,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #bhei  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,september #ah1
 #bjad,mrs4 ,murray introduced the      
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on ,health1 
,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions  ,a   
,,bill  ,to promote apprenticeships for 
credentials and employment1 and for     
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title and   
table of contents  7a7 ,short title     
,this ,act may be cited as the          
,promoting ,apprenticeships for         
,credentials and ,employment ,act or the
 ,,pace ,act4  7b7 ,table of contents   
,the table of contents for this ,act is 
as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title and  
table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,findings   
and purposes4,sec4 #c4                  
,definitions4,,title ,i--,promoting     
,registered ,apprenticeships,sec4 #aja4 
,promoting registered apprenticeship    
programs4,sec4 #ajb4 ,promoting         
integration with postsecondary          
education4,,title ,,ii--,program        

development and enhancement,sec4 #bja4  
,expanding registered apprenticeship    
programs4,,title ,,iii--,conforming     
amendments,sec4 #cja4 ,amendments4  #b4 
,findings and purposes  7a7 ,findings   
,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,a  
highly skilled workforce is necessary to
 compete in the global economy1 support 
economic growth1 and maintain the       
standard of living of the ,united       
,states4  7#b7 ,the registered          
apprenticeship program model is a       
longstanding1 on-the-job training and   
education model that prepares workers   
for the skill demands of particular     
occupations and employers while1 at the 
same time1 providing the workers with   
recognized1 portable credentials1 and   
wages while in training4  7#c7 ,the     
registered apprenticeship program model 
has been successful in skilled trade    
industries1 including construction and  
manufacturing1 as well as service       
industries1 such as health care1 and    
holds great potential for expansion into

 other industries4  7#d7 ,registered    
apprenticeship programs are an essential
 element of an effective workforce      
development system and help individuals 
attain a recognized postsecondary       
credential1 contributing to their       
personal economic sustainability4  7#e7 
,according to a report from the         
,georgetown ,university ,center on      
,education and the ,workforce1 by #bjah1
 the ,united ,states will face a        
shortage of workers with recognized     
postsecondary credentials--shortages of 
#c1jjj1jjj workers with degrees and     
#d1gjj1jjj workers with certificates4   
7#f7 ,according to a #bjab report from  
the ,annie ,e4 ,casey ,foundation1 youth
 employment in the ,united ,states has  
reached the lowest point since ,world   
,war ,,ii4 ,more than #f1jjj1jjj young  
people ages #af through #bd are         
disconnected from school and work4  7#g7
 ,a #bjab evaluation of registered      
apprenticeship programs in #aj ,states  
by ,mathematica ,policy ,research found 

that-- 7,a7 individuals who completed   
registered apprenticeship programs      
earned over #bdj1jjj more over their    
careers than individuals not            
participating in such apprenticeship    
programs2  7,b7 the estimated social    
benefits of registered apprenticeship   
programs exceeded their costs by more   
than #di1jjj2 and  7,c7 the tax return  
on every ,federal ,government dollar    
invested in registered apprenticeship   
programs was #bg4  7#h7 ,an evaluation  
in ,washington ,state found the         
following3 7,a7 ,registered             
apprenticeship programs have been among 
the most effective workforce development
 programs1 with the highest impact and  
the greatest return on investment of any
 such program4  7,b7 ,for each          
individual who completes a registered   
apprenticeship program1 over the        
individual's career1 there is a         
#ij-to-#a return on investment1 for a   
total net benefit of just over #cjj1jjj 
for that career4  7,c7 ,the general     

public also receives a lifetime return  
on investment of #bc-to-#a1 or around   
#hj1jjj1 for each person completing a   
registered apprenticeship program4  7b7 
,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act    
are-- 7#a7 to increase the number of    
highly skilled workers in the ,united   
,states1 particularly in in-demand      
industry sectors and occupations2  7#b7 
to increase the attainment of recognized
 postsecondary credentials by           
participants2  7#c7 to increase         
awareness about the value of the        
registered apprenticeship program model 
as an effective earn-and-learn model for
 students1 workers1 and employers2  7#d7
 to support the development of          
registered apprenticeship programs with 
employers1 joint labor management       
partnerships1 and other program         
sponsors1 that offer jobs that lead to  
economic self-sufficiency2  7#e7 to     
support the development and expansion of
 pre-apprenticeship programs that lead  
to success in a registered              

apprenticeship program2 and  7#f7 to    
support a closer alignment between      
registered apprenticeship programs1 the 
workforce development system1 and       
postsecondary education4  #c4           
,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7        
,administrator ,the term ,administrator 
means the ,administrator of the ,office 
of ,apprenticeship appointed under      
section #aja7;a74  7#b7 ,career pathway 
,the term career pathway means a        
combination of rigorous and high-quality
 education1 training1 and other services
 that-- 7,a7 aligns with the skill needs
 of industries in the economy of the    
,state or regional economy involved2    
7,b7 prepares an individual to be       
successful in any of a full range of    
secondary or postsecondary education    
options1 including apprenticeships      
registered under the ,act of ,august    
#af1 #aicg 7commonly known as the       
,national ,apprenticeship ,act2 #ej     
,stat4 #ffd1 chapter #ffc2 #bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #ej et seq47 7referred to individually 

