,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aiie ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bi1 #bjai ,mr4 ,norcross 7for himself and ,mr4 ,mc,kinley7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to promote registered apprenticeships1 including registered apprenticeships within in-demand industry sectors1 through the support of workforce intermediaries1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,apprenticeship ,hubs ,across ,america ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,registered apprenticeship programs provide apprentices employment with structured on-the-job training1 little to no student loan debt1 competitive wages1 industry-recognized credentials1 direct access to jobs and careers1 and in some cases1 the potential to earn college credit toward an associate's or bachelor's degree4 7#b7 ,according to the ,department of ,labor ,apprenticeship ,toolkit1 the average wage for a fully-proficient worker who completes an apprenticeship is #ej1jjj annually4 ,apprentices who complete their program earn approximately #cjj1jjj more during their career than non-apprenticeship workers4 7#c7 ,there are still very few apprenticeship positions in sectors with high job growth4 ,according to data from the ,department of ,labor1 health care--the industry with the greatest job growth--had only #a1heb apprentices in #bjaf4 ,information technology1 another sector with rapidly expanding job opportunities in the ,united ,states1 had fewer than #a1jjj apprentices in #bjaf4 7#d7 ,a major barrier to expanding registered apprenticeships in high-growth job sectors is employers' lack of familiarity with the process to establish1 and the requirements of1 registered apprenticeship programs4 7#e7 ,workforce intermediaries1 which are organizations at the national1 regional1 ,state1 or local level that help ease the process for employers in developing and delivering new registered apprenticeship programs1 can serve as a catalyzing force for creating and expanding registered apprenticeships in high-growth job sectors through technical assistance and capacity building for employers1 labor organizations1 educational institutions1 and government entities4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,apprenticeship ,the term apprenticeship means an opportunity in a registered apprenticeship program4 7#b7 ,in-demand industry sector ,the term in-demand industry sector means a sector described in subparagraphs 7,a77i7 and 7,b7 of section #c7bc7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb7bc774 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#d7 ,local board ,the term local board has the meaning given such term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#e7 ,nontraditional apprenticeship occupation ,the term nontraditional apprenticeship occupation means an occupation that has not traditionally engaged in carrying out registered apprenticeship programs1 but which the ,secretary determines would benefit from having such a program 7such as an occupation in a financial services1 advanced manufacturing1 information technology1 health care1 or hospitality industry sector74 7#f7 ,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#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#h7 ,state board ,the term ,state board has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#i7 ,workforce intermediary ,the term workforce intermediary means an entity that1 at the national1 regional1 ,state1 or local level-- 7,a7 7i7 facilitates the establishment of registered apprenticeship programs2 or 7ii7 if awarded a grant under this ,act1 has the capacity1 and will work1 to facilitate the establishment of registered apprenticeship programs2 and 7,b7 may be a partnership that includes #a or more of the following as partners3 7i7 ,a business or industry organization4 7ii7 ,a community-based organization4 7iii7 ,a joint labor-management partnership4 7iv7 ,an institution of higher education4 7v7 ,a ,state board or local board4 7vi7 ,a nonprofit organization4 7vii7 ,an industry or sector partnership as defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7viii7 ,an industry association4 7ix7 ,a joint labor-management organization4 7x7 ,a consortium of organizations that provide technical assistance to support and to increase the development of registered apprenticeship programs4 7xi7 ,any other entity that the ,secretary considers to be appropriate4 #d4 ,workforce intermediaries grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,from amounts made available to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish and carry out a workforce intermediaries grant program by awarding grants1 on a competitive basis1 to workforce intermediaries1 to enable the workforce intermediaries to engage a variety of stakeholders1 such as local boards1 secondary schools1 institutions of higher education1 and employers1 to support1 develop1 and implement registered apprenticeship programs in accordance with section #f4 7b7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this ,act shall be for a period of not more than #d years4 7c7 ,amount ,a grant awarded under this ,act shall be in an amount of not more than #f1jjj1jjj1 and such amount shall be determined based on the relative number of apprentices a workforce intermediary plans to facilitate4 7d7 ,geographic diversity ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall ensure that there is geographic diversity in the areas in which activities will be carried out under the grants4 7e7 ,matching funds ,a workforce intermediary receiving a grant under this ,act shall provide matching funds1 from non-,federal