[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7788 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7788

 To temporarily enable qualified training providers to provide online 
         and virtual training services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2020

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To temporarily enable qualified training providers to provide online 
         and virtual training services, 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 ``Enabling Online and Virtual 
Workforce Training Act''.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN TRAINING 
              PROVIDERS.

    (a) In General.--During the period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2020, notwithstanding 
section 122 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3152), a covered provider of training services described in subsection 
(b)(1) that is approved by a State board or local board to be eligible 
to receive funds provided under section 133(b) of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3173(b)) for the provision of 
such training services in a local area in the State shall be deemed so 
eligible.
    (b) Covered Provider Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered 
provider'' means an entity that--
            (1) offers a program of training services that leads to a 
        recognized postsecondary credential;
            (2) has been in existence for not less than 2 years prior 
        to receiving approval under subsection (a); and
            (3) as of June 1, 2020, was included, in at least 2 States, 
        on the list of providers of training services described in 
        subsection (d) of section 122 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152) determined to be eligible to 
        offer a program of training services under such section 122.
    (c) Priority.--In approving covered providers under subsection (a), 
a State board or local board shall be encouraged to consider providers 
of qualified online training services (as defined in section 122(b)(5) 
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as added by this Act).

SEC. 3. PROVIDERS OF QUALIFIED ONLINE TRAINING SERVICES.

    Section 122 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3152) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the 
        following: ``A provider of qualified online training services 
        shall be included and maintained on the list of eligible 
        providers of training services described in subsection (d) so 
        long as such provider complies with the criteria, information 
        requirements, and procedures established under this section.''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Provider of qualified online training services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In establishing criteria, 
                information requirements, or procedures under this 
                section, a Governor, State board, or local board may 
                not require a provider of qualified online training 
                services, in providing such qualified online training 
                services, to--
                            ``(i) maintain a physical presence in a 
                        State or local area; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a provider that is an 
                        organization described in section 501(c) of the 
                        Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from 
                        taxation under section 501(a) of such Code, be 
                        a provider described in subsection (a)(2).
                    ``(B) Qualified online training services.--In this 
                subsection, the term `qualified online training 
                services' means training services that--
                            ``(i) are provided over the internet or 
                        through other forms of electronic 
                        communication; and
                            ``(ii) lead to a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential.''.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

     It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant 
        challenges in the nation's labor market that will likely have 
        lasting effects;
            (2) millions of individuals cannot enroll or participate in 
        workforce training programs due to restrictions on movement 
        related to the pandemic;
            (3) online and virtual training services can help workers 
        learn new skills, particularly during pandemic-related closures 
        and for in-demand industry sectors such as information 
        technology and cybersecurity;
            (4) Congress has previously recognized the need to ensure 
        access to online and virtual training services, including 
        through section 122(b)(1)(B) of the Workforce Investment and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)(B));
            (5) some State governments, State workforce boards, or 
        local workforce boards have established eligibility criteria or 
        other procedures that make it difficult or impossible for 
        providers of online and virtual training services to qualify as 
        eligible training providers, such as physical presence 
        requirements; and
            (6) all State governments, State workforce boards, and 
        local workforce boards should move promptly to make programs of 
        online and virtual training services available to individuals 
        residing in their areas.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    Except as otherwise provided, the terms in this Act have the 
meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
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