[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 690 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 690

    To amend the National Literacy Act of 1991 to establish in the 
    Department of Labor an Office of Workplace Education to provide 
workplace education services to small businesses and to provide grants 
       to States to improve the productivity of those businesses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 1993

  Mr. Regula introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the National Literacy Act of 1991 to establish in the 
    Department of Labor an Office of Workplace Education to provide 
workplace education services to small businesses and to provide grants 
       to States to improve the productivity of those businesses.

    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 ``Workplace Education Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF WORKPLACE EDUCATION IN DEPARTMENT OF 
              LABOR.

    (a) In General.--Section 201 of the National Literacy Act of 1991 
(Public Law 102-73; 105 Stat. 342) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b);
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (3) by inserting before subsection (d) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish 
        in the Employment and Training Administration an Office of 
        Workplace Education for the purpose of providing workplace 
        education services to small businesses.
            ``(2) Director.--The Office of Workplace Education shall 
        have a Director (in this section referred to as the 
        `Director'), who shall be paid at a rate equal to level 5 of 
        the Executive Schedule.
    ``(b) Duties.--The Director shall--
            ``(1) establish and carry out the workplace education grant 
        program under subsection (c), including--
                    ``(A) establishing standards for the establishment, 
                staffing, and activities of State offices of workplace 
                education;
                    ``(B) establishing standards for the employment, 
                qualifications, training, and activities of workforce 
                specialists;
                    ``(C) establishing standards for the administration 
                of State demonstration grant programs;
                    ``(D) providing States with technical assistance in 
                providing workplace education services; and
                    ``(E) monitoring and collecting information on--
                            ``(i) the performance of States under the 
                        grant program; and
                            ``(ii) problems relating to workplace 
                        education and the provision of workplace 
                        services to solve such problems nationwide;
            ``(2) conduct national research and development projects to 
        improve the understanding of workplace education, including--
                    ``(A) funding and evaluating demonstration programs 
                in workplace education;
                    ``(B) assessing and evaluating workplace education 
                programs; and
                    ``(C) assessing and evaluating State and national 
                policies affecting workplace education;
            ``(3) develop and disseminate information on workplace 
        education on a nationwide basis; and
            ``(4) enlist small businesses, labor organizations, and 
        other appropriate entities in efforts to disseminate 
        information and provide technical assistance on workplace 
        education to the employees or members of such entities.
    ``(c) Workplace Education Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Authorization.--
                    ``(A) States.--The Director shall provide grants to 
                States for the purpose of establishing workplace 
                education programs to improve the productivity of small 
                businesses in such States.
                    ``(B) Territories.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not more than 1 percent 
                        of the amount authorized to be appropriated to 
                        carry out this section for each fiscal year 
                        shall be used by the Director to provide grants 
                        to the territories for the purpose of 
                        establishing workplace education programs to 
                        improve the productivity of small businesses in 
                        such territories.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--To receive a grant 
                        under clause (i), a territory shall comply with 
                        requirements similar to the requirements for 
                        States in this subsection, as determined by the 
                        Director.
                    ``(C) Period of grant.--A grant under subparagraph 
                (A) or (B) may extend over a period of not more than 5 
                fiscal years. The provision of payments under such 
                grant shall be subject to annual approval by the 
                Director and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations for the fiscal year involved to make the 
                payments.
            ``(2) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To receive a grant under 
                paragraph (1)(A), a State shall submit to the Director 
                an application which contains--
                            ``(i) a plan containing the number of 
                        workforce education districts to be established 
                        by the State office in accordance with 
                        paragraph (3)(B)(i); and
                            ``(ii) such information as the Director may 
                        reasonably require.
                    ``(B) Assurances.--Such application shall include 
                assurances that the State shall--
                            ``(i) use Federal funds received from a 
                        grant under paragraph (1)(A) to supplement, not 
                        supplant, non-Federal funds that would 
                        otherwise be available for projects funded 
                        under such paragraph;
                            ``(ii) submit, for any fiscal year in which 
                        such State receives funds from a grant under 
                        such paragraph, a report to the Director 
                        describing the use of such grant, including--
                                    ``(I) the number of small 
                                businesses receiving assistance 
                                pursuant to paragraph (3)(B); and
                                    ``(II) any other information the 
                                Director determines to be appropriate; 
                                and
                            ``(iii) use not less than 17 percent of 
                        amounts received from a grant under paragraph 
                        (1)(A) to establish and carry out the 
                        demonstration grant program under paragraph 
                        (3)(D).
            ``(3) Use of funds.--Grants made under paragraph (1)(A) may 
        be used by a State only in accordance with the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) Establishment of state office of workplace 
                education.--The State shall, for the purpose of 
                providing workplace education services in such State, 
                establish a State office of workplace education in 1 of 
                the following entities:
                            ``(i) A State agency that has 
                        responsibility for education, training, or 
                        economic development policy.
                            ``(ii) A State literacy resource center 
