SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expanding Reentry 
Employment Assistance Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. 
Subtitle D of title I (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.), as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after 
section 172, as added by the preceding section, the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 173. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to improve the employment, earnings, and 
skill attainment, and reduce recidivism, of adults 
and youth who have been involved with the justice 
system; 
‘‘(2) to prompt innovation and improvement in 
the reentry of justice-involved individuals into the 
workforce so that successful initiatives can be estab-
lished or continued and replicated; and 
‘‘(3) to further develop the evidence on how to 
improve employment, earnings, and skill attainment, 
and reduce recidivism of justice-involved individuals, 
through rigorous evaluations of specific services pro-
vided, including how they affect different popu-
lations and how they are best combined and 
sequenced. 
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‘‘(b) REENTRY EMPLOYMENT COMPETITIVE GRANTS, 
CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AUTHOR-
IZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appro-
priated under subsection (h)(1) and not reserved 
under subsection (h)(2), the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall, on a competitive basis, make 
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
agreements with, eligible entities to implement 
reentry projects that serve eligible adults or eli-
gible youth; and 
‘‘(B) may use not more than 30 percent of 
such amounts to award funds under subpara-
graph (A) to eligible entities that are national 
or regional intermediaries to— 
‘‘(i) implement the reentry projects 
described in subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(ii) provide such funds to other eligi-
ble entities— 
‘‘(I) to implement such reentry 
projects; and 
‘‘(II) to monitor and support 
such entities. 
‘‘(2) AWARD
PERIODS.—The Secretary shall 
award funds under this section for an initial period 
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of not more than 4 years, and may renew such 
awards for additional 4-year periods. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding funds under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
entities whose applications submitted under sub-
section (c) demonstrate a commitment to use such 
funds to implement reentry projects— 
‘‘(A) that will serve high-crime or high- 
poverty areas; 
‘‘(B) that will enroll in such reentry 
projects eligible youth or eligible adults— 
‘‘(i) prior to the release of such indi-
viduals from incarceration in a correctional 
institution; or 
‘‘(ii) not later than 90 days after such 
release; 
‘‘(C) whose strategy and design are evi-
dence-based; 
‘‘(D) that establish partnerships with— 
‘‘(i) businesses; or 
‘‘(ii) institutions of higher education 
to provide project participants with pro-
grams of study leading to recognized post-
secondary credentials in in-demand occupa-
tions; 
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‘‘(E) that provide training services that are 
designed to meet the basic requirements of an 
employer (including a group of employers) and 
are conducted with a commitment by the em-
ployer to employ individuals upon successful 
completion of the training; or 
‘‘(F) that demonstrate a track record and 
ongoing commitment of developing, imple-
menting, and refining reentry programs that in-
clude employment, education, training, and sup-
port services for adults and youth with current 
or prior justice system involvement. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) FORM AND PROCEDURE.—To be qualified 
to receive funds under this section, an eligible entity 
shall submit an application at such time, and in 
such manner, as determined by the Secretary, and 
containing the information described in paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An application submitted by 
an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain 
the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the eligible entity, in-
cluding the experience of the eligible entity in 
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providing employment and training services for 
justice-involved individuals. 
‘‘(B) A description of the needs that will 
be addressed by the reentry project supported 
by the funds received under this section, and 
the target participant population and the geo-
graphic area to be served. 
‘‘(C) A description of the proposed employ-
ment and training activities and supportive 
services, if applicable, to be provided under 
such reentry project, and how such activities 
and services will prepare participants for em-
ployment in in-demand industry sectors and oc-
cupations within the geographic area to be 
served by such reentry project. 
‘‘(D) The anticipated schedule for carrying 
out the activities proposed under the reentry 
project. 
‘‘(E) A description of— 
‘‘(i) the partnerships the eligible enti-
ty will establish with agencies and entities 
within the criminal justice system, local 
boards and one-stops, community-based or-
ganizations, and employers (including local 
businesses) to provide participants of the 
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reentry project with work-based learning, 
job placement, and recruitment (if applica-
ble); and 
‘‘(ii) how the eligible entity will co-
ordinate its activities with other services 
and benefits available to justice-involved 
individuals in the geographic area to be 
served by the reentry project. 
