To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship system.

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8317 To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship system. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 Mrs. TRAHAN (for herself and Mr. MORELLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship system. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND 3 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 4 The Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of 5 the Department of Labor shall award grants, contracts, 6 or cooperative agreements to eligible entities on a competi- 7 tive basis for the following purposes: 8 (1) ENCOURAGING EMPLOYER PARTICIPA- 9 TION.—To encourage employer participation in pro- 10 grams under the national apprenticeship system— 11 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8317.IH H8317 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8317 IH (A) that target individuals with barriers to 1 employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-ap- 2 prenticeship, or apprenticeship programs, 3 prioritizing nontraditional apprenticeship popu- 4 lations such as women, minorities, long-term 5 unemployed, individuals with a disability, indi- 6 viduals with substance abuse issues, veterans, 7 military spouses, individuals experiencing home- 8 lessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or 9 juvenile justice system, and foster and former 10 foster youth; 11 (B) that are in high-need social service-re- 12 lated industries, sectors, or occupations, such as 13 direct care workers and early childhood edu- 14 cators; 15 (C) that target individuals currently or re- 16 cently incarcerated; or 17 (D) among small- and medium-sized em- 18 ployers. 19 (2) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA- 20 TION GRANTS FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSI- 21 NESSES.—An eligible entity that receives funds 22 under this section shall use such funds to encourage 23 participation of small- and medium-sized businesses 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8317.IH H8317 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8317 IH in programs under the national apprenticeship sys- 1 tem, which may include— 2 (A) providing financial assistance to em- 3 ployers to support costs related to the program, 4 such as training incumbent workers as mentors 5 or employees supervising the on-the-job learn- 6 ing; 7 (B) supporting the cost of related instruc- 8 tion or wages for program participants during 9 related instruction; 10 (C) providing technical assistance to small- 11 and medium-sized businesses on the program 12 registration process and leveraging other avail- 13 able funds to support carrying out programs 14 supported by this grant; or 15 (D) establishing or expanding partnerships 16 to support program development or expansion, 17 including establishing or expanding industry or 18 sector partnerships to ensure inclusion of small- 19 and medium-sized businesses. 20 SEC. 2. ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED. 21 In this Act, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 22 (1) a program sponsor; 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8317.IH H8317 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8317 IH (2) a State workforce development board or 1 State workforce agency, or a local workforce develop- 2 ment board or local workforce development agency; 3 (3) an education and training provider, or a 4 consortium thereof; 5 (4) if the applicant is in a State with a State 6 apprenticeship agency, such State apprenticeship 7 agency; 8 (5) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; 9 (6) an industry or sector partnership, a group 10 of employers, a trade association, or a professional 11 association that sponsors or participates in a pro- 12 gram under the national apprenticeship system; 13 (7) a Governor; 14 (8) a labor organization or joint labor manage- 15 ment organization; or 16 (9) a qualified intermediary. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8317.IH H8317 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS