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 effective pre-apprenticeship programs; promoting awareness about registered apprenticeship programs, including carrying out activities under subsection (c); engaging in regular updates of the registration process, ensuring that such process is easily accessible and efficient for use by sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs; regularly engage with the National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships and ensure that the required reports of the Committee are submitted to the Secretary and transmitted to Congress; promoting greater diversity in registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs, including by promoting outreach to underrepresented populations, youth, and veterans and supporting the development of apprenticeship models; providing for evaluations and research, as described in subsection (e); providing technical assistance to sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, entities who are interested in developing and becoming sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, and eligible entities carrying out pre-apprenticeship programs; and coordinating and aligning registered apprenticeship programs with other Federal education and training programs, including those authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. ) and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. ). 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

(6)by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional 1 year for that entity. To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an entity shall be a public-private partnership consisting of— a local educational agency, high school, area career and technical school (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 )), educational service agency (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )), 2- or 4-year postsecondary educational institution, or collaborative of such entities; in a State with a State entity recognized by the Secretary of Labor to register apprenticeship programs in that State, that entity; an industry or business, consisting of an employer, a group of employers, a trade association, a professional association, or an entity that sponsors a registered apprenticeship program; a State workforce development board or local workforce development board; and to the maximum extent practicable— a labor organization associated with the industry or occupation related to the pre-apprenticeship program involved; and a community-based organization that provides pre-apprenticeship programs, as appropriate. To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— a description of the training and curriculum described in section 3(9)(C)(i), and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program 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 a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program; information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in paragraph (2)(C) and the capacity, of a training and education provider in the entity, 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 may include 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 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; how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs, programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. ), or activities of entities that provide supportive services for participants in pre-apprenticeship programs; and 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. 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. The eligible entity shall use the grant funds— to pay for the cost of training or education associated with the pre-apprenticeship program; for curriculum development that aligns 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; for assessments of potential participants for, and enrollment of the participants in, the pre-apprenticeship program; and to conduct evaluations described in paragraph (6)(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; stipends for participants during work-based training in the program; or coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. ) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. ). The Federal share of the cost described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be not more than 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 performance accountability measures described in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141(c) ) for the local workforce development area (meaning a local area, as defined in section 3 of that Act) and with corresponding measures under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. ), as appropriate. Each eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under this subsection shall arrange for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation, or shall participate in a Department of Labor sponsored evaluation, of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator 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, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Commerce, shall ensure that timely, current information about the value of registered apprenticeship programs in the labor market is made available through a range of widely accessible formats and venues. The information shall be made available to businesses, trade associations, professional associations, students, parents, workers, educational institutions, workforce and economic development organizations, and State and local elected officials. 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 development boards described in subsection (b)(2)(C)(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(c)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3) ) could be used by participants for a registered apprenticeship program; and guidance on how performance accountability measures under section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141 ) 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, in cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce, 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 Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3151 ), to employers, trade associations, professional associations, industry groups, and 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, area career and technical education schools (as defined in subsection (b)(2)(C)(i)), 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions, and educational service agencies, to enable, at a minimum— parents to understand registered apprenticeship programs and their value in postsecondary education and career pathways; students to understand registered apprenticeship programs and their value in career pathways; career and academic counselors to understand registered apprenticeship programs as a valuable postsecondary education option for students leading to job placement in in-demand industries and occupations; and school administrators, workforce and economic development coordinators, and teachers and faculty to 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— 20 voting members appointed by the Secretary, composed of— 10 representatives of employers who participate in a registered apprenticeship program; 6 representatives of labor organizations who have responsibility for the administration of a registered apprenticeship program sponsored by a joint labor-management partnership; and 4 representatives of State apprenticeship agencies (or representatives of Governors), community organizations with significant experience with a registered apprenticeship program, area career and technical schools (as defined in subsection (b)(2)(C)(i)), local educational agencies, 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, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services. The members shall be selected upon the basis of their experience, competence, innovation, and demonstrated performance concerning registered apprenticeships. The Secretary shall appoint the voting 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, at a minimum— 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. ); annually prepare a set of recommendations to the Administrator and the Secretary to streamline the registration process, to make the process easily accessible and efficient for use by sponsors, while maintaining high standards; and every 2 years, disseminate a collection of best practices for engaging youth and underemployed individuals in pre-apprenticeship programs and registered apprenticeship programs. 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, State, local, sponsor, employer, and other funding for registered apprenticeships to capture the full level of investment in, and impact of, registered apprenticeships; 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 final report containing the results of the evaluations or research, respectively, and including policy recommendations. The final report shall be made available for public inspection. Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a final report related to the return on investment described in paragraph (1)(C). Not later than 60 days after the completion of all the final reports described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall transmit the final reports 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 developed under this title publicly available in a timely manner. The Secretary shall reserve not less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection

(g)for each fiscal year for grants to States. A State that receives such a grant shall use the grant funds for the purpose of assisting the Administrator in carrying out the activities under this section, and may use the grant funds to support the voluntary establishment of a State apprenticeship office, if no such office exists in the State. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 and each subsequent year.

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