Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011 - Establishes in the Treasury the Pathways Back to Work Fund, with an initial appropriation of $5 billion.
Requires the Secretary of Labor to make certain Fund allocations to states with approved plans, qualifying outlying areas (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau), and Native American program grantees to provide: (1) subsidized employment to unemployed, low-income adults; and (2) summer and year-round employment opportunities to low-income youth.
Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants to local entities for work-based training and other work-related and educational strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness to provide unemployed, low-income adults and low-income youths with skills that will lead to employment.
Subjects activities funded under this Act to federal labor standards and nondiscrimination protections.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3425 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3425
To provide subsidized employment for unemployed, low-income adults,
provide summer employment and year-round employment opportunities for
low-income youth, and carry out work-related and educational strategies
and activities of demonstrated effectiveness, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 15, 2011
Mr. George Miller of California (for himself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Hinojosa,
Mr. Bishop of New York, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Kildee, and Mr. Loebsack)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide subsidized employment for unemployed, low-income adults,
provide summer employment and year-round employment opportunities for
low-income youth, and carry out work-related and educational strategies
and activities of demonstrated effectiveness, 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 ``Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PATHWAYS BACK TO WORK FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States an account, which shall be known as the Pathways Back to
Work Fund (referred to in this Act as ``the Fund''), consisting of the
amounts as are paid to the Fund under subsection (b).
(b) Payment Into the Fund.--Out of any amounts in the general fund
of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated
$5,000,000,000, which shall be paid to the Fund, to be used by the
Secretary of Labor to carry out this Act.
(c) Period of Availability.--The amounts appropriated under this
Act shall be available for obligation by the Secretary of Labor through
December 31, 2012, and shall be available for expenditure by recipients
of grants and subgrants under this Act through September 30, 2013.
SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
(a) In General.--Using the amounts available through the Fund under
section 2(b), the Secretary of Labor shall, subject to subsection (b)--
(1) allot $2,000,000,000 in accordance with section 4 to
provide subsidized employment to unemployed, low-income adults;
(2) allot $1,500,000,000 in accordance with section 5 to
provide summer employment and year-round employment
opportunities to low-income youth; and
(3) use $1,500,000,000 in accordance with section 6 to
award grants on a competitive basis to local entities to carry
out work-based training and other work-related and educational
strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness to
unemployed, low-income adults and low-income youth to provide
the skills and assistance needed to obtain employment.
(b) Reservation.--The Secretary of Labor may reserve not more than
1 percent of the amounts available through the Fund under each of
paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) to pay for the costs of
technical assistance, evaluations, and Federal administration of this
Act.
SEC. 4. SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT FOR UNEMPLOYED, LOW-INCOME ADULTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Allotments.--From the funds available under section
3(a)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall make an allotment under
subsection (b) to each State that has a State plan approved
under subsection (c) and to each outlying area and recipient
under section 166(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(29 U.S.C. 2911(c)) that meets the requirements of this
section, for the purpose of providing subsidized employment
opportunities to unemployed, low-income adults.
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in coordination
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall issue
guidance regarding the implementation of this section. Such
guidance shall, consistent with this section, include
procedures for the submission and approval of State and local
plans and the allotment and allocation of funds, including
reallotment and reallocation of such funds, that promote the
expeditious and effective implementation of the activities
authorized under this section.
(b) State Allotments.--
(1) Reservations for outlying areas and tribes.--Of the
funds described in subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall
reserve--
(A) not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent to provide
assistance to outlying areas to provide subsidized
employment to unemployed, low-income adults; and
(B) 1.5 percent to provide assistance to recipients
under section 166(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (relating to Native Americans; 29 U.S.C. 2911(c))
to provide subsidized employment to unemployed, low-
income adults.
