,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dicb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,payne 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mr4 ,rangel1 ,ms4 ,norton1 and ,mr4 ,crdenas7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish a fund consisting of donations from private industry to provide financial support for unemployed individuals to obtain information technology certifications4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,increasing ,technology ,skills ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,establishment of fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,department of ,labor a fund to be known as the ,information ,technology ,certification ,fund 7referred to in this ,act as the ,fund74 7b7 ,deposits ,the ,fund shall consist of amounts donated by any person1 partnership1 or corporation1 including nonprofit organizations and foundations that pledges to continue to donate a consistent amount for a minimum of three consecutive years4 7c7 ,administration and use of funds ,the ,fund shall be administered by the ,secretary of ,labor and used to carry out the grant program established under section #d4 #c4 ,employers hiring individuals completing the information technology certification program eligible for work opportunity credit 7a7 ,in general ,section #ea7;d77#a7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by striking or at the end of subparagraph 7,h71 by the striking the period at the end of subparagraph 7,i7 and inserting 1 or1 and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,j7 a certified information technology certification program graduate4 4 7b7 ,certified information technology certification program graduate ,section #ea7;d7 is amended by redesignating paragraphs 7#aa71 7#ab71 7#ac71 and 7#ad7 as paragraphs 7#ab71 7#ac71 7#ad71 and 7#ae71 respectively1 and by inserting after paragraph 7#aj7 the following new paragraph3 7#aa7 ,certified information technology certification program graduate ,the term certified information technology certification program graduate means any individual who has been awarded a certificate of completion under section #e7;f7 of the ,increasing ,technology ,skills ,act of #bjad for completing the information technology certification program established under such ,act during the #a-year period ending on the hiring date4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply to individuals who begin work with the employer after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #d4 ,grants to ,states 7a7 ,in general ,from funds available in the ,fund established by section #b1 the ,secretary of ,labor shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to ,states through the ,state boards4 7b7 ,application ,to receive a grant under this section1 a ,state board shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time and containing such information as the ,secretary shall determine4 7c7 ,use of funds ,a ,state board shall use grant funds to provide financial support to qualified individuals for participation in an information technology certification program1 in accordance with section #e4 #e4 ,financial support for information technology certification 7a7 ,identification of programs and public awareness ,each ,state receiving a grant under section #d shall-- 7#a7 identify information technology certification programs within the ,state and the requirements necessary for a qualified individual to participate in each program2 7#b7 disseminate information1 through one-stop centers and by other means1 regarding such certification programs and the availability of financial support from the grant funds to enable qualified individuals to participate in such programs2 and 7#c7 assist qualified individuals in determining which information technology certification program such individual is most qualified for and best meets the goals of such individual4 7b7 ,application of qualified individuals ,a qualified individual seeking to participate in an information technology certification program and receive financial support shall submit an application to a local one-stop center containing such information as the ,state ,board shall determine4 7c7 ,selection ,qualified individuals shall be selected by the local one-centers1 in conjunction with local chambers of commerce where appropriate1 for participation based on their overall qualification for the certification programs taking into consideration their experience1 skills1 and competency1 including high school level or better competency in typing1 math1 reading1 and writing4 7d7 ,eligible expenses ,financial support may be provided to pay for the costs to the qualified individual of preparatory classes1 study materials1 and examination expenses for the information technology certification program4 7e7 ,one-,time participation ,qualified individuals selected to receive financial support under this section may only participate once4 ,such participation consists of a single information technology certification1 regardless of whether the individual obtains the certification4 ,such certification may consist of multiple preparatory classes and multiple examinations4 7f7 ,certificate ,the ,state board shall award a certificate of completion to each individual who completes the program and obtains a certification4 #f4 ,department of ,labor guidance and facilitation 7a7 ,background information and selection guidance ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall create an introductory program for use in one-stop centers to provide background information to participants on information technology certification programs1 to ensure such participants meet the necessary requirements1 and suggest which certification program a participant should pursue according to his or her experience1 skills and competency4 7b7 ,identification of local employment needs ,in consultation with local chambers of commerce1 the ,secretary shall identify the certification programs that best meet the employment needs in each local area4 7c7 ,website ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall make the information required under subsections 7a7 and 7b7 available on an ,internet website4 ,such website shall also include information on participating persons1 partnerships1 and corporations who donate money to the fund established by section #b1 unless the person1 partnership1 or corporation requests that this information not be included on the website4 7d7 ,facilitation of in-,kind donations ,the ,secretary of ,labor1 in coordination with the ,state boards1 local one-stop centers1 and local chambers of commerce1 shall facilitate the placing of in-kind donations of textbooks or other study materials by entities described in section #b7;b7 with qualified individuals participating in certification programs4 #g4 ,definitions ,as used in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term information technology certification program means any course of study or training in computer science or information technology that culminates with an individual earning a certification or other industry-recognized credential that attests to the individual's qualification to perform a job or task that entails the application of computers and telecommunications equipment2 7#b7 the term qualified individual means an individual who-- 7,a7 at the time he or she submits an application for financial support under section #e1 has been unemployed for a period of not less than #f months2 or 7,b7 is a veteran of the ,armed ,services2 7#c7 the term one-stop center means a one-stop operator as defined in section #aja of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhja72 and 7#d7 the term ,state board means a ,state workforce investment board established under section #aaa of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhaa74