Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
Bill: H.R.3246 | Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" (D-IL)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
This bill establishes and provides funding through FY2031 for grant programs to address barriers to youth employment. The bill also excludes certain youth employment income from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility determinations.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Labor to provide formula grants to states and local areas, and competitive grants to community-based organizations and other eligible entities, to assist in carrying out subsidized public employment programs for youth with barriers to employment. Funding to states and local areas must be used for programs that lead eligible youth to unsubsidized full-time employment or to attainment of at least one recognized postsecondary credential. Grants to eligible entities must be used to match youth with employment barriers to subsidized employment programs funded by the bill and to provide hands-on work experience.
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate and report on the activities funded by the bill.
The bill also excludes from SNAP income eligibility determinations any income earned by a household member who is younger than 22 years old, is an elementary or secondary school student, and lives with a parent.

To award funds to States and local areas for subsidized employment 
                          programs for youth.

    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 ``Connecting Youth to Jobs Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) offer employment to all young people who seek it, 
        especially those who have been historically disadvantaged;
            (2) create subsidized employment opportunities for young 
        people to address National, State, and local priorities, such 
        as infrastructure enhancement, manufacturing, public works, 
        community development, and the arts; and
            (3) support young people with services, including housing, 
        healthcare, transportation, child care, and access to 
        technology.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Qualifying emergency.--The term ``qualifying 
        emergency'' means--
                    (A) a public health emergency declared by the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to 
                section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
                247d);
                    (B) an event for which the President declared a 
                major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or 
                501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
                Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 
                5191); or
                    (C) a national emergency declared by the President 
                under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 
                U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
            (2) Eligible youth.--The term ``eligible youth'' means an 
        individual who is not younger than age 14 and not older than 
        age 24, without regard to immigration status or past or current 
        involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system.
            (3) ESEA terms.--The terms ``local educational agency'' and 
        ``State educational agency'' have the meanings given the terms 
        in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) High-poverty area.--The term ``high-poverty area'' 
        means a census tract with a youth poverty rate of at least 20 
        percent during the most recent 5 consecutive years.
            (5) Historically high youth unemployment levels.--The term 
        ``historically high youth unemployment levels'' means any local 
        area with a youth unemployment rate of at least 10 percent, as 
        measured over the most recent decennial censuses, or by the 
        Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent 5-year period 
        for which data are available.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (7) Public education entity.--The term ``public education 
        entities'' includes--
                    (A) a local educational agency;
                    (B) a State educational agency; or
                    (C) a public institution of higher education.
            (8) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship programs'' means an apprenticeship 
        program 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.), including any requirement, 
        standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such 
        requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30, 
        2019 (or successor requirements, standards or rule).
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (10) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services'' 
        means services such as transportation, child care, dependent 
        care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary 
        to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized 
        under this Act.
            (11) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
        2302), except that such term includes work-based learning in 
        virtual settings.
            (12) WIOA terms.--The terms ``in-demand industry sector or 
        occupation'', ``individual with a disability'', ``in-school 
        youth'' , ``local area'', ``local board'', ``out-of-school 
        youth'', ``outlying area'', ``poverty line'', ``recognized 
        postsecondary credential'', ``State'', ``State board'', and 
        ``unit of general local government'' have the meanings given 
        the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (13) Youth with a barrier to employment.--The term ``youth 
        with a barrier to employment'' means an eligible youth who--
                    (A) is a homeless child or youth (as such term is 
                defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a));
                    (B) has been incarcerated or has past or current 
                involvement with the criminal or juvenile justice 
                systems;
                    (C) is a current or former foster youth;
                    (D) is an individual with a disability;
                    (E) is pregnant or parenting;
                    (F) is a school dropout (as defined by State law);
                    (G) is from a family with an income level at or 
                below 200 percent of the poverty line; or
                    (H) is a member of another young-adult population, 
                including racial groups, that is experiencing disparate 
                levels of youth disconnection, as defined by the local 
                workforce development board of the local area in which 
                the youth resides.