in this ,act as an apprenticeship72     
7,c7 includes counseling to support an  
individual in achieving the individual's
 education and career goals2  7,d7      
includes1 as appropriate1 education     
offered concurrently with and in the    
same context as workforce preparation   
activities and training for a specific  
occupation or occupational cluster2     
7,e7 organizes education1 training1 and 
other services to meet the particular   
needs of an individual in a manner that 
accelerates the educational and career  
advancement of the individual to the    
extent practicable2  7,f7 enables an    
individual to attain a secondary school 
diploma or its recognized equivalent1   
and at least #a recognized postsecondary
 credential2 and  7,g7 helps an         
individual enter or advance within a    
specific occupation or occupational     
cluster4  7#c7 ,educational service     
agency ,the term educational service    
agency-- 7,a7 has the meaning given the 
term in section #iaja of the ,elementary

 and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife
 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja72 and  7,b7       
includes a consortium of those agencies4
  7#d7 ,high school ,the term high      
school means a nonprofit institutional  
day or residential school that-- 7,a7   
provides secondary education1 as        
determined under ,state law2  7,b7      
grants a diploma1 as defined by the     
,state2 and  7,c7 includes1 at least1   
grade #ab4  7#e7 ,in-demand industry    
sector or occupation  7,a7 ,in general  
,the term in-demand industry sector or  
occupation means-- 7i7 an industry      
sector that has a substantial current or
 potential impact 7including through    
jobs that lead to economic              
self-sufficiency and opportunities for  
advancement7 on the ,state1 regional1 or
 local economy1 as appropriate1 and that
 contributes to the growth or stability 
of other supporting businesses1 or the  
growth of other industry sectors2 or    
7ii7 an occupation that currently has or
 is projected to have a number of       

positions 7including positions that lead
 to economic self-sufficiency and       
opportunities for advancement7 in an    
industry sector so as to have a         
significant impact on the ,state1       
regional1 or local economy1 as          
appropriate4  7,b7 ,determination ,the  
determination of whether an industry    
sector or occupation is in-demand under 
this paragraph shall be made by the     
,state board or local board1 as         
appropriate1 using ,state and regional  
business and labor market projections1  
including the use of labor market       
information4  7#f7 ,national            
apprenticeship system ,the term national
 apprenticeship system means the        
collective group of registered          
apprenticeship programs and             
pre-apprenticeship programs in the      
,nation 7including the rules and        
regulations governing the #b types of   
programs74  7#g7 ,postsecondary         
educational institution ,the term       
postsecondary educational institution   

has the meaning given the term in       
section #aja of the ,workforce          
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhja74  7#h7 ,pre-apprenticeship      
program ,the term pre-apprenticeship    
program means a program or set of       
strategies that-- 7,a7 is designed to   
prepare individuals to enter and succeed
 in a registered apprenticeship program2
  7,b7 is carried out by an entity that 
has a documented partnership with at    
least #a sponsor of a registered        
apprenticeship program2 and  7,c7       
includes each of the following elements3
 7i7 ,training 7including a curriculum  
for the training71 aligned with industry
 standards and approved by the          
documented partnership1 that will       
prepare individuals by teaching the     
skills and competencies needed to enter 
one or more registered apprenticeship   
programs4  7ii7 ,provision of hands-on  
training and theoretical education to   
individuals in a simulated laboratory   
experience or volunteer opportunity     

that-- 7,i7 accurately simulates the    
industry and occupational conditions of 
the registered apprenticeship program   
described in subparagraph 7,b72  7,,ii7 
is carried out in a manner that includes
 proper observation of supervision and  
safety protocols2 and  7,,iii7 is       
carried out in a manner that does not   
displace a paid employee4  7iii7 ,a     
formal agreement with a sponsor of a    
registered apprenticeship program that  
would enable participants who           
successfully complete the               
pre-apprenticeship program to enter     
directly into the registered            
apprenticeship program 7if a place in   
the program is available71 and includes 
agreements concerning earning credit for
 skills and competencies acquired during
 the pre-apprenticeship program4  7#i7  
,recognized postsecondary credential    
,the term recognized postsecondary      
credential means a credential consisting
 of an industry-recognized certificate  
or certification1 a certificate of      

completion of an apprenticeship1 a      
license recognized by the ,state        
involved or ,federal ,government1 or an 
associate or baccalaureate degree4      
7#aj7 ,registered apprenticeship program
 ,the term registered apprenticeship    
program means a program registered under
 the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg         
7commonly known as the ,national        
,apprenticeship ,act2 #ej ,stat4 #ffd1  
chapter #ffc2 #bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et      
seq474  7#aa7 ,secretary ,except as     
provided in section #ajb or as otherwise
 modified1 the term ,secretary means the
 ,secretary of ,labor1 acting through   
the ,administrator4  7#ab7 ,sponsor ,the
 term sponsor means-- 7,a7 with respect 
to a registered apprenticeship program1 
an employer1 joint labor management     
partnership1 trade association1 labor   
organization1 or other entity that      
administers the registered              
apprenticeship program2 and  7,b7 with  
respect to a pre-apprenticeship program1
 an entity that administers the         

