PATH Act

To direct the Secretary of Labor to support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low income and rural census tracts. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act PATH Act 2. Supporting the development of pre-Apprenticeship programs (a) Support The Secretary of Labor shall support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs. (b) Grants (1) In general Using funds available under subsection (h), 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. (2) Period The Secretary shall make initial grants under this Act for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under subsection (f) by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional 1 year for that entity. (3) Eligible entity To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this Act, an entity shall be a nonprofit partnership that— (A) includes the equal participation of industry, including public or private employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor or management training programs, and may include State and local workforce development boards, community-based organizations, educational institutions (such as postsecondary educational institutions, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, high schools, and area career and technical schools), small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and (B) demonstrates— (i) experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs; (ii) the ability to identify and involve in training programs carried out under this grant, target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities related to all building and construction trade crafts; and (iii) the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency. (4) Priority The Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that leverage additional public and private resources to fund programs under this Act, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers. (c) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this Act, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (1) a description of the training and curriculum described in subsection (g)(7)(C), and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an established registered apprenticeship program; (2) evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings available in the registered apprenticeship program referenced in paragraph (1) to enable the registered apprenticeship program sponsor to place into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program; (3) information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in subsection (b)(3) and the capacity, of a training and education provider in the entity, to provide the training and education services necessary for a pre-apprenticeship program; and (4) information about the proposed pre-apprenticeship program that demonstrates— (A) that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located; (B) the inclusion of career exploration focused activities, such as career information activities, and résumé preparation, in the program; (C) if the 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; (D) how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs, programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 (E) 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. (d) Use of funds (1) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that implements a pre-apprenticeship program. (2) Required activities The eligible entity shall use the grant funds— (A) to pay for the cost of training or education associated with a pre-apprenticeship program for individuals from an underrepresented population; (B) for curriculum development that align with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments; (C) to maintain a connection between the pre-apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program; (D) for assessments of potential participants for, and enrollment of the participants in, the pre-apprenticeship program; and (E) to conduct evaluations described in subsection (f)(2). (3) Allowable activities The eligible entity may use the grant funds for— (A) stipends for participants during work-based training in the program; (B) coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 29 U.S.C. 3101 (C) drug testing of potential participants. (e) Federal share (1) In general The Federal share of the cost described in subsection (b)(1) shall be 75 percent. (2) 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. (f) Performance (1) 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 performance accountability measures described in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141(c) 20 U.S.C. 2301 (2) Evaluations Each eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under this subsection shall arrange for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or shall participate in a Department of Labor sponsored evaluation, of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator in any evaluations of activities carried out under this section. (3) 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 subsection (b)(2). (g) Definitions In this Act: (1) Area career and technical school The term area career and technical school 20 U.S.C. 2302 (2) High school The term high school (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. (3) In-demand industry sector or occupation The term in-demand industry sector or occupation 29 U.S.C. 3102 (4) Local educational agency; State educational agency The terms local educational agency State educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) Local and State workforce development boards The terms local workforce development board State workforce development board local board State board 29 U.S.C. 3102 (6) Postsecondary educational institution The term postsecondary educational institution 20 U.S.C. 1002 (7) Pre-apprenticeship program The term pre-apprenticeship program (A) is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program in the building and construction trades; (B) is carried out by an eligible entity that has a documented partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and (C) includes training (including a curriculum for the training), aligned with industry standards and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeships within the documented partnership, that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs. (8) Registered apprenticeship program The term registered apprenticeship program National Apprenticeship Act 29 U.S.C. 50 (9) Secretary The term Secretary (10) Sponsor The term sponsor (11) State The term State 29 U.S.C. 3102 (12) Underrepresented population The term underrepresented population (A) is a member of a racial minority, a woman, a military veteran, or a person who is long-term unemployed; or (B) comes from a geographic area consisting of a single census tract or a group of census tracts, each of which meets the criteria for a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each subsequent fiscal year.

Summary: Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act or the PATH Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to provide grants to eligible entities to develop pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations, including individuals from low income and rural census tracts.