Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act” or the “PATH Act”.
Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats Act
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 populations, including individuals from low income and rural census tracts.
Sec. 2 Supporting the development of pre-Apprenticeship programs
Support— The Secretary of Labor shall support the development of pre-apprenticeship programs.
Grants—
In general— Using funds available under subsection (h), 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 development.
Period— The Secretary shall make initial grants under this Act for periods of not more than 3 years, except that if an eligible entity demonstrates satisfactory performance under subsection (f) by the end of that third year, the Secretary may extend the grant period up to an additional 1 year for that entity.
Eligible entity— To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this Act, an entity shall be a nonprofit partnership that—
includes the equal participation of industry, including public or private employers, and labor organizations, including joint labor or management training programs, and may include State and local workforce development boards, community-based organizations, educational institutions (such as postsecondary educational institutions, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, high schools, and area career and technical schools), small businesses, cooperatives, State and local veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and
demonstrates—
experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs;
the ability to identify and involve in training programs carried out under this grant, target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities related to all building and construction trade crafts; and
the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Priority— The Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that leverage additional public and private resources to fund programs under this Act, including cash or in-kind matches from participating employers.
Applications— To be eligible to receive a grant from the Secretary under this Act, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
a description of the training and curriculum described in subsection (g)(7)(C), and how the proposed pre-apprenticeship program makes individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program qualified to enter into an established registered apprenticeship program;
evidence that there are or will be sufficient openings available in the registered apprenticeship program referenced in paragraph (1) to enable the registered apprenticeship program sponsor to place into a corresponding registered apprenticeship those individuals who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program;
information about the entity that demonstrates the existence of an active, advisory partnership between the partners described in subsection (b)(3) and the capacity, of a training and education provider in the entity, to provide the training and education services necessary for a pre-apprenticeship program; and
information about the proposed pre-apprenticeship program that demonstrates—
that the program is in an in-demand industry or occupation in the region in which the project is located;
the inclusion of career exploration focused activities, such as career information activities, and résumé preparation, in the program;
if the entity carrying out the project includes a high school, that the model to be used for the program leads to a high school diploma for participants without such a diploma;
how the pre-apprenticeship program is aligned with and leverages resources of career and technical education programs, programs and services authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), or activities of entities that provide supportive services for participants in pre-apprenticeship programs; and
that the project aligns with an established registered apprenticeship program, 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 participants.
Use of funds—
In general— An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that implements a pre-apprenticeship program.
Required activities— The eligible entity shall use the grant funds—
to pay for the cost of training or education associated with a pre-apprenticeship program for individuals from an underrepresented population;
for curriculum development that align with the requirements of the appropriate registered apprenticeship programs and learning assessments;
to maintain a connection between the pre-apprenticeship program and registered apprenticeship program;
for assessments of potential participants for, and enrollment of the participants in, the pre-apprenticeship program; and
to conduct evaluations described in subsection (f)(2).
Allowable activities— The eligible entity may use the grant funds for—
stipends for participants during work-based training in the program;
coordination of activities under this subsection with activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); and
drug testing of potential participants.
Federal share—
In general— The Federal share of the cost described in subsection (b)(1) shall be 75 percent.
Non-Federal share— The eligible entity may contribute the non-Federal share of the cost in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
Performance—
Measures— The Secretary shall identify a set of common measures that, at a minimum, include measures of entry into a registered apprenticeship program and that are aligned with performance accountability measures described in section 116(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(c)) for the local workforce development area and with corresponding measures under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), as appropriate.
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 evaluation, or shall participate in a Department of Labor sponsored evaluation, of the project using the identified common measures, and shall, to the extent practicable, cooperate with the evaluator in any evaluations of activities carried out under this section.
Extensions— The Secretary shall use the results of an evaluation for a project to determine whether to extend the grant period, or renew a grant, for the project under subsection (b)(2).
Definitions— In this Act:
Area career and technical school— The term area career and technical school has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
High school— The term high school means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school that—
provides secondary education, as determined under State law;
grants a diploma, as defined by the State; and
includes, at least, grade 12.
In-demand industry sector or occupation— The term in-demand industry sector or occupation has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
Local educational agency; State educational agency— The terms local educational agency and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
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 board, respectively, in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
Postsecondary educational institution— The term postsecondary educational institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
Pre-apprenticeship program— The term pre-apprenticeship program means a program or set of strategies that—
is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program in the building and construction trades;
is carried out by an eligible entity that has a documented partnership with at least 1 sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program; and
includes training (including a curriculum for the training), aligned with industry standards and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the registered apprenticeships within the documented partnership, that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more registered apprenticeship programs.
Registered apprenticeship program— The term registered apprenticeship program means a program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
Sponsor— The term sponsor means an employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade association, professional association, labor organization, or other entity that administers a registered apprenticeship program.
State— The term State has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
Underrepresented population— The term underrepresented population means an individual who—
is a member of a racial minority, a woman, a military veteran, or a person who is long-term unemployed; or
comes from a geographic area consisting of a single census tract or a group of census tracts, each of which meets the criteria for a low-income community, as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each subsequent fiscal year.