Maryland Registered Apprenticeship Development Advisory Board Meeting Minutes – July 28, 2026

Location: Virtual via Google Meet

Board Members Present

• Jacob Hsu, Chairman

• Senator Jim Rosapepe, Senate Representative

• Delegate Eric Ebersole, House of Delegates Representative

• Minah Woo, Employer Representative

• Spencer Carroll, Employer Representative

• Nichalas Cummings, Labor Representative

  Note: Prior to the meeting, Labor Representative Donna Edwards notified Director Chris MacLarion that she would be unable to be in attendance.

  Other Attendees

• Chris MacLarion, Director – Office of Apprenticeship (OA), MD Labor

• Leza Griffith, Deputy Principal Counsel for Labor – Office of Attorney General

• Dylan McDonough, Senior Policy Analyst – MD Labor

• Myra Norton – Career and Technical Education (CTE) Committee

• Kassandra McGhee – JFF

• John Ladd – JFF

• Patrick Bourke – Governor’s Office for Children (GOC)

• Anahitta Mian – MD Labor

• Yolanda Cullen – MD Labor

• Office of Apprenticeship Staff – OA, MD Labor

1. Opening Remarks and Roll Call

   1. Chairman Hsu welcomed all to the third meeting of the Maryland Registered Apprenticeship Development Advisory Board and called the virtual meeting to order at 10:00 am; confirmed quorum was present.

2. Approval of Minutes

   1. Approval of the minutes of the May 20, 2026, Maryland Registered Apprenticeship Development Advisory Board meeting.

3. Old Business

   1. Maryland Apprenticeship Incentive Program (MAIP)

   2. Program Approvals: A total of 92 Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs have been approved for HSLRA representing 21% of all sponsors.

4. New Business

   1. Director’s Report and Grant Updates - Director Chris MacLarion provided a comprehensive update on current grant funding and program approvals.

      1. Press Release is forthcoming on the Intermediary Grant

      2. High School Level of Registered Apprenticeship (HSLRA): 19 out of 21 HSLRA applications were approved representing 90%.

      3. Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP): Maryland received a total of

         $168 million, with $20.1 million specifically allocated to apprenticeship initiatives in 18 rural counties.

         • Deadline: Proposals for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) are due by August 9, 2026.

   2. ‌Regulatory and Legislative Updates - Dylan McDonough, Senior Policy Analyst, provided an update on the current regulatory process.

      1. Regulations are currently moving through the DTS process.

         • The formal regulatory process is proceeding, and public comments will be made available during the next phase.

         • Meeting with DGS biweekly, once regulations are approved, will help determine how to move forward and will keep you updated.

      2. RN Licensing: Senator Rosapepe suggested that RADAB vote on a recommendation to draft legislation to make RN licensing more apprenticeable and to solve issues within the Board of Nursing.
      3. Board of Nursing: Minah Woo, Employer Representative expressed agreement, noting existing difficulties working with the Board of Nursing.
   3. Employer Engagement Sector Strategy (EESS)
      1. Strategic Plan Feedback

         • Minah Woo noted the report was comprehensive but emphasized the need for a steady stream of employer onboarding.

           1. School systems work around the academic calendar. Scheduling of the RI and flexibility of scheduling (in January and August).

           2. School Calendar Alignment: Concerns were raised regarding how the onboarding process for RA programs must align with academic calendars.

         • Page 2 - Getting to 4000

           1. Room for growth in Education

         • Page 4 - Scaling Existing Programs

           1. Public Sector - Exelon has summer training program (unsure if RA), recommends discussion with them about how they model their program

         • Pages 9 & 12 - Existing Programs

           1. Healthcare - CNA trainees are required to be licensed to do work.

           2. Board of licensing added additional requirements for licensure (GNA also req)

         • Page 17 - Sector Engagement Partners

           1. Schools need additional staff to focus on RA/HSLRA.

           2. Proposes that MSDE fund one student per school (roughly 1,500 schools in MD) as an RA program.

         • Per Senator Rosapepe - Identify and recruit employers aka apprenticeship champions (in restaurant and automotive - as examples); take existing programs and scale it in bringing on more employers.

      2. Scaling via Intermediaries: Jacob Hsu highlighted the importance of partnerships and questioned how to effectively leverage and engage intermediaries to scale programs efficiently.
      3. Healthcare Industry Concerns: Spencer Carroll, Employer Representative expressed uncertainty regarding the projected growth of the healthcare industry as outlined in the report, citing strained budgets and hiring timeline misalignments.

         • Per Spencer, it would be helpful if students complete their CNA in their junior year so they can receive OJT hours during the summer during their junior and senior year; shift IRC during their junior year.

         • The industry has philanthropic funding available for first-year wages, which may explain lower participation in other grant solicitations.

      4. OJT Correlation: Spencer Carroll shared that the data suggests a 400-hour On-the-Job Training (OJT) clearly predicts whether an apprentice will convert to a full-time employee (FTE).
      5. Industry Specific Approach: Identify a specific approach for restaurants and automotive to scale apprenticeship in this industry
      6. Revised Draft to go to CTE committee by September to incorporate into their plan

      7. Per Senator Rosapepe, he motioned to adopt three conceptual recommendations (seconded by Minah Woo) as follows:

         • MSDE require the school systems to allow students to build their school schedule around their work schedule

         • Legislature should amend the law related to RN licensing to make it apprenticeable

         • Schools ensure that students can earn an IRC that is relevant to licensing in an apprenticeable occupation before the end of their junior year.

           The motion carried with 6 ayes and 1 abstention.

5. Other Business

   1. Education and Transportation

      1. Staffing and Funding: A proposal was made for MSDE to fund one dedicated staff member per school to focus on RA/HSLRA, potentially funding one student per school as an RA program.
      2. Transportation: Senator Rosapepe stated that the onus for transportation should not be on third parties, noting that high schoolers typically find ways to get to non-apprenticeship jobs.

   2. Per Chairman Hsu, he recommends using the Advisory Board to champion and drive apprenticeships forward.

6. Chairman Hsu thanks everyone for their questions and participation. He concluded the meeting with a motion to adjourn, seconded by Senator Rosapepe.

Action Items and Deliverables:

Respectfully Submitted,

Christopher D. MacLarion Director

Office of Apprenticeship, MD Labor