‘‘(F) A description of the manner in which 
individuals will be recruited and selected for 
participation for the reentry project. 
‘‘(G) A detailed budget and a description 
of the system of fiscal controls, and auditing 
and accountability procedures, that will be used 
to ensure fiscal soundness for the reentry 
project. 
‘‘(H) A description of the expected levels of 
performance to be achieved with respect to the 
performance measures described in subsection 
(e). 
‘‘(I) A description of the evidence-based 
practices the eligible entity will use in adminis-
tration of the reentry project. 
‘‘(J) An assurance that the eligible entity 
will collect, disaggregate by race, ethnicity, gen-
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der and other participant characteristics, and 
report to the Secretary the data required with 
respect to the reentry project carried out by the 
eligible entity for purposes of the evaluation 
under subsection (f). 
‘‘(K) Any other information required by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) USES OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that re-
ceives funds under this section shall use such funds 
to implement a reentry project for eligible adults, eli-
gible youth, or both that provides one or more of the 
following services: 
‘‘(A) Supportive services. 
‘‘(B) For participants who are eligible 
youth, one or more of the program elements 
listed in subparagraphs (A) through (N) of sec-
tion 129(c)(2). 
‘‘(C) One or more of the individualized ca-
reer services listed in subclause (I) through 
(IX) of section 134(c)(2)(A)(xii). 
‘‘(D) Follow-up services after placement in 
unsubsidized employment as described in sec-
tion 134(c)(2)(A)(xiii). 
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‘‘(E) One or more of the training services 
listed in clauses (i) through (x)(i) in section 
134(c)(3)(D), including subsidized employment 
opportunities through transitional jobs. 
‘‘(F) Apprenticeship programs. 
‘‘(G) Education in digital literacy skills. 
‘‘(H) Mentoring. 
‘‘(I) Provision of or referral to evidence- 
based mental health treatment by licensed prac-
titioners. 
‘‘(J) Assistance in obtaining employment 
as a result of the establishment and develop-
ment by the eligible entity of relationships and 
networks with large and small employers. 
‘‘(K) Assistance with driver’s license rein-
statement and fees for driver’s licenses and 
other necessary documents for employment. 
‘‘(L) Provision of or referral to substance 
abuse treatment services, provided that funds 
awarded under this section are only used to 
provide such services to participants who are 
unable to obtain such services through other 
programs providing such services. 
‘‘(M) Assistance in obtaining employment 
as a result of the coordination by the eligible 
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entity with employers to develop customized 
training programs and on-the-job training. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COST LIMIT.—An eligible 
entity may not use more than 10 percent of the 
funds received under this section for administrative 
costs, including for costs related to collecting infor-
mation, analysis, and coordination for purposes of 
subsection (e) or (f). 
‘‘(e) LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF LEVELS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish expected levels of performance for re-
entry projects funded this section for— 
‘‘(i) each of the primary indicators of 
performance for adults and youth de-
scribed in section 116(b); and 
‘‘(ii) the additional performance indi-
cators described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) UPDATES.—The levels established 
under subparagraph (A) shall be updated for 
each 4-year award period. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
INDICATORS
OF
PERFORM-
ANCE.—In addition to the indicators described in 
paragraph (1)(A)(i), the Secretary— 
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‘‘(A) shall establish an indicator of per-
formance for projects funded under this section 
with respect participant recidivism; and 
‘‘(B) may establish other performance indi-
cators for such projects as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(3) AGREEMENT ON PERFORMANCE LEVELS.— 
In establishing and updating performance levels 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reach 
agreement on such levels with the eligible entities re-
ceiving awards under this section that will be subject 
to such levels, based on factors including— 
‘‘(A) the expected performance levels of 
each such eligible entity described in the appli-
cation submitted under subsection (c)(2)(H); 
‘‘(B) local economic conditions of the geo-
graphic area to be served by each such eligible 
entity, including differences in unemployment 
rates and job losses or gains in particular in-
dustries; and 
‘‘(C) the characteristics of the participants 
of the projects when the participants enter the 
project involved, including— 
‘‘(i) criminal records and indicators of 
poor work history; 
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‘‘(ii) lack of work experience; 
‘‘(iii) lack of educational or occupa-
tional skills attainment; 
‘‘(iv) low levels of literacy or English 
proficiency; 
‘‘(v) disability status; 
‘‘(vi) homelessness; and 
‘‘(vii) receipt of public assistance. 
