I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7069 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make permanent 
a grant program to promote and assist in the reentry of ex-offenders 
into the workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 16, 2018 
Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
to make permanent a grant program to promote and 
assist in the reentry of ex-offenders into the workforce. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Workforce Reentry 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP 
GRANTS. 
Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 171 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 172. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to— 
‘‘(1) prompt innovation and improvement in the 
reentry of ex-offenders into the workforce so that 
successful initiatives can be continued and rep-
licated; and 
‘‘(2) allow for the dissemination of information 
regarding best practices in preparing ex-offenders 
for sustained participation in the workforce. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) APPRENTICESHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.—The 
term ‘apprenticeship opportunities’ includes reg-
istered apprenticeship, industry-recognized appren-
ticeship, and preapprenticeship programs. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a private non-profit organization 
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986; 
‘‘(B) a local workforce development board; 
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‘‘(C) a State or local government; or 
‘‘(D) an Indian or Native American entity 
eligible for grants under section 166. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible par-
ticipant’ means an individual— 
‘‘(i) who is not less than age 18; 
‘‘(ii) who has been convicted as an 
adult and imprisoned under Federal or 
State law; 
‘‘(iii) whose most recent offense has 
not been a violent or sex-based offense; or 
‘‘(iv) who has not been released from 
prison or jail for more than 180 days be-
fore the date on which the individual be-
gins participation. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Up to 10 percent of all 
participants may be individuals who do not 
meet the requirements of clause (iv) of subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(4) EVIDENCE-BASED.—The term ‘evidence- 
based’ means a program or practice that— 
‘‘(A) is demonstrated effective when imple-
mented with fidelity; 
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‘‘(B) is based on a clearly articulated and 
empirically supported theory; 
‘‘(C) has measurable outcomes relevant to 
workforce outcomes for reentering offenders; 
and 
‘‘(D) has been scientifically tested and 
proven effective through randomized control 
studies or comparison group studies. 
‘‘(5) PROMISING.—The term ‘promising’ refers 
to a program or practice that— 
‘‘(A) is demonstrated to be effective based 
on positive outcomes relevant to workforce en-
gagement for reentering offenders from 1 or 
more objective, independent, and scientifically 
valid evaluation; and 
‘‘(B) includes ongoing efforts to examine 
the effects of such program or practice. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the activi-
ties under this section, the Secretary shall, on a 
competitive basis, award grants for a period of not 
more than 5 years to eligible entities to enable such 
entities to provide job training, job placement serv-
ices, and mentoring. 
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‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to eligible entities that— 
‘‘(A) establish partnerships with business 
or educational institutions to provide a program 
of study leading to postsecondary credentials in 
in-demand occupations; or 
‘‘(B) provide customized training that is 
designed to meet the specific requirements of 
an employer (including a group of employers) 
and is conducted with a commitment by the em-
ployer to employ an individual upon successful 
completion of the training. 
‘‘(3) RENEWAL.—The Secretary may renew a 
grant to an eligible entity under this section for a 
period no longer than 5 additional years if the eligi-
ble entity— 
‘‘(A) demonstrates success in helping eligi-
ble participants reenter the workforce according 
to the performance indicators under (g)(1); and 
‘‘(B) provides an assurance that the entity 
will provide a non-Federal contribution, includ-
ing cash and in-kind donations, in an amount 
not less than 100 percent of the total funds 
awarded in the renewal grant. 
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‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an appli-
cation to the Secretary, which shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) A detailed description of the program in-
cluding the core services they will provide, how the 
eligible entity will recruit and select eligible partici-
pants for the program, how many participants they 
plan on serving each year, and the length of partici-
pation in the program. 
‘‘(2) A description of evidence-based or prom-
ising practices the eligible entity will use in the ad-
ministration of the program. 
‘‘(3) A description of partnerships with local 
businesses to provide apprenticeship opportunities, 
work-based learning, and job placement and recruit-
ment (if applicable). 
‘‘(4) An assurance that the eligible entity will 
coordinate activities with workforce development pro-
grams and other services provided under this title, 
including utilizing the one-stop delivery system of 
the local workforce development areas to provide ap-
propriate services and recruit eligible individuals to 
ensure the maximum number of eligible individuals 
will have the opportunity to participate in the pro-
gram. 
