[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6377 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6377
To establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in
apprenticeships programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 2023
Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Norcross, and Mrs. Dingell)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways
and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in
apprenticeships programs, 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 ``Apprentice-Related Child Care Act''
or the ``ARCC Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under
subsection (i)(1) that is not reserved under subsection (i)(2),
the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive
basis, to 10 States for each such State to provide monthly
stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of
individuals who are participating in pre-apprenticeship
programs or apprenticeship programs to assist such individuals
in covering the costs of childcare during such participation.
(2) Grant amounts.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall award an equal amount to each State awarded
such a grant.
(3) Grant periods.--A grant awarded under this section
shall be awarded--
(A) for a period of two years; and
(B) in equal amounts for each year of such period.
(4) Grant priority.--In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretary shall ensure that States that are awarded the
grants--
(A) are geographically diverse; and
(B) have pre-apprenticeship programs and
apprenticeship programs in in-demand industry sectors
and occupations, including in emerging high-tech, high-
growth industries.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this Act, a
State shall submit to the Secretary an application, in such form, at
such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, which shall include the following:
(1) Information regarding how the State intends to
distribute monthly stipends in accordance with subsection (c).
(2) In the case of any individual who is selected to
benefit from a stipend under subsection (c) and participating
in a pre-apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship program
that will end after the end of the grant period, any plan the
State may have to provide child care support for such an
individual for the period of such pre-apprenticeship or
apprenticeship program during which the individual will not be
benefitting from such stipends.
(c) Uses of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this
Act shall--
(A) in accordance with the requirements of
paragraph (3), select individuals to benefit from a
monthly stipend who--
(i) have one or more dependent children;
and
(ii) are participating in a pre-
apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship
program in the State; and
(B) distribute such stipends to eligible child care
providers directly on behalf of the individuals
described under subparagraph (A).
(2) Monthly stipend amounts.--A monthly stipend described
in paragraph (1) shall not be less than $500 per dependent
child.
(3) Priority.--In selecting individuals to benefit from a
monthly stipend, a State shall prioritize individuals who are
historically underrepresented in the industries of the pre-
apprenticeship programs or apprenticeship programs of such
individuals, based on race, ethnicity, or gender.
(d) Reports by States.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the end
of the grant period of the grant awarded to a State under this
Act, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that
includes information on--
(A) the individuals that benefitted from monthly
stipends, including with respect to each such
individual--
(i) the total number of months such
stipends were provided to a eligible child care
provider on behalf of the individual;
(ii) the total amount provided by such
stipends;
(iii) in the case of an individual enrolled
in an apprenticeship program, the wage rate,
benefits, stipends, or other compensation
provided to such individual--
(I) while enrolled in such program;
and
(II) after exiting the program and
beginning work in the industry of such
program;
(iv) in the case of an individual enrolled
in a pre-apprenticeship program, a description
of any compensation provided to the individual
while enrolled in such program, including the
wage rate, benefits, stipends, or any other
compensation;
(v) the industry of the pre-apprenticeship
program or apprenticeship program in which the
individual was a participant;
(B) for each apprenticeship program and pre-
apprenticeship program for which the State provided
stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of
such individuals--
(i) the retention and completion rates for
the individuals described in subparagraph (A);
and
(ii) the retention and completion rates for
the individuals not described in subparagraph
(A); and
(C) the method the State used to distribute the
stipends to eligible child care providers.
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the
date that a State submits the report under paragraph (1), the
State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the retention
and completion rates described in clauses (i) and (ii) of
subparagraph (B) for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be disaggregated by race,
ethnicity, and gender, except that such disaggregation shall
not be required in the case in which the number of apprentices
in a subgroup is insufficient to yield statistically reliable
information or the results would reveal personally identifiable
information about an apprentice.
(e) Report by the Secretary.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the
Secretary receives the last report under subsection (d), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes--
(A) the effect the stipends had--
(i) on the pre-apprenticeship program or
apprenticeship program retention and completion
rates of individuals who received monthly
stipends; and
(ii) the wage rates and benefits received
by such individuals after exiting an
apprenticeship program;
(B) the methods the States used to distribute
stipends to eligible child care providers;
(C) any unanticipated effect or consequence on--
(i) individuals receiving the stipend;
(ii) the sponsors of the pre-apprenticeship
programs or the apprenticeship programs; and
(iii) the local areas in which the
individuals who received a stipend participated
in such programs.
(2) Follow-up reports.--For each of the 3 years after the
date that the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes
the information in the reports received from the States under
subsection (d)(2) for the preceding year.
(3) Disaggregation.--The information submitted under
paragraph (1)(A) shall be disaggregated in accordance with the
disaggregation requirements of subsection (d)(2).
(f) Stipend Amounts Excluded From Federal Taxation.--Stipend
amounts awarded under this Act may not be included in the gross income
of the individual who benefitted from such stipend for purposes of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(g) Disregard Stipend Amounts in Other Federal Programs.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a stipend distributed to an
eligible child care provider under this Act shall not be taken into
account in determining the need or eligibility of the individual who
benefitted from such stipend for benefits or assistance, or the amount
of such benefits or assistance, under any Federal, State, or local
program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
(h) Supplement and Not Supplant.--Any monthly stipend distributed
to an eligible child care provider on behalf of an individual under
this Act shall supplement and not supplant the wages such individual
earns while participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or
apprenticeship program.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this Act $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024-
2025.
(2) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent
of the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal
year to carry out the study and report required by subsection
(e).
(j) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship
program'' means an apprenticeship program 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.), including any requirement, standard, or rule
promulgated under such Act.
(2) Eligible child care provider.--The term ``eligible
child care provider'' has the meaning given the term in section
658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 9858n).
(3) Pre-apprenticeship program.--The term ``pre-
apprenticeship program'' means a program, initiative, or set of
strategies that--
(A) is designed to prepare individuals to
participate in an apprenticeship program, including
preparing individuals with the skills and competencies
necessary to succeed in such program;
(B) is carried out by an entity that has entered
into a formal agreement with one or more sponsors of an
apprenticeship program; and
(C) includes--
(i) theoretical education (including the
use of curricula); and
(ii) training (including hands-on
training)--
(I) aligned with industry standards
of an apprenticeship program; and
(II) that does not displace an
employee where such training takes
place.
(4) State board.--The term ``State board'' means a State
workforce development board established under section 101 of
the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101).
(5) WIOA terms.--The terms ``area career and technical
education school'', ``community-based organization'', ``in-
demand industry sector or occupation'', ``local area'', ``local
board'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'',
and ``State'', have the meaning given such terms in section 3
of the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3103).
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