Title: Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2021
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to award grants to eligible applicants to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program. Grant recipients must prioritize the provision of stipends to individuals with a barrier to employment.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 731 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 731

To direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible applicants 
  to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship 
                    program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2021

 Mr. Smith of Washington (for himself, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Jackson Lee, 
 and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible applicants 
  to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship 
                    program, 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 ``Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around 
Support Services Fund Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PROVIDE STIPENDS TO INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN A PRE-
              APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor may make grants to eligible 
applicants to provide stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-
apprenticeship program in accordance with the requirements under this 
Act.
    (b) Pre-Apprenticeship Program Defined.--For purposes of this Act, 
the term ``pre-apprenticeship program'' means a program, initiative, or 
set of strategies that--
            (1) is designed to prepare individuals to enroll in a 
        registered apprenticeship program, including preparing 
        individuals with the skills and competencies necessary to 
        succeed in such program;
            (2) is carried out by an eligible applicant that has 
        entered into a formal agreement with one or more sponsors of a 
        registered apprenticeship program; and
            (3) includes--
                    (A) theoretical education (including the use of 
                curricula); and
                    (B) training (including hands-on training)--
                            (i) aligned with industry standards of a 
                        registered apprenticeship program; and
                            (ii) that does not displace an employee 
                        where such training takes place.
    (c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, 
an eligible applicant shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    (d) Grant Requirement.--Each grantee shall--
            (1) establish primary indicators of performance with 
        respect to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship 
        program, which shall include--
                    (A) the percentage of such individuals who are 
                enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program within 
                6 months after completing a pre-apprenticeship;
                    (B) the percentage of such individuals who are 
                enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program within 
                12 months after completing a pre-apprenticeship;
                    (C) the median earnings of such individuals who are 
                enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program within 
                6 months after completing a pre-apprenticeship; and
                    (D) the percentage of such individuals who obtain a 
                recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary 
                school diploma (or the recognized equivalent of such 
                diploma) while enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship or 
                within one year after completing a pre-apprenticeship; 
                and
            (2) on an annual basis, collect data with respect to--
                    (A) the primary indicators of performance under 
                paragraph (1);
                    (B) the number of stipends provided through grants 
                funds under this Act; and
                    (C) the amount of each such stipend.
    (e) Additional Requirement.--Each grantee shall prioritize the 
provision of stipends to individuals enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship 
program who are also individuals with a barrier to employment.
    (f) Use of Stipend.--Each grantee shall ensure that a stipend 
awarded pursuant to this section is used only to reimburse for--
            (1) necessary transportation costs with respect to a pre-
        apprenticeship program, including vehicle mileage and public 
        transportation costs;
            (2) lost hourly wages of an individual enrolled in a pre-
        apprenticeship program, in the case that participation in such 
        program causes a reduction of hours at the place of employment 
        of such individual; and
            (3) financial costs of an individual enrolled in a pre-
        apprenticeship program with respect to obtaining industry-based 
        certifications during the period of enrollment in such program.
    (g) Report.--
            (1) Report to secretary.--Not later than 1 year after 
        receiving a grant under this Act, and annually thereafter, each 
        grantee shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes 
        the data collected pursuant to subsection (d)(2).
            (2) Report to congressional committees.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
        Senate a report on the progress and outcomes with respect to 
        each grant awarded under this Act.
    (h) Additional Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Eligible applicant.--The term ``eligible applicant'' 
        means an entity that currently operates or sponsors a pre-
        apprenticeship program, including a joint labor-management 
        partnership, an industry partnership, a local educational 
        agency, a secondary school, an area career and technical 
        education school, a State board, a local board, or a community-
        based organization.
            (2) Grantee.--The term ``grantee'' means an eligible 
        applicant that receives a grant under this Act.
            (3) Individual with a barrier to employment.--The term 
        ``individual with a barrier to employment'' has the meaning 
        given the term under section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (4) Formal agreement.--The term ``formal agreement'' means 
        an agreement between an eligible applicant and one or more 
        sponsors of a registered apprenticeship program that includes 
        the following:
                    (A) Enables individuals who successfully complete a 
                pre-apprenticeship program--
                            (i) to enter into a registered 
                        apprenticeship program (dependent on 
                        availability and whether such individual meets 
                        the qualifications of such program); and
                            (ii) to earn credit toward a registered 
                        apprenticeship program.
                    (B) Provides for a sponsor to review and approve 
                the training referred to in subsection (b)(3), on an 
                annual basis.
            (5) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
        the term under section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (6) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship 
        program that--
                    (A) is registered with the Department of Labor 
                pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known 
                as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 29 U.S.C. 50 et 
                seq.), or is recognized by the Department of Labor as a 
                State apprenticeship agency; and
                    (B) complies with the requirements of subpart A of 
                part 29 and subpart A of part 30 of title 29, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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