Earning Experience Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4876 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a work-based learning opportunities pilot grant program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 28, 2019 Mr. KILMER (for himself and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a work-based learning opportunities pilot grant program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Earning Experience 4 Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM. 6 Part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 7 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1087–51 et seq.) is amended by adding 8 at the end the following: 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:57 Nov 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4876.IH H4876 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4876 IH ‘‘SEC. 449. WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PILOT 1 GRANT PROGRAM. 2 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab- 4 lish a program to provide grants to eligible institu- 5 tions participating under this part to establish or ex- 6 pand a program to develop work-based learning posi- 7 tions. 8 ‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 9 ‘‘(A) DURATION.—A grant awarded under 10 this section shall be for a period of not more 11 than 4 years, but may be renewed by the Sec- 12 retary for a period of 2 years. 13 ‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—A grant under this sec- 14 tion may not be in an amount greater than 15 $1,000,000. 16 ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To be selected to receive a grant 17 under this section an eligible institution participating 18 under this part shall submit an application to the Sec- 19 retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 20 information as the Secretary may require, including a plan 21 that describes how the eligible institution will establish or 22 expand a program to develop work-based learning posi- 23 tions that will— 24 ‘‘(1) benefit students who demonstrate excep- 25 tional need (as defined in section 413C(c)(2)); 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:57 Nov 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4876.IH H4876 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4876 IH ‘‘(2) identify in-demand industry sectors or oc- 1 cupations (as determined by the Bureau of Labor 2 and Statistics, State departments of labor, and local 3 workforce development boards) and develop partner- 4 ships with employers (including nonprofit organiza- 5 tions, for-profit firms, or public agencies) in such 6 sectors or occupations; 7 ‘‘(3) involve participating employers in evalu- 8 ating and improving such program; 9 ‘‘(4) track and report academic and employ- 10 ment outcomes for participating students; and 11 ‘‘(5) be able to continue after the end of the 12 grant term. 13 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Grant funds awarded under 14 this program shall be used to pay wages for students par- 15 ticipating under this program and develop work-based 16 learning positions that— 17 ‘‘(1) are for a period of at least 12 weeks; 18 ‘‘(2) serve students who demonstrate excep- 19 tional need (as defined in section 413C(c)(2)); 20 ‘‘(3) limit administrative work to no more than 21 25 percent of such position; 22 ‘‘(4) provide a minimum of 15 hours of work 23 per week during periods of enrollment and 30 hours 24 per week during periods of nonenrollment, except 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:57 Nov 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4876.IH H4876 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 4876 IH such requirement may be waived by the institution 1 in consultation with a student; 2 ‘‘(5) include career coaching from participating 3 employers (including, mock interviews, resume writ- 4 ing assistance, and counseling on applying for and 5 attaining employment); and 6 ‘‘(6) provide participating students with oppor- 7 tunities to meet with employers in fields or indus- 8 tries related to those of participating employers. 9 ‘‘(d) REPORT.—On a date that is before the date on 10 which the period of the grant received by an eligible insti- 11 tution under this section terminates, such institution shall 12 submit a report to the Secretary including— 13 ‘‘(1) the graduation rate or completion rate (as 14 described under section 485(a)(3)) with respect to 15 students participating in work-based learning posi- 16 tions under the pilot program; and 17 ‘‘(2) the results of the work-based learning op- 18 portunities program for which such institution re- 19 ceived such grant, including— 20 ‘‘(A) participating students’ satisfaction 21 with the program; 22 ‘‘(B) the types of jobs in which partici- 23 pating students were employed and the types of 24 duties performed in such jobs; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:57 Nov 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4876.IH H4876 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 4876 IH ‘‘(C) the academic programs of the partici- 1 pating students; 2 ‘‘(D) the share of participating students 3 who worked at another job, in addition to the 4 one under the pilot program; 5 ‘‘(E) the percentage of participating stu- 6 dents who, during the second quarter after 7 completing their academic program, are in edu- 8 cation or training activities or unsubsidized em- 9 ployment; 10 ‘‘(F) the percentage of participating stu- 11 dents employed in the in-demand industry sec- 12 tors or occupations identified under subsection 13 (b)(2) within 2 quarters of completing their 14 academic programs; and 15 ‘‘(G) other items as determined by the Sec- 16 retary. 17 ‘‘(e) RESERVATION OF FUNDING FOR SUCH PRO- 18 GRAM.—From the amount appropriated under section 19 441(b) for a fiscal year and remaining after the Secretary 20 allocates funds under section 442, the Secretary shall re- 21 serve $30,000,000 to carry out grants under this sec- 22 tion.’’. 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:57 Nov 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4876.IH H4876 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS