1. (a) The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation, the P-20W Council, the Alabama Workforce Council Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways, the State Department of Education, the Alabama Community College System, the Alabama Workforce Council, the regional workforce councils, the State Workforce Development Board, and the local workforce development boards, to the maximum extent practicable and permissible under state and federal law, shall align the required technical instruction and on-the-job training required for the completion of registered and industry-recognized apprenticeship programs in the state offered to career and technical education concentrators, to the regional and statewide lists of in-demand career pathways credentials, and to the two-prong career pathways model created by the Alabama Workforce Council Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways.

2. (b) The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation, the P-20W Council, the Alabama Workforce Council Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways, the State Department of Education, the Alabama Community College System, the Alabama Workforce Council, the regional workforce councils, the State Workforce Development Board, and the local workforce development boards, shall develop the Alabama Industry Recognized and Registered Apprenticeship (AIRRAP) model that shall be aligned to the regional and statewide lists of in-demand career pathways to the regional and statewide compendia of valuable credentials, and to the two-pronged career pathways model created by the Alabama Workforce Council Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways. The AIRRAP model shall conform to all of the following parameters:

   1. (1) Beginning in 9th grade, students may participate in preapprenticeship programs aligned to career pathways and credentials designated as valuable by the state compendium of valuable credentials. During 10th, 11th, and 12th grade, students may participate in youth registered apprenticeships and industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. AIRRAP model graduates may earn their high school diploma, associate degree, industry-recognized credentials, and an apprenticeship credential at the time of high school graduation. Students participating in youth apprenticeships may also participate in dual enrollment courses at a community college. The State Department of Education and the Alabama Community College System shall collaborate to streamline articulation agreements among career pathways participating in the AIRRAP model to ensure a seamless transition between high school and community college. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship shall promote dual enrollment and postsecondary graduation credit for work-based learning credits earned while participating in secondary in-school youth AIRRAP model programs.
   2. (2) The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and the Alabama Community College System shall promote apprenticeship programs for individuals who are co-enrolled in adult basic education programs and postsecondary career and technical education programs to ensure that individuals who are disengaged from the workforce are able to gain access to education and training programs, with multiple points of entry and exit, with a focus on targeting the underemployed, historically underrepresented subgroups, the formerly incarcerated, out-of-school youth, recipients of temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, or supplemental nutritional assistance programs, the long-term unemployed, those recovering from substance abuse, veterans, displaced homemakers, and other special populations and subgroups. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship shall promote the use of the federal workforce opportunity tax credit to hire eligible AIRRAP model participants. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship in cooperation with the Alabama Community College System and the State Department of Education, may establish an awards and recognition program for employers who hire in-school youth and adult AIRRAP model participants.

(Act 2019-506, §5.)