START Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4409 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4409 To clarify the program standards registration process for registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2026 Mr. Banks (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To clarify the program standards registration process for registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlining Timely Apprenticeship Registration and Transparency Act'' or the ``START Act''. SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM STANDARDS APPROVAL. 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.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating section 4 as section 5; and (2) by inserting after section 3 the following: ``SEC. 4. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM REGISTRATION. ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section: ``(1) Competency-based approach.-- ``(A) In general.--The term `competency-based approach' means, with respect to a program registered as an apprenticeship program under this Act, measuring skill acquisition in the program through the successful demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge, as verified by the program sponsor. ``(B) On-the-job learning.--A program described in subparagraph (A) program that uses the competency-based approach shall be required to include completion of an on-the-job learning component of the program for purposes of such an approach. ``(2) Complete progr