March 4, 2011 Update

On Thursday Governor Otter signed into law Senate Bill 1006, the Open Access to Work Act, and Senate Bill 1007, the Fairness in Contracting Act.  The signing is an important affirmation by the state of Idaho that a level playing field is paramount to a strong economy and job creation and retention.  The bills were sponsored in committee and on the floor by Senators John Goedde (SB1006) and Monty Pearce (SB1007) and Representative Frank Henderson.  Both bills passed both the House and Senate on an almost exclusive party line vote.

Earlier this week the State Board of Education reintroduced their bill relating to proprietary schools, House Bill 204 http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/H0204Bookmark.htm.  This bill does not affect how our apprenticeship program is run, but it does clarify who has enforcement authority (the executive director of the State Board) and what types of advertising efforts are prohibited.