I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7069 

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make permanent 

a grant program to promote and assist in the reentry of ex-offenders 

into the workforce. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 16, 2018 

Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota 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 make permanent a grant program to promote and 

assist in the reentry of ex-offenders into the workforce. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Workforce Reentry 

5 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP 

7 GRANTS. 

8 Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and 

9 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended— 


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1 (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; 

2 and 

3 (2) by inserting after section 171 the following 

4 new section: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 172. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP 

6 GRANTS. 

7 ‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to— 

8 ‘‘(1) prompt innovation and improvement in the 

9 reentry of ex-offenders into the workforce so that 

10 successful initiatives can be continued and rep11 licated; and 

12 ‘‘(2) allow for the dissemination of information 

13 regarding best practices in preparing ex-offenders 

14 for sustained participation in the workforce. 

15 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 ‘‘(1) APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES.—The 

17 term ‘apprenticeship opportunities’ includes reg18 istered apprenticeship, industry-recognized appren19 ticeship, and preapprenticeship programs. 

20 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en21 tity’ means— 

22 ‘‘(A) a private non-profit organization 

23 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 

24 Code of 1986; 

25 ‘‘(B) a local workforce development board; 


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1 ‘‘(C) a State or local government; or 

2 ‘‘(D) an Indian or Native American entity 

3 eligible for grants under section 166. 

4 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT.— 

5 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible par6 ticipant’ means an individual— 

7 ‘‘(i) who is not less than age 18; 

8 ‘‘(ii) who has been convicted as an 

9 adult and imprisoned under Federal or 

10 State law; 

11 ‘‘(iii) whose most recent offense has 

12 not been a violent or sex-based offense; or 

13 ‘‘(iv) who has not been released from 

14 prison or jail for more than 180 days be15 fore the date on which the individual be16 gins participation. 

17 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Up to 10 percent of all 

18 participants may be individuals who do not 

19 meet the requirements of clause (iv) of subpara20 graph (A). 

21 ‘‘(4) EVIDENCE-BASED.—The term ‘evidence22 based’ means a program or practice that— 

23 ‘‘(A) is demonstrated effective when imple24 mented with fidelity; 


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1 ‘‘(B) is based on a clearly articulated and 

2 empirically supported theory; 

3 ‘‘(C) has measurable outcomes relevant to 

4 workforce outcomes for reentering offenders; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(D) has been scientifically tested and 

7 proven effective through randomized control 

8 studies or comparison group studies. 

9 ‘‘(5) PROMISING.—The term ‘promising’ refers 

10 to a program or practice that— 

11 ‘‘(A) is demonstrated to be effective based 

12 on positive outcomes relevant to workforce en13 gagement for reentering offenders from 1 or 

14 more objective, independent, and scientifically 

15 valid evaluation; and 

16 ‘‘(B) includes ongoing efforts to examine 

17 the effects of such program or practice. 

18 ‘‘(c) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the activi20 ties under this section, the Secretary shall, on a 

21 competitive basis, award grants for a period of not 

22 more than 5 years to eligible entities to enable such 

23 entities to provide job training, job placement serv24 ices, and mentoring. 


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1 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants, the Sec2 retary shall give priority to eligible entities that— 

3 ‘‘(A) establish partnerships with business 

4 or educational institutions to provide a program 

5 of study leading to postsecondary credentials in 

6 in-demand occupations; or 

7 ‘‘(B) provide customized training that is 

8 designed to meet the specific requirements of 

9 an employer (including a group of employers) 

10 and is conducted with a commitment by the em11 ployer to employ an individual upon successful 

12 completion of the training. 

13 ‘‘(3) RENEWAL.—The Secretary may renew a 

14 grant to an eligible entity under this section for a 

15 period no longer than 5 additional years if the eligi16 ble entity— 

17 ‘‘(A) demonstrates success in helping eligi18 ble participants reenter the workforce according 

19 to the performance indicators under (g)(1); and 

20 ‘‘(B) provides an assurance that the entity 

21 will provide a non-Federal contribution, includ22 ing cash and in-kind donations, in an amount 

23 not less than 100 percent of the total funds 

24 awarded in the renewal grant. 


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1 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

2 under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an appli3 cation to the Secretary, which shall include the following: 

4 ‘‘(1) A detailed description of the program in5 cluding the core services they will provide, how the 

6 eligible entity will recruit and select eligible partici7 pants for the program, how many participants they 

8 plan on serving each year, and the length of partici9 pation in the program. 

10 ‘‘(2) A description of evidence-based or prom11 ising practices the eligible entity will use in the ad12 ministration of the program. 

13 ‘‘(3) A description of partnerships with local 

14 businesses to provide apprenticeship opportunities, 

15 work-based learning, and job placement and recruit16 ment (if applicable). 

17 ‘‘(4) An assurance that the eligible entity will 

18 coordinate activities with workforce development pro19 grams and other services provided under this title, 

20 including utilizing the one-stop delivery system of 

21 the local workforce development areas to provide ap22 propriate services and recruit eligible individuals to 

23 ensure the maximum number of eligible individuals 

24 will have the opportunity to participate in the pro25 gram. 


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1 ‘‘(5) An assurance that the eligible entity will 

2 provide a 50-percent match, as described in sub3 section (e). 

4 ‘‘(6) A plan to coordinate with other programs 

5 and entities, including those that may be provided 

6 by such other programs and entities, to provide sub7 stance abuse treatment services, mental health treat8 ment services, housing services, and transportation 

9 services. 