                TITLE I--YOUTH PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

SEC. 101. FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES AND LOCAL AREAS.

    (a) Funding Allotments and Allocations.--
            (1) State allotments.--To assist States and outlying areas, 
        and to enable States and outlying areas to assist local areas, 
        in carrying out subsidized employment programs described in 
        subsection (b) for youth with a barrier to employment, from the 
        funds appropriated under section 105(a), the Secretary of Labor 
        shall--
                    (A) make an allotment in accordance with section 
                127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to each 
                State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 
                of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 3113); and
                    (B) award a grant to each outlying area that 
                complies with the requirements of title I of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3101 et seq.) to carry out subsidized youth employment 
                programs for such youth.
            (2) Within state allocation.--
                    (A) Statewide activities.--Each State shall reserve 
                25 percent of the allotment received under paragraph 
                (1)(A) to carry out statewide subsidized employment 
                programs described in subsection (b).
                    (B) Allocations to local areas.--A Governor of a 
                State that receives an allotment under paragraph (1), 
                in coordination with relevant State and local 
                stakeholders, shall use any remaining amounts (after 
                reserving funds under subparagraph (A)), to allocate 
                funds to local areas, as long as not less than 65 
                percent of such remaining amount is allocated to--
                            (i) high-poverty local areas with the 
                        highest youth unemployment rate compared to 
                        other local areas in the State; and
                            (ii) local areas with historically high 
                        levels of youth unemployment within the State.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) Subsidized employment programs.--
                    (A) In general.--Funds allotted to States for 
                statewide programs, and funds allocated to local areas 
                under subsection (a), shall be used to carry out 
                subsidized employment programs described in paragraph 
                (3) that--
                            (i) lead to unsubsidized, full-time 
                        employment for youth with a barrier to 
                        employment in such State or local area; or
                            (ii) provide the necessary skills and 
                        competency attainment of at least 1 recognized 
                        postsecondary credential to further the 
                        education or career of such youth.
            (2) Funding distribution.--Of the funds allotted to States, 
        or allocated to local areas, as described in paragraph (1) for 
        a fiscal year:
                    (A) Not less than 60 percent shall be used for 
                wages and employment benefits to individuals employed 
                in subsidized employment programs funded under this 
                section.
                    (B) Not less than 30 percent for the first fiscal 
                year for which such funds are so allotted or allocated, 
                and not less than 20 percent for each fiscal year 
                thereafter, shall be used to provide career services 
                described in section 134(c)(2) of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)), 
                training services, or youth workforce investment 
                activities.
                    (C) Any remaining funds may be used for 
                administrative and other allowable costs (such as 
                supplies, materials, equipment, and health and safety 
                resources) incurred by the State or local area, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Conditions.--Except as otherwise determined by the 
        Secretary, the following conditions shall apply to each 
        subsidized employment program funded under this section:
                    (A) Each youth with a barrier to employment 
                residing in the State or local area funding such 
                program shall be entitled to an opportunity to be 
                employed by such program, and no other individual shall 
                be provided such opportunity.
                    (B) Each individual employed under such program 
                shall be paid a wage, which shall at least be the 
                highest of the following:
                            (i) $15 an hour.
                            (ii) The minimum wage under the applicable 
                        State or local minimum wage law.
                            (iii) The prevailing rates of pay for 
                        individuals employed in similar occupations by 
                        the same employer.
                            (iv) The Federal minimum wage in effect 
                        under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor 
                        Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)).
                    (C) With respect to a wage determined under 
                subparagraph (B), the Secretary may promulgate 
                regulations to increase such wage after consideration 
                of industry, geographical region, skill requirements, 
                and individual proficiency.
                    (D) An individual may self-attest to being a youth 
                with a barrier to employment, and verification of such 
                eligibility may occur after the individual is employed 
                under the program.
                    (E) Earnings from such program shall not be 
                regarded as income and shall not be regarded as a 
                resource for the month of receipt and the following 12 
                months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of 
                an individual (or the individual's spouse or family) 
                for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of 
                benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or 
                under any State or local program financed in whole or 
                in part with Federal funds.
                    (F) Such program shall coordinate with the 
                workforce systems and activities promoted by the State 
                or local board to connect youth with a barrier to 
                employment to educational or career opportunities.
                    (G) Such program shall establish or expand 
                diversity and inclusion opportunities and collect 
                disaggregated data on related efforts.

