A. The Governor shall appoint an Apprenticeship Council composed of four representatives each from employer and employee organizations respectively and two representatives of workforce training programs, one of whom shall represent an employee organization, and all of whom shall be familiar with apprenticeable occupations. The Commissioner, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, the Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designated representatives, and a local superintendent from a school division that provides apprenticeship-related instruction shall be ex officio members of the Council. At the beginning of each year, the Governor shall designate one member to serve as chairman. Each member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of his predecessor shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. All members, including ex officio members, shall have voting privileges.
B. The Council shall meet quarterly at the call of the chairman of the Council and shall formulate policies for the effective administration of this article.
C. The Council shall establish standards for apprentice agreements that shall not be lower than those prescribed by this article and those established pursuant to Article 3 (§ 54.1-1128 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 54.1 and shall perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this article. Not less than once a year, the Council shall make a report of its activities and findings to the General Assembly and to the public.