Perkins Modernization Act of 2015

Summary: Perkins Modernization Act of 2015 This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to revise its purposes, which are to develop more fully the academic and career and technical skills of secondary education students and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs (as under current law), by:   preparing those students for employment in current or emerging in-demand industry sectors or occupations;  aligning the skills, certifications, and credentials of the students with those needed by employers in the labor markets served by educational institutions; and  ensuring that the selection of skills, certifications, and credentials acquired by such students is guided by timely labor market information.   An &quot;in-demand industry sector or occupation&quot; is:   an industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact on the state, regional, or local economy, and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; or  an occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions in an industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the state, regional, or local economy. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Perkins Modernization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    Section 2 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, or high demand 
        occupations in current or emerging professions'' and inserting 
        ``employment in current or emerging in-demand industry sectors 
        or occupations'';
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) aligning the skills, certifications, and credentials 
        of secondary and postsecondary students who enroll in career 
        and technical education programs with the skills, 
        certifications, and credentials needed by employers in the 
        labor markets served by the educational institutions; and
            ``(9) ensuring that the selection of skills, 
        certifications, and credentials acquired by career and 
        technical education students is guided by timely labor market 
        information.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(35) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--The term 
        `in-demand industry sector or occupation' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).''.

SEC. 4. ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Section 113(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2323(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is 
amended by striking ``, or high demand occupations or professions'' and 
inserting ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 114(d) of the of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)(II), by inserting ``in in-
        demand industry sectors or occupations'' after ``critical)''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(V), by striking ``occupations in 
        high skill, high wage, or high demand business and industry'' 
        and inserting ``high skill, high wage employment in in-demand 
        industry sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 6. OCCUPATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION.

    Section 118(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2328) is amended--
            (1) in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking ``, or high 
        demand occupations'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``, or high demand 
        occupations in current or emerging professions'' and inserting 
        ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations,''.

SEC. 7. STATE PLAN.

    Section 122(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``and 
                careers in in-demand industry sectors or occupations'' 
                after ``in postsecondary education'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``entry into 
                high skill, high wage, or high demand occupations in 
                current or emerging occupations'' and inserting ``for 
                employment in in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (I)(iii), by striking 
                ``employment in high skill, high wage, or high demand 
                occupations'' and inserting ``high skill, high wage 
                employment in in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations'';
            (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``or into high skill, 
        high wage employment in in-demand industry sectors or 
        occupations'' after ``higher education'';
            (3) in paragraph (9)(C), by striking ``, or high demand 
        occupations'' and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry 
        sectors or occupations''; and
            (4) in paragraph (18), by striking ``, or high demand 
        occupations'' and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry 
        sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 8. STATE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES.

    Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, or high 
                demand occupations'' and inserting ``employment in in-
                demand industry sectors or occupations'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, 
                equipment,'' after ``internships'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``occupations'' 
                and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry 
                sectors or occupations'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as 
                paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;
                    (E) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``, or high demand'' and inserting 
                ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or''; and
                    (F) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) analyzing labor market information collected by State 
        agencies, Federal agencies, workforce investment boards, or 
        other third-party organizations engaged in labor market 
        research in order to ensure that programs of study in career 
        and technical education align with labor market needs;''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, 
                        and encouraging secondary students to pursue 
                        dual enrollment coursework as well as industry 
                        licenses, certificates, and other postsecondary 
                        credentials'' after ``degree''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``occupations'' and inserting ``employment in 
                        in-demand industry sectors or occupations''; 
                        and
                    (B) in paragraph (9), by striking ``, or high 
                demand occupations'' and inserting ``employment in in-
                demand industry sectors or occupations''.

SEC. 9. LOCAL PLAN FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

    Section 134(b)(8)(C) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)(8)(C)) is amended by striking 
``, or high demand'' and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry 
sectors or''.

SEC. 10. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS.

    Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(9), by striking ``, or high demand'' 
        and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (c)(12) by striking ``, or high demand'' 
        and inserting ``employment in in-demand industry sectors or''.