[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5096 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5096
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
to establish the American Technical Training Grant Program, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 28, 2016
Ms. Esty (for herself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Himes, and Mr. Quigley)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
to establish the American Technical Training Grant Program, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Technical Education Creates High-
Paying Careers Act of 2016'' or the ``TECH Careers Act''.
SEC. 2. AMERICAN TECHNICAL TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title II of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2371 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by inserting before section 201 the following:
``PART A--TECH PREP PROGRAM'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new part:
``PART B--AMERICAN TECHNICAL TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM
``SEC. 221. ESTABLISHMENT OF AMERICAN TECHNICAL TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Authorization.--The Secretary of Education, in
coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall develop and implement a
grant program, to be known as the American Technical Training Grant
Program, to award competitive grants to eligible entities for
supporting the establishment, redesign, or expansion of job training
programs that enable economically disadvantaged students to enter into
and advance along career pathways that lead to jobs in high-skill,
high-wage, or high-demand occupations.
``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--For purposes of this part,
the term `eligible entity' means an institution of higher education
that offers career and technical education programs that can be
completed in 2 years or less or a consortium of such institutions.
``(c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under
this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(d) Selection Criteria.--In awarding grants under this part, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
``(1) would serve a large proportion of job training
program participants who are from economically disadvantaged
families;
``(2) would provide training for an industry sector or
occupation in high demand;
``(3) demonstrate potential for a high percentage of job
training program participants to secure employment after
completion of such entity's job training program; or
``(4) meet such other criteria as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
``(e) Partnerships.--
``(1) Required partnerships.--Before awarding a grant to an
eligible entity under this part, the Secretary shall verify
that the eligible entity has entered into a partnership
agreement with--
``(A) a local workforce development board;
``(B) an employer with a workforce need in a high-
skill, high-wage, or high-demand industry;
``(C) an industry organization or other
intermediary representing the industry sector or
occupation for which the job training program provides
training; and
``(D) an institution of higher education that--
``(i) offers a baccalaureate degree; and
``(ii) has an articulation agreement with
the eligible entity.
``(2) Separate entities not required.--In meeting the
partnership requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of
paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall not be required to
partner with a separate entity for purposes of each such
subparagraph.
``(3) Additional partnerships.--In addition to being in the
partnerships described in paragraph (1), an eligible entity may
be in a partnership with--
``(A) a nonprofit organization or other training
provider, including an apprenticeship program
registered with the Department of Labor;
``(B) a community-based organization;
``(C) a State, regional, or local economic
development agency;
``(D) a secondary school; or
``(E) a local educational agency.
``(f) Required Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this part shall use the grant funds to--
``(1) establish, redesign, or expand a job training program
that--
``(A) leads to an industry recognized credential or
certification at the post-secondary level or to an
associate degree;
``(B) trains job training program participants for
a regionally in-demand industry sector or occupation;
``(C) addresses through embedded remediation the
needs of job training program participants for
remediation or attainment of basic skills;
``(D) provides academic credit to job training
program participants for prior learning, if applicable,
including academic credit for courses completed in a
foreign country by a foreign professional or
recognition of such professional's foreign degree or
certification;
``(E) provides student support services, such as
career guidance and academic counseling, intake
assessments to determine program fit, and other
services; and
``(F) is accessible to nontraditional students
through alternative scheduling;
``(2) conduct high quality, independent evaluations of the
job training program's activities; and
``(3) provide work-based learning opportunities for job
training program participants.
``(g) Allowable Uses of Funds.--In addition to the required uses of
funds under subsection (f), an eligible entity that receives a grant
under this part may also use the grant funds to support the job
training program by--
``(1) developing the program curriculum;
``(2) engaging employers or industries hire job training
program participants;
``(3) purchasing supplies;
``(4) supporting the professional development of faculty,
administrators, and career guidance and academic counselors;
``(5) supporting faculty salaries;
``(6) providing tuition assistance counseling and financial
aid counseling services;
``(7) providing services that target disconnected youth;
``(8) providing childcare for the children of program
participants during classes, internships, or other activities
relating to the job training program;
``(9) providing program participants with transportation to
classes, internships, or other activities relating to the job
training program; and
``(10) carrying out any other permissible activity
consistent with the purposes of this part, as approved by the
Secretary.
``(h) Grant Amount.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of a grant to an eligible
entity for a fiscal year shall not exceed $5,000,000.
``(2) Considerations.--In determining the amount of a grant
to be awarded to an eligible entity under this part, the
Secretary shall consider--
``(A) if the grant is for the initial start-up of a
job training program or for the expansion of an
existing model, with smaller grants awarded for the
initial start-up and larger grants awarded for the
expansion of an existing model; and
``(B) in the case of an application for the
expansion of an existing job training program, the
extent to which the job training program demonstrates
evidence of effectiveness.