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‘‘(5) An assurance that the eligible entity will 
provide a 50-percent match, as described in sub-
section (e). 
‘‘(6) A plan to coordinate with other programs 
and entities, including those that may be provided 
by such other programs and entities, to provide sub-
stance abuse treatment services, mental health treat-
ment services, housing services, and transportation 
services. 
‘‘(7) An assurance that the eligible entity will 
provide the data necessary for the indicators of per-
formance in subsection (g). 
‘‘(8) A plan to continue the program with non- 
Federal funds after grant period. 
‘‘(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—In order to receive 
a grant from the Secretary under this section, each eligible 
entity shall provide a non-Federal contribution, including 
cash and in-kind donations, in an amount not less than 
50 percent of the total funds awarded. 
‘‘(f) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A grant awarded under 
this section may be used to— 
‘‘(A) provide workforce development and 
job placement services to eligible participants, 
including occupational skills education, on-the- 
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job training, apprenticeship opportunities, work 
experience, job referrals, basic skills remedi-
ation, educational services, work readiness ac-
tivities, and post-placement support, in coordi-
nation with the one-stop partners and one-stop 
operators that provide services at any center 
operated under a one-stop deliver system estab-
lished under section 121; 
‘‘(B) mentor eligible participants, including 
the provision of support, guidance, and assist-
ance in the community and the workplace to 
address the challenges faced by ex-offenders; 
‘‘(C) provide outreach to State or Federal 
correctional facilities to increase awareness, 
identify and recruit eligible participants, provide 
screening and assessment of eligible partici-
pants and align educational offerings with exist-
ing services available to individuals who are 
presently incarcerated; or 
‘‘(D) coordinate with employers to develop 
customized training programs and agreements 
around the hiring of eligible participants. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CERTAIN
SERVICES
EXCLUDED.— 
Funds provided under this section may not be 
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used to provide substance abuse treatment serv-
ices, mental health treatment services, or hous-
ing services, except that such a grant may be 
used to coordinate with other programs and en-
tities to provide substance abuse treatment 
services, mental health treatment services, or 
housing services to eligible participants. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE
COST
LIMIT.—A 
grantee may not use more than 10 percent of 
the funds received under a grant for adminis-
trative costs. 
‘‘(C) LIMIT ON AMOUNT PAID AS STIPENDS 
TO
PARTICIPANTS.—A grantee may not use 
more than 15 percent of the funds received 
under such grant to provide stipends to pro-
gram participants while completing an edu-
cational or skill development program. 
‘‘(g) PERFORMANCE
OUTCOMES
AND
ACCOUNT-
ABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) INDICATORS OF PERFORMANCE.—Each eli-
gible entity receiving a grant under this section shall 
report each year to the Secretary of Labor on the 
following indicators of performance: 
‘‘(A) The percentage of program partici-
pants who are in unsubsidized employment dur-
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‘‘(A) earning credentials; 
‘‘(B) finding and maintaining employment; 
and 
‘‘(C) increasing their earnings. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—The Secretary shall release an 
annual report on— 
‘‘(A) the number of individuals who par-
ticipated in programs assisted under this sec-
tion; 
‘‘(B) the percentage of individuals partici-
pating in a program assisted under this section 
that successfully completed the program; and 
‘‘(C) the performance of grantees as meas-
ured by the performance indicators set forth in 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(4) DISSEMINATING BEST PRACTICES.—Using 
the findings of the independent evaluation under 
paragraph (2) the Secretary shall disseminate infor-
mation to State and local government, local work-
force development boards, and relevant stakeholders 
regarding best practices in providing workforce de-
velopment opportunities for ex-offenders and reduc-
ing recidivism. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 
may use up to 2 percent of the funds annually appro-
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priated to carry out the activities of this section including 
disseminating best practices and providing technical as-
sistance to grantees and partnering businesses regarding 
the availability of applicable tax credits including the 
Work Opportunity Tax Credit. 
‘‘(i) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to authorize any new appropria-
tions to carry out the purpose of this section.’’. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZED FUNDS. 
Section 173(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Op-
portunity Act (as redesignated by section 2(1)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘section 169’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 169 and 
172’’. 
Æ 
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