Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
This bill establishes and provides funding through FY2031 for grant programs to address barriers to youth employment. The bill also excludes certain youth employment income from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility determinations.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Labor to provide formula grants to states and local areas, and competitive grants to community-based organizations and other eligible entities, to assist in carrying out subsidized public employment programs for youth with barriers to employment. Funding to states and local areas must be used for programs that lead eligible youth to unsubsidized full-time employment or to attainment of at least one recognized postsecondary credential. Grants to eligible entities must be used to match youth with employment barriers to subsidized employment programs funded by the bill and to provide hands-on work experience.
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate and report on the activities funded by the bill.
The bill also excludes from SNAP income eligibility determinations any income earned by a household member who is younger than 22 years old, is an elementary or secondary school student, and lives with a parent.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3246 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3246
To award funds to States and local areas for subsidized employment
programs for youth.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2021
Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Lee of California,
Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Bush, Ms.
Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Mr. Evans, Mr. Carson, Mr. Trone, and Mr. Kahele)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award funds to States and local areas for subsidized employment
programs for youth.
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 ``Connecting Youth to Jobs Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) offer employment to all young people who seek it,
especially those who have been historically disadvantaged;
(2) create subsidized employment opportunities for young
people to address National, State, and local priorities, such
as infrastructure enhancement, manufacturing, public works,
community development, and the arts; and
(3) support young people with services, including housing,
healthcare, transportation, child care, and access to
technology.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Qualifying emergency.--The term ``qualifying
emergency'' means--
(A) a public health emergency declared by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d);
(B) an event for which the President declared a
major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or
501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and
5191); or
(C) a national emergency declared by the President
under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(2) Eligible youth.--The term ``eligible youth'' means an
individual who is not younger than age 14 and not older than
age 24, without regard to immigration status or past or current
involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system.
(3) ESEA terms.--The terms ``local educational agency'' and
``State educational agency'' have the meanings given the terms
in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) High-poverty area.--The term ``high-poverty area''
means a census tract with a youth poverty rate of at least 20
percent during the most recent 5 consecutive years.
(5) Historically high youth unemployment levels.--The term
``historically high youth unemployment levels'' means any local
area with a youth unemployment rate of at least 10 percent, as
measured over the most recent decennial censuses, or by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent 5-year period
for which data are available.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) Public education entity.--The term ``public education
entities'' includes--
(A) a local educational agency;
(B) a State educational agency; or
(C) a public institution of higher education.
(8) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term
``registered apprenticeship programs'' 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.), including any requirement,
standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such
requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30,
2019 (or successor requirements, standards or rule).
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(10) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services''
means services such as transportation, child care, dependent
care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary
to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized
under this Act.
(11) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning''
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2302), except that such term includes work-based learning in
virtual settings.
(12) WIOA terms.--The terms ``in-demand industry sector or
occupation'', ``individual with a disability'', ``in-school
youth'' , ``local area'', ``local board'', ``out-of-school
youth'', ``outlying area'', ``poverty line'', ``recognized
postsecondary credential'', ``State'', ``State board'', and
``unit of general local government'' have the meanings given
the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(13) Youth with a barrier to employment.--The term ``youth
with a barrier to employment'' means an eligible youth who--
(A) is a homeless child or youth (as such term is
defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a));
(B) has been incarcerated or has past or current
involvement with the criminal or juvenile justice
systems;
(C) is a current or former foster youth;
(D) is an individual with a disability;
(E) is pregnant or parenting;
(F) is a school dropout (as defined by State law);
(G) is from a family with an income level at or
below 200 percent of the poverty line; or
(H) is a member of another young-adult population,
including racial groups, that is experiencing disparate
levels of youth disconnection, as defined by the local
workforce development board of the local area in which
the youth resides.
TITLE I--YOUTH PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
SEC. 101. FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES AND LOCAL AREAS.
(a) Funding Allotments and Allocations.--
(1) State allotments.--To assist States and outlying areas,
and to enable States and outlying areas to assist local areas,
in carrying out subsidized employment programs described in
subsection (b) for youth with a barrier to employment, from the
funds appropriated under section 105(a), the Secretary of Labor
shall--
(A) make an allotment in accordance with section
127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to each
State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103
of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 3113); and
(B) award a grant to each outlying area that
complies with the requirements of title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3101 et seq.) to carry out subsidized youth employment
programs for such youth.
(2) Within state allocation.--
(A) Statewide activities.--Each State shall reserve
25 percent of the allotment received under paragraph
(1)(A) to carry out statewide subsidized employment
programs described in subsection (b).
