Youth Jobs Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Youth Jobs Fund, with an initial appropriation of $3 billion for FY2014.
Requires the Secretary of Labor to make certain Fund allocations to each state with an approved workforce investment system plan modification, other specified requests for funds, and Native American program grantees to provide summer and year-round employment opportunities to low-income youth.
Requires the Secretary to award allocations and 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 young 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 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2381 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2381
To provide for youth jobs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 14, 2013
Mr. Conyers introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for youth jobs, 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 ``Youth Jobs Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF YOUTH JOBS FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States an account that shall be known as the Youth Jobs Fund
(referred to in this Act as ``the Fund'').
(b) Deposits Into the Fund.--Out of any amounts in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated $3,000,000,000 for fiscal
year 2014, which shall be paid to the Fund, to be used by the Secretary
of Labor to carry out this Act.
(c) Availability of Funds.--Of the amounts available to the Fund
under subsection (b), the Secretary of Labor shall--
(1) allot $1,500,000,000 in accordance with section 3 to
provide summer and year-round employment opportunities to low-
income youth; and
(2) award $1,500,000,000 in allotments and competitive
grants in accordance with section 4 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 young adults and low-income youth to
provide the skills and assistance needed to obtain employment.
(d) Period of Availability.--The amounts appropriated under this
Act shall be available for obligation by the Secretary of Labor until
December 31, 2014, and shall be available for expenditure by grantees
(including subgrantees) until September 30, 2015.
SEC. 3. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
LOW-INCOME YOUTH.
(a) In General.--From the funds available under section 2(c)(1),
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 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) In general.--Using the funds described in subsection
(a), the Secretary of Labor shall allot to each State the total
of the amounts assigned to the State under subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of paragraph (2).
(2) Assignments to states.--
(A) Minimum amounts.--Using funds described in
subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall assign to
each State an amount equal to \1/2\ of 1 percent of
such funds.
(B) Formula amounts.--The Secretary of Labor shall
assign the remainder of the funds described in
subsection (a) among the States by assigning--
(i) one-half on the basis of the relative
number of young unemployed individuals in areas
of substantial youth unemployment in each
State, compared to the total number of young
unemployed individuals in areas of substantial
youth unemployment in all States; and
(ii) one-half on the basis of the relative
number of disadvantaged young adults and youth
in each State, compared to the total number of
disadvantaged young adults and youth in all
States.
(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)(A), 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
paragraph (2) shall be transferred within the Fund and added to
the amounts available for competitive grants under sections
2(c)(2) and 4(b)(2).
(4) Definitions.--For purposes of paragraph (2):
(A) Area of substantial youth unemployment.--The
term ``area of substantial youth 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 10 percent, among individuals who are not
younger than 16 but are younger than 25, for the most
recent 12 months, as determined by the Secretary of
Labor.
(B) Disadvantaged young adult or youth.--The term
``disadvantaged young adult or youth'' means an
individual who is not younger than 16 but is younger
than 25 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) Young unemployed individual.--The term ``young
unemployed individual'' means an individual who is not
younger than 16 but is younger than 25.
(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 State
will apply relating to the eligibility of low-income
youth, consistent with section 2(4), 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 5(b);
(D) a description of the timelines for
implementation of the strategies and 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 quarter;
(E) assurances that the State will report such
information, relating to fiscal, performance, and other
matters, as the Secretary may require and 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
5(a); and
(G) if a local board and chief elected official in
the State will provide employment opportunities with
the link to training and educational activities
described in subsection (f)(2)(B), a description of how
the training and educational activities will lead to
the industry-recognized credential involved.
(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.
(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 clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection
(c)(2)(B), except that for purposes of such allocation
references to a State in subsection (c)(2)(B) 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.
(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 paragraph, 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.
(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 an industry-
recognized certificate or credential (referred to in
this Act as an ``industry-recognized credential'').
(3) Administration.--Not more than 5 percent of the funds
allocated to a local workforce investment area under this
section may be used for the costs of administration of this
section.
(4) 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
5(b)(5).
SEC. 4. WORK-BASED EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES OF DEMONSTRATED
EFFECTIVENESS.
(a) In General.--From the funds available under section 2(c)(2),
the Secretary of Labor shall make allotments to States, and award
grants to eligible entities, under subsection (b) to carry out work-
based strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness.
(b) Allotments and Grants.--
(1) Allotments to states for grants.--
(A) Allotments.--Using funds described in
subsection (a), the Secretary of Labor shall allot to
each State an amount equal to \1/2\ of 1 percent of
such funds.
(B) Grants to eligible entities.--The State shall
use the funds to award grants, on a competitive basis,
to eligible entities in the State.
(2) Direct grants to eligible entities.--Using the funds
described in subsection (a) that are not allotted under
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall award grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities.
(c) 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 such elected officials and
workforce investment boards and State elected officials
and State boards (as defined in section 101 of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)) 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.
(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary of Labor (or to the
State, if applying for a grant under subsection (b)(1)(B)) 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 young 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 young adults and low-
income youth, consistent with section 2, 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 relating to fiscal, performance, and other
matters, as the Secretary of Labor may require and 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 5(a); and
(10) if the entity will provide activities described in
subsection (f)(4), a description of how the activities will
lead to the industry-recognized credentials involved.
(e) Priority in Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary of Labor (or a State, under subsection (b)(1)(B)) 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.
(f) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant under this
section shall use the funds made available through the grant to support
work-based strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness that
are designed to provide unemployed, low-income young adults and 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
in-demand jobs; and
(7) adult basic education and integrated basic education
and training for low-skilled individuals who are not younger
than 16 but are younger than 25, hosted at community colleges
or at other sites, to prepare individuals for jobs that are in
demand in a local workforce investment area.
(g) 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. 5. 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 of Labor may 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 (including recipients of 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 low-income youth participating in summer
employment activities under sections 3 and 4,
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;
(B) for low-income youth participating in year-
round employment activities under section 3 or in
activities under section 4, 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, retention in, and earnings
in, unsubsidized employment; and
(C) for unemployed, low-income young adults
participating in activities under section 4,
performance on indicators consisting of--
(i) entry into, retention in, and earnings
in, unsubsidized employment; 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 the
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).
SEC. 6. 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) 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).
(3) 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).
(4) Low-income youth.--The term ``low-income youth'' means
an individual who--
(A) is not younger than 16 but is younger than 25;
(B) 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 3; and
(ii) eligible entities described in section
4(c), 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 4; and
(C) 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)).
(5) 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 a
family of the size involved.
(6) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term
``registered apprenticeship program'' means an apprenticeship
program registered under 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.).
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, and the District of Columbia.
(8) Unemployed, low-income young adult.--The term
``unemployed, low-income young adult'' means an individual
who--
(A) is not younger than 18 but is younger than 35;
(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 eligible entities described in section 4(c),
subject to approval in the applicable applications for
funds, 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 4.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E8E892-893)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
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