I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 559 
To promote the furtherance of standards necessary to safeguard the welfare 
of apprentices. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2021 
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan (for himself and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To promote the furtherance of standards necessary to 
safeguard the welfare of apprentices. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Train-
ing and Accessibility for New and Diverse Apprenticeships 
through Relevant and Dependable Standards Act’’ or the 
‘‘STANDARDS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. QUALITY STANDARDS OF APPRENTICESHIP PRO-
GRAMS UNDER THE NATIONAL APPRENTICE-
SHIP SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor (act-
ing through the Administrator of the Office of Apprentice-
ship) shall formulate and promote the furtherance of qual-
ity standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of ap-
prentices. 
(b) APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM STANDARDS.—An 
apprenticeship program shall meet the following stand-
ards: 
(1) The program has an organized and clearly 
written plan, developed by the sponsor, that in-
cludes, at a minimum, the following information: 
(A) The employment and training to be re-
ceived by each apprentice participating in the 
program, including— 
(i) an outline of the work processes or 
the plan in which the apprentice will re-
ceive supervised work experience and on- 
the-job learning; 
(ii) the allocation of the approximate 
amount of time to be spent in each major 
work process by the apprentice; 
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(iii) a description of the mentoring 
that will be provided to the apprentice; and 
(iv) a description or timeline explain-
ing the periodic reviews and evaluations of 
the apprentice’s performance on the job 
and in related instruction. 
(B) A process for maintaining appropriate 
progress records, including the reviews and 
evaluations described in subparagraph (A)(iv). 
(C) A description of the organized, related 
instruction the apprentice will receive in tech-
nical subjects related to the occupation, 
which— 
(i) for time-based or hybrid appren-
ticeship programs as described in subpara-
graph (E), shall include not less than 144 
hours for each year of apprenticeship, un-
less an alternative requirement is put forth 
by the employer and sponsor that reflects 
industry standards and is accepted by the 
Administrator; 
(ii) may be accomplished through 
classroom instruction, occupational or in-
dustry 
courses, 
instruction 
provided 
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through electronic media, or other instruc-
tion approved by the registration agency; 
(iii) shall be provided by one or more 
qualified instructors that— 
(I)(aa) meet technical instructor 
requirements of the applicable edu-
cation agency in the State of registra-
tion; or 
(bb) are subject matter experts, 
defined for purposes of this subpara-
graph as individuals recognized within 
an industry as having expertise in a 
specific occupation; and 
(II) have training in teaching 
techniques and learning styles, or will 
obtain such training before providing 
the related technical instruction; and 
(iv) where appropriate and to the ex-
tent practicable, shall be aligned to a ca-
reer pathway. 
(D) A progressively increasing, clearly de-
fined schedule of wages to be paid to the ap-
prentice that is— 
(i) consistent with measurable skill 
gains; and 
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(ii) ensures the entry wage is not less 
than the greater of— 
(I) the minimum wage required 
under section 6(a) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
206(a)); or 
(II) the applicable wage required 
by other applicable Federal or State 
laws (including regulations) or collec-
tive bargaining agreements. 
(E) The term of the apprenticeship pro-
gram, which may be measured through— 
(i) a time-based model, which requires 
the completion of the industry standard for 
on-the-job learning hours, which in no case 
shall be less than 2,000 hours, unless an 
alternative requirement is put forth by the 
employer and sponsor that reflects indus-
try standards and is accepted by the Sec-
retary and registration agency; 
(ii) a competency-based model, which 
requires the attainment of competency in 
the occupation; or 
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a combination of specified minimum num-
ber of hours of on-the-job learning and the 
successful demonstration of competency, as 
described in a work process schedule. 
(2) The program equally grants advanced 
standing or credit to all individuals applying for the 
apprenticeship with demonstrated competency or ac-
quired experience, training, or skills, and provides 
commensurate wages for any progression in standing 
or credit so granted, including for veterans’ service 
acquired skills and experiences. 
(3) The program has minimum qualifications 
for individuals desiring to enter the apprenticeship 
program, with an eligible starting age for an appren-
tice of not less than 16 years. 
(4) In the case of a program that chooses to 
issue an interim credential, the program— 
(A) clearly identifies each interim creden-
tial; 
(B) only issues an interim credential for 
recognized components of an apprenticeable oc-
cupation and demonstrates how each interim 
credential specifically links to the knowledge, 
skills, and abilities associated with such compo-
nents; and 
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(C) establishes the process for assessing an 
individual apprentice’s demonstration of com-
petency and measurable skill gains associated 
with the particular interim credential. 
(5) The program— 
(A) has adequate and safe equipment, en-
vironments, and facilities for training and su-
pervision; 
(B) provides safety training on-the-job and 
in 
related 
instruction 
as 
applicable 
by 
apprenticeable occupation; and 
(C) provides adequate training for mentors 
and qualified instructors on providing a safe 
work and training environment. 
(6) The program records and maintains all 
records concerning the program as may be required 
by the Secretary, the registration agency of the pro-
gram, or any other applicable law, including records 
required under title 38, United States Code, in order 
for veterans and other individuals eligible for edu-
cational assistance under such title to use such as-
sistance for enrollment in the program. 