(B) Allocations to local areas.--A Governor of a
State that receives an allotment under paragraph (1),
in coordination with relevant State and local
stakeholders, shall use any remaining amounts (after
reserving funds under subparagraph (A)), to allocate
funds to local areas, as long as not less than 65
percent of such remaining amount is allocated to--
(i) high-poverty local areas with the
highest youth unemployment rate compared to
other local areas in the State; and
(ii) local areas with historically high
levels of youth unemployment within the State.
(b) Uses of Funds.--
(1) Subsidized employment programs.--
(A) In general.--Funds allotted to States for
statewide programs, and funds allocated to local areas
under subsection (a), shall be used to carry out
subsidized employment programs described in paragraph
(3) that--
(i) lead to unsubsidized, full-time
employment for youth with a barrier to
employment in such State or local area; or
(ii) provide the necessary skills and
competency attainment of at least 1 recognized
postsecondary credential to further the
education or career of such youth.
(2) Funding distribution.--Of the funds allotted to States,
or allocated to local areas, as described in paragraph (1) for
a fiscal year:
(A) Not less than 60 percent shall be used for
wages and employment benefits to individuals employed
in subsidized employment programs funded under this
section.
(B) Not less than 30 percent for the first fiscal
year for which such funds are so allotted or allocated,
and not less than 20 percent for each fiscal year
thereafter, shall be used to provide career services
described in section 134(c)(2) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)),
training services, or youth workforce investment
activities.
(C) Any remaining funds may be used for
administrative and other allowable costs (such as
supplies, materials, equipment, and health and safety
resources) incurred by the State or local area, as
determined by the Secretary.
(3) Conditions.--Except as otherwise determined by the
Secretary, the following conditions shall apply to each
subsidized employment program funded under this section:
(A) Each youth with a barrier to employment
residing in the State or local area funding such
program shall be entitled to an opportunity to be
employed by such program, and no other individual shall
be provided such opportunity.
(B) Each individual employed under such program
shall be paid a wage, which shall at least be the
highest of the following:
(i) $15 an hour.
(ii) The minimum wage under the applicable
State or local minimum wage law.
(iii) The prevailing rates of pay for
individuals employed in similar occupations by
the same employer.
(iv) The Federal minimum wage in effect
under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)).
(C) With respect to a wage determined under
subparagraph (B), the Secretary may promulgate
regulations to increase such wage after consideration
of industry, geographical region, skill requirements,
and individual proficiency.
(D) An individual may self-attest to being a youth
with a barrier to employment, and verification of such
eligibility may occur after the individual is employed
under the program.
(E) Earnings from such program shall not be
regarded as income and shall not be regarded as a
resource for the month of receipt and the following 12
months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of
an individual (or the individual's spouse or family)
for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of
benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or
under any State or local program financed in whole or
in part with Federal funds.
(F) Such program shall coordinate with the
workforce systems and activities promoted by the State
or local board to connect youth with a barrier to
employment to educational or career opportunities.
(G) Such program shall establish or expand
diversity and inclusion opportunities and collect
disaggregated data on related efforts.
SEC. 102. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.
(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under section
105(b), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible entities for activities described in subsection (d).
(b) Requirements on Uses of Funds.--In awarding funds under this
section the Secretary shall ensure the following:
(1) Direct financial assistance.--Not less than 40 percent
of such funds are used to provide direct financial assistance
to eligible youth to support such youth with financial needs
with respect to entering, remaining enrolled in, and completing
a subsidized employment program described in section 101(b)
(including related costs of training, supplies, food and
nutrition, housing, transportation, child care, mental health
and substance abuse services, payment of fines, or other
targeted costs determined allowable by the Secretary).
(2) In-demand industry sectors or occupations.--Not less
than 40 percent of such funds are used to connect eligible
youth to employers for in-demand industry sectors or
occupations, work-based learning opportunities, registered
apprenticeship programs, or to reconnect to a public education
entity.
(3) Diversity and inclusion activities.-- Not less than 10
percent of such funds are used for promoting, creating, or
expanding diversity and inclusion activities for the purposes
of diversifying workforce systems.
(c) Eligible Entity Defined.--
(1) In general.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an
entity that the Secretary determines to serve a high number or
high percentage of youth with a barrier to employment who are
employed in a subsidized employment programs described in
section 101(b).
(2) Inclusions.--The term ``eligible entity'' includes--
(A) a community-based organization;
(B) a State and unit of general local government in
a partnership with a community-based organization;
(C) a partnership among States and units of general
local government, community-based organizations, public
education entities, registered apprenticeships, and
employers from in-demand industry sectors or
occupations;
(D) a partnership among community-based
organizations and juvenile and adult correctional
facilities;
(E) a labor organization or joint labor-management
organization; or
(F) a tribal organization (as defined in section 4
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or an urban Indian
organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603))''.
