Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-332b: Hiring ratios re apprentices, journeypersons and contractors. Electrical, plumbing, heating, piping and cooling, sprinkler fitter and sheet metal work. Relief. Regulations.

(a) The following allowable hiring ratios shall apply to apprentices, journeypersons and contractors for the following trades:

TRADE

Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Piping and Cooling, Sprinkler Fitter and Sheet Metal Work

Apprentices | Licensees (Journeypersons or Contractors)

1 | 1

2 | 2

3 | 3

4 | 6

5 | 9

6 | 12

7 | 15

8 | 18

9 | 21

10 | 24

Ratio continues at 3 Journeypersons To 1 Apprentice

(b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a licensed contractor may hire one or more additional apprentices even if the licensed contractor does not employ a sufficient number of licensees to satisfy the applicable allowable hiring ratio established in subsection (a) of this section, provided:

(A) The licensed contractor submits a ratio relief application to the Department of Consumer Protection, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, for such additional apprentice or apprentices, which application shall include, at a minimum:

(i) The name and contact information of the licensed contractor;

(ii) The name and contact information of the licensed and registered apprentices currently employed by the licensed contractor;

(iii) The name and contact information of each such additional apprentice, if known by the licensed contractor;

(iv) Information demonstrating that the criteria established in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection or pursuant to subsection (a) of section 20-332e have been satisfied;

(v) A statement disclosing whether the Department of Consumer Protection has taken any disciplinary action against the licensed contractor during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application, and, if so, a description of such disciplinary action;

(vi) A statement disclosing whether the Labor Department has taken any enforcement action against the licensed contractor pursuant to chapter 558 during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application, and, if so, a description of such enforcement action;

(vii) A copy of each notice of termination of an apprenticeship agreement that the licensed contractor submitted to the Labor Department during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application;

(viii) If during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application a state agency authorized the licensed contractor to hire one or more apprentices in excess of the applicable allowable hiring ratio established in subsection (a) of this section, an attestation from the licensed contractor that (I) the state agency authorized the licensed contractor to hire such apprentice or apprentices during such three-year period, (II) the licensed contractor continues to employ such apprentice or apprentices or offered to rehire such apprentice or apprentices prior to the date of such application, and (III) the licensed contractor did not terminate the employment of such apprentice or apprentices for any reason other than that a position with the licensed contractor was unavailable; and

(ix) Any other information the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in the commissioner's discretion, deems relevant for the purposes of this subsection; and

(B) The ratio relief application submitted to the department pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision is approved in the manner set forth in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection or subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 20-332e.

(2) (A) If the commissioner or the commissioner's designee determines that the licensed contractor employs a combination of not more than eight journeypersons and contractors including such licensed contractor, and the applicant attests that the Labor Department has not taken any enforcement action against the licensed contractor pursuant to chapter 558 during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application, the commissioner or such designee shall render a decision approving such application, provided the licensed contractor:

(i) Seeks to hire one or more additional apprentices at a ratio that does not exceed one apprentice to one journeyperson or contractor;

(ii) Attests that at least one such apprentice is enrolled in a qualified apprenticeship training program that is offered by a school in the Technical Education and Career System established under section 10-95, unless the licensed contractor made a good faith effort to seek out an apprentice enrolled in such a program and such effort was unsuccessful; and

(iii) Attests that the licensed contractor is suffering from an undue operational hardship due to the applicable allowable hiring ratio established in subsection (a) of this section.

(B) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall send notice of the decision rendered under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision to the licensed contractor in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner not later than ten business days after the department received such application.

(C) Each decision rendered under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be a final decision for the purposes of section 4-183.

(3) If the commissioner or the commissioner's designee determines, after reviewing the application submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, that the licensed contractor employs a combination of more than eight journeypersons and contractors including such licensed contractor, that the Labor Department has taken any enforcement action against the licensed contractor pursuant to chapter 558 during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of such application or that the licensed contractor otherwise does not satisfy the criteria set forth in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the commissioner or such designee shall refer such application to the appropriate examining board established under section 20-331.

(4) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, amend any regulations adopted pursuant to section 20-332 to effectuate the provisions of this subsection.