To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development programs, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.8634 | Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Rick W. (R-GA)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This bill expands career services and training programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include skills and information on entrepreneurship.
Further, the bill requires the Department of Labor to conduct a three-year multistate study on entrepreneurial skills development programs and make recommendations for states and local communities to expand access to such programs.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize a 
study to review specific outcomes of entrepreneurial skills development 
                   programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

    Section 101(d)(3)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3111(d)(3)(D)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and jobseekers'' and inserting 
        ``jobseekers, and entrepreneurs''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and entrepreneurial skills development 
        and microenterprise services'' after ``occupations''.

SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS OF TRAINING SERVICES.

    Section 122(a)(2)(C) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(a)(2)(C)) is amended by inserting ``and providers 
of entrepreneurial skills development programs'' after 
``organizations''.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

    Section 134(c)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iv)--
                    (A) in subclause (I)--
                            (i) in item (aa), by striking ``; and'' and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                                            ``(cc) provision of 
                                        information on 
                                        entrepreneurship, as 
                                        appropriate; and'';
                    (B) in subclause (II), by adding ``and'' after the 
                semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(III) referral to microenterprise 
                                services, as appropriate;'';
            (2) in clause (vi)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by inserting ``, which may 
                include resources to support entrepreneurship,'' after 
                ``listings''; and
                    (B) in subclause (III), by inserting ``, which may 
                include entrepreneurship opportunities,'' after 
                ``demand''; and
            (3) in clause (xiii), by inserting ``or entrepreneurial 
        opportunities'' after ``workplace''.

SEC. 4. EVALUATIONS AND RESEARCH.

    Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3224) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraph (K) as 
                        subparagraph (L); and
                            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (J) 
                        the following:
                    ``(K) Study on entrepreneurial skills development 
                programs.--The Secretary shall, through a grant or 
                contract, conduct a three-year multistate study on 
                entrepreneurial skills development programs, which 
                shall include the following:
                            ``(i) A review of--
                                    ``(I) successful practices for 
                                developing entrepreneurial skills of 
                                individuals;
                                    ``(II) evidence-based and other 
                                best practices for mentoring potential 
                                entrepreneurs;
                                    ``(III) the qualifications needed 
                                for skills development providers to 
                                successfully develop the 
                                entrepreneurial skills of individuals;
                                    ``(IV) strategies for engaging 
                                employers and other private sector 
                                partners;
                                    ``(V) such program outcomes that 
                                correlate with entrepreneurial success;
                                    ``(VI) how such programs 
                                successfully measure the progress of 
                                participants in such programs;
                                    ``(VII) the extent to which such 
                                programs lead to industry recognized 
                                credentials;
                                    ``(VIII) the impact, including the 
                                economic impact, of such programs on 
                                States and local communities;
                                    ``(IX) the extent to which such 
                                programs affect business development 
                                and job creation in States and local 
                                communities;
                                    ``(X) how such programs identify 
                                potential program participants' 
                                readiness for the program; and
                                    ``(XI) the average earnings of 
                                participants who complete such a 
                                program three years after the date of 
                                completion of such program.
                            ``(ii) Recommendations for States and local 
                        communities to expand access to such 
                        programs.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting ``which shall 
                include individuals pursuing entrepreneurship,'' after 
                ``particular service populations,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking the third sentence and 
        inserting the following: ``Such projects may include 
        demonstration and pilot projects relating to promoting self-
        employment, promoting entrepreneurship, promoting job creation 
        (especially for in-demand industry sectors or occupations), 
        averting dislocations, assisting dislocated farmers, assisting 
        dislocated fishermen, developing career pathways and 
        encouraging advancements, and promoting public works.''.
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