Bill Text: IL HB1063 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that, for the purpose of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative, apprenticeship programs must provide to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity evidence that the apprenticeship program has graduated, in each of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the date on which the public works project begins, at least 2 apprentices in each construction craft to be performed at the relevant project. Provides that apprenticeship programs are not required to provide graduation information with respect to apprenticeship crafts that are dedicated exclusively to the transportation of materials and equipment to and from the project. Provides that those provisions do not apply to public works projects contracted by school districts or units of local government. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-04 - Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee [HB1063 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1063-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1063 Introduced , by Rep. Dave Vella SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
30 ILCS 559/20-20
Amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act. Provides that, for the purpose of the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative, apprenticeship programs must provide to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity evidence that the apprenticeship program has graduated, in each of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the date on which the public works project begins, at least 2 apprentices in each construction craft to be performed at the relevant project. Provides that apprenticeship programs are not required to provide graduation information with respect to apprenticeship crafts that are dedicated exclusively to the transportation of materials and equipment to and from the project. Provides that those provisions do not apply to public works projects contracted by school districts or units of local government. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning finance.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Works Jobs Program Act is amended
by changing Section 20-20 as follows:
(30 ILCS 559/20-20)
Sec. 20-20. Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative.
(a) The Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative is
established and shall be administered by the Department.
(1) Subject to the exceptions set forth in subsection
(b) of this Section, apprentices shall be utilized on all
public works projects estimated to cost $500,000 or more
in accordance with this subsection (a).
(2) For public works projects estimated to cost
$500,000 or more, the goal of the Illinois Works
Apprenticeship Initiative is that apprentices will perform
either 10% of the total labor hours actually worked in
each prevailing wage classification or 10% of the
estimated labor hours in each prevailing wage
classification, whichever is less. For contracts and grant
agreements executed after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and before
January 1, 2024, of this goal, at least 25% of the labor

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hours of each prevailing wage classification performed by
apprentices shall be performed by graduates of the
Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois
Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway
Construction Careers Training Program. For contracts and
grant agreements executed on or after January 1, 2024, of
this goal, at least 50% of the labor hours of each
prevailing wage classification performed by apprentices
shall be performed by graduates of the Illinois Works
Preapprenticeship Program, the Illinois Climate Works
Preapprenticeship Program, or the Highway Construction
Careers Training Program.
(3) For contracts and grant agreements executed on or
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
104th General Assembly, in order for an apprentice to
qualify under this subsection (a), the apprenticeship
program in which the apprentice participates must provide
to the Department evidence that the apprenticeship program
has graduated, in each of the 3 calendar years immediately
preceding the date on which the public works project
begins, at least 2 apprentices in each construction craft
to be performed at the relevant project. Apprenticeship
programs are not required to provide graduation
information for the purposes of this paragraph (3) with
respect to apprenticeship crafts that are dedicated
exclusively to the transportation of materials and

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equipment to and from the project. This paragraph (3) does
not apply to public works projects contracted by school
districts or units of local government.
(b) Before or during the term of a contract subject to this
Section, the Department may reduce or waive the goals set
forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (a). Prior to the
Department granting a request for a reduction or waiver, the
Department shall determine, in its discretion, whether to hold
a public hearing on the request. In determining whether to
hold a public hearing, the Department may consider factors,
including the scale of the project and whether the contractor
or subcontractor seeking the reduction or waiver has
previously requested reductions or waivers on other projects.
The Department may also consult with the Business Enterprise
Council under the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women,
and Persons with Disabilities Act and the Chief Procurement
Officer of the agency administering the public works contract.
The Department may grant a reduction or waiver upon a
determination that:
(1) the contractor or subcontractor has demonstrated
that insufficient apprentices are available;
(2) the reasonable and necessary requirements of the
contract do not allow the goal to be met;
(3) there is a disproportionately high ratio of
material costs to labor hours that makes meeting the goal
infeasible;

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(4) apprentice labor hour goals conflict with existing
requirements, including federal requirements, in
connection with the public work; or
(5) the contractor or subcontractor has demonstrated
that insufficient graduates of the Illinois Works
Preapprenticeship Program are available to meet the
requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (a).
(c) Contractors and subcontractors must submit a
certification to the Department and the agency that is
administering the contract, or the grant agreement funding the
contract, demonstrating that the contractor or subcontractor
has:
(1) met the apprentice labor hour goals set forth in
paragraph (2) of subsection (a);
(2) received a reduction or waiver pursuant to
subsection (b); or
(3) not complied with the labor hour goals in
paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and did not receive a
reduction or waiver pursuant to subsection (b).
It shall be deemed to be a material breach of the contract,
or the grant agreement funding the contract, and entitle the
State to declare a default, terminate the contract or grant
agreement funding it, and exercise those remedies provided for
in the contract, at law, or in equity if the contractor or
subcontractor fails to submit the certification required in
this subsection or submits false or misleading information.

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Intentional failure to comply with the Illinois Works
Apprenticeship Initiative may result in the State agency that
contracted or funded the public works project: (i) terminating
the contract or agreement involved, (ii) prohibiting the party
that contracted with the State from participating in public
contracts or agreements for a period not to exceed 3 years,
(iii) seeking a penalty of up to 25% of the contract or
agreement as a result of the violation, or (iv) any
combination of items (i) through (iii). State agencies shall
report to the Department all projects that did not comply with
the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative and any action
taken against the noncompliant party and shall provide an
action plan to address the reported instance of noncompliance
with the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative.
(d) No later than one year after the effective date of this
Act, and by April 1 of every calendar year thereafter, the
Department of Labor shall submit a report to the Illinois
Works Review Panel regarding the use of apprentices under the
Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative for public works
projects. To the extent it is available, the report shall
include the following information:
(1) the total number of labor hours on each project
and the percentage of labor hours actually worked by
apprentices on each public works project;
(2) the number of apprentices used in each public
works project, broken down by trade; and

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(3) the number and percentage of minorities, women,
and veterans utilized as apprentices on each public works
project.
(e) The Department shall adopt any rules deemed necessary
to implement the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative. In
order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation
of this Act, the Department may adopt emergency rules. The
adoption of emergency rules authorized by this subsection is
deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and
welfare.
(f) The Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative shall not
interfere with any contracts or grants in existence on the
effective date of this Act.
(g) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this
Act, any State agency that administers a construction program
for which federal law or regulations establish standards and
procedures for the utilization of apprentices may implement
the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative using the federal
standards and procedures for the establishment of goals and
utilization procedures for the State-funded, as well as the
federally assisted, portions of the program. In such cases,
these goals shall not exceed those established pursuant to the
relevant federal statutes or regulations.
(h) The Department shall maintain a list of graduates of
the Illinois Works Preapprenticeship Program for a period of
not less than one year after the participant graduates from

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the Program. The list shall include the name, address, county
of residence, phone number, email address, and the
self-attested construction and building trade career path
preferences of each graduate. This list shall be made
available to any contractor or subcontractor, as well as any
apprenticeship program approved by and registered with the
United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship
and Training in alignment with the graduate's self-attested
construction and building trade career path preferences.
(Source: P.A. 103-305, eff. 7-28-23.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.