REO Act of 2021
Bill: S.1534 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
REO Act of 2021
This bill establishes the Reentry Employment Opportunities Program to make grants for the purpose of providing job training opportunities to formerly incarcerated adults, youths, and young adults who have dropped out of school. Grants are awarded to entities such as nonprofit organizations, organizations serving women or a minority population, and state and local governments to carry out projects related to apprenticeship programs, occupational skills education, on-the-job training, work experience, job referrals, basic skills remediation, educational services, and work readiness activities for such individuals.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to authorize the 
   Reentry Employment Opportunities Program, 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 ``REO Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.

    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 (29 U.S.C. 3227) as 
        section 173; and
            (2) by inserting after section 171 (29 U.S.C. 3226) the 
        following:

``SEC. 172. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Correctional institution.--The term `correctional 
        institution' has the meaning given the term in section 225(e).
            ``(2) Eligible adult.--The term `eligible adult' means an 
        individual who--
                    ``(A) on the date of the individual's enrollment--
                            ``(i) is not younger than age 25; and
                            ``(ii) is residing in or returning to the 
                        geographic area served; and
                    ``(B)(i) before that date of enrollment--
                            ``(I) was released from incarceration in a 
                        correctional institution (including being 
                        enrolled in a work release center at the 
                        institution); or
                            ``(II) served an alternative sentence, or a 
                        sentence to a diversion program, ordered 
                        through the adult criminal justice system; or
                    ``(ii) on that date, is subject to the adult 
                criminal justice system, including an individual who--
                            ``(I) is incarcerated in a correctional 
                        institution (including being enrolled in a work 
                        release center at the institution), but is 
                        scheduled to be released within 6 months;
                            ``(II) is residing in a residential reentry 
                        center;
                            ``(III) is subject to electronic or home-
                        based monitoring;
                            ``(IV) is in the community on probation or 
                        parole; or
                            ``(V) is serving an alternative sentence, 
                        or a sentence to a diversion program, ordered 
                        through that system.
            ``(3) Eligible young adult.--The term `eligible young 
        adult' means an individual who, on the date of the individual's 
        enrollment--
                    ``(A) is not younger than age 18 and not older than 
                age 24;
                    ``(B) is residing in or returning to the geographic 
                area served; and
                    ``(C)(i) is a school dropout (within the meaning of 
                section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii)(I)) from a high school, 
                except that not more than 10 percent of the individuals 
                accepted to participate in a program under subsection 
                (b) may be found eligible under this subparagraph 
                solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this 
                clause; or
                    ``(ii) is an individual who is, or has been, 
                subject to the juvenile or adult criminal justice 
                system, including an individual who--
                            ``(I) is or has been incarcerated in a 
                        correctional institution (including being 
                        enrolled in a work release center at the 
                        institution or in a detention facility for 
                        juveniles);
                            ``(II) is or has been subject to that 
                        system due to having an out-of-home placement, 
                        or being on probation or parole; or
                            ``(III) is serving or has served an 
                        alternative sentence, or a sentence to a 
                        diversion program, ordered through that system.
            ``(4) Eligible youth.--The term `eligible youth' means an 
        individual who, on the date of the individual's enrollment--
                    ``(A) is not younger than age 16 and not older than 
                age 17;
                    ``(B) is residing in or returning to the geographic 
                area served; and
                    ``(C)(i) is a school dropout (within the meaning of 
                section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii)(I)) from a high school, 
                except that not more than 10 percent of the individuals 
                accepted to participate in a program under subsection 
                (c) may be found eligible under this subparagraph 
                solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this 
                clause; or
                    ``(ii) is an individual who is, or has been, 
                subject to the juvenile justice system, including an 
                individual who--
                            ``(I) is or has been incarcerated in a 
                        correctional institution (including being 
                        enrolled in a work release center at the 
                        institution or in a detention facility for 
                        juveniles);
                            ``(II) is or has been subject to that 
                        system due to having an out-of-home placement, 
                        or being on probation or parole; or
                            ``(III) is serving or has served an 
                        alternative sentence, or a sentence to a 
                        diversion program, ordered through that system.
            ``(5) Enroll.--The term `enroll' means receive confirmation 
        that an individual, having applied to participate in a program 
        under this section, has been accepted to the program.
