PARTNERS Act
Bill: H.R.636 | Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne (D-OR)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers Required Skills Act of 2021 or the PARTNERS Act
This bill establishes a grant program to promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of eligible partnerships.

To promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning 
    programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand 
industry sectors, through the establishment and support of industry or 
                          sector partnerships.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Apprenticeships through 
Regional Training Networks for Employers Required Skills Act of 2021'' 
or the ``PARTNERS Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to promote registered apprenticeships 
and other work-based learning programs for small and medium-sized 
businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment 
and support of industry or sector partnerships.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
        partnership'' means an industry or sector partnership as 
        defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) that submits and obtains 
        approval of an application consistent with section 5(c).
            (2) In-demand industry sector.--The term ``in-demand 
        industry sector'' means a sector described in subparagraphs 
        (A)(i) and (B) of section 3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(23)).
            (3) Local or regional.--The term ``local or regional'', 
        used with respect to an entity, means that the entity provides 
        services in, respectively, a local area or region.
            (4) Registered apprenticeship.--The term ``registered 
        apprenticeship'' means an apprenticeship registered under the 
        Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National 
        Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
        et seq.).
                    (A) In general.--The term ``work-based learning 
                program'' means a program that provides workers with 
                paid work experience and corresponding classroom 
                instruction, delivered in an employment relationship 
                that both the business and worker intend to lead to 
                continuing employment after the program ends.
                    (B) Work experience.--In subparagraph (A), the term 
                ``paid work experience'' includes training by an 
                employer that is provided to a paid employee while 
                engaged in productive work in a job that provides 
                knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate 
                performance of the job.
            (5) Workforce terms.--The terms ``Governor'', ``individual 
        with a barrier to employment'', ``industry or sector 
        partnership'', ``local area'', ``local board'', ``State 
        board'', ``outlying area'', ``recognized postsecondary 
        credential'', ``region'', ``State'', and ``supportive 
        services'', used with respect to activities supported under 
        this Act, have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.

SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

    From funds paid into the general fund of the Treasury and available 
under section 286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)), the Secretary shall carry out this Act.

SEC. 5. ALLOTMENTS TO STATES.

