,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fbj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ad1 #bjag,mr4 ,franken 7for himself and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to support community college and industry partnerships1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community ,college to ,career ,fund ,act4 #b4 ,community ,college to ,career ,fund 7a7 ,in ,general ,title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caaa et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,f ,community ,college to ,career ,fund #aii4 ,community college and industry partnerships program 7a7 ,grants authorized ,not later than the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the ,community ,college to ,career ,fund ,act1 from funds appropriated under section #aii;,a1 the ,secretary of ,labor 7in coordination with the ,secretary of ,education and the ,secretary of ,commerce7 shall award competitive grants to eligible entities described in subsection 7b7 for the purpose of developing1 offering1 improving1 and providing educational or career training programs for workers4 ,the grants shall be awarded for periods of #c years4 7b7 ,eligible entity 7#a7 ,partnerships with employers or an employer or industry partnership 7,a7 ,general definition ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity means any of the entities described in subparagraph 7,b7 7or a consortium of any of such entities7 in partnership with employers or an employer or industry partnership representing multiple employers4 7,b7 ,description of entities ,the entities described in this subparagraph are-- 7i7 a community college2 7ii7 a #d-year public institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a777 that offers #b-year degrees1 and that will use funds provided under this section for activities at the certificate and associate degree levels2 7iii7 a ,tribal ,college or ,university 7as defined in section #caf7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b7772 or 7iv7 a public or private nonprofit1 #b-year institution of higher education 7as defined in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb77 in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 the ,republic of the ,marshall ,islands1 the ,federated ,states of ,micronesia1 or the ,republic of ,palau4 7#b7 ,additional ,partners 7,a7 ,authorization of additional partners ,in addition to partnering with employers or an employer or industry partnership representing multiple employers as described in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 an entity described in paragraph 7#a7 may include in the partnership described in paragraph 7#a7 one or more of the organizations described in subparagraph 7,b74 ,each eligible entity that includes one or more such organizations shall collaborate with the ,state or local board in the area served by the eligible entity4 7,b7 ,organizations ,the organizations described in this subparagraph are as follows3 7i7 ,a provider of adult education 7as defined in section #bjc7 or an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja774 7ii7 ,a community-based organization4 7iii7 ,a joint labor-management partnership4 7iv7 ,a ,state board4 7v7 ,an elementary school or secondary school1 as defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7vi7 ,any other organization that the ,secretaries consider appropriate4 7c7 ,educational or career training program ,for purposes of this section1 the ,governor of the ,state in which at least one of the entities described in subsection 7b77#a77;,b7 of an eligible entity is located shall establish criteria for an educational or career training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential for which an eligible entity submits a grant proposal under subsection 7d74 7d7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application containing a grant proposal1 for an educational or career training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential1 to the ,secretaries at such time and containing such information as the ,secretaries determine is required1 including-- 7#a7 a detailed description of-- 7,a7 the extent to which the educational or career training program described in the grant proposal fits within an overall strategic plan consisting of-- 7i7 the ,state plan described in section #ajb or #ajc1 for the ,state involved2 7ii7 the local plan described in section #ajh1 for each local area that comprises a significant portion of the area to be served by the eligible entity2 and 7iii7 a strategic plan developed by the eligible entity2 7,b7 the extent to which the program will meet the needs of employers in the area for skilled workers in in-demand industry sectors and occupations2 7,c7 the extent to which the program will meet the educational or career training needs of workers in the area2 7,d7 the specific educational or career training program and how the program meets the criteria established under subsection 7e71 including the manner in which the grant will be used to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide the educational or career training program2 7,e7 any previous experience of the eligible entity in providing educational or career training programs1 the absence of which shall not automatically disqualify an eligible institution from receiving a grant under this section2 and 7,f7 how the program leading to the credential meets the criteria described in subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 a detailed plan on how the entity will ensure that the program will meet the performance measures described in subsection 7g71 and an assurance that the entity will annually submit to the ,secretary information on the performance of the program on the performance measures described in subsection 7g74 7e7 ,criteria for award 7#a7 ,in general ,grants under this section shall be awarded based on criteria established by the ,secretaries1 that include the following3 7,a7 ,a determination of the merits of the grant proposal submitted by the eligible entity involved to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide an educational or career training program to be made available to workers4 7,b7 ,an assessment of the likely employment opportunities available in the area to individuals who complete an educational or career training program that the eligible entity proposes to develop1 offer1 improve1 and provide4 7,c7 ,an assessment of prior demand for training programs by individuals eligible for training and served by the eligible entity1 as well as availability and capacity of existing 7as of the date of the assessment7 training programs to meet future demand for training programs4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that-- 7,a7 include a partnership1 with employers or an employer or industry partnership1 that-- 7i7 pays a portion of the costs of educational or career training programs2 or 7ii7 agrees to hire individuals who have attained a recognized postsecondary credential resulting from the educational or career training program of the eligible entity2 