Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2021
Bill: S.396 | Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. (D-DE)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Labor to implement a program to award grants to workforce intermediaries (certain national, regional, state, or local entities that facilitate the establishment of registered apprenticeship programs) to enable them to engage a variety of stakeholders to support, develop, and implement registered apprenticeship programs.

To promote registered apprenticeships, including registered 
apprenticeships within in-demand industry sectors, through the support 
          of workforce intermediaries, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Apprenticeship Hubs Across America 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Registered apprenticeship programs provide apprentices 
        employment with structured on-the-job training, little to no 
        student loan debt, competitive wages, industry-recognized 
        credentials, direct access to jobs and careers, and in some 
        cases, the potential to earn college credit toward an 
        associate's or bachelor's degree.
            (2) According to the Department of Labor Apprenticeship 
        Toolkit, the average wage for a fully proficient worker who 
        completes an apprenticeship is $50,000 annually. Apprentices 
        who complete their program earn approximately $300,000 more 
        during their career than non-apprenticeship workers.
            (3) There are still very few apprenticeship positions in 
        sectors with high job growth. According to data from the 
        Department of Labor, health care--the industry with the 
        greatest job growth--had only 1,852 apprentices in 2016. 
        Information technology, another sector with rapidly expanding 
        job opportunities in the United States, had fewer than 1,000 
        apprentices in 2016.
            (4) A major barrier to expanding registered apprenticeships 
        in high-growth job sectors is employers' lack of familiarity 
        with the process to establish, and the requirements of, 
        registered apprenticeship programs.
            (5) Workforce intermediaries, which are organizations at 
        the national, regional, State, or local level that help ease 
        the process for employers in developing and delivering new 
        registered apprenticeship programs, can serve as a catalyzing 
        force for creating and expanding registered apprenticeships in 
        high-growth job sectors through technical assistance and 
        capacity building for employers, labor organizations, 
        educational institutions, and government entities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Apprenticeship.--The term ``apprenticeship'' means an 
        opportunity in a registered apprenticeship program.
            (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) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) Local board.--The term ``local board'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (5) Nontraditional apprenticeship occupation.--The term 
        ``nontraditional apprenticeship occupation'' means an 
        occupation that has not traditionally engaged in carrying out 
        registered apprenticeship programs, but which the Secretary 
        determines would benefit from having such a program (such as an 
        occupation in a financial services, advanced manufacturing, 
        information technology, health care, or hospitality industry 
        sector).
            (6) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship program'' means a program 
        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.).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (8) State board.--The term ``State board'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (9) Workforce intermediary.--The term ``workforce 
        intermediary'' means an entity that, at the national, regional, 
        State, or local level--
                    (A)(i) facilitates the establishment of registered 
                apprenticeship programs; or
                    (ii) if awarded a grant under this Act, has the 
                capacity, and will work, to facilitate the 
                establishment of registered apprenticeship programs; 
                and
                    (B) may be a partnership that includes 1 or more of 
                the following as partners:
                            (i) A business or industry organization.
                            (ii) A community-based organization.
                            (iii) A joint labor-management partnership.
                            (iv) An institution of higher education.
                            (v) A State board or local board.
                            (vi) A nonprofit organization.
                            (vii) An industry or sector partnership as 
                        defined in section 3 of the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                        3102).
                            (viii) An industry association.
                            (ix) A joint labor-management organization.
                            (x) A consortium of organizations that 
                        provide technical assistance to support and to 
                        increase the development of registered 
                        apprenticeship programs.
                            (xi) Any other entity that the Secretary 
                        considers to be appropriate.

SEC. 4. WORKFORCE INTERMEDIARIES GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
Act, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a workforce 
intermediaries grant program by awarding grants, on a competitive 
basis, to workforce intermediaries, to enable the workforce 
intermediaries to engage a variety of stakeholders, such as local 
boards, secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and 
employers, to support, develop, and implement registered apprenticeship 
programs in accordance with section 6.
    (b) Duration.--A grant awarded under this Act shall be for a period 
of not more than 4 years.
    (c) Amount.--A grant awarded under this Act shall be in an amount 
of not more than $6,000,000, and such amount shall be determined based 
on the relative number of apprentices a workforce intermediary plans to 
facilitate.
    (d) Geographic Diversity.--In awarding grants under this Act, the 
Secretary shall ensure that there is geographic diversity in the areas 
in which activities will be carried out under the grants.
    (e) Matching Funds.--A workforce intermediary receiving a grant 
under this Act shall provide matching funds, from non-Federal sources, 
for the activities supported under the grant. The matching funds shall 
be in an amount that is not less than 20 percent of the amount of grant 
funds provided under the grant.

SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--A workforce intermediary desiring a grant under 
this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    (b) Contents.--The application described in subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) information regarding--
                    (A) in the case of a workforce intermediary 
                described in section 3(9)(A)(i), the extent to which 
                the workforce intermediary is working, as of the date 
                of the application, with stakeholders to provide 
                activities such as the activities described in section 
                6; or
                    (B) in the case of a workforce intermediary 
                described in section 3(9)(A)(ii), the capacity of the 
                workforce intermediary to begin providing activities 
                described in section 6 upon receipt of the grant, 
                including information demonstrating that the workforce 
                intermediary would be successful in carrying out such 
                activities;
            (2) information regarding the extent to which the grant 
        will help the workforce intermediary--
                    (A) expand apprenticeships for in-demand industry 
                sectors that lack apprenticeships at the time of the 
                application; or
                    (B) target populations that are underrepresented--
                            (i) in apprenticeships generally; or
                            (ii) in the fields in which the apprentices 
                        will be trained;
            (3) assurances that--
                    (A) the workforce intermediary will cooperate in 
                the evaluation of the project conducted under section 
                7; and
                    (B) the workforce intermediary will meet the 
                matching requirement under section 4(e);
            (4) information about the workforce intermediary's--
                    (A) experience in providing activities described in 
                section 6 and capacity, or ability to develop or expand 
                capacity, to provide such activities;
                    (B) experience working in a collaborative 
                environment with government and nongovernmental 
                entities;
                    (C) ability to raise or provide funding to cover 
                operating costs for the long-term sustainability of the 
                activities supported under the grant; and
                    (D) capacity and infrastructure to track outcomes 
                and measure results, including capacity to track and 
                analyze program performance and assess program impact; 
                and
            (5) information describing how the workforce intermediary 
        will promote the diversity described in section 6(b)(1)(F).

SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--A workforce intermediary that receives a grant 
under this Act shall use the grant funds to carry out activities, which 
may include activities described in subsection (b) or other strategies 
as may be necessary, that support the development and successful 
implementation of registered apprenticeship programs.
    (b) Suggested Uses.--A workforce intermediary may carry out 
subsection (a) through 1 or more of the following activities, as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary:
            (1) Outreach and marketing.--A workforce intermediary may 
        provide services to engage employers in registered 
        apprenticeship programs, which may include--
                    (A) marketing apprenticeships regionally, to 
                employers and to potential apprentices;
                    (B) marketing apprenticeships to secondary school 
                students, counselors, school administrators, or 
                parents;
                    (C) recruiting and evaluating candidates for 
                apprenticeships;
                    (D) conducting outreach to employers to persuade 
                the employers to adopt the apprenticeship model;
                    (E) matching employers with apprentices; and
                    (F) promoting diversity among apprentices by 
                promoting outreach to underrepresented populations 
                (such as women and minorities), youth, individuals with 
                disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)), and 
                veterans.
            (2) Employer engagement.--The workforce intermediary may 
        provide services to engage employers in, and develop curricula 
        for, registered apprenticeship programs, which may include 
        assisting a small or medium-sized employer with--
                    (A) designing a curriculum for a registered 
                apprenticeship program that blends occupation-specific 
                skills and general industry skills;
                    (B) designing a comprehensive training plan for 
                apprentices;
                    (C) navigating the registration process for the 
                registered apprenticeship program;
                    (D) identifying skills, both technical and 
                behavioral, needed to perform the occupation in 
                question;
                    (E) providing training to managers and front-line 
                employees to serve as trainers or mentors to 
                apprentices in the registered apprenticeship program;
                    (F) paying for the cost of off-site training 
                provided to apprentices;
                    (G) coordinating activities between training 
                instructors and worksite supervisors of apprentices;
                    (H) conducting or arranging for off-the-job 
                training related to the apprenticeship;
                    (I) convening employers to define skills for the 
                registered apprenticeship program; and
                    (J) developing occupational standards that are 
                nationally recognized and portable to help guide 
                employers and sponsors in establishing new registered 
                apprenticeship programs.
            (3) Support services for apprentices.--The workforce 
        intermediary may provide support services for apprentices to 
        assure their success in, and after, registered apprenticeship 
        programs, which may include--
                    (A) providing guidance to, mentorship to, and 
                oversight of apprentices during the program, to ensure 
                retention and completion;
                    (B) providing services to address challenges that 
                surface for apprentices during the apprenticeship;
                    (C) providing professional development training 
                needed for apprentices to succeed in a full-time job 
                after the apprenticeship;
                    (D) providing post-apprenticeship job counseling 
                and job placement services;
                    (E) coordinating pre-apprenticeship training or 
                off-the-job training related to the occupation involved 
                in the apprenticeship; and
                    (F) arranging for an institution of higher 
                education to provide training courses.
            (4) Local and national support for registered 
        apprenticeships.--The workforce intermediary may support 
        registered apprenticeship programs locally and nationally, 
        which may include--
                    (A) developing national guidelines and standards 
                for registered apprenticeships in non-traditional 
                apprenticeship occupations;
                    (B) connecting multi-region efforts for registered 
                apprenticeship programs;
                    (C) documenting best practices in operating a 
                workforce intermediary; and
                    (D) providing the ongoing infrastructure to support 
                apprenticeships in an industry.
    (c) Emphasis on In-Demand Registered Apprenticeship Programs.--In 
carrying out activities under a grant under this Act, the workforce 
intermediary receiving the grant shall place an emphasis on supporting 
registered apprenticeship programs that lead to skilled jobs and wages 
in in-demand industry sectors.