pre-apprenticeship program4  ,i         
,promoting ,registered ,apprenticeships 
#aja4 ,promoting registered             
apprenticeship programs  7a7            
,establishment of the ,office of        
,apprenticeship  7#a7 ,office ,there is 
established1 in the ,employment and     
,training ,administration of the        
,department of ,labor1 an ,office of    
,apprenticeship4  7#b7 ,administrator   
,the ,office shall be headed by an      
,administrator of the ,office of        
,apprenticeship appointed by the        
,assistant ,secretary for ,employment   
and ,training4 ,the ,assistant          
,secretary shall appoint an individual  
who has the demonstrated knowledge of   
registered apprenticeship programs      
necessary to serve as the               
,administrator4  7#c7 ,responsibilities 
,the ,administrator1 through the ,office
 of ,apprenticeship1 shall carry out    
responsibilities including-- 7,a7       
determining whether an apprenticeship   
program meets the requirements to become

 a registered apprenticeship program and
 maintains the standards necessary to   
remain a registered apprenticeship      
program2  7,b7 managing the national    
apprenticeship system2  7,c7 carrying   
out activities under subsection 7b7 to  
promote high-quality pre-apprenticeship 
programs2  7,d7 promoting awareness     
about registered apprenticeship         
programs1 including carrying out        
activities under subsection 7c72  7,e7  
promoting greater diversity in          
registered apprenticeship programs and  
pre-apprenticeship programs1 including  
by promoting outreach to                
underrepresented populations and        
veterans and supporting the development 
of apprenticeship models for            
nontraditional occupations2  7,f7       
providing for evaluations and research1 
as described in subsection 7e72 and     
7,g7 providing technical assistance to  
sponsors of registered apprenticeship   
programs1 entities who are interested in
 developing and becoming sponsors of    

registered apprenticeship programs1 and 
sponsors of pre-apprenticeship programs4
  7b7 ,supporting the development of    
pre-,apprenticeship programs  7#a7      
,support ,the ,secretary shall support  
the development of pre-apprenticeship   
programs4  7#b7 ,grants  7,a7 ,in       
general ,using funds available under    
subsection 7f71 the ,secretary shall    
make grants on a competitive basis to   
eligible entities1 to provide the       
,federal share of the cost of carrying  
out projects that support that          
development4  7,b7 ,period ,the         
,secretary shall make initial grants    
under this paragraph for periods of not 
more than #c years1 except that if an   
eligible entity demonstrates            
satisfactory performance under paragraph
 7#g7 by the end of that third year1 the
 ,secretary may extend the grant period 
up to an additional #b years for that   
entity4  7,c7 ,recipients  7i7          
,qualified organizations ,in a ,state   
without a ,state apprenticeship agency1 

a qualified organization may serve as an
 eligible entity1 and may receive a     
grant under this subsection4  7ii7      
,state apprenticeship agencies ,in a    
,state with a ,state apprenticeship     
agency1 a qualified organization may    
serve as an eligible entity4 ,the agency
 shall receive a grant under this       
subsection on behalf of the eligible    
entity1 and act as a fiscal agent for   
the entity4  7#c7 ,qualified            
organizations ,to be considered a       
qualified organization under this       
subsection1 an organization shall be a  
public-private partnership consisting   
of-- 7,a7 a local educational agency1   
high school1 #b- or #d-year             
postsecondary educational institution1  
or consortium of such entities2 and     
7,b7 representatives of-- 7i7 in a      
,state with a ,state apprenticeship     
agency1 that agency2  7ii7 an industry  
or business1 consisting of an employer1 
a group of employers1 or an industry    
group that sponsor a registered         

apprenticeship program or are interested
 in supporting or establishing a        
registered apprenticeship program2      
7iii7 a labor organization2  7iv7 a     
,state or local workforce investment    
board 7established under subtitle ,b of 
title ,i of the ,workforce ,investment  
,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhaa et   
seq4772  7v7 an entity carrying out a   
registered apprenticeship program2  7vi7
 a community-based organization that    
provides pre-apprenticeship programs1 as
 appropriate2 and  7vii7 a #b- or       
#d-year postsecondary educational       
institution or consortium of such       
institutions1 if such an institution or 
consortium is not a partner under       
subparagraph 7,a74  7#d7 ,applications  
,to be eligible to receive a grant from 
the ,secretary under this subsection1 an
 eligible entity 7including1 in a ,state
 with a ,state apprenticeship agency1   
that agency1 acting on behalf of an     
eligible entity7 shall submit an        
application to the ,secretary at such   

time1 in such manner1 and containing    
such information as the ,secretary may  
require1 including-- 7,a7 information on
 the quality of the proposed            
pre-apprenticeship program1 including   
the training and curriculum described in
 section #c7i77;,c77i71 and how it makes
 individuals who successfully complete  
the pre-apprenticeship program qualified
 to enter into an established registered
 apprenticeship program2  7,b7 evidence 
that there are or will be sufficient    
openings available in the registered    
apprenticeship program referenced in    
7,a7 to enable the registered           
apprenticeship program sponsor to place 
into that program those individuals who 
successfully complete the               
pre-apprenticeship program2  7,c7       
information about the organization that 
demonstrates the existence of an active1
 advisory partnership between the       
partners described in subparagraphs 7,a7
 and 7,b71 of paragraph 7#c7 and the    
organization's capacity to provide the  

