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2022 SESSION

22103487D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 71
Offered January 12, 2022
Prefiled January 12, 2022
Requesting the Virginia Apprenticeship Council to study the need for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and EV infrastructure maintenance and repair apprenticeship programs in Virginia. Report.
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Patrons-- Maldonado, Adams, D.M., Bennett-Parker, Clark, Glass, Guzman, Hayes, Hope, Jenkins, Keam, Kory, Krizek, McQuinn, Mullin, Murphy, Plum, Rasoul, Reid, Roem, Shin, Simon, Simonds, Torian, Watts and Willett
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, EV charging stations are becoming increasingly implemented throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, there is a future need for properly trained technicians to set up and provide ongoing maintenance and repairs for EV charging stations in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has the stated goal of reducing carbon emissions across all industry sectors, including the transportation sector; and

WHEREAS, the increased implementation of EV charging stations and developing training programs for EV charging station technicians will serve the Commonwealth's stated goal of reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector; and

WHEREAS, through apprenticeships and certification programs, the Commonwealth should establish a standard by which the Commonwealth becomes more competitive with a workforce that supports transitions toward cleaner energy consumption; and

WHEREAS, apprenticeships and certification programs are the most effective means for safely developing members of the workforce into highly skilled, well-trained EV charging station technicians needed by the Commonwealth for future economic development in the EV industry; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Apprenticeship Council be requested to study the need for EV charging infrastructure apprenticeship programs in Virginia.

In conducting its study, the Apprenticeship Council shall consider (i) the future workforce needs of the EV charging industry, (ii) the economic impacts of a lack of highly skilled, well-trained EV charging technicians in the Commonwealth, (iii) workforce needs in the EV charging industry in response to potential investments in EV charging infrastructure by the state or federal government, and (iv) the role of apprenticeship programs in developing and accelerating the EV industry and the reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation sector. In addition, the Apprenticeship Council shall undertake an in-depth study of apprenticeship or certification programs implemented in other states and convene a stakeholder advisory group to discuss expanding critically needed EV charging infrastructure in the Commonwealth. The stakeholder advisory group shall include the Chief Workforce Development Advisor, a representative from the Department of Transportation, representatives from the DC International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 26 and Northern Virginia Community College, representatives from EV manufacturers and EV charging infrastructure manufacturers, and technical experts on EV charging infrastructure.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Apprenticeship Council for this study, upon request.

The Apprenticeship Council shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2022, and shall submit an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Commerce and Labor and the House Committees on Education and Labor and Commerce. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.