AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DELAWARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
HB432 creates a new Delaware Healthcare Apprenticeship Degree Program within Title 14 of the Delaware Code. The Department of Labor, working with the Department of Education, would be responsible for creating and administering the program, which is designed to place students and other participants into paid clinical apprenticeships at healthcare facilities while they complete required coursework and training. The goal is to help participants earn credentials for careers such as nurse, certified nursing assistant, or other healthcare roles while gaining hands-on experience.
The bill also directs the Department of Education to align the program with existing high school career pathways and credit structures so participants can earn postsecondary credit for completed skills and training. In addition, the Department of Labor is instructed to work with Delaware Health and Social Services and Delaware Human Resources on future apprenticeship programs that address broader state workforce needs, and to consult stakeholders on possible degreed apprenticeship programs beyond healthcare, with a report due by May 1, 2027.
HB432 would add a new chapter to Title 14 establishing a state-run healthcare apprenticeship degree framework and requiring the Department of Labor to adopt rules for implementation. It would affect school districts, charter schools, public schools, institutes of higher education, healthcare facilities, and state agencies involved in workforce and education policy. The bill also creates a reporting and planning requirement for the Department of Labor to study expansion of degreed apprenticeship models beyond healthcare, potentially influencing future workforce development policy and funding decisions.
The bill appears generally favorable and workforce-oriented, with its stated purpose focused on expanding the healthcare labor pipeline, supporting paid training, and creating low-cost pathways into healthcare careers. The sponsor list suggests broad bipartisan and cross-chamber interest, and the bill text emphasizes partnerships, mentoring, wages, benefits, and opportunities for underrepresented populations. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or formal debate in the available materials.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record because there are no committee transcripts or vote tallies. Based on the bill text, likely areas of discussion could include the administrative role of the Department of Labor and Department of Education, how apprenticeships would be funded, whether participating healthcare facilities can provide sufficient mentoring and paid placements, and how the program would interact with existing education and workforce pathways. The bill also contemplates tax credits, incentives, and future expansion beyond healthcare, which could raise questions about cost, eligibility, and program scope.