In an attempt to increase the pool of skilled workers in Nassau County, Legislator Edward Mangano has co-sponsored legislation designed at requiring apprenticeship programs at work sites. This local law would apply to all construction contracts over $250,000. Prior for work to be started on a job site, a contractor or subcontractor (given a subcontract over $50,000) must have an established apprenticeship plan related to the work involved. All apprentice programs must be registered and approved with the New York State Commissioner of Labor.

"This law will allow young people interested in the field of construction and contracting to experience life on the job. It will give them the opportunity to decide if this is something they would like to pursue in the future," Mangano said.

The Nassau County Department of Public Works will oversee the programs and will establish the procedures to regulate the program. Any contractor who does work on a structure with a value of over $250,000 will be required to have apprentices on site working with skilled laborers. These work sites will allow young people to gain knowledge by assisting seasoned contractors and subcontractors and gain valuable experience that previously would not have been available.

"This legislation will allow a large number of young people to enter the workforce with experience that they could not gain anywhere else. This will give young people the means to make a living in Nassau County and contribute back to the local economy," Mangano said.

Legislator Edward P. Mangano (R-Bethpage) recently approved an ordinance for the Hepatitis C Education Program. This program will allow the Nassau County Department of Health to track, study and educate the public about the dangers of the Hepatitis C disease. The $10,000 ordinance is 100 percent reimbursable by the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

Nassau County health officials will be meeting to plan strategies on how to reduce transmissions of the disease and how to improve treatment of Hepatitis C. Through this ordinance, the county will also provide professional training on the risk factors associated with Hepatitis C and how it affects individuals. "This ordinance will allow for Nassau County health officials to spread the word of dangers of Hepatitis C and hopefully, through education, the number of reported Hepatitis C cases in Nassau will decline," said Legislator Mangano.