(2) States.--After determining the amounts to be reserved
under section 3(b) and paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor
shall allot the remainder of the funds described in subsection
(a)(1) among the States by allotting--
(A) one-third on the basis of the relative number
of unemployed individuals in areas of substantial
unemployment in each State, compared to the total
number of unemployed individuals in areas of
substantial unemployment in all States;
(B) one-third on the basis of the relative excess
number of unemployed individuals in each State,
compared to the total excess number of unemployed
individuals in all States; and
(C) one-third on the basis of the relative number
of disadvantaged adults and youth in each State,
compared to the total number of disadvantaged adults
and youth in all States.
(3) Definitions.--For purposes of the formula described in
paragraph (2)--
(A) Area of substantial unemployment.--The term
``area of substantial unemployment'' means any
contiguous area that has a population of at least
10,000, and that has an average rate of unemployment of
at least 6.5 percent for the most recent 12 months, as
determined by the Secretary.
(B) Disadvantaged adult or youth.--The term
``disadvantaged adult or youth'' means an individual
who is age 16 or older (subject to section
132(b)(1)(B)(v)(I) of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2862(b)(1)(B)(v)(I)) who received an
income, or is a member of a family that received a
total family income, that, in relation to family size,
does not exceed the higher of--
(i) the poverty line; or
(ii) 70 percent of the lower living
standard income level.
(C) Excess number.--The term ``excess number''
means, used with respect to unemployed individuals in a
State, the higher of--
(i) the number that represents the number
of unemployed individuals in excess of 4.5
percent of the civilian labor force in the
State; or
(ii) the number that represents the number
of unemployed individuals in excess of 4.5
percent of the civilian labor force in areas of
substantial unemployment in such State.
(4) Reallotment.--If the Governor of a State does not
submit a State plan by the date specified in subsection
(c)(2)(B), or a State does not receive approval of a State
plan, the amount the State would have been eligible to receive
pursuant to the formula under paragraph (2) shall be
transferred within the Fund and added to the amounts available
for competitive grants under section 3(a)(3).
(c) State Plan.--
(1) In general.--For a State to be eligible to receive an
allotment of funds under subsection (b), the Governor of the
State shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a State plan in
such form and containing such information as the Secretary may
require. At a minimum, such plan shall include--
(A) a description of the strategies and activities
to be carried out by the State, in coordination with
employers in the State, to provide subsidized
employment opportunities to unemployed, low-income
adults, including strategies relating to the level and
duration of subsidies consistent with subsection
(e)(2);
(B) a description of the requirements the State
will apply relating to the eligibility of unemployed,
low-income adults, consistent with section 8, for
subsidized employment opportunities, which requirements
may include criteria to target assistance to particular
categories of such adults, such as individuals with
disabilities or individuals who have exhausted all
rights to unemployment compensation;
(C) a description of how the funds allotted to
provide subsidized employment opportunities will be
administered in the State and (if administered by
entities described in subsection (d)(1)(A)) in local
areas, in accordance with subsection (d);
(D) a description of the performance outcomes to be
achieved by the State through the activities carried
out under this section and the processes the State will
use to track performance, consistent with guidance
provided by the Secretary of Labor regarding such
outcomes and processes and with section 7(b);
(E) a description of the coordination of activities
to be carried out with the funds provided under this
section with activities under title I of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), the
program of block grants to States for temporary
assistance for needy families established under part A
of title IV of the Social Security Act (referred to in
this Act as the ``TANF program''; 42 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.) and other appropriate Federal and State programs
that may assist unemployed, low-income adults in
obtaining and retaining employment;
(F) a description of the timelines for
implementation of the activities described in
subparagraph (A), and the number of unemployed, low-
income adults expected to be placed in subsidized
employment by calendar quarter;
(G) assurances that the State will report such
information as the Secretary of Labor may require
relating to fiscal, performance, and other matters as
the Secretary determines is necessary to effectively
monitor the activities carried out under this section;
and
(H) assurances that the State will ensure
compliance with the requirements, restrictions, labor
standards, and other provisions described in section
7(a).
