Supportive Services Enhancement Act
Bill: H.R.7406 | Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan (D-MN)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Supportive Services Enhancement Act
This bill expands the definition of supportive services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, and affordable internet connection. It also requires local one-stop centers to provide such services to adults and dislocated workers.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to update the 
       definition of supportive services, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supportive Services Enhancement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

    (a) Inclusion of Supportive Services in Definition of Career 
Pathway.--Section 3(7) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102(7))--
            (1) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of 
        subparagraph (F);
            (2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) includes supportive services or provides 
                assistance in applying for and accessing direct support 
                services, means-tested Federal benefit programs, or 
                similar State, tribal, or local benefit programs.''.
    (b) Supportive Services Defined.--Section 3(59) of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102(59)) is amended to read 
as follows:
            ``(59) Supportive services.--The term `supportive services' 
        means services such as transportation, child care, dependent 
        care, housing, food and nutrition services, mental health care 
        supports, substance use disorder treatment, access to 
        broadband, affordable internet connection, or digital devices 
        with connection to the internet, assistive technology, and 
        needs-related payments, that are necessary to enable an 
        individual to participate in workforce development 
        activities.''.
    (c) Functions of Local Board.--Section 107(d)(3) of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3122(d)(3)) is amended, in 
the first sentence, by inserting ``, including supportive services 
offered by community-based organizations,'' after ``resources''.
    (d) Program Elements for Youth Workforce Investment Activities.--
Section 129(c)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3164(c)(2) is amended--
            (1) by amending subparagraph (G) to read as follows:
                    ``(G) Supportive services, including providing 
                supportive services to eligible youth or connecting 
                such youth to supportive services provided by another 
                entity, to enable participation in the a summer or 
                year-round employment program, which may include food 
                and nutrition services, and health and mental health 
                care supports.''; and
            (2) by amending subparagraph (K) to read as follows:
                    ``(K) high-quality financial literacy education, 
                including for eligible youth participating in a summer 
                or year-round employment program, including education 
                on the use of credit and financing higher education, 
                and access to safe and affordable banking.''.
    (e) Required Local Employment and Training Activities.--Section 
134(c) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 13 U.S.C. 
3174(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A) is amended by striking clauses (iv) 
        and (v) and inserting the following:
                            ``(iv) to provide supportive services 
                        described in paragraph (4) to adults and 
                        dislocated workers, respectively, through the 
                        one-stop delivery system in accordance with 
                        such paragraph;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Supportive services.--A portion of the funds 
        allocated to a local area for adults under paragraph (2)(A) or 
        (3), as appropriate, of section 133(b), and a portion of the 
        funds allocated to the local area for dislocated workers under 
        section 133(b)(2)(B)--
                    ``(A) shall be used to provide supportive services 
                (that are not needs-related payments) to adults and 
                dislocated workers, respectively--
                            ``(i) who are participating in programs 
                        with activities authorized in paragraph (2) or 
                        (3) of subsection (c), or who entered 
                        unsubsidized employment after participating in 
                        such programs, for up to 12 months following 
                        the date of first employment; and
                            ``(ii) who are unable to obtain such 
                        supportive services through other programs 
                        providing such services; and
                    ``(B) may be used to provide needs-related payments 
                to adults and dislocated workers, respectively, who are 
                unemployed and do not qualify for (or have ceased to 
                qualify for) unemployment compensation for the purpose 
                of enabling such individuals to participate in programs 
                of training services under subsection (c)(3).''.
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