sources1 for the activities supported under the grant4 ,the matching funds shall be in an amount that is not less than #bj percent of the amount of grant funds provided under the grant4 #e4 ,applications 7a7 ,in general ,a workforce intermediary desiring a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7b7 ,contents ,the application described in subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 information regarding-- 7,a7 in the case of a workforce intermediary described in section #c7i77;,a77i71 the extent to which the workforce intermediary is working1 as of the date of the application1 with stakeholders to provide activities such as the activities described in section #f2 or 7,b7 in the case of a workforce intermediary described in section #c7i77;,a77ii71 the capacity of the workforce intermediary to begin providing activities described in section #f upon receipt of the grant1 including information demonstrating that the workforce intermediary would be successful in carrying out such activities2 7#b7 information regarding the extent to which the grant will help the workforce intermediary-- 7,a7 expand apprenticeships for in-demand industry sectors that lack apprenticeships at the time of the application2 or 7,b7 target populations that are underrepresented-- 7i7 in apprenticeships generally2 or 7ii7 in the fields in which the apprentices will be trained2 7#c7 assurances that-- 7,a7 the workforce intermediary will cooperate in the evaluation of the project conducted under section #g2 and 7,b7 the workforce intermediary will meet the matching requirement under section #d7;e72 7#d7 information about the workforce intermediary's-- 7,a7 experience in providing activities described in section #f and capacity1 or ability to develop or expand capacity1 to provide such activities2 7,b7 experience working in a collaborative environment with government and nongovernmental entities2 7,c7 ability to raise or provide funding to cover operating costs for the long-term sustainability of the activities supported under the grant2 and 7,d7 capacity and infrastructure to track outcomes and measure results1 including capacity to track and analyze program performance and assess program impact2 and 7#e7 information describing how the workforce intermediary will promote the diversity described in section #f7;b77#a77;,f74 #f4 ,use of funds 7a7 ,in general ,a workforce intermediary that receives a grant under this ,act shall use the grant funds to carry out activities1 which may include activities described in subsection 7b7 or other strategies as may be necessary1 that support the development and successful implementation of registered apprenticeship programs4 7b7 ,suggested uses ,a workforce intermediary may carry out subsection 7a7 through #a or more of the following activities1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary3 7#a7 ,outreach and marketing ,a workforce intermediary may provide services to engage employers in registered apprenticeship programs1 which may include-- 7,a7 marketing apprenticeships regionally1 to employers and to potential apprentices2 7,b7 marketing apprenticeships to secondary school students1 counselors1 school administrators1 or parents2 7,c7 recruiting and evaluating candidates for apprenticeships2 7,d7 conducting outreach to employers to persuade the employers to adopt the apprenticeship model2 7,e7 matching employers with apprentices2 and 7,f7 promoting diversity among apprentices by promoting outreach to underrepresented populations 7such as women and minorities71 youth1 individuals with disabilities 7as defined in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb771 and veterans4 7#b7 ,employer engagement ,the workforce intermediary may provide services to engage employers in1 and develop curricula for1 registered apprenticeship programs1 which may include assisting a small or medium-sized employer with-- 7,a7 designing a curriculum for a registered apprenticeship program that blends occupation-specific skills and general industry skills2 7,b7 designing a comprehensive training plan for apprentices2 7,c7 navigating the registration process for the registered apprenticeship program2 7,d7 identifying skills1 both technical and behavioral1 needed to perform the occupation in question2 7,e7 providing training to managers and front-line employees to serve as trainers or mentors to apprentices in the registered apprenticeship program2 7,f7 paying for the cost of off-site training provided to apprentices2 7,g7 coordinating activities between training instructors and worksite supervisors of apprentices2 7,h7 conducting or arranging for off-the-job training related to the apprenticeship2 7,i7 convening employers to define skills for the registered apprenticeship program2 and 7,j7 developing occupational standards that are nationally recognized and portable to help guide employers and sponsors in establishing new registered apprenticeship programs4 7#c7 ,support services for apprentices ,the workforce intermediary may provide support services for apprentices to assure their success in1 and after1 registered apprenticeship programs1 which may include-- 7,a7 providing guidance to1 mentorship to1 and oversight of apprentices during the program1 to ensure retention and completion2 7,b7 providing services to address challenges that surface for apprentices during the apprenticeship2 7,c7 providing professional development training needed for apprentices to succeed in a full-time job after the apprenticeship2 7,d7 providing post-apprenticeship job counseling and job placement services2 7,e7 coordinating pre-apprenticeship training or off-the-job