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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2859 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2859

  To promote apprenticeships for credentials and employment, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2014

  Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To promote apprenticeships for credentials and employment, and for 
                            other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting 
Apprenticeships for Credentials and Employment Act'' or the ``PACE 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
             TITLE I--PROMOTING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS

Sec. 101. Promoting registered apprenticeship programs.
Sec. 102. Promoting integration with postsecondary education.
             TITLE II--PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT

Sec. 201. Expanding registered apprenticeship programs.
                    TITLE III--CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

Sec. 301. Amendments.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) A highly skilled workforce is necessary to compete in 
        the global economy, support economic growth, and maintain the 
        standard of living of the United States.
            (2) The registered apprenticeship program model is a 
        longstanding, on-the-job training and education model that 
        prepares workers for the skill demands of particular 
        occupations and employers while, at the same time, providing 
        the workers with recognized, portable credentials, and wages 
        while in training.
            (3) The registered apprenticeship program model has been 
        successful in skilled trade industries, including construction 
        and manufacturing, as well as service industries, such as 
        health care, and holds great potential for expansion into other 
        industries.
            (4) Registered apprenticeship programs are an essential 
        element of an effective workforce development system and help 
        individuals attain a recognized postsecondary credential, 
        contributing to their personal economic sustainability.
            (5) According to a report from the Georgetown University 
        Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2018, the United 
        States will face a shortage of workers with recognized 
        postsecondary credentials--shortages of 3,000,000 workers with 
        degrees and 4,700,000 workers with certificates.
            (6) According to a 2012 report from the Annie E. Casey 
        Foundation, youth employment in the United States has reached 
        the lowest point since World War II. More than 6,000,000 young 
        people ages 16 through 24 are disconnected from school and 
        work.
            (7) A 2012 evaluation of registered apprenticeship programs 
        in 10 States by Mathematica Policy Research found that--
                    (A) individuals who completed registered 
                apprenticeship programs earned over $240,000 more over 
                their careers than individuals not participating in 
                such apprenticeship programs;
                    (B) the estimated social benefits of registered 
                apprenticeship programs exceeded their costs by more 
                than $49,000; and
                    (C) the tax return on every Federal Government 
                dollar invested in registered apprenticeship programs 
                was $27.
            (8) An evaluation in Washington State found the following:
                    (A) Registered apprenticeship programs have been 
                among the most effective workforce development 
                programs, with the highest impact and the greatest 
                return on investment of any such program.
                    (B) For each individual who completes a registered 
                apprenticeship program, over the individual's career, 
                there is a 90-to-1 return on investment, for a total 
                net benefit of just over $300,000 for that career.
                    (C) The general public also receives a lifetime 
                return on investment of 23-to-1, or around $80,000, for 
                each person completing a registered apprenticeship 
                program.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to increase the number of highly skilled workers in the 
        United States, particularly in in-demand industry sectors and 
        occupations;
            (2) to increase the attainment of recognized postsecondary 
        credentials by participants;
            (3) to increase awareness about the value of the registered 
        apprenticeship program model as an effective earn-and-learn 
        model for students, workers, and employers;
            (4) to support the development of registered apprenticeship 
        programs with employers, joint labor management partnerships, 
        and other program sponsors, that offer jobs that lead to 
        economic self-sufficiency;
            (5) to support the development and expansion of pre-
        apprenticeship programs that lead to success in a registered 
        apprenticeship program; and
            (6) to support a closer alignment between registered 
        apprenticeship programs, the workforce development system, and 
        postsecondary education.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship appointed under 
        section 101(a).
            (2) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' means a 
        combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, 
        and other services that--
                    (A) aligns with the skill needs of industries in 
                the economy of the State or regional economy involved;
                    (B) 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, chapter 
                663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (referred to individually in 
                this Act as an ``apprenticeship'');
                    (C) includes counseling to support an individual in 
                achieving the individual's education and career goals;
                    (D) 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;
                    (E) 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;
                    (F) enables an individual to attain a secondary 
                school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at 
                least 1 recognized postsecondary credential; and
                    (G) helps an individual enter or advance within a 
                specific occupation or occupational cluster.
            (3) Educational service agency.--The term ``educational 
        service agency''--
                    (A) has the meaning given the term in section 9101 
                of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 7801); and
                    (B) includes a consortium of those agencies.
            (4) High school.--The term ``high school'' means a 
        nonprofit institutional day or residential school that--
                    (A) provides secondary education, as determined 
                under State law;
                    (B) grants a diploma, as defined by the State; and
                    (C) includes, at least, grade 12.
