The Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry proposes the following amendment (SR-3605.JG0005S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. This act may be cited as the "Earn and Learn Act of 2023".

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Chapter 1, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Section 40-1-77.(A) The purpose of this section is to expand economic opportunities and build a skilled workforce according to industry standards by allowing a worker to earn a paycheck while he fulfills applicable licensing requirements.

(B) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Apprenticeship" means a United States Department of Labor-approved and registered apprenticeship or an industry recognized apprenticeship for an occupation or profession licensed by a South Carolina regulatory board or commission under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, as approved by the applicable licensing board.

(2) "Board" means a board, commission, or panel under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation that regulates a profession or occupation and issues a license to an individual. This definition of "board" does not include boards and commissions established and operating pursuant to Chapter 15, Title 54.

(3) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other evidence that an individual is qualified to engage in an occupation or profession before that person may engage in or represent himself as a member of an occupation or profession.

(4) "Scope of practice" means the procedures, actions, processes, and work that a person may perform pursuant to a license issued by an occupation's or profession's regulatory board.

(C) A board shall issue an initial license pursuant to this section to an applicant, if the applicant:

(1) completes an apprenticeship in an occupation or profession that has a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board, to an occupation or profession regulated by this State through license requirements;

(2) successfully passes requisite examinations;

(3) submits a completed application and pays all applicable fees;

(4) is not otherwise disqualified from licensure because of an applicable criminal conviction; and

(5) completes all other requirements for initial licensure as required by the applicable licensing board in accordance with state law, only if the board imposes the same requirements on other license applicants. A board shall not require an applicant pursuant to this section to complete requirements that exceed the requirements of other license applicants for initial licensure.

(D) If a board denies a license to an applicant under this section, then the board shall:

(1) provide the applicant with a denial in writing; and

(2) explain the reason for the denial in the written decision, such as whether the licensing entity determined that the applicant's apprenticeship program does not correspond to the profession or occupation or level of license for which the applicant applied.

(E) A license issued pursuant to this section is subject to the same provisions of law governing a license for the occupation or profession.

(F) A board shall not require an applicant pursuant to this section to complete an apprenticeship for a greater duration of time than that which is required pursuant to federal law.

(G) A board may require an applicant pursuant to this section to successfully pass an examination only if the board imposes the same examination requirement on other license applicants. A board shall not require an applicant pursuant to this section to receive a higher score on an examination than the score required of other license applicants.

(H) A board may require an applicant pursuant to this section to pay a licensing fee only if the board imposes a licensing fee on other license applicants. A board shall not impose on an applicant pursuant to this section a licensing fee greater than the licensing fee imposed on other applicants.

(I) A board may promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.

(J) This section does not apply to:

(1) a licensing entity that does not license individual workers for which there is a board-approved apprenticeship program;

(2) a license that requires the educational equivalent of a bachelor's degree or higher; or

(3) apprenticeship programs that are established by state law.