training related to the occupation involved in the apprenticeship2 and 7,f7 arranging for an institution of higher education to provide training courses4 7#d7 ,local and national support for registered apprenticeships ,the workforce intermediary may support registered apprenticeship programs locally and nationally1 which may include-- 7,a7 developing national guidelines and standards for registered apprenticeships in nontraditional apprenticeship occupations2 7,b7 connecting multi-region efforts for registered apprenticeship programs2 7,c7 documenting best practices in operating a workforce intermediary2 and 7,d7 providing the ongoing infrastructure to support apprenticeships in an industry4 7c7 ,emphasis on in-,demand registered apprenticeship programs ,in carrying out activities under a grant under this ,act1 the workforce intermediary receiving the grant shall place an emphasis on supporting registered apprenticeship programs that lead to skilled jobs and wages in in-demand industry sectors4 #g4 ,performance and evaluation 7a7 ,performance progress reports to the ,secretary 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall require each workforce intermediary receiving a grant under this ,act to submit performance progress reports at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,elements ,each report described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 the goals1 plans1 and accomplishments of the workforce intermediary2 7,b7 how grant funds have been used2 and 7,c7 how the workforce intermediary has furthered the purposes described in section #d7;a74 7b7 ,evaluations 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct an evaluation of each workforce intermediary that receives a grant under this ,act #f years after the date on which funds for the grant are first disbursed4 7#b7 ,contents of evaluation ,the evaluation described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include a critical analysis of the workforce intermediary-- 7,a7 by addressing topics such as-- 7i7 the goals of the workforce intermediary2 7ii7 the core competency training offered by the workforce intermediary1 without regard as to whether such training was supported by grant funds2 7iii7 the structure of the wage progression or career ladder for each registered apprenticeship program established or supported by the workforce intermediary2 7iv7 the major recruitment sources of apprentices for the workforce intermediary2 7v7 information on how apprentices are selected by the workforce intermediary2 7vi7 the recruitment challenges that the workforce intermediary faces2 7vii7 the demographic and educational characteristics of apprentices supported by the workforce intermediary2 7viii7 the structure of the workforce intermediary1 including the number of staff employed by the workforce intermediary2 7ix7 the factors that contribute to a workforce intermediary's sustainability and replicability2 and 7x7 the number of apprenticeships facilitated by the workforce intermediary and the occupations involved in the apprenticeships2 and 7,b7 that evaluates the workforce intermediary using information on-- 7i7 the levels of performance achieved by the workforce intermediary with respect to the performance indicators under section #aaf7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;b77#b77;,a771 for all apprentices who complete a registered apprenticeship program supported by the workforce intermediary2 7ii7 the completion rates for apprentices in each registered apprenticeship program supported by the workforce intermediary2 7iii7 job retention of apprentices1 based on #a year after completing the registered apprenticeship program supported by the workforce intermediary2 7iv7 the income level of jobs obtained by apprentices after completing the apprenticeship program2 and 7v7 the occupations in in-demand industry sectors1 and nontraditional apprenticeship occupations1 that the workforce intermediary has successfully served through the grant by creating registered apprenticeship programs in those occupations4 7#c7 ,scope of evaluation ,in conducting the evaluation under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall1 to the fullest extent practicable1 limit the evaluation to the efforts of the workforce intermediary supported under this ,act1 but shall also consider all of the efforts of the workforce intermediary to support registered apprenticeship programs4 7#d7 ,report ,by not later than #ij days after the evaluation is completed1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to the workforce intermediary1 and make publicly available1 a report that will contain-- 7,a7 the results of the evaluation1 including the topics and information described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 recommendations on how to further improve the outcomes of the workforce intermediary4 7c7 ,renewal ,the ,secretary shall use the performance progress reports and the results of an evaluation under this section for a project to determine whether to renew a grant for the workforce intermediary for that project4 #h4 ,workshops2 best practices ,the ,secretary shall use not more than #e percent of the funds made available under this ,act to-- 7#a7 plan and conduct workshops throughout the ,united ,states to instruct interested organizations on how to create workforce intermediaries on a national1 ,state1 or local level1 and navigate the grant process described in this ,act2 and 7#b7 disseminate best practices on effective development and implementation of registered apprenticeship programs through workforce intermediaries4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4