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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6136 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6136
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize the
Reentry Employment Opportunities Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 1, 2023
Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Mr. Johnson of Ohio) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize the
Reentry Employment Opportunities Program, 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 ``REO Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 172 (29 U.S.C. 3227) as
section 173; and
(2) by inserting after section 171 (29 U.S.C. 3226) the
following:
``SEC. 172. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Correctional institution.--The term `correctional
institution' has the meaning given the term in section 225(e).
``(2) Eligible adult.--The term `eligible adult' means an
individual who--
``(A) on the date of the individual's enrollment--
``(i) is not younger than age 25; and
``(ii) is residing in or returning to the
geographic area served; and
``(B)(i) before that date of enrollment--
``(I) was released from incarceration in a
correctional institution (including being
enrolled in a work release center at the
institution); or
``(II) served an alternative sentence, or a
sentence to a diversion program, ordered
through the adult criminal justice system; or
``(ii) on that date, is subject to the adult
criminal justice system, including an individual who--
``(I) is incarcerated in a correctional
institution (including being enrolled in a work
release center at the institution), but is
scheduled to be released within 6 months;
``(II) is residing in a residential reentry
center;
``(III) is subject to electronic or home-
based monitoring;
``(IV) is in the community on probation or
parole; or
``(V) is serving an alternative sentence,
or a sentence to a diversion program, ordered
through that system.
``(3) Eligible young adult.--The term `eligible young
adult' means an individual who, on the date of the individual's
enrollment--
``(A) is not younger than age 18 and not older than
age 24;
``(B) is residing in or returning to the geographic
area served; and
``(C)(i) is a school dropout (within the meaning of
section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii)(I)) from a high school,
except that not more than 10 percent of the individuals
accepted to participate in a program under subsection
(b) may be found eligible under this subparagraph
solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this
clause; or
``(ii) is an individual who is, or has been,
subject to the juvenile or adult criminal justice
system, including an individual who--
``(I) is or has been incarcerated in a
correctional institution (including being
enrolled in a work release center at the
institution or in a detention facility for
juveniles);
``(II) is or has been subject to that
system due to having an out-of-home placement,
or being on probation or parole; or
``(III) is serving or has served an
alternative sentence, or a sentence to a
diversion program, ordered through that system.
``(4) Eligible youth.--The term `eligible youth' means an
individual who, on the date of the individual's enrollment--
``(A) is not younger than age 16 and not older than
age 17;
``(B) is residing in or returning to the geographic
area served; and
``(C)(i) is a school dropout (within the meaning of
section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii)(I)) from a high school,
except that not more than 10 percent of the individuals
accepted to participate in a program under subsection
(c) may be found eligible under this subparagraph
solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this
clause; or
``(ii) is an individual who is, or has been,
subject to the juvenile justice system, including an
individual who--
``(I) is or has been incarcerated in a
correctional institution (including being
enrolled in a work release center at the
institution or in a detention facility for
juveniles);
``(II) is or has been subject to that
system due to having an out-of-home placement,
or being on probation or parole; or
``(III) is serving or has served an
alternative sentence, or a sentence to a
diversion program, ordered through that system.
``(5) Enroll.--The term `enroll' means receive confirmation
that an individual, having applied to participate in a program
under this section, has been accepted to the program.
``(6) Registered apprenticeship.--The term `registered
apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship 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.).
``(b) Adult Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and
carry out an adult Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.
``(2) Grants.--
``(A) Direct grants.--In carrying out the program,
the Secretary may make direct grants to eligible
entities to carry out projects described in paragraph
(5), in geographic areas, for eligible adults and
eligible young adults.
``(B) Grants through intermediaries.--In any year
for which the Secretary makes grants under subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall make intermediary grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities who are national
or regional intermediaries, who shall use the grant
funds to make direct grants to eligible entities or to
carry out projects described in subparagraph (A) in
accordance with the provisions of this subsection. For
purposes of this subsection, a reference to the
Secretary shall include a reference to an intermediary
who receives funds under this subparagraph to the
extent that the intermediary uses the funds to make
direct grants to eligible entities.
``(3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a
direct or intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity--
``(A) shall be an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is
exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
``(B) may be--
``(i) an organization that serves women or
a minority population;
``(ii) a State or local government; or
``(iii) an entity (including an Indian
tribe or an Alaska Native-controlled or Native
Hawaiian-controlled organization) that is
eligible for a grant under section 166
(including the regulations issued under that
section); and
``(C) may be an organization that serves--
``(i) an urban county, meaning a county
that is a Metropolitan Area, as designated by
the Office of Management and Budget; or
``(ii) a rural county, meaning a county
that is a Micropolitan Area, or neither a
Metropolitan Area nor a Micropolitan Area, as
so designated.
``(4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a direct
grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require, including, for a program that includes an
industry-recognized credential, a description of the program
leading to the credential.