SEC. 102. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under section 
105(b), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities for activities described in subsection (d).
    (b) Requirements on Uses of Funds.--In awarding funds under this 
section the Secretary shall ensure the following:
            (1) Direct financial assistance.--Not less than 40 percent 
        of such funds are used to provide direct financial assistance 
        to eligible youth to support such youth with financial needs 
        with respect to entering, remaining enrolled in, and completing 
        a subsidized employment program described in section 101(b) 
        (including related costs of training, supplies, food and 
        nutrition, housing, transportation, child care, mental health 
        and substance abuse services, payment of fines, or other 
        targeted costs determined allowable by the Secretary).
            (2) In-demand industry sectors or occupations.--Not less 
        than 40 percent of such funds are used to connect eligible 
        youth to employers for in-demand industry sectors or 
        occupations, work-based learning opportunities, registered 
        apprenticeship programs, or to reconnect to a public education 
        entity.
            (3) Diversity and inclusion activities.-- Not less than 10 
        percent of such funds are used for promoting, creating, or 
        expanding diversity and inclusion activities for the purposes 
        of diversifying workforce systems.
    (c) Eligible Entity Defined.--
            (1) In general.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
        entity that the Secretary determines to serve a high number or 
        high percentage of youth with a barrier to employment who are 
        employed in a subsidized employment programs described in 
        section 101(b).
            (2) Inclusions.--The term ``eligible entity'' includes--
                    (A) a community-based organization;
                    (B) a State and unit of general local government in 
                a partnership with a community-based organization;
                    (C) a partnership among States and units of general 
                local government, community-based organizations, public 
                education entities, registered apprenticeships, and 
                employers from in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations;
                    (D) a partnership among community-based 
                organizations and juvenile and adult correctional 
                facilities;
                    (E) a labor organization or joint labor-management 
                organization; or
                    (F) a tribal organization (as defined in section 4 
                of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or an urban Indian 
                organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
                Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603))''.
    (d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section--
            (1) shall use the grant to match youth with a barrier to 
        employment to subsidized employment programs funded under 
        section 101, and provide hands-on work experience that does not 
        supplant the work of existing employees; and
            (2) may use a grant received under this section to carry 
        out 1 or more of the following:
                    (A) Establish or expand diversity and inclusion 
                opportunities and collect disaggregated data on related 
                efforts.
                    (B) Provide (directly or through partnerships) 
                technical assistance and supportive services to 
                eligible youth and their families to help navigate 
                supportive services and other Federal and State 
                assistance programs to support the recruitment, 
                retention, and completion of a program funded under 
                section 101.
                    (C) Coordinate partnerships with programs funded 
                under section 101 to connect eligible youth to 
                educational or career opportunities, including to 
                employers for in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations, work-based learning opportunities, 
                registered apprenticeship programs, or to reconnect to 
                a public education entity.
                    (D) Form comprehensive youth service delivery 
                systems to improve education and employment outcomes 
                for youth and to strategically connect local sectors, 
                systems, and resources by strategically coordinating 
                resources and public, private, and nonprofit funding to 
                create youth pathways to further the education, skills, 
                and access to jobs and successful careers, by--
                            (i) conducting and improving outreach to 
                        underrepresented youth and families with 
                        respect to the programs funded under section 
                        101;
                            (ii) making appropriate use of existing 
                        education, child welfare, social services, and 
                        workforce development data collection systems 
                        to facilitate the entity's ability to recruit 
                        youth participants; and
                            (iii) developing wide-ranging higher 
                        education or employment pathways for youth.
                    (E) Assist in the transition between subsidized 
                youth employment programs and unsubsidized employment 
                or education.
                    (F) In the case of an eligible entity described in 
                subsection (d)(2)(D), assist in the transition from 
                incarceration with the goal of reducing rates of 
                recidivism and ensuring incarcerated youth and formerly 
                incarcerated youth have access to employment and 
                educational opportunities.