            (5) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``in-demand industry 
                sector or occupation'' means--
                            (i) an industry sector that has a 
                        substantial current or potential impact 
                        (including through jobs that lead to economic 
                        self-sufficiency and opportunities for 
                        advancement) on the State, regional, or local 
                        economy, as appropriate, and that contributes 
                        to the growth or stability of other supporting 
                        businesses, or the growth of other industry 
                        sectors; or
                            (ii) an occupation that currently has or is 
                        projected to have a number of positions 
                        (including positions that lead to economic 
                        self-sufficiency and opportunities for 
                        advancement) in an industry sector so as to 
                        have a significant impact on the State, 
                        regional, or local economy, as appropriate.
                    (B) Determination.--The determination of whether an 
                industry sector or occupation is in-demand under this 
                paragraph shall be made by the State board or local 
                board, as appropriate, using State and regional 
                business and labor market projections, including the 
                use of labor market information.
            (6) National apprenticeship system.--The term ``national 
        apprenticeship system'' means the collective group of 
        registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship 
        programs in the Nation (including the rules and regulations 
        governing the 2 types of programs).
            (7) Postsecondary educational institution.--The term 
        ``postsecondary educational institution'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
        (29 U.S.C. 2801).
            (8) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term ``pre-
        apprenticeship program'' means a program or set of strategies 
        that--
                    (A) is designed to prepare individuals to enter and 
                succeed in a registered apprenticeship program;
                    (B) is carried out by an entity that has a 
                documented partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a 
                registered apprenticeship program; and
                    (C) includes each of the following elements:
                            (i) Training (including a curriculum for 
                        the training), aligned with industry standards 
                        and approved by the documented partnership, 
                        that will prepare individuals by teaching the 
                        skills and competencies needed to enter one or 
                        more registered apprenticeship programs.
                            (ii) Provision of hands-on training and 
                        theoretical education to individuals in a 
                        simulated laboratory experience or volunteer 
                        opportunity that--
                                    (I) accurately simulates the 
                                industry and occupational conditions of 
                                the registered apprenticeship program 
                                described in subparagraph (B);
                                    (II) is carried out in a manner 
                                that includes proper observation of 
                                supervision and safety protocols; and
                                    (III) is carried out in a manner 
                                that does not displace a paid employee.
                            (iii) A formal agreement with a sponsor of 
                        a registered apprenticeship program that would 
                        enable participants who successfully complete 
                        the pre-apprenticeship program to enter 
                        directly into the registered apprenticeship 
                        program (if a place in the program is 
                        available), and includes agreements concerning 
                        earning credit for skills and competencies 
                        acquired during the pre-apprenticeship program.
            (9) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' means a credential 
        consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or 
        certification, a certificate of completion of an 
        apprenticeship, a license recognized by the State involved or 
        Federal Government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.
            (10) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship program'' means a program 
        registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as 
        the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 
        29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
            (11) Secretary.--Except as provided in section 102 or as 
        otherwise modified, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor, acting through the Administrator.
            (12) Sponsor.--The term ``sponsor'' means--
                    (A) with respect to a registered apprenticeship 
                program, an employer, joint labor management 
                partnership, trade association, labor organization, or 
                other entity that administers the registered 
                apprenticeship program; and
                    (B) with respect to a pre-apprenticeship program, 
                an entity that administers the pre-apprenticeship 
                program.

             TITLE I--PROMOTING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS

SEC. 101. PROMOTING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment of the Office of Apprenticeship.--
            (1) Office.--There is established, in the Employment and 
        Training Administration of the Department of Labor, an Office 
        of Apprenticeship.
            (2) Administrator.--The Office shall be headed by an 
        Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship appointed by the 
        Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. The Assistant 
        Secretary shall appoint an individual who has the demonstrated 
        knowledge of registered apprenticeship programs necessary to 
        serve as the Administrator.
            (3) Responsibilities.--The Administrator, through the 
        Office of Apprenticeship, shall carry out responsibilities 
        including--
                    (A) determining whether an apprenticeship program 
                meets the requirements to become a registered 
                apprenticeship program and maintains the standards 
                necessary to remain a registered apprenticeship 
                program;
                    (B) managing the national apprenticeship system;
                    (C) carrying out activities under subsection (b) to 
                promote high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs;
                    (D) promoting awareness about registered 
                apprenticeship programs, including carrying out 
                activities under subsection (c);
                    (E) promoting greater diversity in registered 
                apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship 
                programs, including by promoting outreach to 
                underrepresented populations and veterans and 
                supporting the development of apprenticeship models for 
                nontraditional occupations;
                    (F) providing for evaluations and research, as 
                described in subsection (e); and
                    (G) providing technical assistance to sponsors of 
                registered apprenticeship programs, entities who are 
                interested in developing and becoming sponsors of 
                registered apprenticeship programs, and sponsors of 
                pre-apprenticeship programs.
