(a) The executive director of the Technical Education and Career System shall take the necessary steps to establish a Vocational Education Extension Fund. Within said Vocational Education Extension Fund, there is established an account to be known as the “vocational education extension account”. The Vocational Education Extension Fund may include other accounts separate and apart from the vocational education extension account. The vocational education extension account shall be used for the operation of preparatory and supplemental programs, including apprenticeship programs in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, and for the purchase of such materials and equipment required for use in the operation of said programs. All proceeds derived from the operation of said programs and revenue collected for rental or use of school facilities shall be credited to and become a part of the resources of said vocational education extension account, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. All direct expenses incurred in the conduct of said programs shall be charged, and any payments of interest and principal of bonds or any sums transferable to any fund for the payment of interest and principal of bonds and any cost of equipment for such operations may be charged, against said vocational education extension account on order of the State Comptroller. Any balance of receipts above expenditures shall remain in said vocational education extension account to be used for said program and for the acquisition, as provided by § 4b-21, alteration and repairs of real property for educational facilities for such programs, except such sums as may be required to be transferred from time to time to any fund for the redemption of bonds and payment of interest on bonds, provided capital projects costing over one hundred thousand dollars shall require the approval of the General Assembly or, when the General Assembly is not in session, of the Finance Advisory Committee. The Technical Education and Career System board shall fix the tuition fees to be charged students for preparatory and supplemental programs including apprenticeship programs. Not less than half of the tuition fee charged for any apprenticeship program shall be paid by the employer.

(b) The executive director shall take the necessary steps to establish an apprenticeship account within the Vocational Education Extension Fund. All proceeds derived from the operation of apprenticeship programs shall be deposited in the Vocational Education Extension Fund and shall be credited to and become a part of the resources of the apprenticeship account which shall be used for the operation of apprenticeship programs and for the purchase of materials and equipment required for such programs.