SEC. 103. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit an individual 
receiving assistance under this title from being represented by a labor 
organization.

SEC. 104. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, DATA COLLECTION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the first grant is 
awarded under section 101, and annually thereafter, each program funded 
under section 101 shall be evaluated by the State board of the State 
receiving an allotment under section 101 to carry out such program or 
the local board of the local area receiving an allocation under section 
101 to carry out such program.
    (b) Performance Data Collection.--The Secretary of Labor shall 
collect data on--
            (1) the performance of each program using the disaggregated 
        indicators of performance in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
        3141(b)(2)(A)(i));
            (2) the completion rates of the program;
            (3) the rate of full-time unsubsidized employment after 
        program completion;
            (4) the rate of reconnection to public education entities 
        after program completion; and
            (5) the diversity and equal opportunity in such programs.
    (c) Accountability Metrics.--The Secretary shall establish a youth 
work-readiness indicator.

SEC. 105. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than December 31, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary of Labor shall submit a publicly available 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 
that includes--
            (1) a review and assessment of all information related to 
        the programs funded under this Act;
            (2) any relevant guidance issued by the Secretary with 
        respect to such programs; and
            (3) an analysis of equity, diversity, and inclusion 
        activities, best practices, and recommendations for improvement 
        with respect to increasing the success of such programs and 
        outcomes for youth, and participant demographics (while 
        maintaining privacy protections), disaggregated by race, 
        ethnicity, sex, age, and subpopulations described in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 129(a)(1) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Mandatory Funds.--There are authorized to be appropriated, and 
there are appropriated (in addition to any other amounts appropriated 
to carry out this section 101 and out of any money in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated), such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
section 101 for fiscal year 2022 and each of the succeeding 9 fiscal 
years.
    (b) Competitive Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
$10,000,000,000 to carry out section 102 for fiscal year 2022 and each 
of the succeeding 9 fiscal years.

                          TITLE II--GAO REPORT

SEC. 201. GAO REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
published report in section 105, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an independent 
evaluation of the activities funded under this Act and submit to 
Congress a report that shall be made publicly available.
    (b) Evaluation.--In conducting the evaluation under subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General shall consider, as applicable and appropriate, 
information from the report under section 105.
    (c) Report.--The report described in subsection (a) shall review, 
assess, and provide recommendations, as appropriate, on the following:
            (1) Compliance with the requirements established under this 
        Act.
            (2) The effectiveness of the requirements established under 
        this Act, associated challenges, and trends in the youth 
        progress made toward the goals described in section 
        101(b)(1)(A).
            (3) Federal guidance, best practices, and funding 
        recommendations for related Federal youth employment activities 
        and any innovative State and local actions that improve or 
        further the education or career of youth participants, 
        including employment opportunities that lead to long-term, 
        unsubsidized employment.

   TITLE III--YOUTH STUDENT INCOME EXCLUSION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL 
                      NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

SEC. 301. YOUTH STUDENT INCOME EXCLUDED UNDER THE FOOD AND NUTRITION 
              ACT OF 2008.

    Section 5(d)(7) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2014(d)(7)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
following:
        ``and income earned by a household member who is less than 22 
        years of age, who is an elementary or secondary school student, 
        and who lives with a natural, adoptive, or stepparent''.
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