(2) Submission and approval of state plan.--
(A) Submission with other plans.--The State plan
described in paragraph (1) may be submitted in
conjunction with the State plan modification or other
request for funds by the State required under section
5, and may be submitted as a modification to a State
plan that has been approved under section 112 of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2822).
(B) Submission and approval.--
(i) Submission.--The Governor shall submit
the State plan described in paragraph (1) to
the Secretary of Labor not later than 75 days
after the date of enactment of this Act and the
Secretary of Labor shall make a determination
regarding the approval or disapproval of such
plan not later than 45 days after the
submission of such plan. If the plan is
disapproved, the Secretary of Labor may provide
a reasonable period of time in which the plan
may be amended and resubmitted for approval.
(ii) Approval.--The Secretary of Labor
shall approve a State plan that the Secretary
determines is consistent with the requirements
of this section and reasonably appropriate and
adequate to carry out the objectives of this
section. If the plan is approved, the Secretary
shall allot funds to the State under subsection
(b) within 30 days after such approval.
(3) Modifications to state plan.--The Governor may submit a
modification to a State plan under this subsection, consistent
with the requirements of this section.
(d) Administration Within the State.--
(1) Option.--The State may administer the funds for
activities under this section through--
(A) the State and local entities responsible for
the administration of the formula program of workforce
investment activities for adults under subtitle B of
title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998;
(B) the State agency or agencies responsible for
the administration of the TANF program; or
(C) a combination of the entities and agency or
agencies described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2) Within-state allocations.--
(A) Allocation of funds.--The Governor may reserve
not more than 5 percent of the funds made available
through the allotment under subsection (b)(2), for
administration and technical assistance, and shall
allocate the remainder, in accordance with the option
elected under paragraph (1)--
(i) among local workforce investment areas
within the State in accordance with
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of subsection
(b)(2), except that for purposes of such
allocation references to a State in such
subsection shall be deemed to be references to
a local workforce investment area and
references to all States shall be deemed to be
references to all local workforce investment
areas in the State involved, and not more than
10 percent of the funds so allocated to a local
workforce investment area may be used for the
costs of administration of this section; or
(ii) through entities responsible for the
provision of services under the TANF program to
local populations in such manner as the State
agency or agencies responsible for the
administration of the TANF program may
determine to be appropriate.
(B) Local plans.--
(i) In general.--In a case in which the
responsibility for the administration of the
activities described in subsection (e) is to be
carried out by the entities described in
paragraph (1)(A), in order to receive an
allocation under subparagraph (A)(i), a local
workforce investment board, in partnership with
the chief elected official of the local
workforce investment area involved, shall
submit to the Governor a local plan for the use
of such funds under this section not later than
30 days after the submission of the State plan.
Such local plan may be submitted as a
modification to a local plan approved under
section 118 of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2828).
(ii) Contents.--The local plan described in
clause (i) shall contain the information
described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of
subsection (c)(1), as applied to the local
workforce investment area.
(iii) Approval.--The Governor shall approve
or disapprove the local plan submitted under
clause (i) not later than a date (referred to
in this clause as the ``final determination
date'') that is the later of the 30th day after
the submission of the local plan or the 30th
day after the approval of the State plan. The
Governor shall approve the local plan unless
the Governor determines that the plan is
inconsistent with the requirements of this
section or is not reasonably appropriate and
adequate to carry out the objectives of this
section. If the Governor has not made a
determination by the final determination date,
the plan shall be considered to be approved. If
the plan is disapproved, the Governor may
provide a reasonable period of time in which
the plan may be amended and resubmitted for
approval. If the plan is approved, the Governor
shall allocate funds to the local workforce
investment area involved under subparagraph
(A)(i) within 30 days after such approval.