``(3) Measuring effectiveness.--For purposes of paragraph
(2)(B), the measure of effectiveness shall include the
graduation rates, job placement rates, and wages earned by
graduates of the job training program.
``(i) Grant Duration.--
``(1) Maximum grant period.--The Secretary shall make a
grant award under this part for a period of not more than 3
years.
``(2) Maximum grant extension.--If an eligible entity that
receives a grant under this part makes substantial progress
based on the accountability and performance indicators
described in subsection (j), the Secretary may extend a grant
award for not more than 2 additional years.
``(j) Accountability and Performance Indicators.--
``(1) Required accountability and performance indicators.--
An eligible entity shall provide annually to the Secretary data
on the eligible entity's job training program carried out under
this part, including--
``(A) the number of program participants;
``(B) for such program participants, the core
indicators of performance described in clauses (i)
through (iv) of section 113(b)(2)(B);
``(C) the median earnings of program participants
who have completed the job training program, measured
at the time at which postsecondary student placement
rates are measured under clause (iv) of section
113(b)(2)(B); and
``(D) the percentage of program participants who
have completed the job training program and who, at the
time at which postsecondary student placement rates are
measured under clause (iv) of section 113(b)(2)(B), are
employed by an employer that meets the requirement
under subsection (e)(1)(b).
``(2) Disaggregation of accountability and performance
indicators.--Such data shall be disaggregated by--
``(A) race and ethnicity;
``(B) gender;
``(C) disability status;
``(D) sexual orientation;
``(E) English proficiency;
``(F) status as economically disadvantaged;
``(G) status as an individual preparing for
employment in a non-traditional field, including
individuals from a racial, ethnic, or national origin
group that is underrepresented in such field; and
``(H) status as a military-connected student.
``(3) Student privacy.--The report to the Secretary
required under paragraph (1) shall only include data to the
extent that such data are sufficient to yield statistically
reliable information that does not reveal personally
identifiable information about an individual student.
``(4) Publication of data.--The Secretary shall aggregate
the data received under paragraph (1) and publish such
aggregation so that it is reasonably available to the public.
``(5) Funds reserved for data collection and
dissemination.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this part may reserve not more than 3 percent of the grant
amount to administer the collection, disaggregation, and
reporting of the data received under paragraph (1).
``(k) Reserved Funds.--
``(1) Funds reserved for rural, tribal, or outlying
areas.--The Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 percent and
not more than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under
subsection (n) to carry out this part for a fiscal year for
making awards to eligible entities located in rural, tribal, or
outlying areas.
``(2) Funds reserved for historically black colleges and
universities and other minority-serving institutions.--The
Secretary shall reserve not less than 1 percent and not more
than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (n)
to carry out this part for a fiscal year for making awards to
eligible entities listed in paragraphs (1) through (7) of
section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)).
``(l) Matching Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant under this part shall secure, toward the cost of
establishing, redesigning, or expanding a job training program
under this part, from non-Federal sources, an amount as
determined by the Secretary for such eligible entity.
``(2) Non-federal contribution.--The non-Federal
contribution may be--
``(A) in cash or in the form of in-kind
contributions that are directly related to the purpose
for which the grant was made; and
``(B) from a State government, local government, or
private person.
``(m) Federal Funds To Supplement, Not Supplant, Non-Federal
Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under this part shall use
Federal funds received under this part only to supplement the funds
that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available
from non-Federal sources for the support of the job training programs
assisted under this part, and not to supplant such funds.
``(n) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this part--
``(1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and
``(2) such sums as may be necessary for subsequent fiscal
years.
``SEC. 222. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Career pathway.--The term `career pathway' has the
meaning given that term in the section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(2) Disconnected youth.--The term `disconnected youth'
has the meaning given that term in section 526(a) of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (42 U.S.C. 12301 note).
``(3) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--The term
`in-demand industry sector or occupation' has the meaning given
that term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given that
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001), except that such term shall not include
proprietary institutions of higher education.
``(5) Military-connected student.--The term `military-
connected student' means a student that is the child of a
person serving in the Armed Forces.
``(6) Nontraditional student.--The term `nontraditional
student' has the meaning given that term in section 861(b) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161q(b)).''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2301 note) is amended--
(1) by inserting before the item relating to section 201
the following new item:
``Part A--Tech Prep Program'';
and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 206 the
following new items:
``Part B--American Technical Training Grant Program
``Sec. 221. Establishment of American Technical Training Grant Program.
``Sec. 222. Definitions.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--Part A of title II of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2371 et
seq.), as designated by this Act, is amended by striking ``this title''
each place it appears and inserting ``this part''.
<all>