COVID-19 Workforce Emergency Response Act

To provide State and local workforce systems flexibility and financial support to respond to the COVID–19 national emergency. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Workforce Emergency Response Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Coronavirus The term coronavirus Public Law 116–123 (2) COVID–19 national emergency The term COVID–19 national emergency 50 U.S.C. 1601 (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) WIOA terms Except as otherwise provided, the terms in this Act have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 3. Workforce response activities (a) In general The purpose of this section is to provide the increased flexibility needed for State and local areas to provide continuity of services during the COVID–19 national emergency. (b) Administrative costs Notwithstanding section 128(b)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(4) 29 U.S.C. 3151 29 U.S.C. 3151 29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(4) (c) Rapid response activities (1) Statewide rapid response Of the reserved by a Governor under section 128(a) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3163(a) 29 U.S.C. 3174(a)(2)(A) (2) Local boards Of the funds reserved by a Governor under section 133(a)(2) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3173(a)(2) 4. National dislocated worker grants (a) COVID–19 national emergency response (1) In general From the funds made available under this section, the Secretary shall award national dislocated worker grants in accordance with section 170 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3225 (2) Uses of funds Any grant awarded under this section shall used for activities directly supporting the response to the COVID–19 national emergency, and recovery efforts related to such emergency, which shall include the following: (A) Training and temporary employment Training and temporary employment to respond to the COVID–19 national emergency, such as positions or assignments— (i) delivering medicine, food, or other supplies to older individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other individuals with respiratory conditions and other chronic medical disorders; (ii) helping set up quarantine areas and providing assistance to quarantined individuals, including transportation; (iii) organizing and coordinating recovery, quarantine, or other related activities; (iv) cleaning public buildings, public transportation facilities or equipment, or sanitizing quarantine or treatment areas after their use, or other related cleanup or sanitizing activities; and (v) in the sector directly responding to the COVID–19 national emergency such as childcare, health care, public service, and transportation. (B) Layoff response Activities responding to layoffs of 50 or more individuals laid off by one employer, or areas where there are significant layoffs that significantly increase unemployment in a given community, such as in the hospitality, transportation, manufacturing, and retail industry sectors or occupations. (b) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to State or local areas most impacted by the COVID–19 national emergency as determined by the Secretary. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry this section $345,000,000 to remain available until expended through fiscal year 2022. 5. General provisions (a) Supplement and not supplant Any funds made available under this Act shall supplement and not supplant State or local public funds that would, in the absence of the funds under this Act, be made available for employment and training programs or other activities funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 (b) Evaluations Each activity carried out under this Act shall be subject to— (1) performance accountability as described in section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141 (2) rigorous evaluation using research approaches appropriate to the level of development and maturity of the activity, including random assignment or quasi-experimental impact evaluations, implementation evaluations, pre-experimental studies, and feasibility studies. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary for the administration of this Act.

Summary: COVID-19 Workforce Emergency Response Act This bill increases flexibility for state and local agencies to provide continuity of services during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) national emergency. In particular, the bill allows certain state and local unobligated funds to be used for administrative purposes to carry out local workforce investment activities under one-stop delivery systems if the funds are used to respond to such emergency. (A one-stop delivery system is a system under which entities responsible for administering separate workforce investment, educational, and other human resource programs and funding streams (referred to as one-stop partners) collaborate to create a seamless system of service delivery that will enhance access to the programs' services and improve long-term employment outcomes for individuals receiving assistance.) The bill also allows the use of certain state reserved unobligated funds for (1) responding to the national emergency, and (2) distributing by the governor of such state to local boards most impacted by the coronavirus for activities related to responding to such emergency. The Department of Labor must award national dislocated worker grants, with emphasis on state or local areas most impacted by the emergency for activities directly supporting the response to the emergency and related-recovery efforts (e.g., training and temporary employment and certain layoff response activities).