(C) Reallocation of funds to local workforce
investment areas.--If a local workforce investment
board and chief elected official do not submit a local
plan by the date specified in subparagraph (B)(i), or
the Governor disapproves a local plan, the amount the
local workforce investment area would have been
eligible to receive pursuant to the formula under
subparagraph (A)(i) shall be allocated to local
workforce investment areas that receive approval of
their local plans under subparagraph (B). Each such
local workforce investment area shall receive a share
of the total amount available for reallocation under
this subparagraph, in accordance with the area's share
of the total amount allocated under subparagraph (A)(i)
to such local workforce investment areas.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--The funds made available under this
section shall be used to provide subsidized employment for
unemployed, low-income adults. The entities described in
subsection (d)(1) may use a variety of strategies in recruiting
employers and identifying appropriate employment opportunities,
but shall give priority to providing employment opportunities
likely to lead to unsubsidized employment in emerging or in-
demand occupations in the area served through the grant
involved. Funds made available under this section may be used
to provide support services, such as transportation and child
care, that are necessary to enable the participation of such
adults in subsidized employment opportunities.
(2) Level of subsidy and duration.--The entities described
in subsection (d)(1) may determine the percentage of the wages
and costs of employing a participant for which an employer may
receive a subsidy with the funds made available under this
section, and the duration of such subsidy, in accordance with
guidance issued by the Secretary in coordination with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services. The entities may
establish criteria for determining such percentage or duration,
using appropriate factors such as the size of the employer and
types of employment.
(f) Coordination of Federal Administration.--The Secretary of Labor
shall administer this section in coordination with the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to ensure the effective implementation of
this section.
SEC. 5. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LOW-INCOME AND DISCONNECTED YOUTH.
(a) In General.--From the funds available under section 3(a)(2),
the Secretary of Labor shall make an allotment under subsection (c) to
each State that has a modification to a State plan approved under
section 112 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2822)
(referred to in this section as a ``State plan modification'') (or
other State request for funds specified in guidance under subsection
(b)) approved under subsection (d) and to each outlying area and
recipient under section 166(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(29 U.S.C. 2911(c)) (referred to in this section as a ``Native American
grantee'') that meets the requirements of this section, for the purpose
of providing summer employment and year-round employment opportunities
to low-income youth.
(b) Guidance and Application of Requirements.--
(1) Guidance.--Not later than 20 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall issue
guidance regarding the implementation of this section.
(2) Procedures.--Such guidance shall, consistent with this
section, include procedures for--
(A) the submission and approval of State plan
modifications, for such other forms of requests for
funds by the State as may be identified in such
guidance, for modifications to local plans approved
under section 118 of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2833) (referred to individually in this
section as a ``local plan modification''), or for such
other forms of requests for funds by local workforce
investment areas as may be identified in such guidance,
that promote the expeditious and effective
implementation of the activities authorized under this
section; and
(B) the allotment and allocation of funds,
including reallotment and reallocation of such funds
that promote such implementation.
(3) Requirements.--Except as otherwise provided in the
guidance described in paragraph (1) and in this section and
other provisions of this Act, the funds provided for activities
under this section shall be administered in accordance with the
provisions of subtitles B and E of title I of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2811 et seq., 2911 et seq.)
relating to youth activities.
(c) State Allotments.--
(1) Reservations for outlying areas and tribes.--Of the
funds described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall
reserve--
(A) not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent to provide
assistance to outlying areas to provide summer
employment and year-round employment opportunities to
low-income youth; and
(B) 1.5 percent to provide assistance to Native
American grantees to provide summer employment and
year-round employment opportunities to low-income
youth.
(2) States.--After determining the amounts to be reserved
under section 3(b) and paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor
shall allot the remainder of the funds described in subsection
(a) among the States in accordance with the subparagraphs (A),
(B), and (C) of section 4(b)(2).
(3) Reallotment.--If the Governor of a State does not
submit a State plan modification or other State request for
funds specified in guidance under subsection (b) by the date
specified in subsection (d)(2)(B), or a State does not receive
approval of such State plan modification or request, the amount
the State would have been eligible to receive pursuant to the
formula under paragraph (2) shall be transferred within the
Fund and added to the amounts available for competitive grants
under section 3(a)(3).
