[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1612 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1612

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college 
           and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 22, 2019

 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Shaheen, 
Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                              and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 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 in 
Higher Education Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND.

    Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161a et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``PART BB--COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CAREER FUND

``SEC. 899. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) WIOA definitions.--The terms `career pathway', 
        `integrated education and training', `individual with a barrier 
        to employment', `industry or sector partnership', and `in-
        demand industry sector or occupation' have the meanings given 
        to such terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            ``(2) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means a public institution of higher education at which the 
        highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an 
        associate's degree, including 2-year Tribal Colleges or 
        Universities, as defined in section 316, and public 2-year 
        institutions of higher education.
            ``(3) Education and workforce training program.--The term 
        `education and workforce training program'--
                    ``(A) means a career pathway program, or a program 
                that utilizes integrated education and training 
                strategies, that leads to a recognized postsecondary 
                credential; and
                    ``(B) includes a registered apprenticeship program, 
                on-the-job training program, or paid internship, if the 
                program or internship meets the requirements of 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an 
        institution of higher education, or a consortium of 
        institutions of higher education, that--
                    ``(A) is part of an industry or sector partnership, 
                or is working directly with an industry or sector 
                partnership for purposes of a grant under this section; 
                and
                    ``(B) may, for purposes of a grant under this 
                section and in addition to the industry or sector 
                partnership, partner with one or more of the following:
                            ``(i) An eligible provider, as defined in 
                        section 203 of the Adult Education and Family 
                        Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
                            ``(ii) An institution of higher education, 
                        as defined in section 101.
                            ``(iii) An elementary school or secondary 
                        school, as such terms are defined in section 
                        8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                        Act of 1965.
                            ``(iv) Any other entity that the 
                        Secretaries consider appropriate.
            ``(5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education'--
                    ``(A) means--
                            ``(i) a community college; or
                            ``(ii) a 4-year public institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 101(a)) 
                        or a Tribal College or University (as defined 
                        in section 316(b)) that--
                                    ``(I) offers an associate degree; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) will use funds provided 
                                under this section for education and 
                                workforce training programs or 
                                activities for courses of study that 
                                culminate with a recognized 
                                postsecondary credential, and not for 
                                courses of study culminating in a 
                                baccalaureate or advanced degree; and
                    ``(B) includes institutions described in 
                subparagraph (A) that are located 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.
            ``(6) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        `recognized postsecondary credential' means a credential 
        consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or 
        certification, a certificate of completion of an 
        apprenticeship, a license recognized by the State involved or 
        Federal Government, or an associate degree.
            ``(7) Secretaries.--The term `Secretaries' means the 
        Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, acting 
        jointly in accordance with the interagency agreement described 
        in subsection (h).
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than the last day of the first 
        full fiscal year following the date of enactment of the 
        Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act and 
        from funds appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretaries 
        shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable 
        the eligible entities to carry out education and workforce 
        training programs or activities described in subsection (e).
            ``(2) Duration of grants.--A grants awarded under this 
        section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject 
        to subsection (f)(3).
    ``(c) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries 
determine is required. The application shall contain--
            ``(1) a grant proposal for each education and workforce 
        training program or activity to be supported under the grant 
        that includes a detailed description of--
                    ``(A) the specific education and workforce training 
                program or activity that will be supported, and the 
                quality of the program or activity;
                    ``(B) the extent to which the program or activity 
                aligns with--
                            ``(i) an overall strategic plan developed 
                        by the eligible entity in collaboration with an 
                        industry sector partnership and, if applicable, 
                        other partner organizations;
                            ``(ii) a statewide or regional workforce 
                        development strategy, including strategies 
                        established under the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.) and 
                        the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
                        Education Act of 2006; and
                            ``(iii) in-demand industry sectors or 
                        occupations;
                    ``(C) quantitative data and evidence that 
                demonstrates the extent to which the program or 
                activity to be supported will meet the needs of 
                employers in the area for skilled workers in in-demand 
                industry sectors or occupations;
                    ``(D) the extent to which the program or activity 
                to be supported will meet the needs of students in the 
                area;
                    ``(E) how the program or activity to be supported 
                meets the criteria established under subsection (d), 
                including the manner in which the grant will be used to 
                develop, offer, improve, or provide the program or 
                activity; and
                    ``(F) any previous experience of the eligible 
                entity in providing education and workforce training 
                programs or activities, the absence of which shall not 
                automatically disqualify an eligible entity from 
                receiving a grant under this section; and
            ``(2)(A) a detailed description of how the eligible entity 
