(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Joint organization” means an apprenticeship sponsor who participates in a collective bargaining agreement.
(b) “Nonjoint organization” means an apprenticeship sponsor who does not participate in a collective bargaining agreement.
(2)(a) There is created a State Apprenticeship Advisory Council to be composed of 10 voting members appointed by the Governor and two ex officio nonvoting members. The purpose of the advisory council is to advise the department on matters relating to apprenticeship. The advisory council may not establish policy, adopt rules, or consider whether particular apprenticeship programs should be approved by the department.
(b) The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner’s designee shall serve ex officio as chair of the State Apprenticeship Advisory Council, but may not vote. The state director of the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the council. The Governor shall appoint to the council four members representing employee organizations and four members representing employer organizations. Each of these eight members shall represent industries that have registered apprenticeship programs. The Governor shall also appoint two public members who are knowledgeable about registered apprenticeship and apprenticeable occupations and who are independent of any joint or nonjoint organization. Members shall be appointed for 4-year staggered terms. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(c) The council shall meet at the call of the chair or at the request of a majority of its membership, but at least twice a year. A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum is necessary to take action.
(d) The Governor may remove any member for cause.
(e) The council shall maintain minutes of each meeting. The department shall keep on file the minutes of each meeting and shall make the minutes available to any interested person.
(f) Members of the council shall serve without compensation and are not entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses under s. 112.061. Meetings may be held via teleconference or other electronic means. 