Department of Energy National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act

To enable projects that will aid in the development and delivery of related instruction associated with apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs that are focused on serving the skilled technical workforce at the National Laboratories and certain facilities of the National Nuclear Security Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Energy National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act 2. National Laboratory Jobs Access Program (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program known as the Department of Energy National Lab Jobs ACCESS Program (b) Requirements A program funded by a grant awarded under this section shall develop and deliver customized and competency-based training that— (1) leads to recognized postsecondary credentials for secondary school and postsecondary students; (2) is focused on skills and qualifications needed to meet the immediate and on-going needs of traditional and emerging technician positions (including machinists and cyber security technicians) at the National Laboratories and covered facilities of the National Nuclear Security Administration; (3) creates an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship partnership with a National Laboratory or covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration; and (4) creates an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program with the Secretary of Labor or a State department of labor. (c) Eligible entities An entity that is eligible to receive a grant under this section shall be a workforce intermediary or an eligible sponsor of a preapprenticeship or an apprenticeship program that— (1) demonstrates experience in implementing and providing career planning and career pathways towards technical, skills-based apprenticeship or preapprenticeship training programs; (2) (A) has a relationship with a National Laboratory or covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration; (B) has knowledge of technician workforce needs of such laboratory or facility and the associated security requirements of such laboratory or facility; and (C) is eligible to enter into an agreement with such laboratory or facility that would be paid for in part or entirely from grant funds received under this section; (3) demonstrates the ability to recruit and support individuals who plan to work in relevant technician positions upon the successful completion of such programs; (4) provides students who complete such programs with a recognized postsecondary credential, such as a journeyman craft license or an industry-recognized certification; (5) uses a customized training curriculum that is specifically aligned with employers, utilizing workplace learning advisors and on-the-job training to the greatest extent possible; and (6) demonstrates successful outcomes connecting graduates of such programs to careers relevant to such programs. (d) Applications An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Priority In selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize an eligible entity that— (1) is a member of an industry or sector partnership; (2) provides the training described in subsection (b)— (A) at an institution of higher education (such as a community college) that includes basic science, technology, and mathematics education in the curriculum; (B) through an apprenticeship program that was registered with the Department of Labor or a State before the date on which the eligible entity applies for the grant under subsection (d); or (C) with respect to a preapprenticeship program, at a local educational agency, a secondary school, an area career and technical education school, or an appropriate community facility; (3) works with the Secretary of Defense or veterans organizations to transition members of the Armed Forces and veterans to apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs in a relevant sector; (4) plans to use the grant to carry out the training described in subsection (b) with an entity that receives State funding or is operated by a State agency; and (5) plans to use the grant to carry out the training described in subsection (b) for— (A) young adults ages 17 to 29, inclusive; or (B) individuals with barriers to employment. (f) Additional consideration In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider regional diversity. (g) Limitation on applications An eligible entity may not submit, either individually or as part of a joint application, more than 1 application for a grant under this section during any 1 fiscal year. (h) Limitations on amount of grant The amount of a grant provided under this section for any 24-month period of the 5-year grant period shall not exceed $500,000. (i) Non-Federal share The non-Federal share of the cost of a customized training program carried out using a grant under this section shall be not less than 25 percent of the total cost of the program. (j) Technical assistance The Secretary may provide technical assistance to eligible entities described in subsection (c) to leverage the existing job training and education programs of the Department of Labor and other relevant programs at appropriate Federal agencies. (k) Report (1) In general Not less than once every 2 years, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of Labor, a report on the program established under this section, including— (A) a description of— (i) any entity that receives a grant under this section; (ii) any activity carried out using the grants under this section; and (iii) best practices used to leverage the investment of the Federal Government under this section; and (B) an assessment of the results achieved by the program established under this section, including the rate of employment for participants after completing a job training and education program carried out using a grant under this section. (2) Provision of information The Secretary of Energy shall provide such information as necessary to the Secretary of Labor for purposes of the report under paragraph (1). (l) Definitions In this section: (1) ESEA terms The terms local educational agency secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) WIOA terms The terms career planning community-based organization customized training economic development agency individual with a barrier to employment industry or sector partnership on-the-job training recognized postsecondary credential workplace learning advisor 29 U.S.C. 3102 (3) Apprenticeship The term apprenticeship National Apprenticeship Act 29 U.S.C. 50 (4) Area career and technical education school The term area career and technical education school 20 U.S.C. 2302 (5) Community college The term community college junior or community college 20 U.S.C. 1058(f) (6) Covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration The term covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration 50 U.S.C. 2501 (7) Eligible Sponsor The term eligible sponsor section 501(c) (A) with respect to an apprenticeship program, administers such program through a partnership that may include— (i) a business; (ii) an employer or industry association; (iii) a labor-management organization; (iv) a local workforce development board or State workforce development board; (v) a 2- or 4-year institution of higher education that offers an educational program leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in conjunction with a certificate of completion of apprenticeship; (vi) the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves); (vii) a community-based organization; or (viii) an economic development agency; and (B) with respect to a preapprenticeship program, is a local educational agency, a secondary school, an area career and technical education school, a State workforce development board, a local workforce development board, or a community-based organization, that administers such program with any required coordination and necessary approvals from the Secretary of Labor or a State department of labor. (8) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (9) Local workforce development board The term local workforce development board local board 29 U.S.C. 3102 (10) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801 (11) Preapprenticeship The term preapprenticeship (A) is designed to prepare participants to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship program; (B) is carried out by an eligible sponsor that has a documented partnership with one or more sponsors of apprenticeship programs; and (C) includes each of the following: (i) Training (including a curriculum for the training) aligned with industry standards related to apprenticeships and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the apprenticeships within the documented partnership that will prepare participants by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more apprenticeship programs. (ii) Hands-on training and theoretical education for participants that— (I) includes proper observation of supervision and safety protocols; and (II) does not displace a paid employee. (iii) A formal agreement with a sponsor of an apprenticeship program that would enable participants who successfully complete the preapprenticeship program— (I) to enter directly into the apprenticeship program if a place in the program is available and if the participant meets the qualifications of the apprenticeship program; and (II) to earn credits towards the apprenticeship program. (12) Related instruction The term related instruction (13) Secretary The term Secretary (14) State workforce development board The term State workforce development board State board 29 U.S.C. 3102 (15) Workforce intermediary The term workforce intermediary (A) means an organization that proactively addresses workforce needs using a dual customer approach, which considers the needs of both employees and employers; and (B) may include a faith-based and community organization, an employer organization, a community college, a temporary staffing agency, a State workforce development board, a local workforce development board, or a labor organization. (m) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024.

Summary: Department of Energy National Labs Jobs ACCESS Act This bill establishes the Department of Energy National Lab Jobs ACCESS Program to provide grants for technical, skills-based preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that provide employer-driven or recognized postsecondary credentials during the five-year grant period.