    (b) Supporting the Development of Pre-Apprenticeship Programs.--
            (1) Support.--The Secretary shall support the development 
        of pre-apprenticeship programs.
            (2) Grants.--
                    (A) In general.--Using funds available under 
                subsection (f), the Secretary shall make grants on a 
                competitive basis to eligible entities, to provide the 
                Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that 
                support that development.
                    (B) Period.--The Secretary shall make initial 
                grants under this paragraph for periods of not more 
                than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity 
                demonstrates satisfactory performance under paragraph 
                (7) by the end of that third year, the Secretary may 
                extend the grant period up to an additional 2 years for 
                that entity.
                    (C) Recipients.--
                            (i) Qualified organizations.--In a State 
                        without a State apprenticeship agency, a 
                        qualified organization may serve as an eligible 
                        entity, and may receive a grant under this 
                        subsection.
                            (ii) State apprenticeship agencies.--In a 
                        State with a State apprenticeship agency, a 
                        qualified organization may serve as an eligible 
                        entity. The agency shall receive a grant under 
                        this subsection on behalf of the eligible 
                        entity, and act as a fiscal agent for the 
                        entity.
            (3) Qualified organizations.--To be considered a qualified 
        organization under this subsection, an organization shall be a 
        public-private partnership consisting of--
                    (A) a local educational agency, high school, 2- or 
                4-year postsecondary educational institution, or 
                consortium of such entities; and
                    (B) representatives of--
                            (i) in a State with a State apprenticeship 
                        agency, that agency;
                            (ii) an industry or business, consisting of 
                        an employer, a group of employers, or an 
                        industry group that sponsor a registered 
                        apprenticeship program or are interested in 
                        supporting or establishing a registered 
                        apprenticeship program;
                            (iii) a labor organization;
                            (iv) a State or local workforce investment 
                        board (established under subtitle B of title I 
                        of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
                        U.S.C. 2811 et seq.));
                            (v) an entity carrying out a registered 
                        apprenticeship program;
                            (vi) a community-based organization that 
                        provides pre-apprenticeship programs, as 
                        appropriate; and
                            (vii) a 2- or 4-year postsecondary 
                        educational institution or consortium of such 
                        institutions, if such an institution or 
                        consortium is not a partner under subparagraph 
                        (A).
            (4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant from 
        the Secretary under this subsection, an eligible entity 
        (including, in a State with a State apprenticeship agency, that 
        agency, acting on behalf of an eligible entity) shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
        including--
                    (A) information on the quality of the proposed pre-
                apprenticeship program, including the training and 
                curriculum described in section 3(9)(C)(i), and how it 
                makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-
                apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an 
                established registered apprenticeship program;
                    (B) evidence that there are or will be sufficient 
                openings available in the registered apprenticeship 
                program referenced in (A) to enable the registered 
                apprenticeship program sponsor to place into that 
                program those individuals who successfully complete the 
                pre-apprenticeship program;
                    (C) information about the organization that 
                demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory 
                partnership between the partners described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), of paragraph (3) and the 
                organization's capacity to provide the training and 
                education services necessary for a pre-apprenticeship 
                program; and
                    (D) information about the proposed pre-
                apprenticeship program that demonstrates--
                            (i) that the program is in an in-demand 
                        industry or occupation in the region in which 
                        the project is located;
                            (ii) the use of integrated work-based and 
                        academic learning that includes training in the 
                        workplace;
                            (iii) the inclusion of career exploration 
                        focused activities, such as job shadowing, 
                        career information activities, and resume 
                        preparation, in the program;
                            (iv) if the eligible entity carrying out 
                        the project includes a high school, that the 
                        model to be used for the program leads to a 
                        high school diploma for participants without 
                        such a diploma;
                            (v) that the project aligns with an 
                        established registered apprenticeship program, 
                        including that the model used for the program 
                        leads to the attainment of skills and 
                        competencies necessary for entrance into the 
                        registered apprenticeship program for 
                        participants; and
                            (vi) how the eligible entity will 
                        facilitate access through the program to the 
                        appropriate support services for participants, 
                        including facilitating access through 
                        partnerships with entities providing such 
                        services.