(d) State Plan Modification.--
(1) In general.--For a State to be eligible to receive an
allotment of funds under subsection (c), the Governor of the
State shall submit to the Secretary of Labor a State plan
modification, or other State request for funds specified in
guidance under subsection (b), in such form and containing such
information as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, such
State plan modification or request shall include--
(A) a description of the strategies and activities
to be carried out to provide summer employment
opportunities and year-round employment opportunities,
including linkages to training and educational
activities, consistent with subsection (f);
(B) a description of the requirements the States
will apply relating to the eligibility of low-income
youth, consistent with section 8, for summer employment
opportunities and year-round employment opportunities,
which requirements may include criteria to target
assistance to particular categories of such low-income
youth, such as youth with disabilities, consistent with
subsection (f);
(C) a description of the performance outcomes to be
achieved by the State through the activities carried
out under this section and the processes the State will
use to track performance, consistent with guidance
provided by the Secretary of Labor regarding such
outcomes and processes and with section 7(b);
(D) a description of the timelines for
implementation of the activities described in
subparagraph (A), and the number of low-income youth
expected to be placed in summer employment
opportunities, and year-round employment opportunities,
respectively, by calendar quarter;
(E) assurances that the State will report such
information as the Secretary may require relating to
fiscal, performance, and other matters as the Secretary
determines is necessary to effectively monitor the
activities carried out under this section;
(F) assurances that the State will ensure
compliance with the requirements, restrictions, labor
standards, and other provisions described in section
7(a); and
(G) for any employment opportunity that will
provide participants with an industry-recognized
credential, a description of the credential.
(2) Submission and approval of state plan modification or
request.--
(A) Submission.--The Governor shall submit the
State plan modification or other State request for
funds specified in guidance under subsection (b) to the
Secretary of Labor not later than 30 days after the
issuance of such guidance. The State plan modification
or other State request for funds may be submitted in
conjunction with the State plan required under section
4.
(B) Approval.--The Secretary of Labor shall approve
the State plan modification or request submitted under
subparagraph (A) within 30 days after submission,
unless the Secretary determines that the plan or
request is inconsistent with the requirements of this
section. If the Secretary has not made a determination
within that 30-day period, the plan or request shall be
considered to be approved. If the plan or request is
disapproved, the Secretary may provide a reasonable
period of time in which the plan or request may be
amended and resubmitted for approval. If the plan or
request is approved, the Secretary shall allot funds to
the State under subsection (c) within 30 days after
such approval.
(3) Modifications to state plan or request.--The Governor
may submit further modifications to a State plan modification
or other State request for funds specified under subsection
(b), consistent with the requirements of this section.
(e) Within-State Allocation and Administration.--
(1) In general.--Of the funds allotted to the State under
subsection (c), the Governor--
(A) may reserve not more than 5 percent of the
funds for administration and technical assistance; and
(B) shall allocate the remainder of the funds among
local workforce investment areas within the State in
accordance with subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of
section 4(b)(2), except that for purposes of such
allocation references to a State in such subsection
shall be deemed to be references to a local workforce
investment area and references to all States shall be
deemed to be references to all local workforce
investment areas in the State involved. Not more than
10 percent of the funds so allocated to a local
workforce investment area may be used for the costs of
administration of this section.
(2) Local plan.--
(A) Submission.--In order to receive an allocation
under paragraph (1)(B), the local workforce investment
board, in partnership with the chief elected official
for the local workforce investment area involved, shall
submit to the Governor a local plan modification, or
such other request for funds by local workforce
investment areas as may be specified in guidance under
subsection (b), not later than 30 days after the
submission by the State of the State plan modification
or other State request for funds specified in guidance
under subsection (b), describing the strategies and
activities to be carried out under this section.
(B) Approval.--The Governor shall approve the local
plan modification or other local request for funds
submitted under subparagraph (A) within 30 days after
submission, unless the Governor determines that the
plan or request is inconsistent with requirements of
this section. If the Governor has not made a
determination within that 30-day period, the plan shall
be considered to be approved. If the plan or request is
disapproved, the Governor may provide a reasonable
period of time in which the plan or request may be
amended and resubmitted for approval. If the plan or
request is approved, the Governor shall allocate funds
to the local workforce investment area within 30 days
after such approval.
