Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Work and Learn Act”.
Work and Learn Act
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to address the need to increase on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings; purpose
Findings— Congress finds the following:
Success in the 21st century labor market increasingly requires workers to demonstrate competencies in thinking critically and applying new skills to ever more complex technology.
By 2020, the United States is expected to experience a shortage of 3,000,000 workers with associate degrees or higher degrees, and 5,000,000 workers with technical certificates and credentials.
Properly structured, on-the-job training programs should be part of the mission to get individuals back to work.
Apprenticeships, one common model for providing workplace training, are a proven way to help people develop in-demand skills and to meet the needs of employers, yet the individuals in apprenticeships compose just 0.2 percent of the Nation’s workforce.
Purpose— The purpose of this Act is to strengthen work-based programs of employment and training activities.
Sec. 3 Local Workforce Investment Boards
Section 117(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832(b)(2)(A)) is amended—
in clause (v), by striking “and” at the end; and
by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
“(vii) a representative who has expertise implementing work-based programs of employment and training activities that combine technical training with related instruction, including such programs that begin by providing mentoring and job shadowing opportunities, which evolve into intensive internships and registered apprenticeships; and”
Sec. 4 Performance
Section 136(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871(b)(2)(A)(i)) is amended—
in subclause (III), by striking “and”;
in subclause (IV), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by inserting after subclause (IV) the following new subclause:
“(V) Completion of a registered apprenticeship.”