The Apprenticeship Opportunity Act requires states to disregard all income earned during the first year of a registered apprenticeship when determining whether someone qualifies for temporary assistance for needy families, commonly known as welfare benefits. This means that individuals starting apprenticeships would not have their apprenticeship earnings count against their eligibility for these federal assistance programs, allowing them to continue receiving support as they transition into the workforce. The bill applies to apprenticeships registered under the National Apprenticeship Act and affects how states administer their TANF programs. States that fail to comply with this requirement would face a one percent reduction in their federal TANF grants in the following year. The changes take effect on the first day of the first federal fiscal year after the bill becomes law.
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