March 5, 2025
Ms. DelBene (for herself, Ms. Sánchez, Ms. Sewell, and Ms. Strickland) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To require income from the first year of an apprenticeship to be disregarded in determining eligibility for assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Apprenticeship Opportunity Act
.
Sec. 2. Requirement to disregard income from first year of an apprenticeship in determining eligibility for assistance under the TANF program
(a) Requirement
Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(13) Requirement to disregard income from 1st year of an apprenticeship in determining eligibility for assistance
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall disregard all income received on account of the 1st year of an apprenticeship 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.), in determining the eligibility of the recipient for assistance under the State program funded under this part.
(b) Penalty for violation
Section 409(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(17) Penalty for not disregarding income from 1st year of an apprenticeship in determining eligibility for assistance
If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 in a fiscal year has violated section 408(a)(13) during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 1 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(c) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.