training and education services         
necessary for a pre-apprenticeship      
program2 and  7,d7 information about the
 proposed pre-apprenticeship program    
that demonstrates-- 7i7 that the program
 is in an in-demand industry or         
occupation in the region in which the   
project is located2  7ii7 the use of    
integrated work-based and academic      
learning that includes training in the  
workplace2  7iii7 the inclusion of      
career exploration focused activities1  
such as job shadowing1 career           
information activities1 and resume      
preparation1 in the program2  7iv7 if   
the eligible entity carrying out the    
project includes a high school1 that the
 model to be used for the program leads 
to a high school diploma for            
participants without such a diploma2    
7v7 that the project aligns with an     
established registered apprenticeship   
program1 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 participants2
 and  7vi7 how the eligible entity will 
facilitate access through the program to
 the appropriate support services for   
participants1 including facilitating    
access through partnerships with        
entities providing such services4  7#e7 
,use of funds  7,a7 ,in general ,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 7#c7 7other than paragraph    
7#c77;,b77i77 that is part of the       
eligible entity1 or a consortium of such
 entities4  7,b7 ,required activities   
,the eligible entity shall use the grant
 funds-- 7i7 to pay for the cost of     
training or education associated with   
the pre-apprenticeship program2  7ii7 to
 provide student stipends during        
work-based training in the project2     
7iii7 for curriculum development that   

align with the requirements of the      
appropriate registered apprenticeship   
programs and learning assessments2  7iv7
 to maintain a connection between the   
pre-apprenticeship program and          
registered apprenticeship program2  7v7 
to promote the pre-apprenticeship       
program to potential participants2 and  
7vi7 to conduct evaluations described in
 paragraph 7#g77;,b74  7,c7 ,allowable  
activities ,the eligible entity may use 
the grant funds for teacher training1   
including providing externship          
opportunities for teachers to learn     
about the skill needs of the industry or
 occupation that the pre-apprenticeship 
program focuses on4  7#f7 ,federal share
  7,a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share  
of the cost described in paragraph      
7#b77;,a7 shall be #ge percent4  7,b7   
,non-,federal share ,the eligible entity
 may contribute the non-,federal share  
of the cost in cash or in-kind1 fairly  
evaluated1 including plant1 equipment1  
or services4  7#g7 ,performance  7,a7   

,measures ,the ,secretary shall identify
 a set of common measures that1 at a    
minimum1 include measures of entry into 
a registered apprenticeship program and 
that are aligned with the performance   
measures described in section #acf7;c7  
of the ,workforce ,investment ,act of   
#aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhga7;c77 for the 
local workforce investment area         
7designated under section #aaf of such  
,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhca77 involved4   
7,b7 ,evaluations ,each eligible entity 
that receives a grant to carry out a    
project under this subsection shall     
annually conduct1 or arrange for another
 entity to conduct1 an evaluation of the
 project using the identified common    
measures1 and shall1 to the extent      
practicable1 cooperate with the         
,secretary in any evaluations of        
activities carried out under this       
section4  7,c7 ,extensions ,the         
,secretary shall use the results of an  
evaluation for a project to determine   
whether to extend the grant period1 or  

renew a grant1 for the project under    
paragraph 7#b77;,b74  7c7 ,promoting    
awareness of registered apprenticeship  
programs  7#a7 ,information for ,state  
and local boards ,to promote awareness  
about registered apprenticeship programs
 within the workforce development       
system1 the ,secretary shall disseminate
 information on the value of registered 
apprenticeship programs1 to ,state and  
local workforce investment boards       
described in subsection                 
7b77#c77;,b77iv71 which information     
shall include-- 7,a7 a list of          
registered apprenticeship programs in   
the ,state involved2  7,b7 guidance for 
training staff of the workforce         
development system within the ,state on 
the value of registered apprenticeship  
programs1 including relevant placement1 
retention and earnings information1 as a
 training option for participants2  7,c7
 guidance on how individual training    
accounts under section #acd7;d77#d7 of  
the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih

 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhfd7;d77#d77 could be 
used by participants for a registered   
apprenticeship program2 and  7,d7       
guidance on how performance measures    
under section #acf of the ,workforce    
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhga7 apply to participants in        
registered apprenticeship programs1     
including relevant placement1 retention 
and earnings information4  7#b7         
,information for industry groups and    
labor organizations ,to promote         
awareness about registered              
apprenticeship programs to workers and  
employers1 the ,secretary shall provide 
information about the value of          
registered apprenticeship programs1     
including relevant placement1 retention 
and earnings information1 through the   
one-stop delivery systems described in  
section #aba of the ,workforce          
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhda71 to industry groups and to labor
 organizations1 which information shall 
include1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 a list of  

registered apprenticeship programs in   
the ,state2  7,b7 information on how to 
develop a registered apprenticeship     
program2 and  7,c7 information on       
financial resources available to assist 
with the establishment and              
implementation of registered            
apprenticeship programs4  7#c7          
,information for students and schools   
,to promote awareness about registered  
apprenticeship programs among students  
and school staff1 the ,secretary1 in    
cooperation with the ,secretary of      
,education1 shall disseminate           
information on the value of registered  
apprenticeship programs1 including      
relevant placement1 retention and       
earnings information1 to high schools1  
#b- and #d-year postsecondary           
educational institutions1 and           
educational service agencies1 which     
information shall include1 at a         
minimum-- 7,a7 a parent guide to        
understanding registered apprenticeship 
programs and postsecondary education2   