            (5) Use of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a 
                grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds 
                to carry out a project that implements a pre-
                apprenticeship program in an organization specified in 
                paragraph (3) (other than paragraph (3)(B)(i)) that is 
                part of the eligible entity, or a consortium of such 
                entities.
                    (B) Required activities.--The eligible entity shall 
                use the grant funds--
                            (i) to pay for the cost of training or 
                        education associated with the pre-
                        apprenticeship program;
                            (ii) to provide student stipends during 
                        work-based training in the project;
                            (iii) for curriculum development that align 
                        with the requirements of the appropriate 
                        registered apprenticeship programs and learning 
                        assessments;
                            (iv) to maintain a connection between the 
                        pre-apprenticeship program and registered 
                        apprenticeship program;
                            (v) to promote the pre-apprenticeship 
                        program to potential participants; and
                            (vi) to conduct evaluations described in 
                        paragraph (7)(B).
                    (C) Allowable activities.--The eligible entity may 
                use the grant funds for teacher training, including 
                providing externship opportunities for teachers to 
                learn about the skill needs of the industry or 
                occupation that the pre-apprenticeship program focuses 
                on.
            (6) Federal share.--
                    (A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost 
                described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be 75 percent.
                    (B) Non-federal share.--The eligible entity may 
                contribute the non-Federal share of the cost in cash or 
                in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, 
                or services.
            (7) Performance.--
                    (A) Measures.--The Secretary shall identify a set 
                of common measures that, at a minimum, include measures 
                of entry into a registered apprenticeship program and 
                that are aligned with the performance measures 
                described in section 136(c) of the Workforce Investment 
                Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871(c)) for the local workforce 
                investment area (designated under section 116 of such 
                Act (29 U.S.C. 2831)) involved.
                    (B) Evaluations.--Each eligible entity that 
                receives a grant to carry out a project under this 
                subsection shall annually conduct, or arrange for 
                another entity to conduct, an evaluation of the project 
                using the identified common measures, and shall, to the 
                extent practicable, cooperate with the Secretary in any 
                evaluations of activities carried out under this 
                section.
                    (C) Extensions.--The Secretary shall use the 
                results of an evaluation for a project to determine 
                whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, 
                for the project under paragraph (2)(B).
    (c) Promoting Awareness of Registered Apprenticeship Programs.--
            (1) Information for state and local boards.--To promote 
        awareness about registered apprenticeship programs within the 
        workforce development system, the Secretary shall disseminate 
        information on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, 
        to State and local workforce investment boards described in 
        subsection (b)(3)(B)(iv), which information shall include--
                    (A) a list of registered apprenticeship programs in 
                the State involved;
                    (B) guidance for training staff of the workforce 
                development system within the State on the value of 
                registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant 
                placement, retention and earnings information, as a 
                training option for participants;
                    (C) guidance on how individual training accounts 
                under section 134(d)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act 
                of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(4)) could be used by 
                participants for a registered apprenticeship program; 
                and
                    (D) guidance on how performance measures under 
                section 136 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
                U.S.C. 2871) apply to participants in registered 
                apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, 
                retention and earnings information.
            (2) Information for industry groups and labor 
        organizations.--To promote awareness about registered 
        apprenticeship programs to workers and employers, the Secretary 
        shall provide information about the value of registered 
        apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, 
        retention and earnings information, through the one-stop 
        delivery systems described in section 121 of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2841), to industry groups and 
        to labor organizations, which information shall include, at a 
        minimum--
                    (A) a list of registered apprenticeship programs in 
                the State;
                    (B) information on how to develop a registered 
                apprenticeship program; and
                    (C) information on financial resources available to 
                assist with the establishment and implementation of 
                registered apprenticeship programs.
            (3) Information for students and schools.--To promote 
        awareness about registered apprenticeship programs among 
        students and school staff, the Secretary, in cooperation with 
        the Secretary of Education, shall disseminate information on 
        the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including 
        relevant placement, retention and earnings information, to high 
        schools, 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions, 
        and educational service agencies, which information shall 
        include, at a minimum--
                    (A) a parent guide to understanding registered 
                apprenticeship programs and postsecondary education;
                    (B) a student guide to understanding registered 
                apprenticeship programs as part of a career pathway;
                    (C) a guide, for career and academic counselors, to 
                understanding registered apprenticeship programs as a 
                postsecondary education option for students; and
                    (D) information for school administrators, 
                workforce and economic development coordinators, and 
                teachers and faculty that will assist with the 
                development, implementation, and continuation of 
                registered apprenticeship programs.