                        established pursuant to section 356 of the 
                        Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1208aa).
                            ``(iii) An institution of higher education.
                    ``(B) Duties.--The State office established under 
                subparagraph (A) shall meet the following requirements:
                            ``(i) Subject to subparagraph (C), the 
                        State office shall establish workplace 
                        education districts throughout the State--
                                    ``(I) in which at least 1 
                                institution of higher education which 
                                has existing workplace education 
                                programs (or will establish such 
                                programs not later than the date on 
                                which the State in which such 
                                institution is located will receive a 
                                grant under paragraph (1)(A)) is 
                                located, to provide small businesses 
                                with access to workplace education 
                                programs; and
                                    ``(II) which are of a sufficient 
                                number in order to allow ease of access 
                                by small businesses located in the 
                                State to utilize the services provided 
                                at institutions of higher education 
                                located in each district.
                            ``(ii) The State office shall hire 
                        workforce specialists and place 1 workforce 
                        specialist, including necessary support staff, 
                        in 1 of the institutions of higher education 
                        located in each district to--
                                    ``(I) serve as a local point of 
                                contact for small businesses interested 
                                in workplace education programs at such 
                                institution or other suitable education 
                                providers;
                                    ``(II) analyze the needs of 
                                individual small businesses for the 
                                purpose of designing workplace 
                                education programs that meet the needs 
                                of such businesses;
                                    ``(III) refer small businesses to 
                                such institution or other suitable 
                                education providers for the purpose of 
                                providing workplace education programs 
                                to the employees of such businesses, 
                                provided that such businesses shall 
                                reimburse such institution or other 
                                suitable education provider in an 
                                amount equal to at least 75 percent of 
                                the cost of the programs attributable 
                                to such businesses, including 
                                instructional time, materials, and 
                                facilities;
                                    ``(IV) assist in negotiating 
                                financial, logistical, and other 
                                arrangements between small businesses 
                                and the institution of higher education 
                                or suitable education provider;
                                    ``(V) provide technical assistance 
                                and training to the staff of the 
                                institution of higher education or 
                                suitable education provider for the 
                                purpose of providing workplace 
                                education programs;
                                    ``(VI) enlist the help of small 
                                businesses and labor groups in the 
                                provision of such programs; and
                                    ``(VII) provide small businesses 
                                with information on workplace education 
                                services in general.
                            ``(iii) The State office shall monitor and 
                        supervise the activities of workforce 
                        specialists.
                            ``(iv) The State office shall encourage 
                        local educational agencies and other local 
                        agencies, small businesses, labor 
                        organizations, community-based organizations, 
                        and other private organizations to cooperate 
                        with workforce specialists.
                            ``(v) The State office shall produce and 
                        disseminate information to the entities 
                        described in clause (iv) and the general public 
                        on the need for and means of implementing 
                        workplace education programs.
                            ``(vi) The State office shall conduct 
                        research and demonstration programs to promote 
                        the understanding and acceptance of workplace 
                        education and encourage the use of and 
                        improvement of state-of-the-art workplace 
                        education services.
                            ``(vii) The State office shall, in 
                        conjunction with the Office of Workplace 
                        Education and workforce specialists, conduct 
                        Statewide or regional training programs for 
                        teachers and administrators at institutions of 
                        higher education, small businesses, labor 
                        organizations, community-based organizations, 
                        and other individuals and entities that are 
                        engaged, or wish to become engaged, in the 
                        provision of workplace education services.
                    ``(C) Workplace education district requirements.--
                In establishing workplace education districts, the 
                State office shall--
                            ``(i) if the amount of the grant received 
                        by the State under paragraph (1)(A) is greater 
                        than an amount equal to $100,000 multiplied by 
                        the number of such districts established by the 
                        State in its application, place at least 1 
                        workforce specialist at an institution of 
                        higher education in each district; and
                            ``(ii) if the amount of the grant received 
                        by the State under paragraph (1)(A) is less 
                        than an amount equal to $100,000 multiplied by 
                        the number of such districts established by the 
                        State in its application, place at least 1 
                        workforce specialist at an institution of 
                        higher education in each district that the 
                        State office determines to be appropriate.
                    ``(D) Demonstration grant program.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The State office shall 
                        make grants to eligible small businesses for 
                        the purpose of paying the cost of instructional 