(d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section--
(1) shall use the grant to match youth with a barrier to
employment to subsidized employment programs funded under
section 101, and provide hands-on work experience that does not
supplant the work of existing employees; and
(2) may use a grant received under this section to carry
out 1 or more of the following:
(A) Establish or expand diversity and inclusion
opportunities and collect disaggregated data on related
efforts.
(B) Provide (directly or through partnerships)
technical assistance and supportive services to
eligible youth and their families to help navigate
supportive services and other Federal and State
assistance programs to support the recruitment,
retention, and completion of a program funded under
section 101.
(C) Coordinate partnerships with programs funded
under section 101 to connect eligible youth to
educational or career opportunities, including to
employers for in-demand industry sectors or
occupations, work-based learning opportunities,
registered apprenticeship programs, or to reconnect to
a public education entity.
(D) Form comprehensive youth service delivery
systems to improve education and employment outcomes
for youth and to strategically connect local sectors,
systems, and resources by strategically coordinating
resources and public, private, and nonprofit funding to
create youth pathways to further the education, skills,
and access to jobs and successful careers, by--
(i) conducting and improving outreach to
underrepresented youth and families with
respect to the programs funded under section
101;
(ii) making appropriate use of existing
education, child welfare, social services, and
workforce development data collection systems
to facilitate the entity's ability to recruit
youth participants; and
(iii) developing wide-ranging higher
education or employment pathways for youth.
(E) Assist in the transition between subsidized
youth employment programs and unsubsidized employment
or education.
(F) In the case of an eligible entity described in
subsection (d)(2)(D), assist in the transition from
incarceration with the goal of reducing rates of
recidivism and ensuring incarcerated youth and formerly
incarcerated youth have access to employment and
educational opportunities.
SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit an individual
receiving assistance under this title from being represented by a labor
organization.
SEC. 104. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, DATA COLLECTION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the first grant is
awarded under section 101, and annually thereafter, each program funded
under section 101 shall be evaluated by the State board of the State
receiving an allotment under section 101 to carry out such program or
the local board of the local area receiving an allocation under section
101 to carry out such program.
(b) Performance Data Collection.--The Secretary of Labor shall
collect data on--
(1) the performance of each program using the disaggregated
indicators of performance in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3141(b)(2)(A)(i));
(2) the completion rates of the program;
(3) the rate of full-time unsubsidized employment after
program completion;
(4) the rate of reconnection to public education entities
after program completion; and
(5) the diversity and equal opportunity in such programs.
(c) Accountability Metrics.--The Secretary shall establish a youth
work-readiness indicator.
SEC. 105. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than December 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Labor shall submit a publicly available report to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
that includes--
(1) a review and assessment of all information related to
the programs funded under this Act;
(2) any relevant guidance issued by the Secretary with
respect to such programs; and
(3) an analysis of equity, diversity, and inclusion
activities, best practices, and recommendations for improvement
with respect to increasing the success of such programs and
outcomes for youth, and participant demographics (while
maintaining privacy protections), disaggregated by race,
ethnicity, sex, age, and subpopulations described in
subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 129(a)(1) of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Mandatory Funds.--There are authorized to be appropriated, and
there are appropriated (in addition to any other amounts appropriated
to carry out this section 101 and out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated), such sums as may be necessary to carry out
section 101 for fiscal year 2022 and each of the succeeding 9 fiscal
years.
(b) Competitive Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated
$10,000,000,000 to carry out section 102 for fiscal year 2022 and each
of the succeeding 9 fiscal years.
TITLE II--GAO REPORT
SEC. 201. GAO REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
published report in section 105, and every 4 years thereafter, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an independent
evaluation of the activities funded under this Act and submit to
Congress a report that shall be made publicly available.
(b) Evaluation.--In conducting the evaluation under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General shall consider, as applicable and appropriate,
information from the report under section 105.
(c) Report.--The report described in subsection (a) shall review,
assess, and provide recommendations, as appropriate, on the following:
(1) Compliance with the requirements established under this
Act.
(2) The effectiveness of the requirements established under
this Act, associated challenges, and trends in the youth
progress made toward the goals described in section
101(b)(1)(A).
(3) Federal guidance, best practices, and funding
recommendations for related Federal youth employment activities
and any innovative State and local actions that improve or
further the education or career of youth participants,
including employment opportunities that lead to long-term,
unsubsidized employment.
TITLE III--YOUTH STUDENT INCOME EXCLUSION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SEC. 301. YOUTH STUDENT INCOME EXCLUDED UNDER THE FOOD AND NUTRITION
ACT OF 2008.
Section 5(d)(7) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2014(d)(7)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the
following:
``and income earned by a household member who is less than 22
years of age, who is an elementary or secondary school student,
and who lives with a natural, adoptive, or stepparent''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
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