Sec. 101. Promoting registered apprenticeship programs

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There is established, in the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, an Office of Apprenticeship. The Office shall be headed by an Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. The Assistant Secretary shall appoint an individual who has the demonstrated knowledge of registered apprenticeship programs necessary to serve as the Administrator. The Administrator, through the Office of Apprenticeship, shall carry out responsibilities including— determining whether an apprenticeship program meets the requirements to become a registered apprenticeship program and maintains the standards necessary to remain a registered apprenticeship program; managing the national apprenticeship system; carrying out activities under subsection

(b)to promote high-quality pre-apprenticeship programs; promoting awareness about registered apprenticeship programs, including carrying out activities under subsection (c); promoting greater diversity in registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs, including by promoting outreach to underrepresented populations and veterans and supporting the development of apprenticeship models for nontraditional occupations; providing for evaluations and research, as described in subsection (e); and providing technical assistance to sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, entities who are interested in developing and becoming sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, and sponsors of pre-apprenticeship programs. The Secretary shall support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs. Using funds available under subsection (f), the Secretary shall make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities, to provide the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that support that development. The Secretary shall make initial grants under this paragraph for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under paragraph

(7)by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional 2 years for that entity. In a State without a State apprenticeship agency, a qualified organization may serve as an eligible entity, and may receive a grant under this subsection. In a State with a State apprenticeship agency, a qualified organization may serve as an eligible entity. The agency shall receive a grant under this subsection on behalf of the eligible entity, and act as a fiscal agent for the entity. To be considered a qualified organization under this subsection, an organization shall be a public-private partnership consisting of— a local educational agency, high school, 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution, or consortium of such entities; and representatives of— in a State with a State apprenticeship agency, that agency; an industry or business, consisting of an employer, a group of employers, or an industry group that sponsor a registered apprenticeship program or are interested in supporting or establishing a registered apprenticeship program; a labor organization; a State or local workforce investment board (established under subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ( 29 U.S.C. 2811 et seq. )); an entity carrying out a registered apprenticeship program; a community-based organization that provides pre-apprenticeship programs, as appropriate; and a 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution or consortium of such institutions, if such an institution or consortium is not a partner under subparagraph (A). To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an eligible entity (including, in a State with a State apprenticeship agency, that agency, acting on behalf of an eligible entity) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— information on the quality of the proposed pre-apprenticeship program, including the training and curriculum described in section 3(9)(C)(i), and how it makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an established registered apprenticeship program; evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings available in the registered apprenticeship program referenced in

(A)to enable the registered apprenticeship program sponsor to place into that program those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program; information about the organization that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in subparagraphs

(A)and (B), of paragraph

(3)and the organization’s capacity to provide the training and education services necessary for a pre-apprenticeship program; and information about the proposed pre-apprenticeship program that demonstrates— that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located; the use of integrated work-based and academic learning that includes training in the workplace; the inclusion of career exploration focused activities, such as job shadowing, career information activities, and resume preparation, in the program; if the eligible entity carrying out the project includes a high school, that the model to be used for the program leads to a high school diploma for participants without such a diploma; that the project aligns with an established registered apprenticeship program, including that the model used for the program leads to the attainment of skills and competencies necessary for entrance into the registered apprenticeship program for participants; and how the eligible entity will facilitate access through the program to the appropriate support services for participants, including facilitating access through partnerships with entities providing such services. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that implements a pre-apprenticeship program in an organization specified in paragraph