7,b7 a student guide to understanding   
registered apprenticeship programs as   
part of a career pathway2  7,c7 a guide1
 for career and academic counselors1 to 
understanding registered apprenticeship 
programs as a postsecondary education   
option for students2 and  7,d7          
information for school administrators1  
workforce and economic development      
coordinators1 and teachers and faculty  
that will assist with the development1  
implementation1 and continuation of     
registered apprenticeship programs4  7d7
 ,secretary's ,national ,advisory       
,committee on ,apprenticeships  7#a7    
,establishment  7,a7 ,in general ,there 
is established in the ,department of    
,labor a ,national ,advisory ,committee 
on ,apprenticeships1 referred to in this
 section as the ,advisory ,committee4   
7,b7 ,composition ,the ,advisory        
,committee shall have-- 7i7 #ba voting  
members appointed by the ,secretary1    
composed of-- 7,i7 #g representatives of
 employers who participate in a         

registered apprenticeship program1      
including employers who participate in a
 registered apprenticeship program      
sponsored by a joint labor-management   
partnership2  7,,ii7 #g representatives 
of labor organizations who have         
responsibility for the administration of
 a registered apprenticeship program    
sponsored by a joint labor-management   
partnership2 and  7,,iii7 #g            
representatives of ,state apprenticeship
 agencies1 community organizations with 
significant experience with a registered
 apprenticeship program1 and #b- or     
#d-year postsecondary educational       
institutions with at least #a           
articulation agreement with the entity  
administering a registered              
apprenticeship program2 and  7ii7       
members who are ex officio nonvoting    
representatives from the ,departments of
 ,labor1 ,commerce1 ,education1 ,energy1
 ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and  
,health and ,human ,services4  7,c7     
,qualifications ,the members shall be   

selected upon the basis of their        
experience and competence concerning    
apprenticeships4  7,d7 ,terms ,the      
,secretary shall appoint the members for
 terms of #d years4  7#b7 ,chairperson  
,the ,secretary shall designate one of  
the members of the ,advisory ,committee 
to serve as ,chairperson of the         
,advisory ,committee4  7#c7 ,meetings   
,the ,advisory ,committee shall hold not
 fewer than #b meetings during each     
calendar year4 ,all meetings of the     
,advisory ,committee shall be open to   
the public4 ,a transcript shall be kept 
of each meeting and made available for  
public inspection4  7#d7 ,duties ,the   
,advisory ,committee shall advise1      
consult with1 and make recommendations  
to the ,secretary on matters relating to
 the administration of this title and   
the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg 7commonly
 known as the ,national ,apprenticeship 
,act2 #ej ,stat4 #ffd1 chapter #ffc2 #bi
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et seq474  7#e7          
,personnel  7,a7 ,procurement  7i7 ,in  

general ,the ,chairperson of the        
,advisory ,committee may procure the    
temporary and intermittent services of  
voting members of the ,advisory         
,committee under section #caji7;b7 of   
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 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 
#ecaf of such title4  7ii7 ,officers or 
employees of the ,united ,states ,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 ,states4    
7,b7 ,staff ,the ,secretary shall supply
 the ,committee with an executive       
secretary and provide such secretarial1 
clerical1 and other services as the     
,secretary determines to be necessary to
 enable the ,advisory ,committee to     
conduct its business4  7#f7 ,permanent  

committee ,section #ad of the ,federal  
,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 
,app47 shall not apply to the advisory  
committee4  7e7 ,evaluations and        
research  7#a7 ,evaluations of programs 
and activities carried out under this   
title ,for the purpose of improving the 
management and effectiveness of the     
programs and activities carried out     
under this title1 the ,secretary shall  
provide for the continuing evaluation1  
by an independent entity1 of the        
programs and activities1 including      
activities carried out under subsection 
7a77#c77;,c74 ,such evaluations shall   
address-- 7,a7 the general effectiveness
 of such programs and activities in     
relation to their cost1 including the   
extent to which the programs and        
activities-- 7i7 improve the skill and  
employment competencies of participants 
in comparison to comparably situated    
individuals who did not participate in  
such programs and activities2 and  7ii7 
to the extent feasible1 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     
activities2  7,b7 the impact of the     
programs and activities for the         
participants1 sponsors1 and employers2  
7,c7 the return on investment of        
,federal funding for the programs and   
activities2  7,d7 the longitudinal      
outcomes for participants in the        
programs and activities2 and  7,e7 the  
impact of specific policies on the      
general effectiveness of such programs  
and activities4  7#b7 ,research ,the    
,secretary may conduct1 through an      
independent entity1 research on best    
practices in registered apprenticeship  
programs and pre-apprenticeship programs
 and other issues relating to such      
programs4  7#c7 ,techniques ,evaluations
 and research conducted under this      
subsection shall utilize appropriate    
methodology and research designs4  7#d7 
,reports ,the independent entity        

