[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 431 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 431
To establish regional skills alliances, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 1, 2001
Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Corzine, Mr.
Dayton, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Rockefeller, and Mr.
Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish regional skills alliances, 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 ``Regional Skills Alliances Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(1) Many small businesses lack the financial capacity to
support the training of high-skilled workers.
(2) Many high-tech companies concerned about worker
training consider recruiting employees from overseas because a
shortage of information technology workers remains a
significant problem.
(3) Too many highly educated workers in underserved
communities do not have the specialized skills needed to meet
the needs of local businesses.
(4) Regional skills alliances bring businesses and 4-year
colleges and universities and community colleges together to
help develop and implement effective programs to make sure
workers have the training needed to compete in the modern
workplace.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
TITLE I--SKILL GRANTS
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary
of Commerce, shall award grants to eligible entities described in
subsection (b) to assist such entities to improve the job skills
necessary for employment in specific industries.
(b) Eligible Entities Described.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity described in this
subsection is a consortium that--
(A) shall consist of representatives from not less
than 5 businesses, or a lesser number of businesses if
such lesser number of businesses employs at least 30
percent of the employees in the industry involved in
the region (or a non-profit organization that
represents such businesses);
(B) may consist of representatives from--
(i) labor organizations;
(ii) State and local government; and
(iii) educational institutions;
(C) is established to serve one or more particular
industries; and
(D) is established to serve a particular geographic
region.
(2) Majority of representatives.--A majority of the
representatives comprising the consortium shall be
representatives described in paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Priority for Small Businesses.--In providing grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity
if a majority of representatives forming the entity represent small-
business concerns (as defined in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
(d) Maximum Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant awarded to an
eligible entity under subsection (a) may not exceed $1,000,000 for any
fiscal year.
SEC. 102. USE OF AMOUNTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may not award a grant under section
101 to an eligible entity unless such entity agrees to use amounts
received from such grant to improve the job skills necessary for
employment by businesses in the industry with respect to which such
entity was established.
(b) Conduct of Program.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program described in
subsection (a), the eligible entity may provide for--
(A) an assessment of training and job skill needs
for the industry;
(B) the development of a sequence of skill
standards that are benchmarked to advanced industry
practices;
(C) the development of curriculum and training
methods, including, where appropriate, e-learning or
technology-based training;
(D) the purchase, lease, or receipt of donations of
training equipment;
(E) the identification of training providers and
the development of partnerships between the industry
and educational institutions, including community
colleges;
(F) the development of apprenticeship programs;
(G) the development of training programs for
workers, including dislocated workers;
(H) the development of training plans for
businesses; and
(I) the development of the membership of the
entity.
(2) Additional requirement.--In carrying out the program
described in subsection (a), the eligible entity shall provide
for the development and tracking of performance outcome
measures for the program and the training providers involved in
the program.
(c) Administrative Costs.--The eligible entity may use not more
than 10 percent of the amount of a grant to pay for administrative
costs associated with the program described in subsection (a).
SEC. 103. REQUIREMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may not award a grant under section
101 to an eligible entity unless such entity agrees that the entity
will make available non-Federal contributions toward the costs of
carrying out activities under the grant in an amount that is not less
than $2 for each $1 of Federal funds provided under the grant, of
which--
(1) $1 shall be provided by the businesses participating in
the entity; and
(2) $1 shall be provided by the State or local government
involved.
(b) Other Contributions.--
(1) Equipment.--Equipment donations to facilities that are
not owned or operated by the members of the eligible entity
involved and that are shared by such members may be included in
determining compliance with subsection (a).
(2) Limitation.--An eligible entity may not include in-kind
contributions in complying with the requirement of subsection
(a). The Secretary may consider such donations in ranking
applications.
SEC. 104. LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
The Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of the amounts made
available to carry out this title to pay the Federal administrative
costs associated with awarding grants under this title.
SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004, and such
sums as are necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
TITLE II--PLANNING GRANTS
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary
of Commerce, shall award grants to States to enable such States to
assist businesses, organizations, and agencies described in section
101(b) in conducting planning to form consortia described in such
section.
(b) Maximum Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant awarded to a
State under subsection (a) may not exceed $500,000 for any fiscal year.
SEC. 202. APPLICATION.
The Secretary may not award a grant under section 201 to a State
unless such State submits to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
SEC. 203. REQUIREMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS.
The Secretary may not award a grant under section 201 to a State
unless such State agrees that it will make available non-Federal
contributions toward the costs of carrying out activities under this
title in an amount that is not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal
funds provided under the grant.
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
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