[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2868 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2868
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans may
attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 14, 2019
Ms. McSally introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans may
attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance
provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAMS OF PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.
(a) In General.--Chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding after section 3687 the following new section:
``Sec. 3687A. Programs of pre-apprenticeship
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), and except as
provided by subsection (c), the Secretary shall treat a pre-
apprenticeship program as a program of apprenticeship for purposes of
providing educational assistance.
``(b) Approval of Pre-Apprenticeship Program.--A pre-apprenticeship
program may be covered under subsection (a)--
``(1) if the program is recognized under or compliant with
any standards for a postsecondary pre-apprenticeship program
required by the State in which the program is located; or
``(2) in the case of a program for which a State does not
require any such standards, if--
``(A) the curriculum of the program is approved by
a sponsor and the sponsor certifies to the Secretary
that the program will prepare an individual with skills
and competencies needed to enroll in a registered
apprenticeship program; and
``(B) the program maintains conduct and attendance
policies in accordance with a sponsor.
``(c) Benefits.--The educational assistance received by a covered
individual enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program under subsection
(a) shall be equal to the amount and kind of such assistance received
by the individual if the individual were enrolled in a program of
apprenticeship, except that if the individual is not paid as part of
such program, each monthly allowance for housing payable to the
individual under such assistance shall be an amount equal to the
monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under section
403 of title 37 for a member with dependents in pay grade E-5 residing
in the military housing area that encompasses all or the majority
portion of the ZIP code area in which is located the pre-apprenticeship
program.
``(d) Charge to Entitlement.--The entitlement of a covered
individual pursuing a pre-apprenticeship program under subsection (a)
shall be charged at a rate equal to the rate charged if the program
were a program of apprenticeship.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered individual' means an individual who
is--
``(A) entitled to educational assistance; and
``(B) seeking to use such assistance for a program
of apprenticeship.
``(2) The term `educational assistance' means educational
assistance provided under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of this
title or chapter 1606 of title 10.
``(3) The term `pre-apprenticeship program' means a program
or set of objectives--
``(A) designed to prepare individuals to enter and
succeed in a registered apprenticeship program; and
``(B) that has a documented partnership with at
least one sponsor.
``(4) The term `registered apprenticeship program' means an
apprenticeship program registered with the Office of
Apprenticeship of the Employment Training Administration of the
Department of Labor or a State apprenticeship agency recognized
by the Office of Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of August
16, 1937 (popularly known as the `National Apprenticeship Act';
29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
``(5) The term `sponsor', with respect to a pre-
apprenticeship program, means an entity that formally supports
the pre-apprenticeship program, including--
``(A) a registered apprenticeship program;
``(B) a department or agency of a State or local
government;
``(C) an institution of higher learning; or
``(D) any other public, private, or nonprofit
entity that the Secretary determines to be a sponsor
for purposes of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
3687 the following new item:
``3687A. Programs of pre-apprenticeship.''.
(c) Effective Date.--Section 3687A of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an individual
who enrolls in a program of pre-apprenticeship described in such
section beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>