carrying out the evaluations described  
in paragraph 7#a7 or research described 
in paragraph 7#b7 shall prepare and     
submit to the ,secretary a draft report 
and a final report containing the       
results of the evaluations or research1 
respectively1 and including policy      
recommendations4 ,the draft and final   
reports shall be made available for     
public inspection4  7#e7 ,reports to    
,congress ,not later than #fj days after
 the completion of such final report1   
the ,secretary shall transmit the final 
report to the ,committee on ,education  
and the ,workforce of the ,house of     
,representatives and the ,committee on  
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions of the ,senate4  7#f7 ,public 
access  7,a7 ,public access procedure   
,the ,secretary shall develop a         
mechanism to make research and curricula
 developed under this title publically  
available in a timely manner4  7,b7     
,curriculum ,an eligible entity that    
develops a curriculum under this title  

shall make the curriculum available to  
the ,secretary4 ,using the mechanism    
established under subparagraph 7,a71 the
 ,secretary shall make such curriculum  
accessible to providers of              
pre-apprenticeship programs and to the  
public4  7f7 ,reservation ,the          
,secretary may reserve not more than #e 
percent of the funds appropriated under 
subsection 7g7 for each fiscal year for 
,federal administration and management1 
technical assistance1 and evaluation and
 research activities4  7g7              
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
are authorized to be appropriated to    
carry out this section such sums as may 
be necessary for fiscal year #bjae and  
each subsequent fiscal year4  #ajb4     
,promoting integration with             
postsecondary education  7a7            
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,consortium ,the term consortium means  
the ,registered ,apprenticeship-,college
 ,consortium established under          
subsection 7b77#a74  7#b7 ,secretaries  

,the term ,secretaries means the        
,secretary of ,labor1 acting through the
 ,administrator1 working jointly with   
the ,secretary of ,education1 acting    
through the ,assistant ,secretary for   
,vocational and ,adult ,education4  7b7 
,consortium with #b- and #d-,year       
postsecondary educational institutions  
7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretaries   
shall establish and maintain a voluntary
 ,registered ,apprenticeship-,college   
,consortium4 ,the ,consortium shall     
consist of the sponsors carrying out    
registered apprenticeship programs1 #b- 
or #d-year postsecondary educational    
institutions1 and organizations that    
represent such programs or institutions1
 that agree to meet certain criteria in 
order to support the purposes described 
in paragraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,purposes ,the 
,consortium shall support the purposes  
of-- 7,a7 promoting stronger connections
 between the registered apprenticeship  
programs involved and participating #b- 
and #d-year postsecondary educational   

institutions2  7,b7 promoting the       
translation of experience in a          
registered apprenticeship program to    
academic credit at participating #b- and
 #d-year postsecondary educational      
institutions2  7,c7 facilitating the    
enrollment of an individual who has     
completed a registered apprenticeship   
program 7referred to in this section as 
an apprentice7 at a participating #b- or
 #d-year postsecondary educational      
institution for the purpose of attaining
 academic credit toward an associate's  
or more advanced degree2  7,d7 advancing
 the attainment of associate's and more 
advanced degrees by apprentices2  7,e7  
promoting the attainment of recognized  
postsecondary credentials with value in 
the labor market2 and  7,f7 expanding   
awareness about the value of registered 
apprenticeship programs as a            
postsecondary education option4  7#c7   
,participant requirements ,the          
,secretaries shall establish criteria   
that any interested #b- or #d-year      

postsecondary educational institution or
 sponsor shall meet in order to         
participate in the ,consortium1 which   
criteria shall include1 at a minimum--  
7,a7 for a #b- or #d-year postsecondary 
educational institution-- 7i7 agreement 
to recognize the academic credit 7as    
assessed under subparagraph 7,b77i77    
earned by an apprentice for1 and the    
assessment of the apprentice's learning 
in1 a registered apprenticeship program 
at another participating institution2   
7ii7 agreement to develop a formal      
articulation agreement with a           
participating sponsor of a registered   
apprenticeship program1 other than a #b-
 or #d-year postsecondary educational   
institution2 and  7iii7 agreement to    
provide certain information1 as         
determined by the ,secretaries1 to the  
,consortium2 and  7,b7 for a sponsor--  
7i7 agreement to participate in         
third-party evaluations of the quality  
and rigor of the program offerings in   
order to determine the value of academic

 credit for learning during a registered
 apprenticeship program2  7ii7 agreement
 to develop a formal articulation       
agreement with a participating #b- or   
#d-year postsecondary educational       
institution2 and  7iii7 agreement to    
provide certain information1 as         
determined by the ,secretaries1 to the  
,consortium4  7#d7 ,memorandum of       
understanding  7,a7 ,in general ,in     
order to participate in the ,consortium1
 interested #b- or #d-year postsecondary
 educational institutions and sponsors  
shall agree to meet certain conditions  
determined by the ,secretaries4  7,b7   
,conditions ,such conditions shall      
address1 at a minimum-- 7i7 how learning
 during a registered apprenticeship     
program1 including related instruction  
and on-the-job training1 will be        
assessed for academic credit2  7ii7 how 
programs and procedures1 especially     
those related to admissions1 credit     
transfer1 and recognition of such       
learning will be structured to support  

