,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dcga ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bb1 #bjbf,mr4 ,curtis introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that qualified technical schools offering certain career pathway and job training programs have the same access to ,federal grants as #b-year and #d-year institutions of higher education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transforming ,education through ,college and ,hands-,on ,training ,act or the ,,tech ,act4 #b4 ,modification to eligibility for certain ,federal grant programs 7a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a qualified technical school shall be eligible to participate in any covered ,federal grant program to the same extent1 and on the same basis1 as any #b-year or #d-year institution of higher education4 7b7 ,agency action ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each ,secretary concerned shall-- 7#a7 modify the eligibility criteria and application procedures for the covered ,federal grant programs under the jurisdiction of such ,secretary1 as necessary1 to ensure that qualified technical schools are eligible to participate in the program to the same extent1 and on the same basis1 as #b-year and #d-year institutions of higher education1 as required under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 issue guidance that specifies how grants under such programs should be dispersed among qualified technical schools and #b-year and #d-year institutions of higher education to ensure that the sectors and occupations described in subsection 7c77#d77;,a77ii7 have an adequate workforce pipeline to replace the aging and retiring current employees4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 #b-year or #d-year institution of higher education ,the term #b-year or #d-year institution of higher education means an institution described in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#b7 ,covered ,federal grant program ,the term covered ,federal grant program means the following3 7,a7 ,grants made by the ,department of ,education under-- 7i7 the ,strengthening ,institutions ,program authorized under part ,a of title ,,iii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeg et seq472 7ii7 the ,federal ,,trio ,program authorized under chapter #a of subpart #b of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a-#aa et seq472 and 7iii7 the ,child ,care ,access ,means ,parents in ,school ,program 7commonly known as the ,,ccampis ,program7 authorized under section #dai,n of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;e74 7,b7 ,grants made by the ,department of ,labor under the ,strengthening ,community ,colleges ,training ,grants ,program1 authorized under section #afi7;c7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbbd7;c774 7#c7 ,eligible career pathway program ,the term eligible career pathway program means a program that-- 7,a7 meets the requirements of section #dhd7;d77#b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajia7;d77#b772 7,b7 is offered by a provider on the list under section #abb7;d7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caeb7;d772 7,c7 is part of a career pathway1 as defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb72 and 7,d7 is aligned to a program of study1 as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb74 7#d7 ,eligible job training program 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible job training program means a career and technical education program that-- 7i7 is a program of at least #aej clock hours of instruction1 but less than #fjj clock hours of instruction1 or an equivalent number of credit hours1 offered by a postsecondary vocational institution 7as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c777 located in the ,united ,states during a minimum of #h weeks1 but less than #ae weeks2 7ii7 provides training that is-- 7,i7 in a sector or occupation determined by the ,secretary concerned to be essential for national security1 public safety1 supply chain security1 transportation1 critical manufacturing or infrastructure1 healthcare1 or public health2 and 7,,ii7 aligned with the requirements of high-skill1 high-wage occupations or in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the ,state or local area1 as determined by an industry or sector partnership2 7iii7 is a program of training services1 and provided through an eligible training provider that is on the list under section #abb7;d7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caeb7;d772 7iv7 provides a student1 upon completion of the program1 with a recognized postsecondary credential that is recognized by employers in the relevant industry1 including credentials recognized by industry or sector partnerships in the relevant industry in the ,state or local area where the industry is located and the job training program is provided2 7v7 has been determined by the school 7after validation of that determination by an industry or sector partnership7 to provide academic content1 an amount of instructional time1 and a recognized postsecondary credential that are sufficient to-- 7,i7 meet the hiring requirements of potential employers2 and 7,,ii7 satisfy any applicable educational prerequisite requirement for professional licensure or certification1 so that the student who completes the program and seeks employment qualifies to take any licensure or certification examination needed to practice or find employment in an occupation that the program prepares students to enter2 7vi7 may include integrated education and training2 7vii7 may be offered as part of an eligible career pathway program2 and 7viii7 does not exceed by more than #ej percent the minimum number of clock hours required for training if the ,state has established such a requirement4 7,b7 ,approval by the ,secretary ,in the case of a program that is seeking to establish eligibility as an eligible job training program under this paragraph1 the ,secretary of ,education shall make a determination about whether the program meets the requirements of this paragraph not more than #fj days after the date on which such program is submitted for consideration as an eligible job training program4 7,c7 ,additional assurance ,the ,secretary of ,education shall not determine that a program is an eligible job training program in accordance with subparagraph 7,b7 unless the ,secretary receives a certification from the appropriate ,state board containing an assurance that the program meets the requirements of subparagraph 7,a74 7#e7 ,qualified technical school ,the term qualified technical school means a postsecondary vocational institution 7as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c777 that-- 7,a7 offers an eligible career pathway program or an eligible job training program2 and 7,b7 is located in the ,united ,states4 7#f7 ,secretary concerned ,the term ,secretary concerned means-- 7,a7 the ,secretary of ,education1 with respect to a covered ,federal grant program administered by the ,department of ,education2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary of ,labor1 with respect to a covered ,federal grant program administered by the ,department of ,labor4 7#g7 ,,wioa terms ,the terms industry or sector partnership1 in-demand industry sector or occupation1 recognized postsecondary credential1 and ,state board have the meanings given such terms in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74