I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8577 

To provide grants for Civic Justice Corps programs for court-involved, 

previously incarcerated, and otherwise disadvantaged youth and young adults. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 9, 2020 

Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ (for herself and Ms. MENG) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

To provide grants for Civic Justice Corps programs for 

court-involved, previously incarcerated, and otherwise disadvantaged youth and young adults. 

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 ‘‘Kenneth P. Thompson 

5 Civic Justice Corps Act of 2020’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 The purpose of this Act is to develop, implement, and 

8 expand educational and work experience opportunities for 

9 court-involved, previously incarcerated, and otherwise dis10 advantaged youth and young adults through service and 


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1 conservation corps and other community-based service or2 ganizations. 

3 SEC. 3. CIVIC JUSTICE CORPS GRANTS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall award 

5 grants to one or more national intermediaries to develop, 

6 implement, and collect data from Civic Justice Corps pro7 grams administered by no fewer than ten local sub8 grantees in the geographic regions established under sub9 section (k)(2). 

10 (b) APPLICATION.—A national intermediary that de11 sires a grant under this section shall submit an application 

12 to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 

13 Secretary may require, including, at a minimum that— 

14 (1) contains such agreements, assurances, and 

15 information, is in such form, and is submitted in 

16 such manner, as the Attorney General shall by rule 

17 require; 

18 (2) includes a long-term strategy and detailed 

19 implementation plan that reflects consultation with 

20 community groups and appropriate community 

21 stakeholders; 

22 (3) explains the national intermediary’s inabil23 ity to address the need without Federal assistance; 


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1 (4) identifies related governmental and commu2 nity initiatives which compliment, or will be coordi3 nated with, the proposal; 

4 (5) identifies jurisdictions where the national 

5 intermediary intends to supervise local subgrantees, 

6 and includes a description of the local service pro7 viders and nonprofit organizations that have sub8 stantial or significant experience dealing with court9 involved, previously incarcerated, and otherwise dis10 advantaged youth; 

11 (6) provides details on the intended methodolo12 gies employing scientifically based research methods, 

13 to be used for data collection purposes for current 

14 participants and postprogram participants; and 

15 (7) subject to paragraph (8), an assurance that, 

16 if the local subgrantee or national intermediary re17 ceives a grant, or a renewal of such grant under this 

18 section, the local subgrantee or national inter19 mediary will develop a plan to secure other public or 

20 private funding resources to ensure the continued 

21 operation and maintenance of the program after 

22 funds under such grant, or renewal, are no longer 

23 available. 

24 (8) The Secretary shall waive the requirement 

25 under paragraph (7) for the local subgrantee or naVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8577.IH H8577

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1 tional intermediary if the local grantee or national 

2 intermediary demonstrates that complying with such 

3 requirement would create an undue burden that 

4 would result in significant disruption of the Civic 

5 Justice Corps program. 

6 (9) For the purposes of an application under 

7 this subsection, the term ‘‘scientifically based re8 search methods’’ means research methods that— 

9 (A) apply rigorous, systematic, and objec10 tive procedures to obtain valid knowledge rel11 evant to court-involved, previously incarcerated, 

12 and otherwise disadvantaged youth and young 

13 adults; and 

14 (B) rely on measurements or observational 

15 methods that provide data across multiple 

16 measurements and observations. 

17 (c) PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION OF APPLICA18 TIONS.—From among the applications submitted by na19 tional intermediaries under subsection (b), the Secretary 

20 shall provide preference on the basis of— 

21 (1) the effectiveness of the data collection meth22 odologies submitted under subsection (b)(6); 

23 (2) the assurances made under subsection 

24 (b)(1); and 


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1 (3) relevant data specific to the local jurisdic2 tions where the national intermediary intends to 

3 enter into partnership with local subgrantees, which 

4 illustrate the need for a Civic Justice Corps pro5 gram, including— 

6 (A) unemployment rates; 

7 (B) poverty rates; 

8 (C) crime rates; 

9 (D) other factors as the Attorney General, 

10 after consultation with appropriate agencies of 

11 the Government, may identify, including aver12 age household income, labor force participation, 

13 and educational attainment; and 

14 (E) additional criteria as determined by 

15 the Attorney General. 

16 (d) GRANT AND SUBGRANT PERIODS.—Each grant 

17 awarded to a national intermediary, and each subgrant 

18 awarded to a local subgrantee, under this section shall be 

19 for a period of 5 years. 

20 (e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each national intermediary 

22 receiving a grant under this section shall make at 

23 least ten subgrants to local subgrantees to carry out 

24 Civil Justice Corps programs that implement the 


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1 Civil Justice Corps Model described in section 4(1) 

2 with the funds provided under such subgrant. 

3 (2) RESERVATION.—Each national intermediary 

4 receiving a grant under this section shall reserve— 

5 (A) not less than 90 percent for subgrants 

6 to local subgrantees; and 

7 (B) not more than 10 percent for training 

8 and technical assistance to, and data collection 

9 from, such local subgrantees. 