    (d) Secretary's National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.--
            (1) Establishment.--
                    (A) In general.--There is established in the 
                Department of Labor a National Advisory Committee on 
                Apprenticeships, referred to in this section as the 
                ``Advisory Committee''.
                    (B) Composition.--The Advisory Committee shall 
                have--
                            (i) 21 voting members appointed by the 
                        Secretary, composed of--
                                    (I) 7 representatives of employers 
                                who participate in a registered 
                                apprenticeship program, including 
                                employers who participate in a 
                                registered apprenticeship program 
                                sponsored by a joint labor-management 
                                partnership;
                                    (II) 7 representatives of labor 
                                organizations who have responsibility 
                                for the administration of a registered 
                                apprenticeship program sponsored by a 
                                joint labor-management partnership; and
                                    (III) 7 representatives of State 
                                apprenticeship agencies, community 
                                organizations with significant 
                                experience with a registered 
                                apprenticeship program, and 2- or 4-
                                year postsecondary educational 
                                institutions with at least 1 
                                articulation agreement with the entity 
                                administering a registered 
                                apprenticeship program; and
                            (ii) members who are ex officio nonvoting 
                        representatives from the Departments of Labor, 
                        Commerce, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban 
                        Development, and Health and Human Services.
                    (C) Qualifications.--The members shall be selected 
                upon the basis of their experience and competence 
                concerning apprenticeships.
                    (D) Terms.--The Secretary shall appoint the members 
                for terms of 4 years.
            (2) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall designate one of the 
        members of the Advisory Committee to serve as Chairperson of 
        the Advisory Committee.
            (3) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall hold not fewer 
        than 2 meetings during each calendar year. All meetings of the 
        Advisory Committee shall be open to the public. A transcript 
        shall be kept of each meeting and made available for public 
        inspection.
            (4) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall advise, consult 
        with, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters 
        relating to the administration of this title and the Act of 
        August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National 
        Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
        et seq.).
            (5) Personnel.--
                    (A) Procurement.--
                            (i) In general.--The Chairperson of the 
                        Advisory Committee may procure the temporary 
                        and intermittent services of voting members of 
                        the Advisory Committee under section 3109(b) of 
                        title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
                        individuals that do not exceed the daily 
                        equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
                        prescribed for level V of the Executive 
                        Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
                            (ii) Officers or employees of the united 
                        states.--All members of the Advisory Committee 
                        who are officers or employees of the United 
                        States shall serve without compensation in 
                        addition to that received for their services as 
                        officers or employees of the United States.
                    (B) Staff.--The Secretary shall supply the 
                Committee with an executive secretary and provide such 
                secretarial, clerical, and other services as the 
                Secretary determines to be necessary to enable the 
                Advisory Committee to conduct its business.
            (6) Permanent committee.--Section 14 of the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
        advisory committee.
    (e) Evaluations and Research.--
            (1) Evaluations of programs and activities carried out 
        under this title.--For the purpose of improving the management 
        and effectiveness of the programs and activities carried out 
        under this title, the Secretary shall provide for the 
        continuing evaluation, by an independent entity, of the 
        programs and activities, including activities carried out under 
        subsection (a)(3)(C). Such evaluations shall address--
                    (A) the general effectiveness of such programs and 
                activities in relation to their cost, including the 
                extent to which the programs and activities--
                            (i) improve the skill and employment 
                        competencies of participants in comparison to 
                        comparably situated individuals who did not 
                        participate in such programs and activities; 
                        and
                            (ii) to the extent feasible, increase the 
                        level of total employment and recognized 
                        postsecondary credential attainment over the 
                        level that would have existed in the absence of 
                        such programs and activities;
                    (B) the impact of the programs and activities for 
                the participants, sponsors, and employers;
                    (C) the return on investment of Federal funding for 
                the programs and activities;
                    (D) the longitudinal outcomes for participants in 
                the programs and activities; and
                    (E) the impact of specific policies on the general 
                effectiveness of such programs and activities.
            (2) Research.--The Secretary may conduct, through an 
        independent entity, research on best practices in registered 
        apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs and 
        other issues relating to such programs.
            (3) Techniques.--Evaluations and research conducted under 
        this subsection shall utilize appropriate methodology and 
        research designs.
