Workforce Opportunity for Returning Citizens Act

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants for workforce grants to assist incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Workforce Opportunity for Returning Citizens Act WORC Act 2. Grants to assist incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq. (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and (2) by inserting after section 171, the following: 172. Grants to assist incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals (a) In general From the amounts appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to develop or expand education or workforce training programs that lead to employment opportunities for incarcerated individuals or previously incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism. (b) Priority In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will use the grants to develop or expand training programs described in subsection (a) that will lead participants of such programs— (1) to jobs in skilled trade (such as jobs in construction, plumbing, welding, heating and air conditioning, or masonry); or (2) to the attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials. (c) Application requirements To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such grant to develop or expand a training program described in subsection (a). (e) Reports Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report on— (1) the amount of the grant awarded to the eligible entity for the preceding grant year, and how such grant was used; and (2) the progress, as described in section 116, of the eligible entity with respect to the training program developed or expanded with such grant, including the relative rate of recidivism of the participants of such program. (f) Definitions (1) Correctional institution The term correctional institution (2) Education or workforce training program The term education or workforce training program (A) an apprenticeship program; (B) an on-the-job training program, or (C) a program providing classroom instruction. (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a local board; (B) an area career and technical education school; (C) an intermediary; (D) an institution of higher education, including a 2-year institution of higher education; or (E) a consortium of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D). (4) Incarcerated individual The term incarcerated individual (5) Previously incarcerated individual The term previously incarcerated individual (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. . 3. Table of contents The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 172 and inserting the following: Sec. 172. Grants to assist incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals. Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations. .

Summary: Workforce Opportunity for Returning Citizens Act or the WORC Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to award grants to local workforce development boards, colleges, area career and technical education schools, or other entities to develop or expand education or workforce training programs that (1) lead to employment opportunities for incarcerated and previously incarcerated (i.e., incarcerated at any time during the preceding 36-month period) individuals; and (2) reduce recidivism.