S 531
American Apprenticeship Act
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Bill overview
The American Apprenticeship Act aims to support states in funding pre-apprenticeship and related instruction programs that lead to qualified apprenticeships. It provides grants to states for these initiatives, focusing on industries with limited apprenticeship opportunities. The bill also directs the Department of Labor to identify in-demand occupations lacking apprenticeships and analyze the effectiveness of apprenticeship models in those sectors, reporting its findings to states and Congress.
Key provisions
- Provides grants to states to defray the cost of pre-apprenticeship and related instruction.
- Defines ‘qualified apprenticeship’ and ‘pre-apprenticeship’ programs with specific requirements.
- Requires states to collaborate with industry partners and educational institutions to expand apprenticeships.
- Directs the Department of Labor to identify in-demand occupations lacking apprenticeships.
- Mandates the Department of Labor to analyze the use of apprenticeship models in those occupations.
- Establishes performance measures and an evaluation system for the grant program.
- Specifies the federal share of grant funding (20-50%).
- Requires a report to Congress analyzing the effectiveness of state use of grant funds.
Who is affected
- State governments
- Educational institutions (postsecondary and secondary)
- Employers
- Apprenticeship program sponsors
- Individuals seeking employment
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 531
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To assist States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost of, defraying the cost of pre-apprenticeships or related instruction associated with qualified apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the American Apprenticeship Act
.
In this Act:
National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and
concentrated in an industry sector or occupation that represents less than 10 percent of apprenticeable occupations or of the programs under the national apprenticeship system.
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).
The term pre-apprenticeship, used with respect to a program, means an initiative or set of strategies that—
is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a qualified apprenticeship program;
is carried out by a sponsor described in paragraph (6)(B) that has a documented partnership with one or more sponsors of qualified apprenticeship programs; and
includes each of the following:
Training (including a curriculum for the training), aligned with industry standards related to apprenticeships in a qualified apprenticeship program, and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of such apprenticeships within the documented partnership, that will prepare individuals by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter one or more qualified apprenticeship programs.
Provision of hands-on training and theoretical education to individuals that—
is carried out in a manner that includes proper observation of supervision and safety protocols; and
is carried out in a manner that does not displace a paid employee.
A formal agreement with a sponsor of a qualified apprenticeship program that would enable participants who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program to enter directly into the qualified apprenticeship program (if a place in the program is available and if the participant meets the qualifications of the qualified apprenticeship program), and includes agreements concerning earning credit recognized by a postsecondary educational institution for skills and competencies acquired during the pre-apprenticeship program.
The term related instruction means an organized and systematic form of classroom or web-based instruction designed to provide an apprentice with the knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to the occupation of the apprentice or the instruction needed to prepare an individual to enter and succeed in an qualified apprenticeship program.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
The term sponsor means—
with respect to a qualified apprenticeship program, an employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade association, professional association, labor organization, or other entity, that administers the qualified apprenticeship program; and
with respect to a pre-apprenticeship program, a local educational agency, a secondary school, an area career and technical education school, a State board, a local board, a joint labor-management committee, a labor organization, or a community-based organization, with responsibility for the pre-apprenticeship program.
The terms area career and technical education school, community-based organization, individual with a barrier to employment, local board, local educational agency, secondary school, and State board have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
The Secretary may make grants to States on a competitive basis to assist the States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost of, defraying the cost of a pre-apprenticeship, or the cost of related instruction, associated with a qualified apprenticeship program.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary for such a project at such time, in such manner, and containing a strategic plan that contains such information as the Secretary may require, including—
information identifying the State agency (referred to in this Act as the State entity
) that will administer the grant as determined by the Governor of the State;
a description of strategies that the State entity will use to collaborate with key industry representatives, State agencies, postsecondary educational institutions, labor-management entities, and other relevant partners to launch or expand pre-apprenticeships for and apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs;
a description of how the State entity will—
coordinate activities carried out 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.) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) to support pre-apprenticeships for and apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs;
leverage funds provided under the Acts specified in clause (i) to support pre-apprenticeships for and apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs; and
utilize, and encourage individual participants in programs supported under this subsection to utilize, available Federal and State financial assistance, including assistance available under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), education assistance benefits available to veterans, and Federal Pell Grants available under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a), prior to using assistance made available under this Act;
a description of strategies to elevate apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs as a workforce solution in nontraditional industries, such as information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and other industries determined to be high-demand by the State board for the State;
a description of activities that the State entity will carry out to build awareness about the economic potential of apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs;
a description that outlines how the State entity will increase opportunities for pre-apprenticeships for and apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs, among members of minority groups, youth, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with barriers to employment;
a description of—
any State performance measures that the State will use, at the election of the State, to measure the effectiveness of the project; and
in the case of a State that has already received a grant under this subsection for a project, information indicating that the State met the performance measures with respect to the project.
A joint team of employees from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education shall—
review such an application; and
make recommendations to the Secretary regarding approval of the application.
A State that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds made available through the grant to defray any of the following costs of related instruction:
Tuition and fees.
Cost of textbooks, equipment, curriculum development, and other required educational materials.
Costs of any other item or service determined by the State to be necessary.
The State may use not more than 10 percent of the grant funds for administrative costs relating to carrying out the project described in paragraph (1).
The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall—
establish performance measures based on indicators set by the Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor; and
establish an evaluation system aligned with the performance measures, and reporting requirements for the program carried out under this subsection.
The Federal share of the cost described in subsection (b)(1) shall be not less than 20 percent and not more than 50 percent.
The State may make the non-Federal share available—
in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services; and
directly or through donations from public or private entities.
The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress, not later than September 30, 2030, a report—
detailing the results of the evaluation described in subsection (b)(6)(B); and
analyzing the extent to which States have used grant funds effectively under this section.
It is the policy of the United States that funds made available under this section should be used to supplement and not supplant other funds available under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) and other Federal and State funds available to the State to support workforce development programs.
The Secretary shall—
identify in-demand occupations nationally and regionally that lack the use of apprenticeships in qualified apprenticeship programs;
analyze the use of the qualified apprenticeship program model in those identified in-demand occupations; and
prepare and submit to States and Congress a report that contains the analysis described in paragraph (2).
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.