            (4) Reports.--The independent entity carrying out the 
        evaluations described in paragraph (1) or research described in 
        paragraph (2) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a draft 
        report and a final report containing the results of the 
        evaluations or research, respectively, and including policy 
        recommendations. The draft and final reports shall be made 
        available for public inspection.
            (5) Reports to congress.--Not later than 60 days after the 
        completion of such final report, the Secretary shall transmit 
        the final report to the Committee on Education and the 
        Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
            (6) Public access.--
                    (A) Public access procedure.--The Secretary shall 
                develop a mechanism to make research and curricula 
                developed under this title publically available in a 
                timely manner.
                    (B) Curriculum.--An eligible entity that develops a 
                curriculum under this title shall make the curriculum 
                available to the Secretary. Using the mechanism 
                established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
                make such curriculum accessible to providers of pre-
                apprenticeship programs and to the public.
    (f) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent 
of the funds appropriated under subsection (g) for each fiscal year for 
Federal administration and management, technical assistance, and 
evaluation and research activities.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent fiscal year.

SEC. 102. PROMOTING INTEGRATION WITH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means the 
        Registered Apprenticeship-College Consortium established under 
        subsection (b)(1).
            (2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of Labor, acting through the Administrator, working 
        jointly with the Secretary of Education, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
    (b) Consortium With 2- and 4-Year Postsecondary Educational 
Institutions.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretaries shall establish and 
        maintain a voluntary Registered Apprenticeship-College 
        Consortium. The Consortium shall consist of the sponsors 
        carrying out registered apprenticeship programs, 2- or 4-year 
        postsecondary educational institutions, and organizations that 
        represent such programs or institutions, that agree to meet 
        certain criteria in order to support the purposes described in 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Purposes.--The Consortium shall support the purposes 
        of--
                    (A) promoting stronger connections between the 
                registered apprenticeship programs involved and 
                participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational 
                institutions;
                    (B) promoting the translation of experience in a 
                registered apprenticeship program to academic credit at 
                participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational 
                institutions;
                    (C) facilitating the enrollment of an individual 
                who has completed a registered apprenticeship program 
                (referred to in this section as an ``apprentice'') at a 
                participating 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational 
                institution for the purpose of attaining academic 
                credit toward an associate's or more advanced degree;
                    (D) advancing the attainment of associate's and 
                more advanced degrees by apprentices;
                    (E) promoting the attainment of recognized 
                postsecondary credentials with value in the labor 
                market; and
                    (F) expanding awareness about the value of 
                registered apprenticeship programs as a postsecondary 
                education option.
            (3) Participant requirements.--The Secretaries shall 
        establish criteria that any interested 2- or 4-year 
        postsecondary educational institution or sponsor shall meet in 
        order to participate in the Consortium, which criteria shall 
        include, at a minimum--
                    (A) for a 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational 
                institution--
                            (i) agreement to recognize the academic 
                        credit (as assessed under subparagraph (B)(i)) 
                        earned by an apprentice for, and the assessment 
                        of the apprentice's learning in, a registered 
                        apprenticeship program at another participating 
                        institution;
                            (ii) agreement to develop a formal 
                        articulation agreement with a participating 
                        sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program, 
                        other than a 2- or 4-year postsecondary 
                        educational institution; and
                            (iii) agreement to provide certain 
                        information, as determined by the Secretaries, 
                        to the Consortium; and
                    (B) for a sponsor--
                            (i) agreement to participate in third-party 
                        evaluations of the quality and rigor of the 
                        program offerings in order to determine the 
                        value of academic credit for learning during a 
                        registered apprenticeship program;
                            (ii) agreement to develop a formal 
                        articulation agreement with a participating 2- 
                        or 4-year postsecondary educational 
                        institution; and
                            (iii) agreement to provide certain 
                        information, as determined by the Secretaries, 
                        to the Consortium.
            (4) Memorandum of understanding.--
                    (A) In general.--In order to participate in the 
                Consortium, interested 2- or 4-year postsecondary 
                educational institutions and sponsors shall agree to 
                meet certain conditions determined by the Secretaries.
                    (B) Conditions.--Such conditions shall address, at 
                a minimum--
                            (i) how learning during a registered 
                        apprenticeship program, including related 
                        instruction and on-the-job training, will be 
                        assessed for academic credit;
                            (ii) how programs and procedures, 
                        especially those related to admissions, credit 
                        transfer, and recognition of such learning will 
                        be structured to support accessibility for 
                        apprentices;
                            (iii) how the structure and scheduling of 
                        courses will be developed in a way that 
                        supports the matriculation of apprentices; and
                            (iv) how residency requirements will be 
                        modified to support the transferability of 
                        credit earned by apprentices.