    (a) Reservation.--Of the amounts available for this Act under 
section 4, the Secretary may reserve--
            (1) not more than 5 percent of those amounts for the costs 
        of technical assistance and Federal administration of this Act;
            (2) not more than 2 percent of those amounts for the costs 
        of evaluations conducted under section 8(b); and
            (3) not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent of such amounts to 
        provide assistance to the outlying areas.
    (b) Allotments.--
            (1) In general.--Of the amounts available for this Act 
        under section 4 that remain after the Secretary makes the 
        reservations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, for the 
        purpose of supporting (which may include assistance in 
        establishing expanded) local or regional eligible partnerships 
        to support work-based learning programs under this Act, make 
        allotments to eligible States in accordance with clauses (ii) 
        through (v) of section 132(b)(1)(B) of the Workforce Innovation 
        and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)), subject to 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Application.--For purposes of applying the clauses 
        described in paragraph (1), under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary--
                    (A) shall not apply subclauses (I) and (III) of 
                clause (iv) with respect to the first fiscal year after 
                the date of enactment of this Act;
                    (B) shall apply clause (iv)(II) by substituting 
                ``0.5 percent of the remaining amounts described in 
                paragraph (1)'' for the total described in that clause;
                    (C) shall not apply clause (iv)(IV);
                    (D) shall apply clause (v)(II) by substituting the 
                term ``allotment percentage'', used with respect to the 
                second full fiscal year after the date of enactment of 
                this Act, or a subsequent fiscal year, means a 
                percentage of the remaining amounts described in 
                paragraph (1) that is received through an allotment 
                made under this subsection for the fiscal year for the 
                two sentences in that clause; and
                    (E) shall apply clause (v)(III) by substituting ``a 
                work-based learning program carried out under this 
                Act'' for ``a program of workforce investment 
                activities carried out under this subtitle''.
            (3) Use of unallotted funds.--If a State fails to meet the 
        requirements for an allotment under this subsection, the 
        Secretary may allot funds that are not allotted under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) to eligible States under a formula based 
        on the formula specified in section 132(c) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3173(c)).
            (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``eligible 
        State'' means a State that meets the requirements of section 
        102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
        U.S.C. 3112, 3113) and subsection (c).
    (c) State Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an allotment 
under subsection (b), a State, in consultation with State boards and 
local boards, shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such 
time, in such manner, and containing a description of the activities to 
be carried out with the grant funds. At a minimum, the application 
shall include information on--
            (1) the local or regional industry or sector partnerships 
        that will be supported, including the lead partners for the 
        partnerships, and how the partnerships will work to engage 
        small and medium-sized businesses, as applicable, in the 
        activities of the partnerships;
            (2) the in-demand industry sectors that will be served, 
        including how such industry sectors were identified, and how 
        the activities of the partnerships will align with State, 
        regional, and local plans as required under title I of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et 
        seq.);
            (3) the registered apprenticeship programs or other work-
        based learning programs to be supported though the 
        partnerships;
            (4) the populations that will receive services, including 
        individuals with barriers to employment and populations that 
        were historically underrepresented in the industry sectors to 
        be served through the partnerships;
            (5) the services, including business engagement, classroom 
        instruction, and support services (including at least 6 months 
        of post-employment support services), that will be supported 
        through the grant funds;
            (6) the recognized postsecondary credentials that workers 
        will obtain through participation in the program and the 
        quality of the program that leads to the credentials;
            (7) levels of performance to be achieved on the performance 
        indicators described in section 8, to measure progress towards 
        expanding work-based learning programs;
            (8) how local or regional partnerships will leverage 
        additional resources, including funding provided under title I 
        of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 
        et seq.) and non-Federal resources, to support the activities 
        carried out under this Act; and
            (9) such other subjects as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Review of Applications.--The Secretary shall review 
applications submitted under subsection (c) in consultation with the 
Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 6. GRANTS TO PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Governor of a State that receives an 
        allotment under section 5 shall use the funds made available 
        through the allotment and not reserved under subsection (d) to 
        award grants to eligible partnerships. The Governor shall award 
        the grants for the purpose of assisting (which may include 
        establishing or expanding) local or regional industry or sector 
        partnerships that are identified in the application submitted 
        under section 5(c), to carry out activities described in 
        section 7.
            (2) Period and amount of grant.--A State may make a grant 
        under this section for a period of 3 years, and in an amount of 
        not more than $500,000.
            (3) Availability of funds.--The Governor of a State that 
        receives an allotment under section 5 for a fiscal year may use 
        the funds made available through the allotment during that year 
        or the 2 subsequent fiscal years.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an industry or sector partnership described in subsection 
(a)(1) shall--
            (1) submit an application to the State at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the State may 
        require; and
            (2) designate a partner in the industry or sector 
        partnership, to serve as the fiscal agent for purposes of the 
        grant.
    (c) Awards of Grants.--
            (1) Participation in multiple eligible partnerships.--
        Subject to paragraph (2), a State may award grants under this 
        section in a way that results in an entity being represented in 
        more than one partnership that receives such a grant.
            (2) Geographic diversity.--In making the grants, a State 
        shall ensure that there is geographic diversity in the areas in 
        which activities will be carried out under the grants.
    (d) Administration.--The State may reserve not more than 5 percent 
of the amount of an allotment under section 5 for the administration of 
the grants awarded under this section.