(3)(other than paragraph (3)(B)(i)) that is part of the eligible entity, or a consortium of such entities. The eligible entity shall use the grant funds— to pay for the cost of training or education associated with the pre-apprenticeship program; to provide student stipends during work-based training in the project; for curriculum development that align with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments; to maintain a connection between the pre-apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program; to promote the pre-apprenticeship program to potential participants; and to conduct evaluations described in paragraph (7)(B). The eligible entity may use the grant funds for teacher training, including providing externship opportunities for teachers to learn about the skill needs of the industry or occupation that the pre-apprenticeship program focuses on. The Federal share of the cost described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be 75 percent. The eligible entity may contribute the non-Federal share of the cost in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. The Secretary shall identify a set of common measures that, at a minimum, include measures of entry into a registered apprenticeship program and that are aligned with the performance measures described in section 136(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ( 29 U.S.C. 2871(c) ) for the local workforce investment area (designated under section 116 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2831)) involved. Each eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under this subsection shall annually conduct, or arrange for another entity to conduct, an evaluation of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the Secretary in any evaluations of activities carried out under this section. The Secretary shall use the results of an evaluation for a project to determine whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, for the project under paragraph (2)(B). To promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs within the workforce development system, the Secretary shall disseminate information on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, to State and local workforce investment boards described in subsection (b)(3)(B)(iv), which information shall include— a list of registered apprenticeship programs in the State involved; guidance for training staff of the workforce development system within the State on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention and earnings information, as a training option for participants; guidance on how individual training accounts under section 134(d)(4) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ( 29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(4) ) could be used by participants for a registered apprenticeship program; and guidance on how performance measures under section 136 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871) apply to participants in registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention and earnings information. To promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs to workers and employers, the Secretary shall provide information about the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention and earnings information, through the one-stop delivery systems described in section 121 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ( 29 U.S.C. 2841 ), to industry groups and to labor organizations, which information shall include, at a minimum— a list of registered apprenticeship programs in the State; information on how to develop a registered apprenticeship program; and information on financial resources available to assist with the establishment and implementation of registered apprenticeship programs. To promote awareness about registered apprenticeship programs among students and school staff, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall disseminate information on the value of registered apprenticeship programs, including relevant placement, retention and earnings information, to high schools, 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions, and educational service agencies, which information shall include, at a minimum— a parent guide to understanding registered apprenticeship programs and postsecondary education; a student guide to understanding registered apprenticeship programs as part of a career pathway; a guide, for career and academic counselors, to understanding registered apprenticeship programs as a postsecondary education option for students; and information for school administrators, workforce and economic development coordinators, and teachers and faculty that will assist with the development, implementation, and continuation of registered apprenticeship programs. There is established in the Department of Labor a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships, referred to in this section as the Advisory Committee . The Advisory Committee shall have— 21 voting members appointed by the Secretary, composed of— 7 representatives of employers who participate in a registered apprenticeship program, including employers who participate in a registered apprenticeship program sponsored by a joint labor-management partnership; 7 representatives of labor organizations who have responsibility for the administration of a registered apprenticeship program sponsored by a joint labor-management partnership; and 7 representatives of State apprenticeship agencies, community organizations with significant experience with a registered apprenticeship program, and 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institutions with at least 1 articulation agreement with the entity administering a registered apprenticeship program; and members who are ex officio nonvoting representatives from the Departments of Labor, Commerce, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services. The members shall be selected upon the basis of their experience and competence concerning apprenticeships. The Secretary shall appoint the members for terms of 4 years. The Secretary shall designate one of the members of the Advisory Committee to serve as Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall hold not fewer than 2 meetings during each calendar year. All meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be open to the public. A transcript shall be kept of each meeting and made available for public inspection. The Advisory Committee shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to the administration of this title and 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. ). The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee may procure the temporary and intermittent services of voting members of the Advisory Committee under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. All members of the Advisory Committee who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States. The Secretary shall supply the Committee with an executive secretary and provide such secretarial, clerical, and other services as the Secretary determines to be necessary to enable the Advisory Committee to conduct its business. Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory committee. For the purpose of improving the management and effectiveness of the programs and activities carried out under this title, the Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation, by an independent entity, of the programs and activities, including activities carried out under subsection (a)(3)(C). Such evaluations shall address— the general effectiveness of such programs and activities in relation to their cost, including the extent to which the programs and activities— improve the skill and employment competencies of participants in comparison to comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such programs and activities; and to the extent feasible, increase the level of total employment and recognized postsecondary credential attainment over the level that would have existed in the absence of such programs and activities; the impact of the programs and activities for the participants, sponsors, and employers; the return on investment of Federal funding for the programs and activities; the longitudinal outcomes for participants in the programs and activities; and the impact of specific policies on the general effectiveness of such programs and activities. The Secretary may conduct, through an independent entity, research on best practices in registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs and other issues relating to such programs. Evaluations and research conducted under this subsection shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs. The independent entity carrying out the evaluations described in paragraph

(1)or research described in paragraph

(2)shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a draft report and a final report containing the results of the evaluations or research, respectively, and including policy recommendations. The draft and final reports shall be made available for public inspection. Not later than 60 days after the completion of such final report, the Secretary shall transmit the final report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. The Secretary shall develop a mechanism to make research and curricula developed under this title publically available in a timely manner. An eligible entity that develops a curriculum under this title shall make the curriculum available to the Secretary. Using the mechanism established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make such curriculum accessible to providers of pre-apprenticeship programs and to the public. The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection

(g)for each fiscal year for Federal administration and management, technical assistance, and evaluation and research activities. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent fiscal year.

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