Workforce Opportunity for Returning Citizens Act
Bill: H.R.6756 | Sponsor: Rep. Bourdeaux, Carolyn (D-GA)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Workforce Opportunity for Returning Citizens Act or the WORC Act
This bill requires the Department of Labor to award grants to local workforce development boards, colleges, area career and technical education schools, or other entities to develop or expand education or workforce training programs that (1) lead to employment opportunities for incarcerated and previously incarcerated (i.e., incarcerated at any time during the preceding 36-month period) individuals; and (2) reduce recidivism.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the 
   Secretary of Labor to award grants for workforce grants to assist 
          incarcerated or previously incarcerated individuals.

    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 ``Workforce Opportunity for Returning 
Citizens Act'' or the ``WORC Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO ASSIST INCARCERATED OR PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED 
              INDIVIDUALS.

    Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and
            (2) by inserting after section 171, the following:

``SEC. 172. GRANTS TO ASSIST INCARCERATED OR PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED 
              INDIVIDUALS.

    ``(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection 
(g), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to develop 
or expand education or workforce training programs that lead to 
employment opportunities for incarcerated individuals or previously 
incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism.
    ``(b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that will use the grants to 
develop or expand training programs described in subsection (a) that 
will lead participants of such programs--
            ``(1) to jobs in skilled trade (such as jobs in 
        construction, plumbing, welding, heating and air conditioning, 
        or masonry); or
            ``(2) to the attainment of recognized postsecondary 
        credentials.
    ``(c) Application Requirements.--To receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
under this section shall use such grant to develop or expand a training 
program described in subsection (a).
    ``(e) Reports.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
report on--
            ``(1) the amount of the grant awarded to the eligible 
        entity for the preceding grant year, and how such grant was 
        used; and
            ``(2) the progress, as described in section 116, of the 
        eligible entity with respect to the training program developed 
        or expanded with such grant, including the relative rate of 
        recidivism of the participants of such program.
    ``(f) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Correctional institution.--The term `correctional 
        institution' has the meaning given the term in section 
        225(e)(1).
            ``(2) Education or workforce training program.--The term 
        `education or workforce training program' includes--
                    ``(A) an apprenticeship program;
                    ``(B) an on-the-job training program, or
                    ``(C) a program providing classroom instruction.
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a local board;
                    ``(B) an area career and technical education 
                school;
                    ``(C) an intermediary;
                    ``(D) an institution of higher education, including 
                a 2-year institution of higher education; or
                    ``(E) a consortium of the entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            ``(4) Incarcerated individual.--The term `incarcerated 
        individual' means an adult or juvenile who is in the custody of 
        a correctional institution.
            ``(5) Previously incarcerated individual.--The term 
        `previously incarcerated individual' means an adult or juvenile 
        who has been an incarcerated individual at any time during the 
        preceding 36-month period.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2027.''.

SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 
172 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 172. Grants to assist incarcerated or previously incarcerated 
                            individuals.
``Sec. 173. Authorization of appropriations.''.
                                 <all>