Apprenticeship Program National Scorecard Act
Bill: H.R.585 | Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris (D-NH)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Apprenticeship Program National Scorecard Act
This bill provides for data collection and dissemination of information regarding certain registered apprenticeship programs, youth apprenticeship programs, and pre-apprenticeship programs under the national apprenticeship system.
Specifically, the Department of Labor is required to (1) establish and support a single information technology infrastructure to support data collection and reporting from state apprenticeship agencies and offices, grantees, program sponsors, and program administrators under the national apprenticeship system; and (2) provide that such infrastructure best meets the needs of the system's stakeholders reporting data to Labor or state apprenticeship agencies, including through technical and financial assistance to ensure reporting systems are equipped to report into a single information technology infrastructure.

To direct the Secretary of Labor to provide for data collection and 
  dissemination of information regarding programs under the national 
             apprenticeship system, 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 Program National 
Scorecard Act''.

SEC. 2. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION.

    The Secretary of Labor shall provide for data collection and 
dissemination of information regarding programs under the national 
apprenticeship system, including--
            (1) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, establishing and supporting a single information 
        technology infrastructure to support data collection and 
        reporting from State Apprenticeship Agencies, State Offices of 
        Apprenticeship, grantees, program sponsors, and program 
        administrators under the national apprenticeship system by 
        providing for a data infrastructure that--
                    (A) is developed and maintained by the Secretary, 
                with input from national data and privacy experts, is 
                informed by best practices on public provision of 
                credential information, and to the extent practicable, 
                aligns with the technology infrastructure for related 
                Federal programs, such as the technology infrastructure 
                used under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
                    (B) best meets the needs of the national 
                apprenticeship system stakeholders reporting data to 
                the Secretary or State Apprenticeship Agencies, 
                including through the provision of technical assistance 
                and financial assistance as necessary to ensure 
                reporting systems are equipped to report into a single 
                information technology infrastructure; and
                    (C) is aligned with data from the performance data 
                as required by the Secretary; and
            (2) providing for data sharing that includes making 
        nonpersonally identifiable apprenticeship data available on a 
        publicly accessible website that is searchable and comparable, 
        through the use of common, linked, open-data description 
        language, such as the credential transparency description 
        language or a substantially similar resource, so that 
        interested parties can become aware of apprenticeship 
        opportunities and of program outcomes that best meets the needs 
        of youth apprentices, pre-apprentices, and apprentices, 
        employers, education and training providers, program sponsors, 
        and relevant stakeholders, including--
                    (A) information on program offerings under the 
                national apprenticeship system based on geographical 
                location and apprenticeable occupation;
                    (B) information on education and training providers 
                providing opportunities under such system, including 
                whether programs under such system offer dual or 
                concurrent enrollment programs, articulation 
                agreements, and recognized postsecondary credentials as 
                part of the program offerings;
                    (C) information about the educational and 
                occupational credentials and related competencies of 
                programs under such system; and
                    (D) information based on the most recent data 
                available to the Secretary that is consistent with 
                national standards and practices.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Apprenticeship.--The term ``apprenticeship'' or 
        ``apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship--
                    (A) registered with the Department of Labor 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.), or State Apprenticeship 
                Agency recognized by the Department of Labor; and
                    (B) that complies with the requirements of subpart 
                A of part 29, and part 30 of title 29, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (as in effect on September 18, 2020).
            (2) National apprenticeship system.--The term ``national 
        apprenticeship system'' means the apprenticeship programs, 
        youth apprenticeship programs, and pre-apprenticeship programs 
        registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly referred 
        to as the National Apprenticeship Act).
            (3) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102), except that such term does 
        not include a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.

SEC. 4. FUNDING.

    Any funds appropriated under this Act shall only be used for, or 
provided to, programs under the national apprenticeship system, 
including any funds awarded for the purposes of grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements, or the development, implementation, or 
administration, of programs under the national apprenticeship system.
                                 <all>