            ``(6) Registered apprenticeship.--The term `registered 
        apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship registered under the 
        Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the `National 
        Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et 
        seq.).
    ``(b) Adult Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        carry out an adult Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.
            ``(2) Grants.--
                    ``(A) Direct grants.--In carrying out the program, 
                the Secretary may make direct grants to eligible 
                entities to carry out projects described in paragraph 
                (5), in geographic areas, for eligible adults and 
                eligible young adults.
                    ``(B) Grants through intermediaries.--In any year 
                for which the Secretary makes grants under subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary shall make intermediary grants on a 
                competitive basis to eligible entities who are national 
                or regional intermediaries, who shall use the grant 
                funds to make direct grants to eligible entities or to 
                carry out projects described in subparagraph (A) in 
                accordance with the provisions of this subsection. For 
                purposes of this subsection, a reference to the 
                Secretary shall include a reference to an intermediary 
                who receives funds under this subparagraph to the 
                extent that the intermediary uses the funds to make 
                direct grants to eligible entities.
            ``(3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a 
        direct or intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity--
                    ``(A) shall be an organization described in section 
                501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is 
                exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
                    ``(B) may be--
                            ``(i) an organization that serves women or 
                        a minority population;
                            ``(ii) a State or local government; or
                            ``(iii) an entity (including an Indian 
                        tribe or an Alaska Native-controlled or Native 
                        Hawaiian-controlled organization) that is 
                        eligible for a grant under section 166 
                        (including the regulations issued under that 
                        section); and
                    ``(C) may be an organization that serves--
                            ``(i) an urban county, meaning a county 
                        that is a Metropolitan Area, as designated by 
                        the Office of Management and Budget; or
                            ``(ii) a rural county, meaning a county 
                        that is a Micropolitan Area, or neither a 
                        Metropolitan Area nor a Micropolitan Area, as 
                        so designated.
            ``(4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a direct 
        grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity 
        shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
        may require, including, for a program that includes an 
        industry-recognized credential, a description of the program 
        leading to the credential.
            ``(5) Use of funds.--An entity that receives, under this 
        subsection, a direct grant to carry out a project described in 
        paragraph (2) shall use the grant funds to carry out a project 
        that provides opportunities in a pre-apprenticeship program, a 
        registered apprenticeship program, an industry-recognized 
        apprenticeship program, occupational skills education, on-the-
        job training, work experience, job referrals, basic skills 
        remediation, educational services, behavioral health services, 
        or work readiness activities, to eligible adults or eligible 
        young adults.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to 
        carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2022 and each 
        subsequent fiscal year.
    ``(c) Youth Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        carry out a youth Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.
            ``(2) Grants.--
                    ``(A) Direct grants.--In carrying out the program, 
                the Secretary may make direct grants to eligible 
                entities to carry out projects described in subsection 
                (b)(5), in geographic areas, for eligible youth.
                    ``(B) Grants through intermediaries.--In any year 
                for which the Secretary makes grants under subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary shall make intermediary grants as 
                described in subsection (b)(2)(B), except that 
                references in that subsection to eligible entities 
                shall be treated as references to entities described in 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a 
        direct or intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity 
        may be an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation 
        under section 501(a) of such Code or a State juvenile justice 
        agency.
            ``(4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a direct 
        grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection, an entity 
        shall submit an application as described in subsection (b)(4).
            ``(5) Use of funds.--An entity that receives, under this 
        subsection, a direct grant to carry out a project described in 
        paragraph (2) shall use the grant funds as described in 
        subsection (b)(5), for eligible youth.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to 
        carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2022 and each 
        subsequent fiscal year.
    ``(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall reserve and use 
not more than--
            ``(1) 2 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 
        (b)(7) for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to 
        recipients of grants under subsection (b); and
            ``(2) 2 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 
        (c)(7) for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to 
        recipients of grants under subsection (c).''.

