Reno, you make some great points there, and I totaly agree!
The main reason, I even have issue with this law is that it is not an "Electrician, or Journeyman Law", it is an "Apprenticeship" law. After this gets inforced, (when-ever that is?) It will limit or restrict entry to the trade. The currently established apprenticeship programs can not deal with the current levels of demand in the trade. (For instance, Local 6 here in SF takes in 100 every other year or so, but the line to apply is well over 1000! Some years they don't take anyone. It could take years to get in, if you were willing to wait.) And the demand for apprentices, and journeyman labor far outstrips what they can deliver here. There are, for the time being, other Apprenticeship Programs, but there is this "Other" quirky law in the Labor Code.
3075....
(b) For purposes of this section, the apprentice training needs in
the building and construction trades shall be deemed to justify the
approval of a new apprenticeship program only if any of the following
conditions are met:
(1) There is no existing apprenticeship program approved under
this chapter serving the same craft or trade and geographic area.
That section of law goes on to say, that addition progams could be allowed, if demand is present...
If the chief of that area, in the DAS deems it nessesary. Its like dealing with a NEC code that is vague, and subject to interpitation. The DAS just doesn't
see the demand... (Or want to see it.) In fact they have closed some programs down, while they go forward with the certification law.
And seeing that the company I work for wouldn't be able to draw apprentices from the JATC. The nearest "Geographical location" we could draw from is about 80 miles away, and they can't satisfy the demand either!
Anyway, my point is, after it goes through, it will be even harder to get labor than it is now. And restrict even further the flow of people into the trade, where it is already hard to attract them in the first place. It's not good buisiness sense.
I just don't think appenticeship needs to be institutionalized. Especially if those institutions can't handle the demand.