,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cii ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #i1 #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 direct the ,secretary of ,labor to support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades that serve underrepresented populations1 including individuals from low income and rural census tracts4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pre-,apprenticeships ,to ,hardhats ,act or the ,,path ,act4 #b4 ,supporting the development of pre-,apprenticeship programs 7a7 ,support ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs4 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,using funds available under subsection 7i71 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 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#f7 by the end of that third year1 the ,secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional #a year for that entity4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,to be eligible to receive a grant from the ,secretary under this subsection1 an entity shall be a nonprofit partnership that-- 7,a7 includes the equal participation of industry1 including public or private employers1 and labor organizations1 including joint labor or management training programs1 and may include ,state and local workforce development boards1 community-based organizations1 educational institutions 7such as postsecondary educational institutions1 local educational agencies1 ,state educational agencies1 high schools1 and area career and technical schools71 small businesses1 cooperatives1 ,state and local veterans agencies1 and veterans service organizations2 and 7,b7 demonstrates-- 7i7 experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs2 7ii7 the ability to identify and involve in training programs carried out under this grant1 target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities related to all building and construction trade crafts2 and 7iii7 the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency4 7#d7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that leverage additional public and private resources to fund programs under this ,act1 including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers4 7c7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant from the ,secretary under this subsection1 an entity 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 a description of the training and curriculum described in subsection 7g77#g77;,c71 and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program 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 paragraph 7#a7 to enable the registered apprenticeship program sponsor to place into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program2 7#c7 information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active1 advisory partnership between the partners described in subsection 7b77#c7 and the capacity1 of a training and education provider in the entity1 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-- 7,a7 that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located2 7,b7 the inclusion of career exploration focused activities1 such as career information activities1 and rsum preparation1 in the program2 7,c7 if the 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 7,d7 how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs1 programs and services authorized under the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja et seq471 or activities of entities that provide supportive services for participants in pre-apprenticeship programs2 and 7,e7 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 participants4 7d7 ,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 program4 7#b7 ,required activities ,the eligible entity shall use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to pay for the cost of training or education associated with a pre-apprenticeship program for individuals from an underrepresented population2 7,b7 for curriculum development that align with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments2 7,c7 to maintain a connection between the pre-apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program2 7,d7 for assessments of potential participants for1 and enrollment of the participants in1 the pre-apprenticeship program2 and 7,e7 to conduct evaluations described in subsection 7f77#b74 7#c7 ,allowable activities ,the eligible entity may use the grant funds for-- 7,a7 stipends for participants during work-based training in the program2 7,b7 coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq47 or the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja et seq472 and 7,c7 drug testing of potential participants4 7e7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of the cost described in subsection 7b77#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 7f7 ,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 performance accountability measures described in section #aaf7;c7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;c77 for the local workforce development area and with corresponding measures under the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcja et seq471 as appropriate4 7#b7 ,evaluations ,each eligible entity that receives a grant to carry out a project under this subsection shall arrange for another qualified entity to conduct an evaluation1 or shall participate in a ,department of ,labor sponsored evaluation1 of the project using the identified common measures1 and shall1 to the extent practicable1 cooperate with the evaluator 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 subsection 7b77#b74 7g7 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,area career and technical school ,the term area career and technical school has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb774 7#b7 ,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#c7 ,in-demand industry sector or occupation ,the term in-demand industry sector or occupation has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#d7 ,local educational agency2 ,state educational agency ,the terms local educational agency and ,state educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,local and ,state workforce development boards ,the terms local workforce development board and ,state workforce development board have the meanings given the terms local board and ,state board1 respectively1 in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#f7 ,postsecondary educational institution ,the term postsecondary educational institution means an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#g7 ,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 program in the building and construction trades2 7,b7 is carried out by an eligible entity that has a documented partnership with at least #a sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program2 and 7,c7 includes training 7including a curriculum for the training71 aligned with industry standards and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeships within the documented partnership1 that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs4 7#h7 ,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#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#aj7 ,sponsor ,the term sponsor means an employer1 joint labor-management partnership1 trade association1 professional association1 labor organization1 or other entity that administers a registered apprenticeship program4 7#aa7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#ab7 ,underrepresented population ,the term underrepresented population means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a member of a racial minority1 a woman1 a military veteran1 or a person who is long-term unemployed2 or 7,b7 comes from a geographic area consisting of a single census tract or a group of census tracts1 each of which meets the criteria for a low-income community1 as defined in section #de;,d7e7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj and each subsequent fiscal year4