10 ‘‘(7) An assurance that the eligible entity will 

11 provide the data necessary for the indicators of per12 formance in subsection (g). 

13 ‘‘(8) A plan to continue the program with non14 Federal funds after grant period. 

15 ‘‘(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—In order to receive 

16 a grant from the Secretary under this section, each eligible 

17 entity shall provide a non-Federal contribution, including 

18 cash and in-kind donations, in an amount not less than 

19 50 percent of the total funds awarded. 

20 ‘‘(f) USE OF FUNDS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A grant awarded under 

22 this section may be used to— 

23 ‘‘(A) provide workforce development and 

24 job placement services to eligible participants, 

25 including occupational skills education, on-theVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Oct 17, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7069.IH H7069

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1 job training, apprenticeship opportunities, work 

2 experience, job referrals, basic skills remedi3 ation, educational services, work readiness ac4 tivities, and post-placement support, in coordi5 nation with the one-stop partners and one-stop 

6 operators that provide services at any center 

7 operated under a one-stop deliver system estab8 lished under section 121; 

9 ‘‘(B) mentor eligible participants, including 

10 the provision of support, guidance, and assist11 ance in the community and the workplace to 

12 address the challenges faced by ex-offenders; 

13 ‘‘(C) provide outreach to State or Federal 

14 correctional facilities to increase awareness, 

15 identify and recruit eligible participants, provide 

16 screening and assessment of eligible partici17 pants and align educational offerings with exist18 ing services available to individuals who are 

19 presently incarcerated; or 

20 ‘‘(D) coordinate with employers to develop 

21 customized training programs and agreements 

22 around the hiring of eligible participants. 

23 ‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 

24 ‘‘(A) CERTAIN SERVICES EXCLUDED.— 

25 Funds provided under this section may not be 


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1 used to provide substance abuse treatment serv2 ices, mental health treatment services, or hous3 ing services, except that such a grant may be 

4 used to coordinate with other programs and en5 tities to provide substance abuse treatment 

6 services, mental health treatment services, or 

7 housing services to eligible participants. 

8 ‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE COST LIMIT.—A 

9 grantee may not use more than 10 percent of 

10 the funds received under a grant for adminis11 trative costs. 

12 ‘‘(C) LIMIT ON AMOUNT PAID AS STIPENDS

13 TO PARTICIPANTS.—A grantee may not use 

14 more than 15 percent of the funds received 

15 under such grant to provide stipends to pro16 gram participants while completing an edu17 cational or skill development program. 

18 ‘‘(g) PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNT19 ABILITY.— 

20 ‘‘(1) INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.—Each eli21 gible entity receiving a grant under this section shall 

22 report each year to the Secretary of Labor on the 

23 following indicators of performance: 

24 ‘‘(A) The percentage of program partici25 pants who are in unsubsidized employment durVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Oct 17, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7069.IH H7069

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1 ing the second quarter after exit from the pro2 gram. 

3 ‘‘(B) The percentage of program partici4 pants who are in unsubsidized employment dur5 ing the fourth quarter after exit from the pro6 gram. 

7 ‘‘(C) The median earnings of program par8 ticipants who are in unsubsidized employment 

9 during the second quarter after exit from the 

10 program. 

11 ‘‘(D) The percentage of program partici12 pants who obtain a recognized postsecondary 

13 credential, or a secondary school diploma or its 

14 recognized equivalent, during participation in or 

15 within one year after exit from the program. 

16 ‘‘(2) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—Not later 

17 than five years after the date of enactment of this 

18 section and from amounts made available under sec19 tion 173(d), the Secretary shall provide for and re20 port to Congress on an independent evaluation of 

21 the grant program established under this section 

22 that includes an assessment of the effectiveness of 

23 the grant program and the effectiveness of individual 

24 grantees included in the evaluation in reducing re25 cidivism and assisting individuals in— 


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1 ‘‘(A) earning credentials; 

2 ‘‘(B) finding and maintaining employment; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(C) increasing their earnings. 

5 ‘‘(3) REPORT.—The Secretary shall release an 

6 annual report on— 

7 ‘‘(A) the number of individuals who par8 ticipated in programs assisted under this sec9 tion; 

10 ‘‘(B) the percentage of individuals partici11 pating in a program assisted under this section 

12 that successfully completed the program; and 

13 ‘‘(C) the performance of grantees as meas14 ured by the performance indicators set forth in 

15 paragraph (1). 

16 ‘‘(4) DISSEMINATING BEST PRACTICES.—Using 

17 the findings of the independent evaluation under 

18 paragraph (2) the Secretary shall disseminate infor19 mation to State and local government, local work20 force development boards, and relevant stakeholders 

21 regarding best practices in providing workforce de22 velopment opportunities for ex-offenders and reduc23 ing recidivism. 

24 ‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 

25 may use up to 2 percent of the funds annually approVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Oct 17, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7069.IH H7069

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1 priated to carry out the activities of this section including 

2 disseminating best practices and providing technical as3 sistance to grantees and partnering businesses regarding 

4 the availability of applicable tax credits including the 

5 Work Opportunity Tax Credit. 

6 ‘‘(i) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec7 tion shall be construed to authorize any new appropria8 tions to carry out the purpose of this section.’’. 

9 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZED FUNDS. 

10 Section 173(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Op11 portunity Act (as redesignated by section 2(1)) is amended 

12 by striking ‘‘section 169’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 169 and 

13 172’’. 

Æ 


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