(7) The Administrator shall promote diversity 
and ensure equal opportunity to participate in pro-
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grams for apprentices, youth apprentices, and pre- 
apprentices, including— 
(A) taking steps necessary to promote di-
versity in apprenticeable occupations under the 
national apprenticeship system, especially in 
high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry 
sectors and occupations in areas with high per-
centages of low-income individuals; 
(B) ensuring programs under the national 
apprenticeship system— 
(i) adopt and implement policies to 
provide for equal opportunity in such pro-
grams, as described in section 30.3 of title 
29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in ef-
fect on January 31, 2020); 
(ii) do not engage in intimidation or 
retaliation as prohibited under section 
30.17 of title 29, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on January 31, 2020); 
and 
(iii) are subject, for any violation of 
clause (i) or (ii), to enforcement action 
under this Act; and 
(C) supporting the recruitment, employ-
ment, and retention of nontraditional appren-
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ticeship populations in programs under the na-
tional apprenticeship system in high-skill, high- 
wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occu-
pations, including women, people of color, indi-
viduals with disabilities, individuals impacted by 
the criminal and juvenile justice system, and in-
dividuals with barriers to employment, as appli-
cable. 
(8) The program awards a certificate of comple-
tion in recognition of successful completion of the 
program, evidenced by an appropriate certificate 
issued by the registration agency, and culminates in 
a recognized postsecondary credential (as defined in 
section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act). 
(9) The program provides that an individual 
who is to become a program participant under the 
program enters into a written apprenticeship agree-
ment with the sponsor of the program. 
(10) The ratio of program participants to su-
pervisors (such as journeyworkers, mentors, or on- 
the-job learning instructors, as applicable) for the 
apprenticeable occupation, that are based on evi-
dence-based and evidence-informed best practices for 
supervision, training, safety, and continuity of em-
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ployment, throughout the work processes of the pro-
gram, job site, department, or plant, appropriate for 
the degree of hazard in different occupations, and 
provisions in collective bargaining agreements, as ap-
plicable, except if such ratios are expressly prohib-
ited by the collective bargaining agreements. 
(c) APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure the standards de-
scribed in subsection (b) are applied to programs 
under the national apprenticeship system, the Ad-
ministrator shall require a sponsor to develop an ap-
prenticeship agreement that shall— 
(A) be the same for each program partici-
pant; 
(B) contain the names and signatures of 
the program participant and the sponsor; 
(C) meet the requirements of paragraph 
(2); and 
(D) be submitted to the registration agen-
cy in accordance with the registration require-
ments of the program sponsor. 
(2) STANDARDS.—Each agreement under para-
graph (1) shall contain, explicitly or by reference, 
program standards under subsection (b), including— 
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(A) in the case of an apprenticeship pro-
gram— 
(i) that is time-based, a statement of 
the number of hours to be spent by the 
program participant in on-the-job learning 
and on-the-job training in order to com-
plete the program; 
(ii) that is competency-based, a de-
scription of the skill sets to be attained by 
completion of the program, including the 
on-the-job learning and work components; 
or 
(iii) that is a hybrid model, the min-
imum number of hours to be spent by the 
program participant in on-the-job learning 
and work components and in related in-
struction, and a description of the skill sets 
and competencies to be attained by comple-
tion of the program; 
(B) the number of hours and form of re-
lated instruction, including how related instruc-
tion will be compensated (whether through aca-
demic credit, wages, or both), the costs the pro-
gram participant will incur costs for partici-
pating in the program (such as for equipment 
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or related instruction), and the recognized post-
secondary credentials the program participants 
will be eligible to receive upon program comple-
tion; 
(C) a schedule of the work processes in the 
occupation or industry divisions in which the 
program participant is to be trained and the 
approximate time to be spent at each process; 
(D) for apprenticeships or youth appren-
ticeships, the graduated wage scale to be paid 
to the apprentices, benefits offered to the ap-
prentices, and how the wages and benefits com-
pare to State, local, or regional wages in the re-
lated occupation; and 
(E) demonstration of commitment to and 
compliance with subsection (b)(7). 
(d) APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATION.—For an occu-
pation to be an apprenticeable occupation under this Act, 
a person seeking approval for such occupation to be an 
apprenticeable occupation shall submit an application to 
the Secretary of Labor (acting through the Administrator 
of the Office of Apprenticeship) that demonstrates that 
such apprenticeable occupation will prepare individuals for 
the full range of skills and competencies needed for such 
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occupation by describing how such apprenticeable occupa-
tion shall— 
(1) meet the industry recognized occupational 
standards required by the Administrator; or 
(2) involve the progressive attainment of skills 
competencies and knowledge that are— 
(A) clearly identified and commonly recog-
nized throughout an industry or occupation; 
(B) customarily learned or enhanced in a 
practical way through a structured, systematic 
program of on-the-job supervised learning and 
related instruction to supplement such learning; 
and 
(C) offered through a time-based, com-
petency-based, or a hybrid model measured 
using— 
(i) a time-based model, which requires 
the completion of the industry standard for 
on-the-job learning hours, which in no case 
shall be less than 2,000 hours, unless an 
alternative requirement is put forth by the 
employer and sponsor that reflects indus-
try standards and is accepted by the Sec-
retary; 
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(ii) a competency-based model, which 
requires the attainment of competency in 
the occupation; or 
(iii) a hybrid model, which blends the 
time-based 
and 
competency-based 
ap-
proaches. 
(e) REGISTRATION AGENCY DEFINED.—The term 
‘‘registration agency’’ means the State Office of Appren-
ticeship or State apprenticeship agency in a State that is 
responsible for— 
(1) approving or denying applications from 
sponsors for registration of programs under the na-
tional apprenticeship system in the State or area 
covered by the registration agency; and 
(2) carrying out the responsibilities of sup-
porting the apprenticeship programs registered by 
the registration agency, including— 
(A) determining whether to approve a pro-
posal submitted by a sponsor and notifying the 
sponsor of the determination by not later than 
60 days after receipt of the proposal; and 
(B) if the proposal is approved, the amend-
ing the record of the program to reflect the 
modification or change, and providing the spon-
sor or program administrator with an acknowl-
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edgment of the amended program, by not later 
than 30 days after the date of approval. 
Æ 
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