SEC. 3. EVALUATION OF THE REENTRY PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall evaluate the 
effectiveness of direct grants and intermediary grants used by the 
Department of Labor to support offender reentry and recidivism 
reduction through reentry projects at the Federal, State, local, and 
tribal levels. The Chief Evaluation Officer shall evaluate each of the 
following:
            (1) The effectiveness of such projects in relation to their 
        cost, including the extent to which the projects improve 
        reentry outcomes, including employment, education, housing, and 
        reductions in recidivism, of participants in comparison to 
        comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such 
        projects.
            (2) The effectiveness of project structures and mechanisms 
        for delivery of services.
            (3) The impact of such projects on the communities and 
        participants involved.
            (4) The impact of such projects on related programs and 
        activities.
            (5) The extent to which such projects meet the needs of 
        various demographic groups.
            (6) The quality and effectiveness of technical assistance 
        provided by the Department of Labor to grantees for 
        implementing such projects.
            (7) Such other factors as may be appropriate.
    (b) Availability of Funds for Evaluation.--Not more than 2.5 
percent of any amounts appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out the 
reentry projects shall be reserved and made available to the Chief 
Evaluation Officer for such evaluation, including evaluating the 
processes, implementation, outcomes, costs, and effectiveness of the 
reentry projects in improving reentry and reducing recidivism. Such 
reserved funding may be used to provide support to recipients of direct 
grants and intermediary grants for reentry projects for supplemental 
data collection, analysis, and coordination associated with evaluation 
activities.
    (c) Techniques.--Evaluations conducted under this section shall use 
appropriate methodology and research designs. Impact evaluations 
conducted under this section shall include the use of intervention and 
control groups chosen by random assignment methods, to the extent 
possible.
    (d) Metrics and Outcomes for Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall 
        consult with relevant stakeholders and identify outcome 
        measures, including measures for employment, housing, 
        education, and public safety, that are to be achieved by 
        reentry projects and the metrics by which the achievement of 
        such outcomes shall be determined.
            (2) Publication.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which the Chief Evaluation Officer identifies metrics and 
        outcomes under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall 
        publish such metrics and outcomes identified.
    (e) Data Collection.--As a condition of receiving a direct grant or 
intermediary grant for a reentry project, grantees shall be required to 
collect and report to the Department of Labor data based upon the 
metrics identified under subsection (d). In accordance with applicable 
law, collection of individual-level data under a pledge of 
confidentiality shall be protected by the Chief Evaluation Officer in 
accordance with such pledge.
    (f) Data Accessibility.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Chief Evaluation Officer shall--
            (1) make data collected during the course of evaluation 
        under this section available in de-identified form in such a 
        manner that reasonably protects a pledge of confidentiality to 
        participants under subsection (e); and
            (2) make identifiable data collected during the course of 
        evaluation under this section available to qualified 
        researchers for future research and evaluation, in accordance 
        with applicable law.
    (g) Publication and Reporting of Evaluation Findings.--The Chief 
Evaluation Officer shall--
            (1) not later than 365 days after the date on which the 
        enrollment of participants in an impact evaluation is completed 
        under this section, publish an interim report on such 
        evaluation;
            (2) not later than 90 days after the date on which any 
        evaluation is completed under this section, publish and make 
        publicly available such evaluation; and
            (3) not later than 60 days after the completion date 
        described in paragraph (2), submit a report to the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
        Senate on such evaluation.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Chief evaluation officer.--The term ``Chief Evaluation 
        Officer'' means the head of the independent evaluation office 
        located organizationally in the Office of the Assistant 
        Secretary for Policy of the Department of Labor.
            (2) Reentry project.--The term ``reentry project'' means a 
        project funded under the reentry employment opportunities 
        program carried out under section 172 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunities Act.

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the item relating to section 172 as 
        the item relating to section 173; and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the 
        following:

``Sec. 172. Reentry Employment Opportunities Program.''.
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