accessibility for apprentices2  7iii7   
how the structure and scheduling of     
courses will be developed in a way that 
supports the matriculation of           
apprentices2 and  7iv7 how residency    
requirements will be modified to support
 the transferability of credit earned by
 apprentices4  7#e7 ,publicly available 
information ,the ,secretaries shall     
maintain a publicly accessible website  
identifying1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 the    
participating members of the ,consortium
 in each ,state1 including those with   
established articulation agreements2    
7,b7 a model for articulation           
agreements1 and copies of some exemplary
 articulation agreements for            
illustrative purposes2 and  7,c7 such   
other information as the ,secretaries   
determine to be necessary to promote    
awareness of the ,consortium and its    
members4  7#f7 ,advisory committee  7,a7
 ,establishment ,the ,secretaries shall 
establish an advisory committee for the 
,consortium4  7,b7 ,composition ,the    

advisory committee shall be composed of 
members appointed by the ,secretaries1  
consisting of-- 7i7 representatives of  
#b- or #d-year postsecondary educational
 institutions2  7ii7 representatives of 
sponsors2 and  7iii7 a representative   
from the ,advisory ,committee described 
in section #aja7;d74  7,c7 ,term        
,members of the advisory committee shall
 serve for a term of #b years4  7,d7    
,duties ,such advisory committee shall  
seek input from organizations and       
experts representing industry1 labor1   
and postsecondary education1 and shall  
make recommendations to the ,consortium 
and the ,secretary regarding actions    
necessary to achieve the objectives of  
this subsection4  7,e7 ,travel expenses 
,the members of the advisory committee  
shall not receive compensation for the  
performance of services for the         
committee1 but shall be allowed travel  
expenses1 including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence1 at rates authorized for    
employees of agencies under subchapter  

,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united  
,states ,code1 while away from their    
homes or regular places of business in  
the performance of services for the     
,committee4 ,notwithstanding section    
#acdb of title #ca1 ,united ,states     
,code1 the ,secretary may accept the    
voluntary and uncompensated services of 
members of the advisory committee4  7,f7
 ,permanent committee ,section #ad of   
the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act  
7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to 
the advisory committee4  7#g7 ,use of   
funds  7,a7 ,administrative ,the        
,secretaries shall use #cj percent of   
the funds appropriated under subsection 
7c7 to establish and maintain the       
,consortium and the website referred to 
in paragraph 7#e71 to support the       
advisory committee referred to in       
paragraph 7#f71 and for technical       
assistance1 evaluation1 and research    
activities4  7,b7 ,for program          
participants ,the ,secretaries shall use
 #gj percent of the appropriated funds  

to carry out1 directly or by grant or   
contract with an eligible entity1       
activities consisting of-- 7i7 providing
 funding to ,consortium participants to 
support the development of articulation 
agreements with other ,consortium       
participants2  7ii7 providing funding to
 the ,consortium to support the         
assessment of learning during a         
registered apprenticeship program1 for  
academic credit2  7iii7 providing       
funding to the ,consortium to support   
third-party assessments of the quality  
and rigor of program offerings1 referred
 to in paragraph 7#c77;,b77i72  7iv7    
providing curriculum development1 for   
participating institutions and sponsors2
 and  7v7 carrying out other purposes   
that will help participating #b- and    
#d-year postsecondary educational       
institutions and sponsors meet the      
requirements of paragraphs 7#c7 and     
7#d74  7,c7 ,eligible entities ,to be   
eligible to receive a grant or contract 
under subparagraph 7,b71 an entity shall

 be a partnership comprised of-- 7i7 at 
least one #b- or #d-year postsecondary  
educational institution participating in
 the ,consortium2 and  7ii7 at least one
 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship 
program participating in the            
,consortium4  7c7 ,authorization of     
appropriations  7#a7 ,fiscal year #bjae 
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj   
for fiscal year #bjae4  7#b7 ,subsequent
 fiscal years  7,a7 ,authorization      
,there is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this section for each      
fiscal year subsequent to fiscal year   
#bjae the amount determined under       
subparagraph 7,b7 for the fiscal year   
involved4  7,b7 ,adjustment for         
inflation ,the amount referred to in    
subparagraph 7,a7 for a fiscal year     
shall be determined by multiplying-- 7i7
 the amount authorized under this       
subsection for the preceding fiscal     
year2 by  7ii7 the percentage change in 
the ,consumer ,price ,index for ,all    

,urban ,consumers during the annual     
interval immediately preceding the date 
on which the determination is made4     
,,ii ,program development and           
enhancement  #bja4 ,expanding registered
 apprenticeship programs  7a7 ,in       
general ,the ,secretary shall provide   
payments of assistance for eligible     
sponsors of new 7as of the date of      
submission of an application under      
subsection 7b77 registered              
apprenticeship programs1 or for sponsors
 of existing joint labor-management     
registered apprenticeship programs that 
add employers as new 7as of such date7  
partners4  7b7 ,applications ,to be     
eligible to receive payments under this 
section for a registered apprenticeship 
program1 a sponsor shall submit an      
application to the ,secretary at such   
time1 in such manner1 and containing    
such information as the ,secretary may  
require1 including information on how   
the activities carried out under the    
grant would enhance and expand the      

