Diversifying Paths to Apprenticeships Act

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7342 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7342

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act relating to adult 
                   education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 31, 2022

 Mr. Norcross introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act relating to adult 
                   education, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Diversifying Paths to 
Apprenticeships Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ADULT EDUCATION.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 203 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3272) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (11) and (12) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(11) Integrated education and training.--The term 
        `integrated education and training' means a service approach 
        that provides adult education and literacy activities 
        concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation 
        activities and workforce training for a specific occupation or 
        occupational cluster (including for apprenticeship and pre-
        apprenticeship programs) for the purpose of educational and 
        career advancement.
            ``(12) Integrated english literacy and civics education.--
        The term `integrated English literacy and civics education' 
        means education services provided to English language learners 
        who are adults, including professionals with degrees and 
        credentials in their native countries, that enables such adults 
        to achieve competency in the English language and acquire the 
        basic and more advanced skills needed to function effectively 
        as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. Such 
        services shall include instruction in literacy and English 
        language acquisition and instruction on the rights and 
        responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation, and 
        may include workforce training and--
                    ``(A) that enables such adults to locate and apply 
                for registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship 
                programs using apprenticeship.gov (or a successor 
                website) or other resources;
                    ``(B) which may include preparation for 
                apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs, or the 
                provision of information regarding where to acquire 
                that preparation.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (17) and inserting the following:
            ``(17) Workforce preparation activities.--The term 
        `workforce preparation activities' means activities, programs, 
        or services designed to help an individual acquire a 
        combination of basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, 
        digital literacy skills, and self-management skills, including 
        competencies in utilizing resources, using and acquiring 
        information, working with others, understanding systems, and 
        obtaining skills necessary for successful transition into and 
        completion of postsecondary education or training (including 
        registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs), or 
        employment.''.
    (b) State Leadership Activities.--Section 223(a)(1)(C) of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3303(a)(1)(C)) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
                            ``(ii) the role of eligible providers as a 
                        one-stop partner to provide access to 
                        employment, education (including pre-
                        apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs), 
                        and training services;'';
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Assistance in developing curricula 
                        for students to be able to locate and apply for 
                        registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship 
                        programs using apprenticeship.gov (or a 
                        successor website) or other resources.''.
    (c) National Leadership Activities.--Section 242(c)(1) of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3332(c)(1)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) assistance in the development and 
                dissemination of evidence-based models to learn how to 
                locate and apply for registered apprenticeship or pre-
                apprenticeship programs using apprenticeship.gov (or a 
                successor website) or other resources.''.
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