H.R. 8110 — Cyber Ready Workforce Act

This section defines two terms for purposes of this Act: (1) "registered apprenticeship program," as a program registered under the National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.); and (2) "workforce intermediary," as an entity—including potentially a partnership—that facilitates establishment of registered apprenticeship programs and includes one or more of the following partners: (A) a business or industry organization; (B) a community-based organization; (C) a state board or local board under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; (D) a postsecondary education institution experienced in registered apprenticeship programs; (E) a joint labor-management partnership; (F) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (i.e., a public or nonprofit institution meeting specified admissions, authorization, program, and accreditation criteria, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); or (G) a nonprofit organization.

This section directs the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to workforce intermediaries to establish, implement, and expand registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Eligible programs must include technical instruction, workplace training, and industry-recognized cybersecurity certifications—such as CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, or (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)—(1) encourage stackable and portable credentials, and (2) lead to occupations such as computer support specialists, cybersecurity support technicians, or security specialists.

This section requires a workforce intermediary to use at least 85% of grant funds received under this Act for (1) completing the apprenticeship registration process with the Department of Labor and assisting employers with related logistical and technical issues; (2) developing curricula and technical instruction for the registered apprenticeship program in cooperation with employer-partners, referencing work roles and tasks in the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework Special Publication 800-181, assisting employers with offsite training costs and course materials, and connecting employers with education and training providers; and (3) providing support services to apprentices, including career counseling, mentorship, and assistance with transportation, housing, and child care costs. The section permits up to 15% of such funds for outreach and marketing activities, including (1) marketing apprenticeships to employers and secondary schools; (2) recruiting potential apprentices such as underrepresented populations (e.g., women and minorities), youth, and veterans; and (3) collaborating with other workforce intermediaries and coordinating with federal registered apprenticeship investments to minimize duplication, share best practices, and disseminate grant-funded training resources.