10 (f) USE OF SUBGRANTS.—An entity receiving a 

11 subgrant under this section shall use the funds made 

12 available through such subgrant to carry out a Civic Jus13 tice Corps program that implements the Civic Justice 

14 Corps Model. Such program shall include the provision of 

15 educational programming and support to participants, 

16 which may include— 

17 (1) basic instruction and remedial education; 

18 (2) language instruction for individuals with 

19 limited English proficiency; 

20 (3) secondary education services and activities, 

21 including dropout prevention, tutoring, and other ac22 tivities; 

23 (4) preparation for and access to postsecondary 

24 education opportunities, including counseling and as25 sistance with applying for student financial aid; 


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1 (5) work readiness training, which may in2 clude— 

3 (A) development of basic skills, such as— 

4 (i) arriving on time to work; 

5 (ii) being prepared to work; 

6 (iii) working independently; 

7 (iv) working with others; 

8 (v) working safely; and 

9 (vi) demonstrating a commitment to 

10 produce high-quality work; 

11 (B) development of job-specific occupa12 tional skills and on-the-job training; and 

13 (C) assessment of skills, career counseling, 

14 and job search assistance; and 

15 (6) development and monitoring of individual 

16 education and career plans. 

17 (g) RENEWAL OF GRANTS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General may 

19 renew a grant awarded under this Act with respect 

20 to an eligible national intermediary if the national 

21 intermediary— 

22 (A) submits to the Attorney General an 

23 application for renewal at such time, in such 

24 manner, and containing such information as the 

25 Secretary may require; and 


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1 (B) demonstrates in such application that 

2 grant funds made available to the national 

3 intermediary were used in a manner required 

4 under the most recently approved application 

5 under this Act. A grant made under this part 

6 may be renewed, without limitations on the du7 ration of such renewal, to provide additional 

8 funds, if the Attorney General determines that 

9 the funds made available to the recipient were 

10 used in a manner required under an approved 

11 application and if the recipient can demonstrate 

12 significant progress in achieving the objectives 

13 of the initial application. 

14 (2) DURATION.—An initial renewal under this 

15 subsection shall, at minimum, be for a period of 3 

16 years. Any subsequent renewal provided thereafter 

17 shall be for a period of 1 year. 

18 (h) NO-COST EXTENSIONS.—Notwithstanding sub19 section (g), the Attorney General may extend a grant pe20 riod, without limitations as to the duration of such exten21 sion, to provide additional time to complete the objectives 

22 of the initial grant award. 

23 (i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

2 appropriated to carry out this section $35,000,000 

3 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2030. 

4 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Funds authorized to be ap5 propriated under this section may remain available 

6 until expended. 

7 (j) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Grant funds re8 ceived under this Act shall be used to supplement and not 

9 supplant other Federal funds for the population estab10 lished under section 2. 

11 (k) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—A national intermediary 

13 shall select at least one local subgrantee located in 

14 any of the geographic regions in paragraph (2). 

15 (2) GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS.—A national inter16 mediary applying for a grant must provide a 

17 subgrant to a local subgrantee in any one of the fol18 lowing geographic regions: 

19 (A) Region I shall comprise the States of 

20 Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New 

21 Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

22 (B) Region II shall comprise the States of 

23 New Jersey and New York, and the Virgin Is24 lands of the United States and Puerto Rico. 


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1 (C) Region III shall comprise the District 

2 of Columbia, and the States of Maryland, Penn3 sylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. 

4 (D) Region IV shall comprise the States of 

5 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mis6 sissippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 

7 Tennessee. 

8 (E) Region V shall comprise the States of 

9 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, 

10 and Wisconsin. 

11 (F) Region VI shall comprise the States of 

12 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 

13 and Texas. 

14 (G) Region VII shall comprise the States 

15 of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. 

16 (H) Region VIII shall comprise the States 

17 of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South 

18 Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. 

19 (I) Region IX shall comprise American 

20 Samoa, Guam, and the States of Arizona, Cali21 fornia, Hawaii, and Nevada. 

22 (J) Region X shall comprise the States of 

23 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. 

24 (3) MINIMUM NUMBER OF GRANTS IN EACH RE25 GION.—The Secretary shall award not less than one 


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1 grant to any jurisdiction within each of the ten re2 gions specified under paragraph (2). 

3 (4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 

4 Act shall be construed to limit an individual State 

5 or local jurisdiction within a State, from receiving 

6 multiple grants, renewals, or no-cost extensions, 

7 under this Act. 

