Apprenticeship Opportunity Act

This proposal aims to help families on TANF start a paid apprenticeship without losing their cash aid. It tells states to ignore all income earned in the first year of a registered apprenticeship when deciding if someone qualifies for TANF. This applies to apprenticeships registered under the National Apprenticeship Act.

If a state does not follow this rule, the federal government will cut that state’s TANF grant by 1% the next year. The change would start at the beginning of the first federal fiscal year after the bill becomes law.

• Who is affected: People on TANF who start a registered apprenticeship, and state TANF programs.
• What changes: States must disregard all income from the first year of the apprenticeship when checking TANF eligibility.
• State penalty: 1% cut to the next year’s TANF grant if a state fails to follow the rule.
• When: Begins on the first day of the first federal fiscal year after enactment.