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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1861 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1861

  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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 2011

Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 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, 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 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 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; and
                            (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.
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