[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3862 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3862

   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to support 
  community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 29, 2015

Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Cartwright, 
Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Honda, Mr. Rush, Ms. Norton, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Ted Lieu 
  of California, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Foster, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. 
    McDermott, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Edwards, Mr. 
  Ashford, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. 
  Garamendi, Mr. Walz, Mr. Takai, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
 Larsen of Washington, Mr. Cicilline, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Gutierrez, Mrs. 
Bustos, Mr. Hinojosa, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Lee, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Sablan, 
Mr. Rangel, and Mr. Ryan of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which 
      was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to support 
  community college and industry partnerships, 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 ``Community College to Career Fund 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND.

    (a) In General.--Title I of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

             ``Subtitle F--Community College to Career Fund

``SEC. 199. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From funds appropriated under section 
199A, the Secretary of Labor (in coordination with the Secretary of 
Education and the Secretary of Commerce) shall award competitive grants 
to eligible entities described in subsection (b) for the purpose of 
developing, offering, improving, and providing educational or career 
training programs for workers.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--
            ``(1) Partnerships with employers or an employer or 
        industry partnership.--
                    ``(A) General definition.--For purposes of this 
                section, an `eligible entity' means any of the entities 
                described in subparagraph (B) (or a consortium of any 
                of such entities) in partnership with employers or an 
                employer or industry partnership representing multiple 
                employers.
                    ``(B) Description of entities.--The entities 
                described in this subparagraph are--
                            ``(i) a community college;
                            ``(ii) a 4-year public institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 101(a) 
                        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001(a))) that offers 2-year degrees, and that 
                        will use funds provided under this section for 
                        activities at the certificate and associate 
                        degree levels;
                            ``(iii) a Tribal College or University (as 
                        defined in section 316(b) of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); or
                            ``(iv) a private or nonprofit, 2-year 
                        institution of higher education (as defined in 
                        section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 1002)) in the Commonwealth of Puerto 
                        Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, 
                        American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
                        Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the 
                        Marshall Islands, the Federated States of 
                        Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.
            ``(2) Additional partners.--
                    ``(A) Authorization of additional partners.--In 
                addition to partnering with employers or an employer or 
                industry partnership representing multiple employers as 
                described in paragraph (1)(A), an entity described in 
                paragraph (1) may include in the partnership described 
                in paragraph (1) one or more of the organizations 
                described in subparagraph (B). Each eligible entity 
                that includes one or more such organizations shall 
                collaborate with the State or local board in the area 
                served by the eligible entity.
                    ``(B) Organizations.--The organizations described 
                in this subparagraph are as follows:
                            ``(i) A provider of adult education (as 
                        defined in section 203) or an institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001)).
                            ``(ii) A community-based organization.
                            ``(iii) A joint labor-management 
                        partnership.
                            ``(iv) A State or local board.
                            ``(v) Any other organization that the 
                        Secretaries consider appropriate.
    ``(c) Educational or Career Training Program.--For purposes of this 
section, the Governor of the State in which at least one of the 
entities described in subsection (b)(1)(B) of an eligible entity is 
located shall establish criteria for an educational or career training 
program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential for which an 
eligible entity submits a grant proposal under subsection (d).
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit an application containing a grant proposal, for an 
educational or career training program leading to a recognized 
postsecondary credential, to the Secretaries at such time and 
containing such information as the Secretaries determine is required, 
including a detailed description of--
            ``(1) the extent to which the educational or career 
        training program described in the grant proposal fits within an 
        overall strategic plan consisting of--
                    ``(A) the State plan described in section 102 or 
                103, for the State involved;
                    ``(B) the local plan described in section 108, for 
                each local area that comprises a significant portion of 
                the area to be served by the eligible entity; and
                    ``(C) a strategic plan developed by the eligible 
                entity;
            ``(2) the extent to which the program will meet the needs 
        of employers in the area for skilled workers in in-demand 
        industry sectors and occupations;
            ``(3) the extent to which the program will meet the 
        educational or career training needs of workers in the area;
            ``(4) the specific educational or career training program 
        and how the program meets the criteria established under 
        subsection (e), including the manner in which the grant will be 
        used to develop, offer, improve, and provide the educational or 
        career training program;
            ``(5) any previous experience of the eligible entity in 
        providing educational or career training programs, the absence 
        of which shall not automatically disqualify an eligible 
        institution from receiving a grant under this section; and
            ``(6) how the program leading to the credential meets the 
        criteria described in subsection (c).
    ``(e) Criteria for Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grants under this section shall be 
        awarded based on criteria established by the Secretaries, that 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) A determination of the merits of the grant 
                proposal submitted by the eligible entity involved to 
                develop, offer, improve, and provide an educational or 
                career training program to be made available to 
                workers.
                    ``(B) An assessment of the likely employment 
                opportunities available in the area to individuals who 