            (5) Publicly available information.--The Secretaries shall 
        maintain a publicly accessible website identifying, at a 
        minimum--
                    (A) the participating members of the Consortium in 
                each State, including those with established 
                articulation agreements;
                    (B) a model for articulation agreements, and copies 
                of some exemplary articulation agreements for 
                illustrative purposes; and
                    (C) such other information as the Secretaries 
                determine to be necessary to promote awareness of the 
                Consortium and its members.
            (6) Advisory committee.--
                    (A) Establishment.--The Secretaries shall establish 
                an advisory committee for the Consortium.
                    (B) Composition.--The advisory committee shall be 
                composed of members appointed by the Secretaries, 
                consisting of--
                            (i) representatives of 2- or 4-year 
                        postsecondary educational institutions;
                            (ii) representatives of sponsors; and
                            (iii) a representative from the Advisory 
                        Committee described in section 101(d).
                    (C) Term.--Members of the advisory committee shall 
                serve for a term of 2 years.
                    (D) Duties.--Such advisory committee shall seek 
                input from organizations and experts representing 
                industry, labor, and postsecondary education, and shall 
                make recommendations to the Consortium and the 
                Secretary regarding actions necessary to achieve the 
                objectives of this subsection.
                    (E) Travel expenses.--The members of the advisory 
                committee shall not receive compensation for the 
                performance of services for the committee, but shall be 
                allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
                subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 
                agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
                United States Code, while away from their homes or 
                regular places of business in the performance of 
                services for the Committee. Notwithstanding section 
                1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may 
                accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of 
                members of the advisory committee.
                    (F) Permanent committee.--Section 14 of the Federal 
                Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
                to the advisory committee.
            (7) Use of funds.--
                    (A) Administrative.--The Secretaries shall use 30 
                percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (c) 
                to establish and maintain the Consortium and the 
                website referred to in paragraph (5), to support the 
                advisory committee referred to in paragraph (6), and 
                for technical assistance, evaluation, and research 
                activities.
                    (B) For program participants.--The Secretaries 
                shall use 70 percent of the appropriated funds to carry 
                out, directly or by grant or contract with an eligible 
                entity, activities consisting of--
                            (i) providing funding to Consortium 
                        participants to support the development of 
                        articulation agreements with other Consortium 
                        participants;
                            (ii) providing funding to the Consortium to 
                        support the assessment of learning during a 
                        registered apprenticeship program, for academic 
                        credit;
                            (iii) providing funding to the Consortium 
                        to support third-party assessments of the 
                        quality and rigor of program offerings, 
                        referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(i);
                            (iv) providing curriculum development, for 
                        participating institutions and sponsors; and
                            (v) carrying out other purposes that will 
                        help participating 2- and 4-year postsecondary 
                        educational institutions and sponsors meet the 
                        requirements of paragraphs (3) and (4).
                    (C) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant or contract under subparagraph (B), an entity 
                shall be a partnership comprised of--
                            (i) at least one 2- or 4-year postsecondary 
                        educational institution participating in the 
                        Consortium; and
                            (ii) at least one sponsor of a registered 
                        apprenticeship program participating in the 
                        Consortium.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Fiscal year 2015.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2015.
            (2) Subsequent fiscal years.--
                    (A) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal 
                year subsequent to fiscal year 2015 the amount 
                determined under subparagraph (B) for the fiscal year 
                involved.
                    (B) Adjustment for inflation.--The amount referred 
                to in subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year shall be 
                determined by multiplying--
                            (i) the amount authorized under this 
                        subsection for the preceding fiscal year; by
                            (ii) the percentage change in the Consumer 
                        Price Index for All Urban Consumers during the 
                        annual interval immediately preceding the date 
                        on which the determination is made.

             TITLE II--PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT

SEC. 201. EXPANDING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide payments of assistance 
for eligible sponsors of new (as of the date of submission of an 
application under subsection (b)) registered apprenticeship programs, 
or for sponsors of existing joint labor-management registered 
apprenticeship programs that add employers as new (as of such date) 
partners.