(3) Reallocation.--If a local workforce investment board
and chief elected official do not submit a local plan
modification (or other local request for funds specified in
guidance under subsection (b)) by the date specified in
paragraph (2), or the Governor disapproves a local plan, the
amount the local workforce investment area would have been
eligible to receive pursuant to the formula under paragraph
(1)(B) shall be allocated to local workforce investment areas
that receive approval of their local plan modifications or
local requests for funds under paragraph (2). Each such local
workforce investment area shall receive a share of the total
amount available for reallocation under this subparagraph, in
accordance with the area's share of the total amount allocated
under paragraph (1)(B) to such local workforce investment
areas.
(f) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--The funds made available under this
section shall be used--
(A) to provide summer employment opportunities for
low-income youth, with direct linkages to academic and
occupational learning, and may be used to provide
supportive services, such as transportation or child
care, that is necessary to enable the participation of
such youth in the opportunities; and
(B) to provide year-round employment opportunities,
which may be combined with other activities authorized
under section 129 of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854), to low-income youth, giving
priority to out-of-school youth who are--
(i) high school dropouts; or
(ii) recipients of a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent but who
are basic skills deficient, unemployed, or
underemployed.
(2) Program priorities.--In administering the funds under
this section, the local board and chief elected official shall
give priority to--
(A) identifying employment opportunities that are--
(i) in emerging or in-demand occupations in
the local workforce investment area; or
(ii) in the public or nonprofit sector and
meet community needs; and
(B) linking participants in year-round employment
opportunities to training and educational activities
that will provide such participants with an industry-
recognized credential.
(3) Performance accountability.--For activities funded
under this section, in lieu of meeting the requirements
described in section 136 of the Workforce Investment Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 2871), States and local workforce investment
areas shall provide such reports as the Secretary of Labor may
require regarding the performance outcomes described in section
7(b)(5).
SEC. 6. WORK-RELATED AND EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES OF
DEMONSTRATED EFFECTIVENESS.
(a) In General.--From the funds available under section 3(a)(3),
the Secretary of Labor shall award grants on a competitive basis to
eligible entities to carry out work-related and educational strategies
and activities of demonstrated effectiveness.
(b) Eligible Entity.--To be eligible to receive a grant under ths
section, an entity--
(1) shall include--
(A) a partnership involving a chief elected
official, and the local workforce investment board for
the local workforce investment area involved (which may
include a partnership with elected officials and
workforce investment boards in the region and in the
State); or
(B) an entity eligible to apply for a grant,
contract, or agreement under section 166 of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2911); and
(2) may include, in combination with a partnership or
entity described in paragraph (1)--
(A) employers or employer associations;
(B) adult education providers or postsecondary
educational institutions, including community colleges;
(C) community-based organizations;
(D) joint labor-management committees;
(E) work-related intermediaries; or
(F) other appropriate organizations.
(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary of Labor an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, the application
shall--
(1) describe the strategies and activities of demonstrated
effectiveness that the eligible entity will carry out to
provide unemployed, low-income adults and low-income youth with
skills that will lead to employment upon completion of
participation in such activities;
(2) describe the requirements that will apply relating to
the eligibility of unemployed, low-income adults or low-income
youth, consistent with section 8, for activities carried out
under this section, which requirements may include criteria to
target assistance to particular categories of such adults and
youth, such as individuals with disabilities or individuals who
have exhausted all rights to unemployment compensation;
(3) describe how the strategies and activities will address
the needs of the target populations identified in paragraph (2)
and the needs of employers in the local workforce investment
area;
(4) describe the expected outcomes to be achieved by
implementing the strategies and activities;
(5) provide evidence that the funds provided through the
grant will be expended expeditiously and efficiently to
implement the strategies and activities;
(6) describe how the strategies and activities will be
coordinated with other Federal, State, and local programs
providing employment, education, and supportive activities;
(7) provide evidence of employer commitment to participate
in the activities funded under this section, including
identification of anticipated occupational and skill needs;
(8) provide assurances that the eligible entity will report
such information as the Secretary may require relating to
fiscal, performance, and other matters as the Secretary
determines is necessary to effectively monitor the activities
carried out under this section;
(9) provide assurances that the eligible entity will ensure
compliance with the requirements, restrictions, labor
standards, and other provisions described in section 7(a); and
(10) for any activity leading to the acquisition of an
industry-recognized credential, a description of the
credential.
