Title: Apprenticeship Program Clearinghouse Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Apprenticeship Program Clearinghouse Act
This bill requires the Department of Labor to enter into an interagency agreement with the Department of Education (ED) to promote and support integration and alignment of programs under the national apprenticeship system with secondary, postsecondary, and adult education. The agreement must require that Labor and ED disseminate information on the value of programs under the national apprenticeship system and require the creation of a clearinghouse of best practices for improving performance and increasing alignment of education and programs under the national apprenticeship system, including career pathways.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8789 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8789

 To direct the Secretary of Labor to enter into interagency agreements 
to promote and support integration and alignment of programs under the 
national apprenticeship system with secondary, postsecondary, and adult 
                   education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2020

  Mrs. Luria introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Labor to enter into interagency agreements 
to promote and support integration and alignment of programs under the 
national apprenticeship system with secondary, postsecondary, and adult 
                   education, 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 Clearinghouse 
Act''.

SEC. 2. IN GENERAL.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, in 
order to cooperate with the Secretary of Education and promote 
awareness and adoption of apprenticeship programs, the Secretary of 
Labor shall--
            (1) enter into an interagency agreement with the Secretary 
        of Education to promote and support integration and alignment 
        of programs under the national apprenticeship system with 
        secondary, postsecondary, and adult education, through the 
        activities described in this Act; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate, such agreement and 
        any modifications to such agreement.

SEC. 3. BEST PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT AND SHARING.

    (a) Dissemination.--Such interagency agreement shall require that 
the Secretaries disseminate information on the value of programs under 
the national apprenticeship system, including relevant placement, 
retention, and earnings information, labor market data from the local 
area, and sector forecasts to determine high-skill, high-wage, or in-
demand industry sectors or occupations of such programs, to local 
education and training providers, labor organizations, or joint-labor 
management organizations (including those representing teachers).
    (b) Clearinghouse.--Such agreement shall require the Secretaries to 
create a clearinghouse of best practices--
            (1) for improving performance and increasing alignment of 
        education and programs under the national apprenticeship 
        system, including career pathways; and
            (2) publicly disseminate information and resources on--
                    (A) replicable related instruction and on-the-job 
                learning; and
                    (B) how to build an understanding of apprenticeship 
                opportunities available to students.

SEC. 4. DATA SHARING AGREEMENT.

    The Secretaries shall disseminate best practices for the alignment 
of education records and records of programs under the national 
apprenticeship system, including information on program participants 
who enroll in, complete, and receive academic credit for postsecondary 
coursework while participating in such a program.

SEC. 5. 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 a 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. 6. 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 program under the national apprenticeship system.
                                 <all>