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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND 

4 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 

5 The Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of 

6 the Department of Labor shall award grants, contracts, 

7 or cooperative agreements to eligible entities on a competi8 tive basis for the following purposes: 

9 (1) ENCOURAGING EMPLOYER PARTICIPA10 TION.—To encourage employer participation in pro11 grams under the national apprenticeship system— 


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1 (A) that target individuals with barriers to 

2 employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-ap3 prenticeship, or apprenticeship programs, 

4 prioritizing nontraditional apprenticeship popu5 lations such as women, minorities, long-term 

6 unemployed, individuals with a disability, indi7 viduals with substance abuse issues, veterans, 

8 military spouses, individuals experiencing home9 lessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or 

10 juvenile justice system, and foster and former 

11 foster youth; 

12 (B) that are in high-need social service-re13 lated industries, sectors, or occupations, such as 

14 direct care workers and early childhood edu15 cators; 

16 (C) that target individuals currently or re17 cently incarcerated; or 

18 (D) among small- and medium-sized em19 ployers. 

20 (2) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA21 TION GRANTS FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSI22 NESSES.—An eligible entity that receives funds 

23 under this section shall use such funds to encourage 

24 participation of small- and medium-sized businesses 


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1 in programs under the national apprenticeship sys2 tem, which may include— 

3 (A) providing financial assistance to em4 ployers to support costs related to the program, 

5 such as training incumbent workers as mentors 

6 or employees supervising the on-the-job learn7 ing; 

8 (B) supporting the cost of related instruc9 tion or wages for program participants during 

10 related instruction; 

11 (C) providing technical assistance to small12 and medium-sized businesses on the program 

13 registration process and leveraging other avail14 able funds to support carrying out programs 

15 supported by this grant; or 

16 (D) establishing or expanding partnerships 

17 to support program development or expansion, 

18 including establishing or expanding industry or 

19 sector partnerships to ensure inclusion of small20 and medium-sized businesses. 

21 SEC. 2. ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED. 

22 In this Act, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 

23 (1) a program sponsor; 


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1 (2) a State workforce development board or 

2 State workforce agency, or a local workforce develop3 ment board or local workforce development agency; 

4 (3) an education and training provider, or a 

5 consortium thereof; 

6 (4) if the applicant is in a State with a State 

7 apprenticeship agency, such State apprenticeship 

8 agency; 

9 (5) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; 

10 (6) an industry or sector partnership, a group 

11 of employers, a trade association, or a professional 

12 association that sponsors or participates in a pro13 gram under the national apprenticeship system; 

14 (7) a Governor; 

15 (8) a labor organization or joint labor manage16 ment organization; or 

17 (9) a qualified intermediary. 

Æ 


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