SEC. 7. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant 
under section 6 shall use the grant funds to support a registered 
apprenticeship or other work-based learning program. The eligible 
partnership shall use the grant funds to support the activities 
described in subsections (b) and (c) and such other strategies as may 
be necessary to support the development and implementation of work-
based learning programs, and participant retention in and completion of 
those programs. The partnership may use the grant funds to establish or 
expand eligible partnerships.
    (b) Business Engagement.--The eligible partnership shall use grant 
funds to provide services to engage businesses in work-based learning 
programs, which may include assisting a small or medium-sized business 
with--
            (1) the navigation of the registration process for a 
        sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program;
            (2) the connection of the business with an education 
        provider to develop classroom instruction to complement on-the-
        job learning;
            (3) the development of a curriculum for a work-based 
        learning program;
            (4) the employment of workers in a work-based learning 
        program for a transitional period before the business hires an 
        individual for continuing employment;
            (5) the provision of training to managers and front-line 
        workers to serve as trainers or mentors to workers in the work-
        based learning program;
            (6) the provision of career awareness activities; and
            (7) the recruitment of individuals to participate in a 
        work-based learning program from individuals receiving 
        additional workforce and human services, including--
                    (A) workers in programs under the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
                seq.);
                    (B) recipients of assistance through the 
                supplemental nutrition assistance program established 
                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.); and
                    (C) recipients of assistance through the program of 
                block grants to States for temporary assistance for 
                needy families established under part A of title IV of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
    (c) Support Services for Workers.--
            (1) In general.--The eligible partnership shall use grant 
        funds to provide support services for workers to assure their 
        success in work-based learning programs, which may include--
                    (A) connection of individuals with adult basic 
                education during pre-work-based learning or training, 
                and during the period of employment;
                    (B) connection of individuals with pre-work-based 
                learning or training, including through a pre-
                apprenticeship program;
                    (C) provision of additional mentorship and 
                retention supports for individuals pre-work-based 
                learning or training, and during the period of 
                employment;
                    (D) provision of tools, work attire, and other 
                required items necessary to start employment pre-work-
                based learning or training, and during the period of 
                employment; and
                    (E) provision of transportation, child care 
                services, or other support services pre-work-based 
                learning or training, and during the period of 
                employment.
            (2) Length of services.--Each eligible partnership shall 
        provide support services for workers for not less than 12 
        months after the date of placement of an individual in a work-
        based learning program. That 12-month period shall include a 
        period of pre-work-based learning or training, a transitional 
        period of employment as described in subsection (b)(4), and a 
        period of continuing employment.

SEC. 8. PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) Local Reports.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant 
under section 6, and annually thereafter, each eligible partnership in 
a State shall conduct an evaluation and submit to the State a local 
report containing information on--
            (1) levels of performance achieved by the eligible 
        partnership with respect to the performance indicators under 
        section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A))--
                    (A) for all workers in the work-based learning 
                program involved; and
                    (B) for all such workers, disaggregated by each 
                population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(24)) and 
                by race, ethnicity, sex, and age; and
            (2) levels of performance achieved by the eligible 
        partnership with respect to the performance indicators under 
        that section 116(b)(2)(A)--
                    (A) for individuals with barriers to employment in 
                the work-based learning program involved; and
                    (B) for all such individuals, disaggregated by each 
                population specified in section 3(24) of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act and by race, ethnicity, 
                sex, and age.
    (b) State Reports.--Not later than 24 months after receiving 
initial local reports under subsection (a) (but in no case less than 18 
months after the corresponding grants are awarded) and annually 
thereafter, the State shall conduct an evaluation and submit a report 
to the Secretary containing--
            (1) the information provided by the eligible partnerships 
        through the local reports; and
            (2) the State level of performance, aggregated across all 
        eligible partnerships, with respect to the performance 
        indicators described in subsection (a).

SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 
1998.--Section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce 
Improvement Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916a) is repealed.
    (b) Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 286(s)(2) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(2) Use of fees for work-based learning programs.--50 
        percent of amounts deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant 
        Petitioner Account shall remain available to the Secretary of 
        Labor until expended to carry out the PARTNERS Act.''.
                                 <all>