued under this subdivision must specify:

(1) the deficiency and the required remedy or corrective action;

(2) the time period to effectuate the required remedy or corrective action, which shall be no more than 90 days; and

(3) any other requirement consistent with Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 29, section 29.8(b).

(c) The sponsor to whom the commissioner issues an order under this subdivision may appeal to a hearing board appointed consistent with section 178.09, subdivision 2.

History: 2014 c 305 s 11