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive payments under this 
section for a registered apprenticeship program, a sponsor shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, including 
information on how the activities carried out under the grant would 
enhance and expand the registered apprenticeship system, such as 
extending registered apprentice programs into new industries and 
occupations, and including information demonstrating that, as of the 
date the sponsor submitted an application under this section--
            (1) for a new registered apprenticeship program, the 
        program received recognition as a registered apprenticeship 
        program within the 36 months preceding that date;
            (2) the sponsor offered jobs that lead to economic self-
        sufficiency, as determined by a local workforce investment 
        board established under section 117 of the Workforce Investment 
        Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832) located in the same local 
        workforce investment area (as designated under section 116 of 
        such Act (29 U.S.C. 2831));
            (3) the sponsor has demonstrated success in enrolling, 
        instructing, advancing, and graduating individuals in the 
        relevant registered apprenticeship program, and in the 
        employment of such individuals after completion of the program; 
        and
            (4) the sponsor had not received a payment under subsection 
        (d).
    (c) Use of Funds.--In providing assistance under this section, the 
Secretary shall arrange to provide payments for eligible sponsors, as 
funds are available under this section. Funds made available through 
such a payment shall be used to reimburse an eligible sponsor for the 
allowable costs (as determined by the Secretary) of operating the 
registered apprenticeship program involved. The maximum total payment 
to any one sponsor may not exceed $5,000 or 50 percent of the allowable 
costs of operating the program.
    (d) Disbursement Through Local Boards.--The Secretary shall enter 
into arrangements with the local workforce investment boards described 
in subsection (b)(2) to provide the payments to the eligible sponsors.
    (e) Evaluations.--Sponsors receiving grants under this section 
shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the Secretary in the 
conduct of evaluations of the activities carried out under this 
section.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and 
        each subsequent fiscal year.
            (2) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve 5 percent of 
        the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 
        for distribution to the local workforce investment boards, to 
        pay for the costs of the boards associated with making 
        determinations under subsection (b)(2) and disbursements under 
        subsection (d), and as funds remain available, other costs of 
        Federal administration and management, technical assistance, 
        research and evaluation under this section.

                    TITLE III--CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

SEC. 301. AMENDMENTS.

    (a) References.--
            (1) Section 3(7) is amended by striking ``section 101 of 
        the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)'' and 
        inserting ``section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002)''.
            (2) Section 101 is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (3)(B)(iv), by striking 
                        ``State or local workforce investment board 
                        (established under subtitle B of title I of the 
                        Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
                        2811 et seq.))'' and inserting ``State or local 
                        workforce development board (established under 
                        subtitle A of title I of the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act)''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking 
                        ``performance measures described in section 
                        136(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
                        (29 U.S.C. 2871(c)) for the local workforce 
                        investment area (designated under section 116 
                        of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2831))'' and inserting 
                        ``(before July 1, 2016) performance measures 
                        described in section 136(c) of the Workforce 
                        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871(c)) for 
                        the local workforce investment area (designated 
                        under section 116 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2831)) 
                        or (after June 30, 2016) performance 
                        accountability measures described in section 
                        116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act for the local workforce 
                        development area (meaning a local area, as 
                        defined in section 3 of such Act)''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding 
                                subparagraph (A), by striking ``State 
                                and local workforce investment boards'' 
                                and inserting ``State and local 
                                workforce development boards'';
                                    (II) in subparagraph (C), by 
                                striking ``section 134(d)(4) of the 
                                Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 
                                U.S.C. 2864(d)(4))'' and inserting 
                                ``section 134(c)(3) of the Workforce 
                                Innovation and Opportunity Act''; and
                                    (III) in subparagraph (D), by 
                                striking ``performance measures under 
                                section 136 of the Workforce Investment 
                                Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871)'' and 
                                inserting ``(before July 1, 2016) 
                                performance measures under section 136 
                                of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
                                (29 U.S.C. 2871) or (after June 30, 
                                2016) performance accountability 
                                measures under section 116 of the 
                                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                                Act''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), in the matter 
                        preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``section 121 of the Workforce Investment Act 
                        of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2841)'' and inserting 
                        ``section 121 of the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act''.
            (3) Section 201 is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``local 
                workforce investment board established under section 
                117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
                2832) located in the same local workforce investment 
                area (as designated under section 116 of such Act (29 
                U.S.C. 2831))'' and inserting ``local workforce 
                development board (meaning a local board, as defined in 
                section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act) located in the same local workforce development 
                area (meaning a local area, as defined in that section 
                3)''; and
                    (B) in subsections (d) and (f)(2), by striking 
                ``local workforce investment boards'' and inserting 
                ``local workforce development boards''.
    (b) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on July 1, 2015.
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