‘‘(4) FAILURE TO MEET PERFORMANCE LEV-
ELS.—In the case of an eligible entity that fails to 
meet the performance levels established under para-
graph (1) for the reentry project involved for any 
award year, the Secretary shall provide technical as-
sistance to the eligible entity, including the develop-
ment of a performance improvement plan. 
‘‘(f) EVALUATION OF REENTRY PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years 
after the first award of funds under this section is 
made, the Secretary (acting through the Chief Eval-
uation Officer) shall meet the following require-
ments: 
‘‘(A) DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF EVALUA-
TION.—Design and conduct an evaluation to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the reentry projects 
funded under this section, which meets the re-
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quirements of paragraph (2), and includes an 
evaluation of each of the following: 
‘‘(i) The effectiveness of such projects 
in assisting individuals with finding em-
ployment and maintaining employment at 
the second quarter and fourth quarter 
after unsubsidized employment is obtained. 
‘‘(ii) The effectiveness of such projects 
in assisting individuals with earning recog-
nized postsecondary credentials. 
‘‘(iii) 
The 
effectiveness 
of 
such 
projects in relation to their cost, including 
the extent to which the projects improve 
reentry outcomes, including in wages 
earned, benefits provided by employers, ca-
reer advancement, measurable skills gains, 
credentials earned, housing, health, and re-
cidivism of participants in comparison to 
comparably situated individuals who did 
not participate in such projects. 
‘‘(iv) The effectiveness of specific 
services and interventions provided and of 
the overall project design. 
‘‘(v) If applicable, the extent to which 
such projects meet the needs of various de-
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mographic groups, including people of dif-
ferent geographic locations, ages, races, 
national origins, sex, and criminal records, 
and individuals with disabilities. 
‘‘(vi) If applicable, the appropriate se-
quencing, 
combination, 
or 
concurrent 
structure, of services for each subpopula-
tion of individuals who are participants of 
such projects, such as the order, combina-
tion, or concurrent structure and services 
in which transitional jobs and occupational 
skills training are provided, to ensure that 
such participants are prepared to fully 
benefit from employment and training 
services provided under the project. 
‘‘(vii) Limitations or barriers to edu-
cation and employment as a result of occu-
pational or educational licensing restric-
tions, access to financial aid, and access to 
housing. 
‘‘(viii) The quality and effectiveness of 
technical assistance provided by the Sec-
retary for implementing such projects. 
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‘‘(ix) Other elements that the Chief 
Evaluation Officer may determine to be 
appropriate. 
‘‘(B) DATA
ACCESSIBILITY.—Make avail-
able, on the publicly accessible website of the 
Department of Labor, data collected during the 
course of evaluation under this subsection, in 
an aggregated format that does not provide per-
sonally identifiable information. 
‘‘(2) DESIGN
REQUIREMENTS.—An evaluation 
under this subsection— 
‘‘(A) shall— 
‘‘(i) be designed by the Secretary (act-
ing through the Chief Evaluation Officer) 
in conjunction with the eligible entities car-
rying out the reentry projects being evalu-
ated; 
‘‘(ii) include analysis of participant 
feedback and outcome and process meas-
ures; and 
‘‘(iii) use designs that employ the 
most rigorous analytical and statistical 
methods that are reasonably feasible, such 
as the use of control groups; and 
‘‘(B) may not— 
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‘‘(i) collect personally identifiable in-
formation, except to the extent such infor-
mation is necessary to conduct the evalua-
tion; or 
‘‘(ii) reveal or share personally identi-
fiable information. 
