Title: To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship system.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This bill directs the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to certain eligible entities to (1) encourage employer participation in programs under the national apprenticeship system, and (2) encourage participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in programs under the national apprenticeship system.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8317 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8317

  To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship 
                                system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 18, 2020

  Mrs. Trahan (for herself and Mr. Morelle) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship 
                                system.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE 
              AGREEMENTS.

    The Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department 
of Labor shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
eligible entities on a competitive basis for the following purposes:
            (1) Encouraging employer participation.--To encourage 
        employer participation in programs under the national 
        apprenticeship system--
                    (A) that target individuals with barriers to 
                employment in youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, 
                or apprenticeship programs, prioritizing nontraditional 
                apprenticeship populations such as women, minorities, 
                long-term unemployed, individuals with a disability, 
                individuals with substance abuse issues, veterans, 
                military spouses, individuals experiencing 
                homelessness, individuals impacted by the criminal or 
                juvenile justice system, and foster and former foster 
                youth;
                    (B) that are in high-need social service-related 
                industries, sectors, or occupations, such as direct 
                care workers and early childhood educators;
                    (C) that target individuals currently or recently 
                incarcerated; or
                    (D) among small- and medium-sized employers.
            (2) In-demand industry sector or occupation grants for 
        small- and medium-sized businesses.--An eligible entity that 
        receives funds under this section shall use such funds to 
        encourage participation of small- and medium-sized businesses 
        in programs under the national apprenticeship system, which may 
        include--
                    (A) providing financial assistance to employers to 
                support costs related to the program, such as training 
                incumbent workers as mentors or employees supervising 
                the on-the-job learning;
                    (B) supporting the cost of related instruction or 
                wages for program participants during related 
                instruction;
                    (C) providing technical assistance to small- and 
                medium-sized businesses on the program registration 
                process and leveraging other available funds to support 
                carrying out programs supported by this grant; or
                    (D) establishing or expanding partnerships to 
                support program development or expansion, including 
                establishing or expanding industry or sector 
                partnerships to ensure inclusion of small- and medium-
                sized businesses.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``eligible entity'' means--
            (1) a program sponsor;
            (2) a State workforce development board or State workforce 
        agency, or a local workforce development board or local 
        workforce development agency;
            (3) an education and training provider, or a consortium 
        thereof;
            (4) if the applicant is in a State with a State 
        apprenticeship agency, such State apprenticeship agency;
            (5) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
            (6) an industry or sector partnership, a group of 
        employers, a trade association, or a professional association 
        that sponsors or participates in a program under the national 
        apprenticeship system;
            (7) a Governor;
            (8) a labor organization or joint labor management 
        organization; or
            (9) a qualified intermediary.
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