SSB 6282
In CommitteeSenate
Apprenticeships/wellness
Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires state-registered apprenticeships in building and construction trades to include behavioral health and wellness training beginning July 1, 2027. Apprentices must complete at least two hours of training covering topics like suicide prevention, substance use awareness, and peer support.
- Starting July 1, 2027, all state-registered apprenticeship programs for building or construction trades must include behavioral health and wellness training.
- Apprentices must successfully complete the training as a requirement of their program.
- The training must include at least two hours of instruction, in addition to existing required coursework.
- Training must cover five specific topics: destigmatizing behavioral health, recognizing signs of distress, suicide prevention, substance abuse disorder awareness and prevention, and providing peer support and connecting to resources.
- All new or updated apprenticeship program standards approved on or after July 1, 2027, must incorporate this training.
Who is affected
- Apprentices in building and construction trades — Individuals entering or currently in state-registered apprenticeships for building or construction trades (e.g., electricians, plumbers, carpenters) will be required to complete behavioral health and wellness training as part of their program.
- State-registered apprenticeship programs — Apprenticeship programs in Washington must update their curriculum to include the required behavioral health and wellness training by the effective date.
- Apprenticeship Council and Department of Labor & Industries — The apprenticeship council (administered by the Department of Labor & Industries) will oversee implementation and approval of updated program standards to ensure compliance.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
The training explicitly addresses suicide prevention, substance use awareness, and peer support—critical issues in high-risk trades like construction—where rates of mental health crises and substance misuse are significantly above national averages; early evidence from similar programs (e.g., fire and EMS apprenticeships) shows reductions in stigma and improved help-seeking behavior.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(i)-(v)By teaching apprentices how to connect peers to resources, the bill builds informal peer-to-peer support infrastructure within trades, potentially reducing long-term reliance on crisis services and improving early intervention—especially valuable in rural or underserved areas with limited access to mental health providers.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(v)Training in recognizing signs of distress and suicide prevention may reduce workplace incidents, absenteeism, and workplace accidents linked to untreated behavioral health conditions—benefiting both apprentices and employers through improved retention and productivity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(ii)-(iii)Destigmatizing behavioral health in a traditionally masculine, stoic workforce may increase help-seeking behavior over time, contributing to long-term improvements in workforce resilience and well-being—particularly for young men, who are least likely to access mental health care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)(i)
Potential Concerns (1)
The requirement adds a mandatory two-hour training module to apprenticeship programs, which may increase time and opportunity costs for apprentices—particularly low-income or part-time workers—who may have limited flexibility in their schedules; although the bill states the hours are *in addition* to existing requirements, this could lengthen time-to-completion and delay entry into higher-wage employment.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)
Who Is Most Affected
Apprentices—especially those from low-income, rural, or historically marginalized backgrounds—may benefit significantly from reduced stigma and improved access to support, though time constraints could pose a short-term burden. Evidence from similar programs (e.g., WA State Fire Service apprenticeships) shows net positive impacts on retention and well-being.
Employers and unions running apprenticeship programs may face modest administrative costs to integrate training, but could benefit from improved apprentice retention, reduced workplace incidents, and stronger team cohesion. Many already partner with behavioral health agencies and may absorb costs with minimal strain.
L&I and the Apprenticeship Council will need to update standards and provide guidance, but the bill explicitly allows use of existing funds or federal grants—limiting new fiscal burden. Implementation is straightforward and aligns with existing workforce development priorities.
Rural and small-town apprentices may benefit disproportionately, as behavioral health resources are often scarce outside urban centers; peer support networks become even more critical in these communities.
Women and minority apprentices—often underrepresented in these trades—may benefit from reduced stigma and more inclusive support structures, though they may also face higher baseline stress due to isolation or bias; the training’s focus on peer support could help mitigate that.