Apprenticeship grant program

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Apprentice The term apprentice means an individual participating in a registered apprenticeship program. (2) New apprentice The term new apprentice means, with respect to applying the formula established under subsection (c)(1) for a program year, an apprentice who is newly enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program in such program year. (3) Program year The term program year means the year period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the next year. (4) Registered apprenticeship program The term registered apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship 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.). (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor. (6) State Except in subsection (c)(1)(C), the term State means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States. (7) State apprenticeship agency The term State apprenticeship agency has the meaning given such term in section 4 of 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.). (b) In general For each program year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, not later than the beginning of the program year, award grants to States for the program year, in accordance with the formula under subsection (c), to carry out the activities described in subsection (d). (c) Award procedures The Secretary shall award grant funds under subsection (b) in accordance with the following: (1) Formula for allotment Not later than 30 days before the start of each program year, the Secretary shall establish a formula to determine the allotment amounts for each program year for the grant that— (A) is based on the population of the State and the number of apprentices whose primary residence is in the State as compared to the population of every other State and number of apprentices whose primary residence is in any other State; (B) is based on the number of new apprentices whose primary residence is in the State as compared to the number of new apprentices whose primary residence is in any other State; and (C) subject to available appropriations, provides that each of the several States of the United States and the District of Columbia shall not be allotted less than $1,000,000 for each program year. (2) Award amount Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall award each State an amount for a program year equal to the sum of— (A) half of the amount allotted to the State under the formula established under paragraph (1) for the program year; (B) an amount (not more than the amount described in subparagraph (A)) equal to the matching amount in the notice submitted by the State under subsection (e); and (C) if the matching amount of the State is equal to the amount described in subparagraph (A), the proportional amount for the State as determined under paragraph (4). (3) Deduction for delayed responses for registering apprenticeship programs (A) Determination of delay The Secretary shall determine the average complete program standards response time and the average incomplete program standards response time of each State that— (i) receives a grant under this section; and (ii) registers registered apprenticeship programs in the State through a State apprenticeship agency. (B) Deduction For each such State in which the Secretary under subparagraph (A) determines the average complete program standards response time is more than 90 days in a program year or the average incomplete program standards response time is more than 30 days in a program year, the Secretary shall deduct a percentage of the award amount under paragraph (2) for the next program year that is— (i) equal to half of the sum of— (I) the number of days of the average complete program standards response time minus 90; and (II) the number of days of the average incomplete program standards response time minus 30; but (ii) not more than 20. (C) Average response time (i) Definitions For purposes of this paragraph: (I) Average complete program standards response time The term average complete program standards response time means the average number of days between the State receiving a complete program standards package by a program seeking to be a registered apprenticeship program and the State apprenticeship agency of the State providing an approval or a denial with suggestive action. (II) Average incomplete program standards response time The term average incomplete program standards response time means the average number of days between the State receiving an incomplete program standards package by a program seeking to be a registered apprenticeship program and the State apprenticeship agency of the State providing a response with suggestive action. (III) Complete program standards package; incomplete program standards package The terms complete program standards package and incomplete program standards package have the meanings given the terms complete program standards and incomplete program standards, respectively, in section 4 of 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.). (IV) Suggestive action The term suggestive action means, with respect to program standards submitted by a program to a State apprenticeship agency to be a registered apprenticeship program, a response by the State apprenticeship agency to such program standards that is not an approval of the program standards and provides clear instructions to the sponsor of the program on how the program standards should be changed to conform with the requirements for registration as a registered apprenticeship program. (ii) Rules of interpretation (I) Denial without suggestive action For purposes of determining average complete program standards response time, a denial without providing suggestive action shall not be interpreted to stop or pause the determination. (II) Inquires on registration For purposes of determining average complete program standards response time and average incomplete program standards response time, an inquiry by a program to a State apprenticeship agency regarding the registration process that does not provide program standards documentation shall not be considered a submission of program standards. (4) Proportional amount of allotted but unawarded funds (A) In general Not less than 15 days before the start of each program year, the Secretary shall, for purposes of paragraph (2)(C), determine the proportional amount, as relevant, for each State that provides a matching amount under subsection (e) that is equal to the amount described in paragraph (2)(A) for the State for the program year. (B) Proportional amount The proportional amount for a State for a program year is an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of allotted but unawarded funds for the program year as the amount allotted to the State under the formula established under paragraph (1) for the program year bears to the total amount of funds allotted to all States under the formula for the program year. (C) Allotted but unawarded funds The amount of allotted but unawarded funds for the program year is an amount equal to the total amount allotted under paragraph (1) for the program year minus the total amounts determined under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) for all States for the program year. (d) Activities A State shall use amounts awarded under subsection (b) to— (1) provide technical assistance to existing and prospective sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs; (2) fund the training of apprentices, including by paying the wages of an apprentice; (3) fund outreach activities to increase awareness of registered apprenticeship programs and provide information on how to register an existing training program as a registered apprenticeship program; and (4) provide financial incentives, including through pay-for-performance funding models, to attract employer investment in registered apprenticeship programs. (e) Notice of matching amount by States (1) In general Not less than 30 days before the start of each program year, a State seeking a grant under subsection (b) shall submit a notice to the Secretary of the amount the State intends to provide for the program year to match the amount provided through the grant, including proof of resources for the matching amount. (2) Limit to matching amount The matching amount in a notice under paragraph (1) may not be more than half of the amount allotted to the State for the program year under the formula established under subsection (c)(1). (f) States without a State apprenticeship agency A State that does not have a State apprenticeship agency shall designate an agency of the State government for purposes of communications with the Secretary regarding the grant program under this section. (g) Authorization of appropriation There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the grant program under this section $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and for each fiscal year thereafter. (h) Supplement not supplant Funds available for use under subsection (d) shall supplement and not supplant other State or local public funds expended that satisfy the activities under such subsection.