registered apprenticeship system1 such  
as extending registered apprentice      
programs into new industries and        
occupations1 and including information  
demonstrating that1 as of the date the  
sponsor submitted an application under  
this section-- 7#a7 for a new registered
 apprenticeship program1 the program    
received recognition as a registered    
apprenticeship program within the #cf   
months preceding that date2  7#b7 the   
sponsor offered jobs that lead to       
economic self-sufficiency1 as determined
 by a local workforce investment board  
established under section #aag of the   
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhcb7 located in the    
same local workforce investment area 7as
 designated under section #aaf of such  
,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhca772  7#c7 the  
sponsor has demonstrated success in     
enrolling1 instructing1 advancing1 and  
graduating individuals in the relevant  
registered apprenticeship program1 and  
in the employment of such individuals   

after completion of the program2 and    
7#d7 the sponsor had not received a     
payment under subsection 7d74  7c7 ,use 
of funds ,in providing assistance under 
this section1 the ,secretary shall      
arrange to provide payments for eligible
 sponsors1 as funds are available under 
this section4 ,funds made available     
through such a payment shall be used to 
reimburse an eligible sponsor for the   
allowable costs 7as determined by the   
,secretary7 of operating the registered 
apprenticeship program involved4 ,the   
maximum total payment to any one sponsor
 may not exceed #e1jjj or #ej percent of
 the allowable costs of operating the   
program4  7d7 ,disbursement through     
local boards ,the ,secretary shall enter
 into arrangements with the local       
workforce investment boards described in
 subsection 7b77#b7 to provide the      
payments to the eligible sponsors4  7e7 
,evaluations ,sponsors receiving grants 
under this section shall1 to the extent 
practicable1 cooperate with the         

,secretary in the conduct of evaluations
 of the activities carried out under    
this section4  7f7 ,authorization of    
appropriations  7#a7 ,in general ,there 
is authorized to be appropriated to     
carry out this section #be1jjj1jjj for  
fiscal year #bjae and each subsequent   
fiscal year4  7#b7 ,reservation ,the    
,secretary may reserve #e percent of the
 amount appropriated under paragraph    
7#a7 for a fiscal year for distribution 
to the local workforce investment       
boards1 to pay for the costs of the     
boards associated with making           
determinations under subsection 7b77#b7 
and disbursements under subsection 7d71 
and as funds remain available1 other    
costs of ,federal administration and    
management1 technical assistance1       
research and evaluation under this      
section4  ,,iii ,conforming amendments  
#cja4 ,amendments  7a7 ,references  7#a7
 ,section #c7g7 is amended by striking  
section #aja of the ,workforce          
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4

 #bhja7 and inserting section #ajb of   
the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74  7#b7 ,section   
#aja is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection    
7b7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#c77;,b77iv71 by
 striking ,state or local workforce     
investment board 7established under     
subtitle ,b of title ,i of the          
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhaa et seq477 and      
inserting ,state or local workforce     
development board 7established under    
subtitle ,a of title ,i of the          
,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity 
,act72 and  7ii7 in paragraph 7#g77;,a71
 by striking performance measures       
described in section #acf7;c7 of the    
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhga7;c77 for the local 
workforce investment area 7designated   
under section #aaf of such ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #bhca77 and inserting 7before 
,july #a1 #bjaf7 performance measures   
described in section #acf7;c7 of the    
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    

7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhga7;c77 for the local 
workforce investment area 7designated   
under section #aaf of such ,act 7#bi    
,u4,s4,c4 #bhca77 or 7after ,june #cj1  
#bjaf7 performance accountability       
measures described in section #aaf7;c7  
of the ,workforce ,innovation and       
,opportunity ,act for the local         
workforce development area 7meaning a   
local area1 as defined in section #c of 
such ,act72 and  7,b7 in subsection     
7c7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,i7 in   
the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 
by striking ,state and local workforce  
investment boards and inserting ,state  
and local workforce development boards2 
7,,ii7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking
 section #acd7;d77#d7 of the ,workforce 
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhfd7;d77#d77 and inserting section   
#acd7;c77#c7 of the ,workforce          
,innovation and ,opportunity ,act2 and  
7,,iii7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by        
striking performance measures under     
section #acf of the ,workforce          

,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhga7 and inserting 7before ,july #a1 
#bjaf7 performance measures under       
section #acf of the ,workforce          
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhga7 or 7after ,june #cj1 #bjaf7     
performance accountability measures     
under section #aaf of the ,workforce    
,innovation and ,opportunity ,act2 and  
7ii7 in paragraph 7#b71 in the matter   
preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking
 section #aba of the ,workforce         
,investment ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #bhda7 and inserting section #aba of   
the ,workforce ,innovation and          
,opportunity ,act4  7#c7 ,section #bja  
is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7b77#b71
 by striking local workforce investment 
board established under section #aag of 
the ,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih
 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhcb7 located in the   
same local workforce investment area 7as
 designated under section #aaf of such  
,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhca77 and         
inserting local workforce development   

board 7meaning a local board1 as defined
 in section #c of the ,workforce        
,innovation and ,opportunity ,act7      
located in the same local workforce     
development area 7meaning a local area1 
as defined in that section #c72 and     
7,b7 in subsections 7d7 and 7f77#b71 by 
striking local workforce investment     
boards and inserting local workforce    
development boards4  7b7 ,effective date
 ,this section takes effect on ,july #a1
 #bjae4