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6/6/2024
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Senate OKs Zurier bill to establish civic apprenticeship program
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 STATE HOUSE — The Senate today approved a bill from Sen. Samuel D. Zurier to start a pilot apprenticeship program for graduating high school students interested in public service.
The bill (2024-S 2984) now heads to the House for consideration.
“Under this program, young people will be able to apply for a meaningful job in public service to build their skills and introduce them to a possible career,” said Senator Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), “This program also can advance the goal of building a labor pool of qualified and motivated candidates to address the shortage of state workers.”
The bill would create a civic apprenticeship program under the Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board to provide a one-year, paid position at a state department or agency for up to 20 graduating high school students. The positions will be designed to provide opportunities for learning and improve the future job prospects of the participant, focused on areas in state government experiencing staffing declines and considered essential to the operation of the department.
If the program proves popular, the board would be authorized to increase the number of participants.
Senator Zurier was inspired by Maryland’s Service Year Option program for high school graduates and based this legislation on that program.
Said Senator Zurier, “While we do not have the resources to institute Maryland’s program on the same scale in Rhode Island, this pilot initiative starts us at a manageable size that has the ability to grow with success. It is a small but important investment in our young adults and in our state agencies.”
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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