Promoting Employment of Skilled Workers and Foster Youth Act of 2021

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve the work opportunity tax credit with respect to workforce development and foster care transition youth, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Employment of Skilled Workers and Foster Youth Act of 2021 2. Exemption from limitation on repeat employees (a) In general Section 51(i) (4) Exclusion Paragraph (2) shall not apply to an individual employed by an employer in any industry described by a North American Industry Classification System code beginning with 23, provided that such employer participates in a program described in subsection (d)(16)(C). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019. 3. Inclusion of qualified pre-apprenticeship graduates and foster care transition youth for purposes of work opportunity credit (a) In general Section 51(d) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “or” at the end of subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (J) and inserting a comma, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (K) a qualified pre-apprenticeship graduate, or (L) a qualified foster care transition youth. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (16) Qualified pre-apprenticeship graduate (A) In general The term qualified pre-apprenticeship graduate (B) Pre-apprenticeship program For purposes of this paragraph, the term pre-apprenticeship program (i) is designed to prepare participants to enter an apprenticeship program, (ii) is carried out by an sponsor that has a documented partnership with 1 or more sponsors of apprenticeship programs, and (iii) includes each of the following: (I) Training (including a curriculum for the training) and theoretical education for participants that— (aa) is aligned with industry standards related to an apprenticeship program and reviewed and approved annually by sponsors of the apprenticeship program within the documented partnership that will prepare participants by teaching the skills and competencies needed to enter 1 or more apprenticeship programs, and (bb) does not displace a paid employee. (II) A formal agreement with a sponsor of an apprenticeship program that would enable participants who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program— (aa) to enter into the apprenticeship program if a place in the program is available and if the participant meets the qualifications of the apprenticeship program, and (bb) to earn credits towards the apprenticeship program. (C) Apprenticeship program For purposes of this paragraph, the term apprenticeship program (i) registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq. (ii) that complies with the requirements of subpart A of part 29 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, and part 30 of such title (as in effect on September 30, 2020). (D) Special rule for application to wages paid For purposes of applying this section to wages paid or incurred to a qualified pre-apprenticeship graduate described in subparagraph (A), an employer may not claim the work opportunity tax credit with respect to such pre-apprenticeship graduate unless such employer— (i) participates in an apprenticeship program described in subparagraph (C), and (ii) hires such pre-apprenticeship graduate for participation in such program. (17) Qualified foster care transition youth The term qualified foster care transition youth (A) not having attained age 27 as of the hiring date, and (B) having been in foster care (within the meaning of section 477 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677 . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to individuals who begin work for the employer after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Promoting Employment of Skilled Workers and Foster Youth Act of 2021 This bill expands the work opportunity tax credit to (1) allow the rehiring of certain construction industry employees participating in an apprenticeship program, and (2) include qualified pre-apprenticeship graduates and foster care transition youth as targeted group members for purposes of the credit.