Job Creation Bill Sponsored by Sen. Art Linares Passes Senate

Sen. Art Linares, pictured during a Feb. 27 tour of Chester-based manufacturer Aerocision, is applauding the state senate’s passage of a bill which expands the state’s manufacturing apprenticeship tax credit. The bill, which Sen. Linares is co-sponsoring, now heads to the House of Representatives.

Sen. Art Linares (R-Westbrook) today applauded the state senate’s May 15 passage of a measure which expands the state’s manufacturing apprenticeship tax credit.

The bill, which Sen. Linares is co-sponsoring, now heads to the House of Representatives.

“I have toured manufacturers in Chester, Colchester, Essex, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook,” Sen. Linares said. “Business owners often say they would hire new workers if they could only find people who were qualified to do the work. This bill is in direct response to those concerns. It aims to get more people trained and qualified for those available jobs.”

The bill (Senate Bill 1079) increases from $ 4 to $ 6 per hour the corporation business tax credit for hiring apprentices in the manufacturing trades. It also raises the annual cap on the total amount of credit a business can claim for this purpose, from $ 4,800 or 50% of the actual apprentice wages, to $7,500 or 50 % of such wages. The law would take effect July 1, 2015 and be applicable to income years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.

By law, unchanged by the bill, the period for claiming the credit depends on whether the apprenticeship is for two or four years. The period is the first year for two-year apprenticeship programs and three years for four-year programs. Such programs must be certified by the labor commissioner and registered with the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council.

“We can turn this economy around if we listen closely to what area businesses are telling us,” Sen. Linares said. “I am hopeful this bill will soon be supported by the House and reach the governor’s desk. The passage of this law will help us create jobs and send a positive message to manufacturers across our state.”

Sen. Linares noted that each manufacturing job in Connecticut creates 1.5 to 4 additional jobs in other parts of the state’s economy.

Sen. Linares serves on the legislature’s Commerce Committee and the bipartisan Manufacturing Committee. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 800-842 1421. Sen. Linares represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.