        will ensure that any education and workforce training programs 
        or activities supported under the grant will meet the 
        performance measures described in subsection (f); and
            ``(B) an assurance that the entity will annually submit to 
        the Secretaries information on the performance of each 
        education and workforce training program or activity supported 
        under the grant, in the context of the performance measures 
        described in subsection (f).
    ``(d) Criteria for Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--Grants under this section shall be 
        awarded based on criteria established by the Secretaries that 
        shall include, at a minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) A determination of the merits of the grant 
                proposal submitted by the eligible entity to develop, 
                offer, improve, or provide an education and workforce 
                training program or activity to be made available to 
                students.
                    ``(B) An assessment of the likely employment 
                opportunities available in the area to individuals who 
                complete an education and workforce training program or 
                activity that the eligible entity proposes to develop, 
                offer, improve or provide under the grant, based on 
                State or local labor market data.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretaries shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) are working with an industry or sector 
                partnership that prioritizes facilitating the hiring of 
                individuals who have obtained a recognized 
                postsecondary credential from the education and 
                workforce training programs or activities offered by 
                the eligible entity;
                    ``(B) are focused on serving individuals with 
                barriers to employment, veterans, spouses of members of 
                the Armed Forces, or incumbent workers who are low-
                skilled and who need to increase their employability 
                skills;
                    ``(C) serve areas with high unemployment rates; or
                    ``(D) commit to increasing access to education and 
                workforce training programs or activities that meet the 
                needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall use grant funds for one or more of the following:
            ``(1) The development, offering, improvement, or provision 
        of one or more education and workforce training programs or 
        activities leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that 
        will meet the needs of employers in in-demand industry sectors 
        or occupations.
            ``(2) The development and implementation of policies, 
        programs, or activities that expand opportunities for students 
        to earn a recognized postsecondary credential in in-demand 
        industry sectors or occupations, including by--
                    ``(A) facilitating the transfer of academic credits 
                between institutions of higher education (as defined in 
                section 101), including the transfer of academic 
                credits for courses in the same field or program of 
                study;
                    ``(B) expanding articulation agreements and 
                policies that guarantee transfers between such 
                institutions, including through common course numbering 
                and use of general core curriculum;
                    ``(C) developing or enhancing student support 
                service programs or activities; and
                    ``(D) establishing policies and processes for 
                assessing and awarding postsecondary credit for work-
                related learning or work-based learning (as defined in 
                section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
                Education Act of 2006).
            ``(3) The creation or alignment of career pathways that 
        provide a sequence of education and occupational training that 
        leads to a recognized postsecondary credential, including 
        programs or activities that--
                    ``(A) blend basic skills and occupational training;
                    ``(B) facilitate means of transitioning 
                participants from noncredit occupational, basic skills, 
                or developmental coursework to for-credit coursework 
                within and across institutions;
                    ``(C) build or enhance linkages between secondary 
                education or adult education and literacy programs 
                (including those programs established under the Carl D. 
                Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 or 
                the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3201 et seq.)) and postsecondary institutions, 
                including the development of dual or concurrent 
                enrollment programs; or
                    ``(D) are designed to increase the provision of 
                workforce training for students, including students who 
                are members of the Armed Forces (including members of 
                the National Guard or Reserves) and veterans, in order 
                to facilitate their entry into high-skill, high-wage 
                jobs or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
    ``(f) Performance Measures.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall establish 
        performance measures for the education and workforce training 
        programs and activities supported under this section, which 
        shall consist of--
                    ``(A) the primary indicators of performance, as 
                described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3141(b)(2)(A)(i)); and
                    ``(B) a level of performance for each indicator 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Monitoring progress.--The Secretaries shall--
                    ``(A) monitor the progress of eligible entities 
                that receive grants under this section to ensure their 
                education and workforce training programs or activities 
                supported under this section meet the performance 
                measures established under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) annually publish a report regarding the 
                progress of such programs or activities in meeting the 
                performance measures, including the results for each 
                performance measure disaggregated by--
                            ``(i) race and ethnicity;
                            ``(ii) age intervals;
                            ``(iii) gender; and
                            ``(iv) Federal Pell Grant recipient status.
            ``(3) Satisfactory progress.--The Secretaries shall not 
        continue to provide funds under a grant under this section 
        after the third year of the grant period unless the eligible 
        entity has achieved satisfactory progress toward meeting the 
        levels of performance on the performance measures, as 
        determined by the Secretaries.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.
            ``(2) Administrative cost.--Not more than 5 percent of the 
        amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 
        may be used by the Secretaries for the Federal administration 
        of the program under this section, including providing 
        technical assistance and carrying out evaluations.
            ``(3) Period of availability.--Funds appropriated under 
        paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall remain available for 
        obligation for that fiscal year and the succeeding 4 fiscal 
        years.
    ``(h) Interagency Agreement.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of the Community College to Career Fund in Higher 
Education Act, the Secretaries shall enter into a formal interagency 
agreement establishing the terms by which the Secretaries shall jointly 
administer the program under this section.''.
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