‘‘(3) PUBLICATION AND REPORTING OF EVAL-
UATION FINDINGS.—The Secretary (acting through 
the Chief Evaluation Officer) shall— 
‘‘(A) in accordance with the timeline deter-
mined to be appropriate by the Chief Evalua-
tion Officer, publish an interim report on such 
evaluation; 
‘‘(B) not later than 90 days after the date 
on which any evaluation is completed under this 
subsection, publish and make publicly available 
such evaluation; and 
‘‘(C) not later than 60 days after the com-
pletion date described in subparagraph (B), 
submit to the Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate a report on such evalua-
tion. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
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‘‘(1) CONTENTS.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall post, using transparent, linked, 
open, and interoperable data formats, on its publicly 
accessible website an annual report on— 
‘‘(A) the number of individuals who par-
ticipated in projects assisted under this section 
for the preceding year; 
‘‘(B) the percentage of such individuals 
who successfully completed the requirements of 
such projects; and 
‘‘(C) the performance of eligible entities on 
such projects as measured by the performance 
indicators set forth in subsection (e). 
‘‘(2) DISAGGREGATION.—The information pro-
vided under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of para-
graph (1) with respect to a year shall be 
disaggregated by each project assisted under this 
section for such year. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS; RES-
ERVATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section— 
‘‘(A) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(B) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
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‘‘(C) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
‘‘(D) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(E) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
and 
‘‘(F) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
‘‘(2) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds 
appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, 
the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) may reserve not more than 5 percent 
for the administration of grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements awarded under this sec-
tion, of which not more than 2 percent may be 
reserved for the provision of— 
‘‘(i) technical assistance to eligible en-
tities that receive funds under this section; 
and 
‘‘(ii) outreach and technical assistance 
to eligible entities desiring to receive such 
funds, including assistance with application 
development and submission; and 
‘‘(B) shall reserve not less than 1 percent 
and not more than 2.5 percent for the evalua-
tion activities under subsection (f) or to support 
eligible entities with any required data collec-
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tion, analysis, and coordination related to such 
evaluation activities. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CHIEF EVALUATION OFFICER.—The term 
‘Chief Evaluation Officer’ means the head of the 
independent evaluation office located organization-
ally in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Pol-
icy of the Department of Labor. 
‘‘(2) COMMUNITY
SUPERVISION.—The term 
‘community supervision’ means mandatory oversight 
(including probation and parole) of a formerly incar-
cerated person— 
‘‘(A) who was convicted of a crime by a 
judge or parole board; and 
‘‘(B) who is living outside a secure facility. 
‘‘(3) CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘correctional institution’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 225(e). 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a private nonprofit organization 
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, including a community-based or 
faith-based organization; 
‘‘(B) a local board; 
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‘‘(C) a State or local government; 
‘‘(D) an Indian or Native American entity 
eligible for grants under section 166; 
‘‘(E) a labor organization or joint labor- 
management organization; or 
‘‘(F) a consortium of the entities described 
in subparagraphs (A) through (E). 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE
ADULT.—The term ‘eligible 
adult’ means a justice-involved individual who— 
‘‘(A) is age 25 or older; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual that was 
previously incarcerated, was released from in-
carceration not more than 3 years prior to en-
rollment in a project funded under this section. 
‘‘(6) ELIGIBLE
YOUTH.—The term ‘eligible 
youth’ means a justice-involved individual who is not 
younger than age 14 or older than age 24. 
‘‘(7) HIGH-CRIME.—The term ‘high-crime’, 
when used with respect to a geographic area, means 
an area with crime rates that are higher than the 
rate for the overall city (for urban areas) or of non- 
metropolitan area in the State (for rural areas), as 
such terms are used by the Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics. 
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‘‘(8) HIGH-POVERTY.—The term ‘high-poverty’, 
when used with respect to a geographic area, means 
an area with a poverty rate of at least 25 percent 
as determined based on the most recently available 
data from the American Community Survey con-
ducted by the Bureau of the Census.’’. 
Æ 
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