Title: PARTNERS Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers' Required Skills Act of 2019 or the PARTNERS Act
This bill establishes a grant program to promote registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of eligible partnerships.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 431 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 431

To promote registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training for small 
and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through 
        the establishment and support of eligible partnerships.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 11, 2019

  Ms. Baldwin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To promote registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training for small 
and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through 
        the establishment and support of eligible 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 2019'' 
or the ``PARTNERS Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to promote registered apprenticeships 
and on-the-job training for small and medium-sized businesses within 
in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of 
eligible partnerships.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
        partnership'' means an industry or sector partnership that 
        submits and obtains approval of an application consistent with 
        section 6(b).
            (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.).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (6) Workforce terms.--The terms ``Governor'', ``individual 
        with a barrier to employment'', ``industry or sector 
        partnership'', ``local area'', ``local board'', ``on-the-job 
        training'', ``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).

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 assisting (which may include assistance in 
        establishing expanded) local or regional eligible partnerships 
        to support registered apprenticeship and on-the-job training 
        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)(B)), 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 
                registered apprenticeship and on-the-job training 
                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 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 industry or sector of the local or regional 
        industry or sector partnerships that will be supported, 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 and on-the-job training 
        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 supportive services (including at least 6 
        months of post-employment supportive services), that will be 
        supported through the grant funds;
            (6) the recognized postsecondary credentials (beyond a 
        certificate of completion) that workers will obtain through 
        participation in the registered apprenticeship and on-the-job 
        training 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 registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training; 
        and
            (8) how the 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.
    (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 industry or sector partnerships that seek to 
        become eligible partnerships. The Governor shall award the 
        grants for the purpose of assisting (which may include 
        establishing expanded) 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 and on-the-job training 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 
registered apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs, and 
participant retention in and completion of those programs. The 
partnership may use the grant funds to establish an expanded eligible 
partnership.
    (b) Business Engagement.--The eligible partnership shall use grant 
funds to provide services to engage businesses in a registered 
apprenticeship or on-the-job training program, 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 registered 
        apprenticeship or on-the-job training program;
            (4) the employment of workers in a registered 
        apprenticeship or on-the-job training 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 a 
        registered apprenticeship or on-the-job training program;
            (6) the provision of career awareness activities; and
            (7) the recruitment of individuals to participate in a 
        registered apprenticeship or on-the-job training 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) Supportive Services for Workers.--
            (1) In general.--The eligible partnership shall use grant 
        funds to provide supportive services for workers to assure 
        their success in registered apprenticeship or on-the-job 
        training programs, which may include--
                    (A) connection of individuals with adult basic 
                education;
                    (B) connection of individuals with a pre-
                apprenticeship program or other preparation for a 
                registered apprenticeship or on-the-job training 
                program;
                    (C) provision of additional mentorship and 
                retention supports for individuals during pre-
                apprenticeship or other preparation for registered 
                apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs, and 
                during periods of employment for such programs;
                    (D) provision of tools, work attire, and other 
                required items necessary to start employment; and
                    (E) provision of transportation, child care 
                services, or other supportive services.
            (2) Length of services.--Each eligible partnership shall 
        provide supportive services for workers for not less than 12 
        months after the date of placement of an individual in a 
        registered apprenticeship or on-the-job training program. That 
        12-month period shall include a period of pre-apprenticeship or 
        other preparation for the program, 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 (including apprentices) in the 
                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 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 registered apprenticeship and on-the-
        job training 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.''.
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