JOBS Act of 2015

Summary: Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2015 or the JOBS Act of 2015 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish the Job Training Federal Pell Grant Program. The Department of Education must award job training Federal Pell Grants to eligible students. An eligible student is one who does not have a degree, attends an institution of higher education (IHE), is enrolled in a job training program at such IHE, and meets all other eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant. The maximum job training Federal Pell Grant award is 50% of the discretionary base maximum award specified in annual appropriations law. Any period during which a student receives a job training Federal Pell Grant counts toward that student's Federal Pell Grant eligibility period.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Jumpstart Our Businesses by 
Supporting Students Act of 2015'' or the ``JOBS Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. JOB TRAINING FEDERAL PELL GRANTS.

    Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Job Training Federal Pell Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--For award years beginning on or after 
        award year 2016-2017, the Secretary shall carry out a program 
        through which the Secretary shall award job training Federal 
        Pell Grants to students in job training programs. Each job 
        training Federal Pell Grant awarded under this subsection shall 
        have the same terms and conditions, and be awarded in the same 
        manner, as a Federal Pell Grant awarded under subsection (a), 
        except as follows:
                    ``(A) A student who is eligible to receive a job 
                training Federal Pell Grant under this subsection is a 
                student who--
                            ``(i) has not yet attained a baccalaureate 
                        degree or postbaccalaureate degree;
                            ``(ii) attends an institution of higher 
                        education as defined in section 102;
                            ``(iii) is enrolled, or accepted for 
                        enrollment, in a job training program at such 
                        institution of higher education; and
                            ``(iv) meets all other eligibility 
                        requirements for a Federal Pell Grant (except 
                        with respect to the type of program of study, 
                        as provided in clause (iii)).
                    ``(B) The amount of a job training Federal Pell 
                Grant for an eligible student shall be determined under 
                subsection (b)(2)(A), except that--
                            ``(i) the maximum Federal Pell Grant 
                        awarded under this subsection for an award year 
                        shall be 50 percent of the maximum Federal Pell 
                        Grant awarded under subsection (b) applicable 
                        to that award year;
                            ``(ii) no increase shall be calculated 
                        under subsection (b)(7)(B) for a student 
                        receiving a job training Federal Pell Grant 
                        under this subsection; and
                            ``(iii) subsection (b)(4) shall not apply.
            ``(2) Inclusion in total eligibility period.--Any period 
        during which a student receives a job training Federal Pell 
        Grant under this subsection shall be included in calculating 
        the student's period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants 
        under subsection (c), and any regulations under such subsection 
        regarding students who are enrolled in an undergraduate program 
        on less than a full-time basis shall similarly apply to 
        students who are enrolled in a job training program at an 
        eligible institution on less than a full-time basis.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Eligible career pathways program.--The term 
                `eligible career pathway program' means a program that 
                is part of a career pathway, as defined under section 
                3(7) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                (29 U.S.C. 3102(7)), that is a combination of rigorous 
                and high-quality education, training, and other 
                services that--
                            ``(i) aligns with the skill needs of 
                        industries in the State or regional economy 
                        involved;
                            ``(ii) prepares an individual to be 
                        successful in any of a full range of secondary 
                        or postsecondary education options, including 
                        apprenticeships registered under the Act of 
                        August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
                        `National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664; 29 
                        U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
                            ``(iii) includes counseling to support an 
                        individual in achieving the individual's 
                        education and career goals;
                            ``(iv) includes, as appropriate, education 
                        offered concurrently with and in the same 
                        context as workforce preparation activities and 
                        training for a specific occupation or 
                        occupational cluster;
                            ``(v) organizes education, training, and 
                        other services to meet the particular needs of 
                        an individual in a manner that accelerates the 
                        educational and career advancement of the 
                        individual to the extent practicable;
                            ``(vi) enables an individual to attain a 
                        secondary school diploma or its recognized 
                        equivalent, and at least 1 recognized 
                        postsecondary credential; and
                            ``(vii) helps an individual enter or 
                        advance within a specific occupation or 
                        occupational cluster.
                    ``(B) Job training program.--The term `job training 
                program' means a career and technical education program 
                at an institution of higher education that--
                            ``(i) provides not less than 150 clock 
                        hours of instructional time over a period of 
                        not less than 8 weeks;
                            ``(ii) provides training aligned with the 
                        requirements of employers in the State or local 
                        area, which may include in-demand industry 
                        sectors or occupations in the State or local 
                        area, as defined under section 3(23) of the 
                        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                        U.S.C. 3102(23));
                            ``(iii) provides a student, upon completion 
                        of the program, with a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential, as defined under section 3(52) of 
                        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                        (29 U.S.C. 3102(52)), that is recognized by 
                        employers in the relevant industry, including 
                        credentials recognized by industry or sector 
                        partnerships in the State or local area where 
                        the industry is located;
                            ``(iv) has been determined, by the 
                        institution of higher education, to provide 
                        academic content, an amount of instructional 
                        time, and a recognized postsecondary credential 
                        that are sufficient to--
                                    ``(I) meet the hiring requirements 
                                of potential employers; and
                                    ``(II) allow the students to apply 
                                for any licenses or certifications that 
                                may be required to be employed in the 
                                field for which the job training is 
                                offered;
                            ``(v) may include integrated or basic 
                        skills courses; and
                            ``(vi) may be offered as part of an 
                        eligible career pathways program.''.