7,b7 enter into a partnership with a labor organization or labor-management training program to provide1 through the program1 technical expertise for occupationally specific education necessary for a recognized postsecondary credential leading to a skilled occupation in an in-demand industry sector2 7,c7 are focused on serving individuals with barriers to employment1 students who are veterans1 spouses of member of the ,armed ,forces1 incumbent workers who are low-skilled and who need to increase their work-related skills2 7,d7 include any eligible entities serving areas with high unemployment rates2 and 7,e7 are eligible entities that include an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title ,,iii or ,v of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajea et seq42 #bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq474 7f7 ,use of funds ,grant funds awarded under this section shall be used for one or more of the following3 7#a7 ,the development1 offering1 improvement1 and provision of educational or career training programs1 that provide relevant job training for skilled occupations1 that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials1 that will meet the needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors1 and that may include registered apprenticeship programs1 on-the-job training programs1 and programs that support employers in upgrading the skills of their workforce4 7#b7 ,the development and implementation of policies and programs to expand opportunities for students to earn a recognized postsecondary credential1 including a degree1 in in-demand industry sectors and occupations1 including by-- 7,a7 facilitating the transfer of academic credits between institutions of higher education1 including the transfer of academic credits for courses in the same field of study2 7,b7 expanding articulation agreements and policies that guarantee transfers between such institutions1 including through common course numbering and use of a general core curriculum2 7,c7 developing or enhancing student support services programs2 and 7,d7 establishing policies and processes for assessing and awarding course credit for work-related learning4 7#c7 ,the creation of career pathway programs that provide a sequence of education and occupational training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential1 including a degree1 including programs that-- 7,a7 blend basic skills and occupational training2 7,b7 facilitate means of transitioning participants from non-credit occupational1 basic skills1 or developmental coursework to for-credit coursework within and across institutions2 7,c7 build or enhance linkages1 including the development of dual enrollment programs and early college high schools1 between secondary education or adult education programs 7including programs established under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq47 and title ,,ii of this ,act72 7,d7 are innovative programs designed to increase the provision of training for students1 including students who are members of the ,national ,guard or ,reserves1 to enter skilled occupations in in-demand industry sectors2 7,e7 support paid internships that will allow students to simultaneously earn credit for work-based learning and gain relevant employment experience in an in-demand industry sector or occupation1 which shall include opportunities that transition individuals into employment2 and 7,f7 develop competency-based education programs that offer an outcome-oriented approach through which recognized postsecondary credentials are awarded based on successful demonstration of skills and proficiency4 7#d7 ,the development and implementation of-- 7,a7 a ,pay-for-,performance program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential1 for which an eligible entity agrees to be reimbursed under the grant primarily on the basis of achievement of specified performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by the ,secretary2 or 7,b7 a ,pay-for-,success program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential1 for which an eligible entity-- 7i7 enters into a partnership with an investor1 such as a philanthropic organization that provides funding for a specific project to address a clear and measurable educational or career training need in the area to be served under the grant2 and 7ii7 agrees to be reimbursed under the grant only if the project achieves specified performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by the ,secretary4 7g7 ,performance measures 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish performance measures for the programs carried out under this section4 7#b7 ,measures ,the performance measures shall consist of-- 7,a7 indicators of performance1 including the number of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program2 and 7,b7 a level of performance for each indicator described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,monitoring progress ,the ,secretary shall monitor the progress of eligible entities that receive grants under this section in ensuring that their programs meet the performance measures4 #aii;,a4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program established by section #aii4 ,funds appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until the end of the #eth full fiscal year after the date of enactment of the ,community ,college to ,career ,fund ,act4 7b7 ,administrative ,cost ,not more than #e percent of the amounts made available under subsection 7a7 may be used by the ,secretaries for ,federal administration the program described in that subsection1 including providing technical assistance and carrying out evaluations for the program described in that subsection4 7c7 ,period of availability ,the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection 7a7 for a fiscal year shall be available for ,federal obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding #d fiscal years4 #aii;,b4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this subtitle3 7#a7 ,community ,college ,the term community college has the meaning given the term junior or community college in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;f774 7#b7 ,educational or career training program ,the term educational or career training program means-- 7,a7 a career pathway program1 as defined in section #c2 or 7,b7 a program with an integrated education and training approach1 as defined in section #bjc4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,the table of contents for the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act is amended by inserting after the items relating to subtitle ,e of title ,i the following3 ,subtitle ,f--,community ,college to ,career ,fund,sec4 #aii4 ,community college and industry partnerships program4,sec4 #aii;,a4 ,authorization of appropriations4,sec4 #aii;,b4 ,definition4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,this ,act1 including the amendments made by this ,act1 takes effect as if included in the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act4