8 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

9 In this Act: 

10 (1) CIVIC JUSTICE CORPS MODEL.—The term 

11 ‘‘Civic Justice Corps Model’’ refers to programs 

12 that— 

13 (A) intentionally recruit and primarily en14 roll as participants in the program court-in15 volved, previously incarcerated, and otherwise 

16 disadvantaged youth and young adults between 

17 the ages of 16 and 25; 

18 (B) provide such participants with edu19 cational programming and support designed to 

20 lead to a high school diploma or its recognized 

21 equivalent; 

22 (C) provide such participants with assess23 ment, career planning, workforce readiness, and 

24 service or work experience designed to lead to 

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1 secondary education or an apprenticeship pro2 gram, the obtainment of an industry-recognized 

3 credential, or some other type of career path4 way program, including military service; 

5 (D) demonstrate relationships with local 

6 criminal, juvenile justice, and other social serv7 ice agencies and provide a range of supportive 

8 and transitional services to participants; 

9 (E) engage participants in relevant, nec10 essary, and team-based community service 

11 projects designed to instill life and jobs skills 

12 and long-term civic engagement; 

13 (F) demonstrate relationships with local 

14 boards (as such term is defined in section 101 

15 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 

16 U.S.C. 2801)) and local employers and can pro17 vide participants with appropriate postprogram 

18 placements; 

19 (G) require participants to be enrolled in 

20 the program for not less than 6 months, and 

21 provide participants with at least 12 months of 

22 postprogram support and services; and 

23 (H) collect postprogram data for at least 

24 the 12 months after such participants complete 

25 the program. 


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1 (2) LOCAL SUBGRANTEE.—The term ‘‘local 

2 subgrantee’’ refers to a service and conservation 

3 corps or other community-based service organization 

4 that— 

5 (A) has been competitively selected by a 

6 national intermediary to carry out a Civic Jus7 tice Corps program that implements the Civic 

8 Justice Corps Model; and 

9 (B) demonstrates— 

10 (i) a local need for a Civic Justice 

11 Corps program; 

12 (ii) the ability to recruit and enroll 

13 court-involved, previously incarcerated, and 

14 otherwise disadvantaged youth and young 

15 adults between the ages of 16 and 25; 

16 (iii) the ability to provide the edu17 cation, workforce development, service and 

18 work experience, and supportive and fol19 lowup services described in paragraph (1); 

20 (iv) relationships with local criminal, 

21 juvenile justice, and social service agencies; 

22 (v) relationships with local boards (as 

23 such term is defined in section 101 of the 

24 Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 

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1 ity to place participants upon program 

2 completion; and 

3 (vi) the ability to collect data and re4 port on the performance measures de5 scribed in section 5(b). 

6 (3) NATIONAL INTERMEDIARY.—The term ‘‘na7 tional intermediary’’ means a national nonprofit or8 ganization that— 

9 (A) has experience in developing and ad10 ministering programs that collaborate with 

11 community-based organizations to deliver edu12 cation and work experience to court-involved, 

13 formerly incarcerated, and otherwise disadvan14 taged youth; 

15 (B) demonstrates an ability to administer 

16 a competitive subgrant process that will result 

17 in the selection of no less than ten geographi18 cally diverse local subgrantees to carry out Civil 

19 Justice Corps programs that implement the 

20 Civic Justice Corps Model; 

21 (C) demonstrates an ability to provide 

22 training and technical assistance to sub23 grantees; and 

24 (D) has the ability to collect information 

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1 ures described in section 5(b) and report such 

2 information to the Attorney General on an an3 nual basis. 

4 (4) SERVICE AND CONSERVATION CORPS.—The 

5 term ‘‘service and conservation corps’’ means any 

6 State or local service or conservation corps, includ7 ing a service or conservation corps carried out under 

8 the national service laws. 

9 SEC. 5. REPORTS. 

10 (a) ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE ATTORNEY GEN11 ERAL.—Each national intermediary receiving a grant 

12 under this Act shall submit a report annually to the Attor13 ney General at such time, in such manner, and providing 

14 such information as the Attorney General may require, in15 cluding information on the performance measures re16 ported by subgrantees in accordance with subsection (b). 

17 (b) SUBGRANTEE REPORTS ON PERFORMANCE

18 MEASURES.—Each entity receiving a subgrant under this 

19 section shall annually report to the national intermediary 

20 that awarded such subgrant on the following performance 

21 measures of participant progress: 

22 (1) The obtainment of a high school diploma, a 

23 recognized equivalent, or some other industry-recog24 nized credential. 


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1 (2) Postprogram placement for each participant 

2 in one of the following, and total postprogram place3 ment rates for each of the following: 

4 (A) Unsubsidized employment. 

5 (B) Postsecondary education. 

6 (C) A registered apprenticeship or further 

7 job training. 

8 (D) A career pathway program, including 

9 military service. 

10 (3) Postprogram recidivism rates. 

11 SEC. 6. RULEMAKING. 

12 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

13 of this Act, the Attorney General shall, through notice and 

14 comment rulemaking, establish a process for providing na15 tional intermediaries a fair hearing and appellate review 

16 regarding any decision by the Attorney General to deny, 

17 renew, or terminate a grant provided under this Act. 

Æ 


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