[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2200 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2200
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
June 22, 2023
Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
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 2023''
or the ``PARTNERS Act of 2023''.
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'', ``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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to 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 original or 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. 3172(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) (referring to the paragraph (1) in the
PARTNERS Act)'' 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) (referring to the paragraph (1) in the
PARTNERS Act) 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. 3172(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 programs, and the quality of the programs that lead 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 original or 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, in the application, 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 a
registered apprenticeship and on-the-job training program, and
participant retention in and completion of that program. The
partnership may use the grant funds to establish an original or
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
learning through a registered apprenticeship or 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 a registered apprenticeship or on-the-job
training program, 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 a registered
apprenticeship or on-the-job training program, and
during periods of employment for such a program;
(D) provision of tools, work attire, and other
required items necessary to start such employment; and
(E) provision of transportation, child care
services, or other wrap-around 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; 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. 3224a) is repealed.
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