(d) Priority in Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary of Labor shall give priority to applications submitted by
eligible entities from areas of high poverty and high unemployment, as
defined by the Secretary, such as Public Use Microdata Areas designated
by the Bureau of the Census.
(e) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant under this
section shall use the funds made available through the grant to support
strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness that are
designed to provide unemployed, low-income adults or low-income youth
with skills that will lead to employment as part of or upon completion
of participation in such activities. Such strategies and activities may
include--
(1) on-the-job training, registered apprenticeship
programs, or other programs that combine work with skills
development;
(2) sector-based training programs that have been designed
to meet the specific requirements of an employer or group of
employers in that sector and for which employers are committed
to hiring individuals upon successful completion of the
training;
(3) training that supports an industry sector or an
employer-based or labor-management committee industry
partnership and that includes a significant work experience
component;
(4) activities that lead to the acquisition of industry-
recognized credentials in a field identified by the State or
local workforce investment area as a growth sector or in-demand
industry in which there are likely to be significant job
opportunities in the short term;
(5) activities that provide connections to immediate work
opportunities, including subsidized employment opportunities,
or summer employment opportunities for youth, that include
concurrent skills training and other supports;
(6) activities offered through career academies that
provide students with the academic preparation and training,
such as paid internships and concurrent enrollment in community
colleges or other postsecondary institutions, needed to pursue
a career pathway that leads to postsecondary credentials and
high-demand jobs; and
(7) adult basic education and integrated basic education
and training for low-skilled adults that are tied to employer
workforce needs, hosted at community colleges or at other
sites, to prepare individuals for jobs that are in demand in a
local workforce investment area.
(f) Coordination of Federal Administration.--The Secretary of Labor
shall administer this section in coordination with the Secretary of
Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other
appropriate agency heads, to ensure the effective implementation of
this section.
SEC. 7. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Labor Standards and Protections.--Activities provided with
funds made available under this Act shall be subject to the
requirements and restrictions, including the labor standards, described
in section 181 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2931)
and the nondiscrimination provisions of section 188 of such Act (29
U.S.C. 2938), in addition to other applicable Federal laws.
(b) Reporting.--The Secretary shall require the reporting of
information relating to fiscal, performance, and other matters that the
Secretary determines is necessary to effectively monitor the activities
carried out with funds provided under this Act. At a minimum,
recipients of grants or subgrants under this Act shall provide
information relating to--
(1) the number of individuals participating in activities
with funds provided under this Act and the number of such
individuals who have completed such participation;
(2) the expenditures of funds provided under this Act;
(3) the number of jobs created pursuant to the activities
carried out under this Act;
(4) the demographic characteristics of individuals
participating in activities under this Act; and
(5) the performance outcomes for individuals participating
in activities under this Act, including--
(A) for adults participating in activities funded
under section 4 performance on indicators consisting
of--
(i) entry into unsubsidized employment;
(ii) retention in unsubsidized employment;
and
(iii) earnings in unsubsidized employment;
(B) for low-income youth participating in summer
employment activities under sections 5 and 6
performance on indicators consisting of--
(i) work readiness skill attainment, using
an employer-validated checklist;
(ii) placement in or return to secondary or
postsecondary education or training, or entry
into unsubsidized employment;
(C) for low-income youth participating in year-
round employment activities under section 5 or in
activities under section 6 performance on indicators
consisting of--
(i) placement in or return to postsecondary
education;
(ii) attainment of a secondary school
diploma or its recognized equivalent;
(iii) attainment of an industry-recognized
credential; and
(iv) entry into unsubsidized employment,
retention, and earnings as described in
subparagraph (A); and
(D) for unemployed, low-income adults participating
in activities under section 6--
(i) entry into unsubsidized employment,
retention, and earnings as described in
subparagraph (A); and
(ii) attainment of an industry-recognized
credential.