                complete an educational or career training program that 
                the eligible entity proposes to develop, offer, 
                improve, and provide.
                    ``(C) An assessment of prior demand for training 
                programs by individuals eligible for training and 
                served by the eligible entity, as well as availability 
                and capacity of existing (as of the date of the 
                assessment) training programs to meet future demand for 
                training programs.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) include a partnership, with employers or an 
                employer or industry partnership, that--
                            ``(i) pays a portion of the costs of 
                        educational or career training programs; or
                            ``(ii) agrees to hire individuals who have 
                        attained a recognized postsecondary credential 
                        resulting from the educational or career 
                        training program of the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) enter into a partnership with a labor 
                organization or labor-management training program to 
                provide, through the program, technical expertise for 
                occupationally specific education necessary for a 
                recognized postsecondary credential leading to a 
                skilled occupation in an in-demand industry sector;
                    ``(C) are focused on serving individuals with 
                barriers to employment, low-income, non-traditional 
                students, students who are dislocated workers, students 
                who are veterans, or students who are long-term 
                unemployed;
                    ``(D) include any eligible entities serving areas 
                with high unemployment rates;
                    ``(E) are eligible entities that include an 
                institution of higher education eligible for assistance 
                under title III or V of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.; 20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); 
                and
                    ``(F) include a partnership, with employers or an 
                employer or industry partnership, that increases 
                domestic production of goods.
    ``(f) Use of Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this section shall 
be used for one or more of the following:
            ``(1) The development, offering, improvement, and provision 
        of educational or career training programs, that provide 
        relevant job training for skilled occupations, that lead to 
        recognized postsecondary credentials, that will meet the needs 
        of employers in in-demand industry sectors, and that may 
        include registered apprenticeship programs, on-the-job training 
        programs, and programs that support employers in upgrading the 
        skills of their workforce.
            ``(2) The development and implementation of policies and 
        programs to expand opportunities for students to earn a 
        recognized postsecondary credential, including a degree, in in-
        demand industry sectors and occupations, including by--
                    ``(A) facilitating the transfer of academic credits 
                between institutions of higher education, including the 
                transfer of academic credits for courses in the same 
                field of study;
                    ``(B) expanding articulation agreements and 
                policies that guarantee transfers between such 
                institutions, including through common course numbering 
                and use of a general core curriculum; and
                    ``(C) developing or enhancing student support 
                services programs.
            ``(3) The creation of career pathway programs that provide 
        a sequence of education and occupational training that leads to 
        a recognized postsecondary credential, including a degree, 
        including programs that--
                    ``(A) blend basic skills and occupational training;
                    ``(B) facilitate means of transitioning 
                participants from non-credit occupational, basic 
                skills, or developmental coursework to for-credit 
                coursework within and across institutions;
                    ``(C) build or enhance linkages, including the 
                development of dual enrollment programs and early 
                college high schools, between secondary education or 
                adult education programs (including programs 
                established under the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
                Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et 
                seq.) and title II of this Act);
                    ``(D) are innovative programs designed to increase 
                the provision of training for students, including 
                students who are members of the National Guard or 
                Reserves, to enter skilled occupations in in-demand 
                industry sectors; and
                    ``(E) support paid internships that will allow 
                students to simultaneously earn credit for work-based 
                learning and gain relevant employment experience in an 
                in-demand industry sector or occupation, which shall 
                include opportunities that transition individuals into 
                employment.
            ``(4) The development and implementation of--
                    ``(A) a Pay-for-Performance program that leads to a 
                recognized postsecondary credential, for which an 
                eligible entity agrees to be reimbursed under the grant 
                primarily on the basis of achievement of specified 
                performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by the 
                Secretary; or
                    ``(B) a Pay-for-Success program that leads to a 
                recognized postsecondary credential, for which an 
                eligible entity--
                            ``(i) enters into a partnership with an 
                        investor, such as a philanthropic organization 
                        that provides funding for a specific project to 
                        address a clear and measurable educational or 
                        career training need in the area to be served 
                        under the grant; and
                            ``(ii) agrees to be reimbursed under the 
                        grant only if the project achieves specified 
                        performance outcomes and criteria agreed to by 
                        the Secretary.

``SEC. 199A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the program established by 
section 199.
    ``(b) Administrative Cost.--Not more than 5 percent of the amounts 
made available under subsection (a) may be used by the Secretaries to 
administer the program described in that subsection, including 
providing technical assistance and carrying out evaluations for the 
program described in that subsection.
    ``(c) Period of Availability.--The funds appropriated pursuant to 
subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be available for Federal 
obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding 2 fiscal years.

``SEC. 199B. DEFINITION.

    ``For purposes of this subtitle, the term `community college' has 
the meaning given the term `junior or community college' in section 
312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended by inserting after the items 
relating to subtitle E of title I the following:

             ``Subtitle F--Community College to Career Fund

``Sec. 199. Community college and industry partnerships program.
``Sec. 199A. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 199B. Definition.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--This Act, including the amendments made by 
this Act, takes effect as if included in the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act.
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