Regional Skills Training Alliances Act of 1999

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Skills Training Alliances 
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

    For purposes of this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the 
Secretary of Commerce.

                         TITLE I--SKILL GRANTS

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall provide grants to 
eligible entities described in subsection (b) to assist such entities 
to improve the job skills necessary for employment in specific 
industries.
    (b) Eligible Entities Described.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity described in this 
        subsection is a consortium that--
                    (A) shall consist of representatives from not less 
                than 10 businesses (or a non-profit organization that 
                represents not less than 10 businesses); and
                    (B) may consist of representatives from one or more 
                of the following:
                            (i) Labor organizations.
                            (ii) State and local government.
                            (iii) Educational institutions.
            (2) Majority of representatives.--A majority of the 
        representatives comprising the consortium shall be 
        representatives described in paragraph (1)(A).
            (3) Additional requirement.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, each business, organization, or government that 
        forms an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall be located 
        in the same geographic region of the United States.
    (c) Priority for Small Businesses.--In providing grants under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity 
if a majority of representatives forming the entity represent small-
business concerns, as described in section 3(a) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
    (d) Maximum Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant provided to an 
eligible entity under subsection (a) may not exceed $1,000,000 for any 
fiscal year.

SEC. 102. APPLICATION.

    (a) Certain States With Multiple Consortia.--In a State in which 
two or more eligible entities seek grants under section 101 for a 
fiscal year, as determined by the Governor of the State, the Governor 
may solicit proposals from the entities concerning the activities to be 
carried out under the grants. If the Governor solicits such proposals, 
based on the proposals received, the Governor shall submit an 
application on behalf of 1 or more of the entities to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may reasonably require. The provisions of this title relating 
to eligible entities shall apply to each of the entities for which the 
Governor applies.
    (b) Other States.--In a State in which only one eligible entity 
seeks a grant under section 101 for a fiscal year, as determined by the 
Governor of the State, or in which the Governor does not solicit 
proposals as described in subsection (a), the Secretary may not provide 
a grant under section 101 to the eligible entity unless such entity 
submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require.

SEC. 103. USE OF AMOUNTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may not provide a grant under 
section 101 to an eligible entity unless such entity agrees to use 
amounts received from such grant to improve the job skills necessary 
for employment by businesses in the industry with respect to which such 
entity was established.
    (b) Conduct of Program.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the program described in 
        subsection (a), the eligible entity may provide for--
                    (A) an assessment of training and job skill needs 
                for the industry;
                    (B) development of a sequence of skill standards 
                that are benchmarked to advanced industry practices;
                    (C) development of curriculum and training methods;
                    (D) purchase, lease, or receipt of donations of 
                training equipment;
                    (E) identification of training providers;
                    (F) development of apprenticeship programs;
                    (G) development of training programs for dislocated 
                workers;
                    (H) development of the membership of the entity;
                    (I) provision of training programs for workers; and
                    (J) development of training plans for businesses.
            (2) Additional requirement.--In carrying out the program 
        described in subsection (a), the eligible entity shall provide 
        for development and tracking of performance outcome measures 
        for the program and the training providers involved in the 
        program.
    (c) Administrative Costs.--The eligible entity may use not more 
than 10 percent of the amount of a grant to pay for administrative 
costs associated with the program described in subsection (a).

SEC. 104. REQUIREMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS.

    The Secretary may not provide a grant under section 101 to an 
eligible entity unless such entity agrees that--
            (1) it will make available non-Federal contributions toward 
        the costs of carrying out activities under section 103 in an 
        amount that is not less than $2 for each $1 of Federal funds 
        provided under a grant under section 101; and
            (2) of such non-Federal contributions, not less than $1 of 
        each such $2 shall be from businesses participating in the 
        eligible entity.

SEC. 105. LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    The Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of the funds made 
available to carry out this title to pay for Federal administrative 
costs associated with making grants under this title.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002.

                       TITLE II--PLANNING GRANTS

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall provide grants to 
States to enable the States to assist businesses, organizations, and 
agencies described in section 101(b) in conducting planning to form 
consortia described in such section.
    (b) Maximum Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant provided to a 
State under subsection (a) may not exceed $500,000 for any fiscal year.

SEC. 202. APPLICATION.

    The Secretary may not provide a grant under section 201 to a State 
unless such State submits to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require.

SEC. 203. REQUIREMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS.

    The Secretary may not provide a grant under section 201 to a State 
unless such State agrees that it will make available non-Federal 
contributions toward the costs of carrying out activities under this 
title in an amount that is not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal 
funds provided under a grant under section 201.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.

Summary: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I: Skill Grants 
     Title II: Planning Grants 
Regional Skills Training Alliances Act of 1999 - 
Title I: Skill Grants
 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to improve the job skills necessary for employment in specific industries. Requires the Secretary to do so acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
Makes eligible for such grants regional consortia that: (1) must have representatives from not fewer than ten businesses (or a nonprofit organization that represents at least ten businesses); and (2) may have representatives from labor organizations, State and local governments, and educational institutions. 
Gives priority for such grants to eligible entities that consist of a majority of representatives from small businesses. 
Sets requirements relating to maximum amount of grants, applications, use of program funds, and matching funds. 
Authorizes appropriations. 
Title II: Planning Grants
 - Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to provide grants to States to assist businesses, organizations, and agencies in planning to form regional consortia under title I. 
Sets requirements relating to maximum amount of grants, applications, use of program funds, and matching funds. 
Authorizes appropriations.