HR5297-119

What This Bill Does

The PARTNERS Act creates a workforce-development funding structure for industry or sector partnerships. The Labor Secretary carries out the Act using 50 percent of deposits into the H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account. The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent for technical assistance and federal administration, up to 2 percent for evaluations, and one-quarter of 1 percent for outlying areas, then allot remaining funds to eligible states under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act formulas. States must consult state and local workforce boards and describe the local or regional industry partnerships they will support. Governors use allotments to award three-year grants of up to $500,000 to eligible partnerships, with geographic diversity and up to 5 percent state administrative reservation. Partnerships must support registered apprenticeships or other work-based learning programs, help small and medium-sized businesses navigate apprenticeship registration, connect with education providers, develop curricula, employ workers during transitional periods, train managers or mentors, recruit participants from WIOA, SNAP, and TANF populations, and provide worker supports such as adult education, pre-apprenticeship, mentorship, tools, work attire, transportation, and child care, subject to a 5 percent cap for some supports. Partnerships and states must submit annual performance reports disaggregated by barriers to employment, race, ethnicity, sex, and age. The bill repeals an older H-1B account use and replaces it with PARTNERS Act funding.

Who Benefits and How

Small businesses in in-demand sectors benefit from partnership grants that help them start or expand apprenticeships and work-based learning programs. Workers with barriers to employment benefit from recruitment, training, mentorship, transportation, child care, and other supportive services. Registered apprenticeship sponsors benefit from new regional training networks and business-engagement assistance. State workforce boards benefit from allotments to support industry partnerships tailored to local and regional labor markets.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Department of Labor administrators must manage H-1B account-funded allotments, technical assistance, evaluations, and federal reporting. State workforce agencies must apply for allotments, award grants, ensure geographic diversity, and submit annual performance reports. Eligible partnerships must evaluate outcomes and report disaggregated performance data every year. H-1B petition fee payers indirectly fund the work-based learning program through the Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account.

Key Provisions

• Funds PARTNERS Act activities with 50 percent of H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account deposits.
• Allots funds to eligible states for local or regional industry and sector partnerships.
• Authorizes three-year partnership grants of up to $500,000.
• Supports registered apprenticeships, work-based learning, business engagement, curricula, mentorship, recruitment, and worker support services.
• Requires partnership and state performance reporting disaggregated by worker barriers and demographics.