(c) Activities Required To Be Additional.--Funds provided under
this Act shall only be used for activities that are in addition to
activities that would otherwise be available in the State or local
workforce investment area in the absence of such funds.
(d) Additional Requirements.--The Secretary of Labor may establish
such additional requirements as the Secretary determines may be
necessary to ensure fiscal integrity, effective monitoring, and
appropriate and prompt implementation of the activities under this Act.
(e) Report of Information and Evaluations to Congress and the
Public.--The Secretary of Labor shall provide to the appropriate
committees of Congress and make available to the public the information
reported pursuant to subsection (b) and the evaluations of activities
carried out with the funds reserved under section 3(b).
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Chief elected official.--The term ``chief elected
official'' means the chief elected executive officer of a unit
of local government in a local workforce investment area or in
the case in which such an area includes more than one unit of
general government, the individuals designated under an
agreement described in section 117(c)(1)(B) of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832(c)(1)(B)).
(2) Industry-recognized credential.--The term ``industry-
recognized credential'' means such a credential within the
meaning of section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(3) Local workforce investment area.--The term ``local
workforce investment area'' means such area designated under
section 116 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2831).
(4) Local workforce investment board.--The term ``local
workforce investment board'' means such board established under
section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2832).
(5) Low-income youth.--
(A) In general.--The term ``low-income youth''
means an individual who is not younger than age 16 and
not older than age 24 and is an individual described in
subparagraph (B) or (C).
(B) Eligible youth.--For purposes of this
paragraph, an individual described in this
subparagraph--
(i) meets the definition of a low-income
individual provided in section 101(25) of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2801(25)), except that--
(I) States and local workforce
investment areas, subject to approval
in the applicable State plans and local
plans, may increase the income level
specified in subparagraph (B)(i) of
such section to an amount not in excess
of 200 percent of the poverty line for
purposes of determining eligibility for
participation in activities under
section 5; and
(II) eligible entities described in
section 6(b), subject to approval in
the applicable applications for funds,
may make such an increase for purposes
of determining eligibility for
participation in activities under
section 6; and
(ii) is in one or more of the categories
specified in section 101(13)(C) of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2801(13)(C)).
(C) Youth eligible for school lunches.--For
purposes of this paragraph, an individual described in
this subparagraph receives or is eligible to receive a
free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq.).
(6) Outlying area.--The term ``outlying area'' means the
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic
of Palau (except during any period for which the Secretary of
Labor determines that a Compact of Free Association is in
effect and provides for Federal assistance for education or
training).
(7) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means a
poverty line as defined in section 673 of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902), applicable to family
of the size involved.
(8) Unemployed, low-income adult.--The term ``unemployed,
low-income adult'' means an individual who--
(A) is age 18 or older;
(B) is without employment and is seeking assistance
under this Act to obtain employment; and
(C) meets the definition of a low-income individual
specified in section 101(25) of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801(25)), except
that--
(i) States and local entities described in
section 4(d)(1)(A), subject to approval in the
applicable State plans and local plans
described in section 4, or a State agency or
agencies described in section 4(d)(1)(B),
subject to approval in the State plan described
in section 4, may increase the income level
specified in subparagraph (B)(i) of such
section 101(25) to an amount not in excess of
200 percent of the poverty line for purposes of
determining eligibility for participation in
activities under section 4; and
(ii) eligible entities described in section
6(b), subject to approval in the applicable
applications for funds, may make such an
increase for purposes of determining
eligibility for participation in activities
under section 6.
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
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