PRINTER'S NO. 3581
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2893
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY A. DAVIS, PISCIOTTANO, KENYATTA, McNEILL, BURGOS,
KINSEY, MADDEN, LONGIETTI, SCHLOSSBERG, DELLOSO, GUENST,
SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KIM, PARKER, DEASY AND
CIRESI, OCTOBER 21, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, OCTOBER 21, 2022
AN ACT
Establishing the Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program and the
Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program Fund; imposing powers and
duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and making a
transfer.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Bridge to
Opportunity Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Applicant." A resident of this Commonwealth who is at least
18 years of age and is enrolled in an apprenticeship program.
"Apprenticeship program." A program registered with the
council, evidenced by a certificate of registration or other
appropriate document stating that the program meets the
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registered apprenticeship standards of the council.
"Council." The Apprenticeship and Training Council in the
Department of Labor and Industry.
"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program Fund
established under section 3(h).
"Program." The Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program
established under section 3.
Section 3. Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program
is established and shall be administered by the department.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to defray the
costs to applicants participating in an apprenticeship program
and to increase the accessibility of apprenticeship programs
across this Commonwealth.
(c) Guidelines.--The department shall develop guidelines
that specify the requirements to be awarded a grant under the
program. The guidelines shall include:
(1) Applicant eligibility.
(2) The grant application process.
(3) Other information that the department deems
necessary.
(d) Limitation.--An applicant may be awarded a grant of up
to $1,000.
(e) Publication and notice.--The department shall transmit
notice of the program's availability to the Legislative
Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
and make program materials available on the department's
publicly accessible Internet website.
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(f) Approval and disapproval.--The department shall review
an application and, within 15 days of receipt of the
application, approve or disapprove the application.
(g) Award of grants.--Grant awards shall be determined by
the department based on available resources, including money in
the fund.
(h) Bridge to Opportunity Grant Program Fund.--The Bridge to
Opportunity Grant Program Fund is established as a separate fund
in the State Treasury. The money in the fund is appropriated to
the department on a continuing basis for the purposes of the
program.
Section 4. Regulations.
The department may promulgate regulations necessary for the
implementation of this act.
Section 5. Transfer.
The sum of $2,000,000 is transferred from the General Fund to
the fund for the purpose of awarding grants under this act.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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