I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1447 
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 to improve the Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2015 
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS 
of Illinois, and Mr. POLIS) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 to improve the Act. 
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 ‘‘Perkins Modernization 
Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
Section 2 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, or high de-
mand occupations in current or emerging profes-
sions’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in current or 
emerging in-demand industry sectors or occupa-
tions’’; 
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) aligning the skills, certifications, and cre-
dentials of secondary and postsecondary students 
who enroll in career and technical education pro-
grams with the skills, certifications, and credentials 
needed by employers in the labor markets served by 
the educational institutions; and 
‘‘(9) ensuring that the selection of skills, certifi-
cations, and credentials acquired by career and tech-
nical education students is guided by timely labor 
market information.’’. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(35) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCU-
PATION.—The term ‘in-demand industry sector or 
occupation’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).’’. 
SEC. 4. ACCOUNTABILITY. 
Section 113(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Carl D. Perkins Ca-
reer and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
2323(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by striking ‘‘, or high de-
mand occupations or professions’’ and inserting ‘‘employ-
ment in in-demand industry sectors or occupations’’. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 114(d) of the of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)(II), by inserting 
‘‘in in-demand industry sectors or occupations’’ after 
‘‘critical)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(V), by striking ‘‘oc-
cupations in high skill, high wage, or high demand 
business and industry’’ and inserting ‘‘high skill, 
high wage employment in in-demand industry sec-
tors or occupations’’. 
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SEC. 6. OCCUPATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION. 
Section 118(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2328) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking ‘‘, or 
high demand occupations’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand industry sec-
tors or occupations’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘, or high de-
mand occupations in current or emerging profes-
sions’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand in-
dustry sectors or occupations,’’. 
SEC. 7. STATE PLAN. 
Section 122(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342(c)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting 
‘‘and careers in in-demand industry sectors or 
occupations’’ after ‘‘in postsecondary edu-
cation’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (H), by striking 
‘‘entry into high skill, high wage, or high de-
mand occupations in current or emerging occu-
pations’’ and inserting ‘‘for employment in in- 
demand industry sectors or occupations’’; and 
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(C) in subparagraph (I)(iii), by striking 
‘‘employment in high skill, high wage, or high 
demand occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘high skill, 
high wage employment in in-demand industry 
sectors or occupations’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or into high 
skill, high wage employment in in-demand industry 
sectors or occupations’’ after ‘‘higher education’’; 
(3) in paragraph (9)(C), by striking ‘‘, or high 
demand occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in 
in-demand industry sectors or occupations’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (18), by striking ‘‘, or high 
demand occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in 
in-demand industry sectors or occupations’’. 
SEC. 8. STATE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES. 
Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2344) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘, or 
high demand occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘em-
ployment in in-demand industry sectors or occu-
pations’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ‘‘, 
equipment,’’ after ‘‘internships’’; 
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(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘occupa-
tions’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand 
industry sectors or occupations’’; 
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (7) 
through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), re-
spectively; 
(E) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘, or high demand’’ and inserting 
‘‘employment in in-demand industry sectors 
or’’; and 
(F) by inserting after paragraph (6) the 
following: 
‘‘(7) analyzing labor market information col-
lected by State agencies, Federal agencies, workforce 
investment boards, or other third-party organiza-
tions engaged in labor market research in order to 
ensure that programs of study in career and tech-
nical education align with labor market needs;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘, and encouraging secondary students to 
pursue dual enrollment coursework as well 
as industry licenses, certificates, and other 
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postsecondary credentials’’ after ‘‘degree’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘employment 
in in-demand industry sectors or occupa-
tions’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘, or 
high demand occupations’’ and inserting ‘‘em-
ployment in in-demand industry sectors or occu-
pations’’. 
SEC. 9. LOCAL PLAN FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDU-
CATION. 
Section 134(b)(8)(C) of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
2354(b)(8)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘, or high demand’’ 
and inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand industry sectors 
or’’. 
SEC. 10. LOCAL USES OF FUNDS. 
Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)(9), by striking ‘‘, or high 
demand’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand 
industry sectors or’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (c)(12) by striking ‘‘, or high 
demand’’ and inserting ‘‘employment in in-demand 
industry sectors or’’. 
Æ 
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