Sec. 201 Expanding registered apprenticeship programs
In general— The Secretary shall provide payments of assistance for eligible sponsors of new (as of the date of submission of an application under subsection (b)) registered apprenticeship programs, or for sponsors of existing joint labor-management registered apprenticeship programs that add employers as new (as of such date) partners.
Applications— To be eligible to receive payments under this section for a registered apprenticeship program, a sponsor shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information on how the activities carried out under the grant would enhance and expand the registered apprenticeship system, such as extending registered apprentice programs into new industries and occupations, and including information demonstrating that, as of the date the sponsor submitted an application under this section—
for a new registered apprenticeship program, the program received recognition as a registered apprenticeship program within the 36 months preceding that date;
the sponsor offered jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency, as determined by a local workforce investment board established under section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832) located in the same local workforce investment area (as designated under section 116 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2831));
the sponsor has demonstrated success in enrolling, instructing, advancing, and graduating individuals in the relevant registered apprenticeship program, and in the employment of such individuals after completion of the program; and
the sponsor had not received a payment under subsection (d).
Use of funds— In providing assistance under this section, the Secretary shall arrange to provide payments for eligible sponsors, as funds are available under this section. Funds made available through such a payment shall be used to reimburse an eligible sponsor for the allowable costs (as determined by the Secretary) of operating the registered apprenticeship program involved. The maximum total payment to any one sponsor may not exceed $5,000 or 50 percent of the allowable costs of operating the program.
Disbursement through local boards— The Secretary shall enter into arrangements with the local workforce investment boards described in subsection (b)(2) to provide the payments to the eligible sponsors.
Evaluations— Sponsors receiving grants under this section shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the Secretary in the conduct of evaluations of the activities carried out under this section.
Authorization of appropriations—
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent fiscal year.
Reservation— The Secretary may reserve 5 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for distribution to the local workforce investment boards, to pay for the costs of the boards associated with making determinations under subsection (b)(2) and disbursements under subsection (d), and as funds remain available, other costs of Federal administration and management, technical assistance, research and evaluation under this section.