``(5) Use of funds.--An entity that receives, under this
subsection, a direct grant to carry out a project described in
paragraph (2) shall use the grant funds to carry out a project
that provides opportunities in a pre-apprenticeship program, a
registered apprenticeship program, an industry-recognized
apprenticeship program, occupational skills education, on-the-
job training, work experience, job referrals, basic skills
remediation, educational services, behavioral health services,
or work readiness activities, to eligible adults or eligible
young adults.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2024 and each
subsequent fiscal year.
``(c) Youth Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and
carry out a youth Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.
``(2) Grants.--
``(A) Direct grants.--In carrying out the program,
the Secretary may make direct grants to eligible
entities to carry out projects described in subsection
(b)(5), in geographic areas, for eligible youth.
``(B) Grants through intermediaries.--In any year
for which the Secretary makes grants under subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall make intermediary grants as
described in subsection (b)(2)(B), except that
references in that subsection to eligible entities
shall be treated as references to entities described in
paragraph (3).
``(3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a
direct or intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity
may be an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation
under section 501(a) of such Code or a State juvenile justice
agency.
``(4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a direct
grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity
shall submit an application as described in subsection (b)(4).
``(5) Use of funds.--An entity that receives, under this
subsection, a direct grant to carry out a project described in
paragraph (2) shall use the grant funds as described in
subsection (b)(5), for eligible youth.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2024 and each
subsequent fiscal year.
``(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall reserve and use
not more than--
``(1) 2 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection
(b)(6) for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to
recipients of grants under subsection (b); and
``(2) 2 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection
(c)(6) for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to
recipients of grants under subsection (c).''.
SEC. 3. EVALUATION OF THE REENTRY PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall evaluate the
effectiveness of direct grants and intermediary grants used by the
Department of Labor to support offender reentry and recidivism
reduction through reentry projects at the Federal, State, local, and
tribal levels. The Chief Evaluation Officer shall evaluate each of the
following:
(1) The effectiveness of such projects in relation to their
cost, including the extent to which the projects improve
reentry outcomes, including employment, education, housing, and
reductions in recidivism, of participants in comparison to
comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such
projects.
(2) The effectiveness of project structures and mechanisms
for delivery of services.
(3) The impact of such projects on the communities and
participants involved.
(4) The impact of such projects on related programs and
activities.
(5) The extent to which such projects meet the needs of
various demographic groups.
(6) The quality and effectiveness of technical assistance
provided by the Department of Labor to grantees for
implementing such projects.
(7) Such other factors as may be appropriate.
(b) Availability of Funds for Evaluation.--Not more than 2.5
percent of any amounts appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out the
reentry projects shall be reserved and made available to the Chief
Evaluation Officer for such evaluation, including evaluating the
processes, implementation, outcomes, costs, and effectiveness of the
reentry projects in improving reentry and reducing recidivism. Such
reserved funding may be used to provide support to recipients of direct
grants and intermediary grants for reentry projects for supplemental
data collection, analysis, and coordination associated with evaluation
activities.
(c) Techniques.--Evaluations conducted under this section shall use
appropriate methodology and research designs. Impact evaluations
conducted under this section shall include the use of intervention and
control groups chosen by random assignment methods, to the extent
possible.
(d) Metrics and Outcomes for Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall
consult with relevant stakeholders and identify outcome
measures, including measures for employment, housing,
education, and public safety, that are to be achieved by
reentry projects and the metrics by which the achievement of
such outcomes shall be determined.
(2) Publication.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the Chief Evaluation Officer identifies metrics and
outcomes under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall
publish such metrics and outcomes identified.
(e) Data Collection.--As a condition of receiving a direct grant or
intermediary grant for a reentry project, grantees shall be required to
collect and report to the Department of Labor data based upon the
metrics identified under subsection (d). In accordance with applicable
law, collection of individual-level data under a pledge of
confidentiality shall be protected by the Chief Evaluation Officer in
accordance with such pledge.
(f) Data Accessibility.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall--
(1) make data collected during the course of evaluation
under this section available in de-identified form in such a
manner that reasonably protects a pledge of confidentiality to
participants under subsection (e); and
(2) make identifiable data collected during the course of
evaluation under this section available to qualified
researchers for future research and evaluation, in accordance
with applicable law.
(g) Publication and Reporting of Evaluation Findings.--The Chief
Evaluation Officer shall--
(1) not later than 365 days after the date on which the
enrollment of participants in an impact evaluation is completed
under this section, publish an interim report on such
evaluation;
(2) not later than 90 days after the date on which any
evaluation is completed under this section, publish and make
publicly available such evaluation; and
(3) not later than 60 days after the completion date
described in paragraph (2), submit a report to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate on such evaluation.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chief evaluation officer.--The term ``Chief Evaluation
Officer'' means the head of the independent evaluation office
located organizationally in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Policy of the Department of Labor.
(2) Reentry project.--The term ``reentry project'' means a
project funded under the reentry employment opportunities
program carried out under section 172 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunities Act.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act is amended--
(1) by redesignating the item relating to section 172 as
the item relating to section 173; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the
following:
``Sec. 172. Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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