                        services and course materials of any workplace 
                        education program conducted pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (B) attributable to the employees 
                        of such businesses.
                            ``(ii) Application.--To receive a grant 
                        under clause (i), an eligible small business 
                        shall submit an application to the State office 
                        at such time, in such form, and containing such 
                        information as the office may reasonably 
                        require.
                            ``(iii) Use of funds.--Grants made under 
                        clause (i) may be used by an eligible small 
                        business only to reimburse an institution of 
                        higher education for the cost of instructional 
                        services and course materials of any workplace 
                        education program conducted pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (B) attributable to the employees 
                        of such business.
                            ``(iv) Allocation requirement.--The State 
                        office may not make grants under clause (i) to 
                        any eligible small business in an amount equal 
                        to or more than $25,000.
                            ``(v) Eligible small business defined.--For 
                        purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
                        `eligible small business' means a business with 
                        75 or fewer employees.
            ``(4) Additional requirements.--
                            ``(i) Administrative costs.--Of the amount 
                        received from a grant under paragraph (1)(A), 
                        the State shall not use more than 8 percent of 
                        such amount for administrative costs, of which 
                        not less than 5 percent, or $300,000, whichever 
                        is greater, shall be used for administrative 
                        costs incurred by the State office of workplace 
                        education established under paragraph (3)(A). 
                        If the State uses less than 8 percent of such 
                        amount, then the remainder of such amount shall 
                        be included in the amount used by the State to 
                        carry out the demonstration grant program 
                        established under paragraph (3)(D).
                            ``(ii) Matching funds.--The State shall 
                        provide non-Federal funds in any fiscal year 
                        for the purpose of conducting the program under 
                        paragraph (1)(A), in an amount equal to--
                                    ``(I) with respect to the 1st and 
                                2nd fiscal years in which a State 
                                receives funds from a grant under 
                                paragraph (1)(A), not less than 20 
                                percent of Federal funds provided to 
                                the State in each of such fiscal years;
                                    ``(II) with respect to the 3rd and 
                                4th fiscal years in which a State 
                                receives funds from a grant under 
                                paragraph (1)(A), not less than 30 
                                percent of Federal funds provided to 
                                the State in each of such fiscal years; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) with respect to the 5th 
                                fiscal year in which a State receives 
                                funds from a grant under paragraph 
                                (1)(A), not less than 40 percent of 
                                Federal funds provided to the State in 
                                such fiscal year.
            ``(5) Allocation requirement based on population.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In providing grants under 
                paragraph (1)(A), the Director shall award grants in a 
                greater amount to States with larger populations, as 
                determined by the Director.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Director shall not provide 
                grants under paragraph (1)(A) in a fiscal year to any 
                State in an amount totaling more than 10 percent of 
                amounts appropriated to carry out this section for that 
                fiscal year.
            ``(6) Report.--Not later than September 30, 1994, and at 
        the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Labor 
        shall submit to the President and the Congress a report 
        containing--
                    ``(A) a compilation of the information contained in 
                the reports received by the Director under paragraph 
                (2)(B)(ii); and
                    ``(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
                grant program.
            ``(7) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
        following definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Institution of higher education.--The term 
                `institution of higher education' has the meaning given 
                such term in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
                    ``(B) Small business.--The term `small business' 
                means a business with 500 or fewer employees.
                    ``(C) State.--The term `State' means each of the 
                several States and the District of Columbia.
                    ``(D) Territories.--The term `territories' means 
                American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
                Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Palau, and the Virgin 
                Islands.
                    ``(E) Workplace education.--The term `workplace 
                education' means employer-sponsored formal 
                instructional programs for workers which--
                            ``(i) shall include programs to improve 1 
                        or more academic skills, including reading, 
                        writing, mathematics, or English as a 2nd 
                        language; and
                            ``(ii) may include programs to improve 1 or 
                        more process skills, including problem-solving 
                        and interpersonal skills (such as effective 
                        communication and analytic reasoning).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The heading of section 201 of the 
National Literacy Act of 1991 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 201. OFFICE OF WORKPLACE EDUCATION.''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 3(a)(1) of the Job Training Partnership Act is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence:
            ``Of the sums appropriated and made available to carry out 
        part A of title II for each such fiscal year, an amount equal 
        to 7 percent of such amount shall be made available to carry 
        out section 201 of the National Literacy Act of 1991 (Public 
        Law 102-73; 105 Stat. 342).''.

SEC. 4. REDUCTION IN PERCENTAGE OF NON-ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED 
              INDIVIDUALS UNDER PART A OF TITLE II OF THE JOB TRAINING 
              PARTNERSHIP ACT.

    Section 203(c) of the Job Training Partnership Act is amended in 
the 1st sentence by striking ``10 percent'' and inserting ``4 
percent''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, or October 1, 1993, whichever 
occurs later.

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HR 690 IH----2