S. 4386: Apprenticeship Data Value Improvements to Create Employment Act

This bill, titled the Apprenticeship Data Value Improvements to Create Employment Act (or ADVICE Act), aims to establish an advisory committee within the Department of Labor focused on enhancing data standardization and integration for registered apprenticeship programs. Here are the key components of the legislation:

Establishment of the Apprenticeship Advisory Committee

The bill proposes the creation of a committee that will consist of diverse members, including:

• Members representing state workforce agencies, including those from states with dedicated apprenticeship agencies.
• Members from statewide longitudinal data systems that focus on data privacy, security, and interoperability.
• Sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs, including those who act as intermediaries.
• Representatives from industries with lower historical participation in registered apprenticeship programs.
• Members from labor organizations and industry sectors.
• Representatives from higher education institutions collaborating with apprenticeship sponsors.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Committee

The committee is tasked with submitting a report to the Secretary of Labor and Congress within two years of its establishment. The report must include:

• Recommendations for incentivizing states to improve the standardization and integration of apprenticeship program data with various federal and state systems.
• Ways to enhance the user experience and reduce the reporting burden on apprenticeship sponsors.
• Strategies for collecting and analyzing data related to the outcomes of apprenticeship programs, including retention statistics and earnings.
• Methods for tracking and reporting data from paid training programs that are not registered apprenticeships, ensuring they are included in state longitudinal data systems.
• Recommendations for improving access to individual learning and employment records.

Implementation of Recommendations

Upon receiving the committee's report, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, must issue a policy plan based on the recommendations. This plan will include:

• Appropriations requests to fund the suggested improvements to apprenticeship data systems.

Definitions and Terms

The bill includes essential definitions to clarify terms such as:

• Registered Apprenticeship Program: Defined as programs officially registered under the National Apprenticeship Act.
• Sponsor: Refers to individuals or organizations operating apprenticeship programs.
• State Apprenticeship Agency: A state entity responsible for approving apprenticeship programs.

Structure and Management of the Committee

The bill outlines the terms of appointment for committee members, ensuring that they serve for the committee's duration. It also stipulates that the committee will not be affected by vacancies and can receive support from federal government employees when necessary.

Relevant Companies

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