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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7315 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7315
To direct the Secretary of Labor to support the development of pre-
apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that
serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low
income and rural census tracts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2024
Mr. Norcross (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Castor
of Florida, Mr. Robert Garcia of California, Ms. Perez, Mr. Joyce of
Ohio, Mr. Kean of New Jersey, and Mr. Morelle) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Labor to support the development of pre-
apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that
serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low
income and rural census tracts.
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 ``Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats
Act'' or the ``PATH Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Area career and technical school.--The term ``area
career and technical school'' has the meaning given the term in
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(2) Federally recognized indian tribe.--The term
``Federally recognized Indian Tribe'' has the meaning given the
term ``Indian Tribe'' in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) High school.--The term ``high school'' means a
nonprofit institutional day or residential school in a State
that--
(A) provides secondary education, as determined
under State law;
(B) grants a diploma, as defined by the State; and
(C) includes, at least, grade 12.
(4) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--The term
``in-demand industry sector or occupation'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(5) Local educational agency; state educational agency.--
The terms ``local educational agency'' and ``State educational
agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(6) Local and state workforce development boards.--The
terms ``local workforce development board'' and ``State
workforce development board'' have the meanings given the terms
``local board'' and ``State board'', respectively, in section 3
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3102).
(7) Postsecondary educational institution.--The term
``postsecondary educational institution'' has the meaning given
the term ``institution of higher education'' in section 102 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
(8) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term ``pre-
apprenticeship program'' means a program or set of strategies
that--
(A) is designed to prepare individuals to enter and
succeed in a registered apprenticeship program in the
building or construction trades;
(B) is carried out by an eligible entity described
in section 3(c) that has a documented partnership with
at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship
program; and
(C) includes training (including a curriculum for
the training) that--
(i) is aligned with industry standards;
(ii) is reviewed and approved annually by
sponsors of the registered apprenticeship
programs within the documented partnership; and
(iii) will prepare an individual for a
registered apprenticeship program by teaching
the skills and competencies needed to enter
such a registered apprenticeship program.
(9) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term
``registered apprenticeship program'' means a program
registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as
the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663;
29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
(10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(11) Sponsor.--The term ``sponsor'' means an employer,
joint labor-management partnership, trade association,
professional association, labor organization, or other entity
that administers a registered apprenticeship program.
(12) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the
term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(13) Underrepresented population.--The term
``underrepresented population'' means a group of individuals
who--
(A) are members of a racial minority, women,
military veterans, members of a Federally recognized
Indian Tribe, or long-term unemployed; or
(B) come from a geographic area consisting of a
single census tract or a group of census tracts, each
of which meets the criteria for a low-income community,
as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants on a competitive
basis to eligible entities described in subsection (c) that submit
applications under subsection (e) to provide the Federal share
described in subsection (g) of the cost of carrying out projects under
subsection (f) that support the development of pre-apprenticeship
programs in the building and construction trades.
(b) Period.--The Secretary shall make initial grants under
subsection (a) for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an
eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under subsection
(h) by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant
period up to an additional 1 year for that entity.
(c) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant from the
Secretary under subsection (a), an entity shall be a nonprofit
partnership that--
(1) includes the equal participation of industry, including
public or private employers, and labor organizations, including
joint labor or management training programs, and may include
State and local workforce development boards, community-based
organizations, educational institutions (such as postsecondary
educational institutions, local educational agencies, State
educational agencies, high schools, and area career and
technical schools), small businesses, cooperatives, State and
local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations;
and
(2) demonstrates--
(A) experience in implementing and operating worker
skills training and education programs;
(B) the ability to identify and involve in training
programs carried out under this grant, target
populations of individuals who would benefit from
training, and be actively involved in activities
related to all building and construction trade crafts;
and
(C) the ability to help individuals achieve
economic self-sufficiency.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that leverage
additional public and private resources to fund programs under this
Act, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers.
(e) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant from the
Secretary under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require, including--
(1) with respect to the proposed pre-apprenticeship
program, a description of the training and curriculum described
in section 2(8)(C) and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship
program makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-
apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an established
registered apprenticeship program;
(2) evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings
available in such registered apprenticeship program to enable
the sponsor of such registered apprenticeship program to place
into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those
individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship
program;
(3) information about the entity that demonstrates the
existence of an active, advisory partnership between the
partners described in subsection (c)(1) and the capacity of a
training and education provider of the entity to provide the
training and education services necessary for a pre-
apprenticeship program; and
(4) information about the proposed pre-apprenticeship
program that demonstrates--
(A) that the program is in an in-demand industry or
occupation in the region in which the project is
located;
(B) the inclusion in the program of career
exploration focused activities, such as career
information activities, and resume preparation;
(C) if the entity carrying out the project includes
a high school, that the model to be used for the
program leads to a high school diploma for participants
without such a diploma;
(D) how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned
with and leverages resources of career and technical
education programs, programs and services authorized
under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), or activities of entities that
provide supportive services for participants in pre-
apprenticeship programs; and
(E) that the project aligns with an established
registered apprenticeship program, including that the
model used for the program leads to the attainment of
skills and competencies necessary for entrance into the
registered apprenticeship program for participants.
(f) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds to carry out a
project that implements a pre-apprenticeship program, including
the activities described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) Required activities.--The eligible entity shall use
such grant funds--
(A) to pay for the cost of training or education
associated with a pre-apprenticeship program for
individuals from an underrepresented population;
(B) for curriculum development that align with the
requirements of the appropriate registered
apprenticeship programs and learning assessments;
(C) to maintain a connection between the pre-
apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship
program;
(D) for assessments of potential participants for,
and enrollment of the participants in, the pre-
apprenticeship program; and
(E) to conduct evaluations described in subsection
(h)(2).
(3) Allowable activities.--The eligible entity may use such
grant funds for--
(A) stipends for participants during work-based
training in the program; and
(B) coordination of activities under this
subsection with activities carried out under the Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
(20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) or the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).
(g) Federal Share.--
(1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost described in
subsection (a) shall be 75 percent of the total cost of the
projects described in such subsection carried out by an
eligible entity.
(2) Non-federal share.--The eligible entity may contribute
the non-Federal share of such cost in cash or in-kind, fairly
evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(h) Performance.--
(1) Measures.--The Secretary shall identify a set of common
measures that, at a minimum, include measures of entry into a
registered apprenticeship program and that are aligned, as
appropriate, with performance accountability measures described
in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(c)) for the local workforce development
area and with corresponding measures under the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et
seq.).
(2) Evaluations.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant to carry out a project under subsection (a) shall arrange
for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or shall
participate in an evaluation sponsored by the Secretary, of the
project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the
extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator in any
evaluations of activities carried out under paragraph.
(3) Extensions.--The Secretary shall use the results of an
evaluation for a project under paragraph (2) to determine
whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, for the
project under subsection (b).
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024
and each subsequent fiscal year.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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