A RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY LEGISLATOR RANZENHOFER

WHEREAS, On May 11, 2006 the Erie County Legislature passed a law regarding the Apprenticeship Worker Training Program, by an 11-4 vote, which put into effect "The Erie County Workforce Development and Diversification Apprenticeship Training Program," and

WHEREAS, this law calls for required uniform training programs for any contractor or sub-contractor doing business in Erie County and requires contractors to adhere to workforce development rules that are unfair and hurtful to many businesses, and

WHEREAS, one requirement of this law is that contractors bidding on projects must include with their bid submission a statement committing to providing apprenticeship training opportunities to workers, as well as details of a workforce diversification recruiting program directed at attracting candidates to fill positions to meet such requirements, and

WHEREAS, on August 28, 2007 New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer directed the Department of Labor to suspend the development and approval of apprenticeship training programs in all trades, as well as suspend the addition of new participating employers to existing programs, and

WHEREAS, Governor Spitzer's ordered suspension of new apprenticeship applications denies employers and employees access to training programs which negatively impacts a contractor's ability to gain access to existing apprenticeship programs, and ultimately, public projects, and

WHEREAS, the Erie County Legislature's support of "The Erie County Workforce Development and Diversification Apprenticeship Training Program," is no longer appropriate now that Governor Spitzer has made a decision to deny contractors access to the program's perceived benefits by suspending it, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Erie County Legislature supports the revocation of Local Law Intro. 3-2006 (Local Law 2-2006), "A Local Law in relation to a requirement for Worker Training Programs by contractors and subcontractors under contract with the County of Erie," which was first approved in a regular session of the Erie County Legislature on February 2, 2006, and later approved on May 11, 2006, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Erie County Legislature does hereby officially denounce the state's denial of employers and employees to gain access to apprenticeship training programs in New York State, and be it further

RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be presented to Governor Eliot Spitzer, County Executive Joel Giambra, and honorable members of the Western New York State Delegations to the Assembly and Senate.

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