§ 42-102-11. State Work Immersion Program. (a)(1) The workforce board ("board") shall develop a state work immersion program and a non-trade, apprenticeship program. For the purposes of this section, work immersion shall mean a temporary, paid work experience that provides a meaningful learning opportunity and increases the employability of the participant. The programs shall be designed in order to provide Rhode Island residents and/or students attending secondary schools, postsecondary schools, or training programs with a meaningful work experience, and to assist employers by training individuals for potential employment.

(2) Funding for the work immersion program will be allocated from the job development fund account and/or from funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act. Appropriated funds will match investments made by employers in providing meaningful work immersion positions and non-trade apprenticeships.

(b) Employers participating in the work immersion program may be eligible to receive a reimbursement of up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the approved program participant's wages paid during their work experience.

(c) The board shall create a non-trade apprenticeship program and annually award funding on a competitive basis to at least one new initiative. This program shall meet the standards of apprenticeship programs defined pursuant to § 28-45-9. The board shall present the program to the state apprenticeship council, established pursuant to chapter 45 of title 28, for review and consideration.

(d) An eligible participant in programs established in subsections (b) and (c) must be a Rhode Island resident. Provided, however, any non-Rhode Island resident, who is enrolled in a college or university located in Rhode Island, is eligible to participate while enrolled at the college or university.

(e) In order to fully implement the provisions of this section, the board is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations. The rules and regulations shall define eligible employers that can participate in the programs created by this section.

History of Section. (P.L. 2013, ch. 144, art. 15, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 433, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 461, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 500, § 4; P.L. 2014, ch. 551, § 4; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 11, § 4.)