SEC. 7. PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION.

    (a) Performance Progress Reports to the Secretary.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall require each workforce 
        intermediary receiving a grant under this Act to submit 
        performance progress reports at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Elements.--Each report described in paragraph (1) shall 
        include, at a minimum--
                    (A) the goals, plans, and accomplishments of the 
                workforce intermediary;
                    (B) how grant funds have been used; and
                    (C) how the workforce intermediary has furthered 
                the purposes described in section 4(a).
    (b) Evaluations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation 
        of each workforce intermediary that receives a grant under this 
        Act 6 years after the date on which funds for the grant are 
        first disbursed.
            (2) Contents of evaluation.--The evaluation described in 
        paragraph (1) shall include a critical analysis of the 
        workforce intermediary--
                    (A) by addressing topics such as--
                            (i) the goals of the workforce 
                        intermediary;
                            (ii) the core competency training offered 
                        by the workforce intermediary, without regard 
                        as to whether such training was supported by 
                        grant funds;
                            (iii) the structure of the wage progression 
                        or career ladder for each registered 
                        apprenticeship program established or supported 
                        by the workforce intermediary;
                            (iv) the major recruitment sources of 
                        apprentices for the workforce intermediary;
                            (v) information on how apprentices are 
                        selected by the workforce intermediary;
                            (vi) the recruitment challenges that the 
                        workforce intermediary faces;
                            (vii) the demographic and educational 
                        characteristics of apprentices supported by the 
                        workforce intermediary;
                            (viii) the structure of the workforce 
                        intermediary, including the number of staff 
                        employed by the workforce intermediary;
                            (ix) the factors that contribute to a 
                        workforce intermediary's sustainability and 
                        replicability; and
                            (x) the number of apprenticeships 
                        facilitated by the workforce intermediary and 
                        the occupations involved in the 
                        apprenticeships; and
                    (B) that evaluates the workforce intermediary using 
                information on--
                            (i) the levels of performance achieved by 
                        the workforce intermediary 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)), for 
                        all apprentices who complete a registered 
                        apprenticeship program supported by the 
                        workforce intermediary;
                            (ii) the completion rates for apprentices 
                        in each registered apprenticeship program 
                        supported by the workforce intermediary;
                            (iii) job retention of apprentices, based 
                        on 1 year after completing the registered 
                        apprenticeship program supported by the 
                        workforce intermediary;
                            (iv) the income level of jobs obtained by 
                        apprentices after completing the apprenticeship 
                        program; and
                            (v) the occupations in in-demand industry 
                        sectors, and nontraditional apprenticeship 
                        occupations, that the workforce intermediary 
                        has successfully served through the grant by 
                        creating registered apprenticeship programs in 
                        those occupations.
            (3) Scope of evaluation.--In conducting the evaluation 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the fullest extent 
        practicable, limit the evaluation to the efforts of the 
        workforce intermediary supported under this Act, but shall also 
        consider all of the efforts of the workforce intermediary to 
        support registered apprenticeship programs.
            (4) Report.--By not later than 90 days after the evaluation 
        is completed, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the 
        workforce intermediary, and make publicly available, a report 
        that will contain--
                    (A) the results of the evaluation, including the 
                topics and information described in paragraph (2); and
                    (B) recommendations on how to further improve the 
                outcomes of the workforce intermediary.
    (c) Renewal.--The Secretary shall use the performance progress 
reports and the results of an evaluation under this section for a 
project to determine whether to renew a grant for the workforce 
intermediary for that project.

SEC. 8. WORKSHOPS; BEST PRACTICES.

    The Secretary shall use not more than 5 percent of the funds made 
available under this Act to--
            (1) plan and conduct workshops throughout the United States 
        to instruct interested organizations on how to create workforce 
        intermediaries on a national, State, or local level, and 
        navigate the grant process described in this Act; and
            (2) disseminate best practices on effective development and 
        implementation of registered apprenticeship programs through 
        workforce intermediaries.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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