118 HR 6377 IH: Apprentice-Related Child Care Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-11-13
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I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6377
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 2023
Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Norcross, and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish a grant program for States to support apprentices in apprenticeships programs, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Apprentice-Related Child Care Act” or the “ARCC Act”.
2.

Grant program
(a)

Grants authorized
(1)

In general
From the amount appropriated under subsection (i)(1) that is not reserved under subsection (i)(2), the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 10 States for each such State to provide monthly stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of individuals who are participating in pre-apprenticeship programs or apprenticeship programs to assist such individuals in covering the costs of childcare during such participation.
(2)

Grant amounts
In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award an equal amount to each State awarded such a grant.
(3)

Grant periods
A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded—
(A)
for a period of two years; and
(B)
in equal amounts for each year of such period.
(4)

Grant priority
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that States that are awarded the grants—
(A)
are geographically diverse; and
(B)
have pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs in in-demand industry sectors and occupations, including in emerging high-tech, high-growth industries.
(b)

Application
To be eligible for a grant under this Act, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application, in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include the following:
(1)
Information regarding how the State intends to distribute monthly stipends in accordance with subsection (c).
(2)
In the case of any individual who is selected to benefit from a stipend under subsection (c) and participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship program that will end after the end of the grant period, any plan the State may have to provide child care support for such an individual for the period of such pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program during which the individual will not be benefitting from such stipends.
(c)

Uses of funds
(1)

In general
A State that receives a grant under this Act shall—
(A)
in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (3), select individuals to benefit from a monthly stipend who—
(i)
have one or more dependent children; and
(ii)
are participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or an apprenticeship program in the State; and
(B)
distribute such stipends to eligible child care providers directly on behalf of the individuals described under subparagraph (A).
(2)

Monthly stipend amounts
A monthly stipend described in paragraph (1) shall not be less than $500 per dependent child.
(3)

Priority
In selecting individuals to benefit from a monthly stipend, a State shall prioritize individuals who are historically underrepresented in the industries of the pre-apprenticeship programs or apprenticeship programs of such individuals, based on race, ethnicity, or gender.
(d)

Reports by States
(1)

Initial report
Not later than 180 days after the end of the grant period of the grant awarded to a State under this Act, the State shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes information on—
(A)
the individuals that benefitted from monthly stipends, including with respect to each such individual—
(i)
the total number of months such stipends were provided to a eligible child care provider on behalf of the individual;
(ii)
the total amount provided by such stipends;
(iii)
in the case of an individual enrolled in an apprenticeship program, the wage rate, benefits, stipends, or other compensation provided to such individual—
(I)
while enrolled in such program; and
(II)
after exiting the program and beginning work in the industry of such program;
(iv)
in the case of an individual enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program, a description of any compensation provided to the individual while enrolled in such program, including the wage rate, benefits, stipends, or any other compensation;
(v)
the industry of the pre-apprenticeship program or apprenticeship program in which the individual was a participant;
(B)
for each apprenticeship program and pre-apprenticeship program for which the State provided stipends to eligible child care providers on behalf of such individuals—
(i)
the retention and completion rates for the individuals described in subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
the retention and completion rates for the individuals not described in subparagraph (A); and
(C)
the method the State used to distribute the stipends to eligible child care providers.
(2)

Follow-up reports
For each of the 3 years after the date that a State submits the report under paragraph (1), the State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the retention and completion rates described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) for the preceding year.
(3)

Disaggregation
The information submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, except that such disaggregation shall not be required in the case in which the number of apprentices in a subgroup is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an apprentice.
(e)

Report by the Secretary
(1)

Initial report
Not later than 180 days after the Secretary receives the last report under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes—
(A)
the effect the stipends had—
(i)
on the pre-apprenticeship program or apprenticeship program retention and completion rates of individuals who received monthly stipends; and
(ii)
the wage rates and benefits received by such individuals after exiting an apprenticeship program;
(B)
the methods the States used to distribute stipends to eligible child care providers;
(C)
any unanticipated effect or consequence on—
(i)
individuals receiving the stipend;
(ii)
the sponsors of the pre-apprenticeship programs or the apprenticeship programs; and
(iii)
the local areas in which the individuals who received a stipend participated in such programs.
(2)

Follow-up reports
For each of the 3 years after the date that the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes the information in the reports received from the States under subsection (d)(2) for the preceding year.
(3)

Disaggregation
The information submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall be disaggregated in accordance with the disaggregation requirements of subsection (d)(2).
(f)

Stipend amounts excluded from Federal taxation
Stipend amounts awarded under this Act may not be included in the gross income of the individual who benefitted from such stipend for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(g)

Disregard stipend amounts in other Federal programs
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a stipend distributed to an eligible child care provider under this Act shall not be taken into account in determining the need or eligibility of the individual who benefitted from such stipend for benefits or assistance, or the amount of such benefits or assistance, under any Federal, State, or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
(h)

Supplement and not supplant
Any monthly stipend distributed to an eligible child care provider on behalf of an individual under this Act shall supplement and not supplant the wages such individual earns while participating in a pre-apprenticeship program or apprenticeship program.
(i)

Authorization of appropriations
(1)

In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024–2025.
(2)

Reservation
The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent of the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year to carry out the study and report required by subsection (e).
(j)

Definitions
In this Act:
(1)

Apprenticeship program
The term apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act.
(2)

Eligible child care provider
The term eligible child care provider has the meaning given the term in section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
(3)

Pre-apprenticeship program
The term pre-apprenticeship program means a program, initiative, or set of strategies that—
(A)
is designed to prepare individuals to participate in an apprenticeship program, including preparing individuals with the skills and competencies necessary to succeed in such program;
(B)
is carried out by an entity that has entered into a formal agreement with one or more sponsors of an apprenticeship program; and
(C)
includes—
(i)
theoretical education (including the use of curricula); and
(ii)
training (including hands-on training)—
(I)
aligned with industry standards of an apprenticeship program; and
(II)
that does not displace an employee where such training takes place.
(4)

State board
The term State board means a State workforce development board established under section 101 of the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101).
(5)

WIOA terms
The terms area career and technical education school, community-based organization, in-demand industry sector or occupation, local area, local board, local educational agency, secondary school, and State, have the meaning given such terms in section 3 of the Worker Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3103).