Title: Workforce Reentry Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Workforce Reentry Act
This bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants for a period of not more than five years to eligible entities (private nonprofit organizations, local workforce development boards, state or local governments, or specified Native American entities) to enable such entities to provide job training, job placement services, and mentoring to ex-offenders.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7069 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7069

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make permanent 
 a grant program to promote and assist in the reentry of ex-offenders 
                          into the workforce.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2018

    Mr. Lewis of Minnesota introduced the following bill; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to make permanent 
 a grant program to promote and assist in the reentry of ex-offenders 
                          into the workforce.

    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 Reentry Act''.

SEC. 2. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP GRANTS.

    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 new 
        section:

``SEC. 172. EX-OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAM START-UP GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to--
            ``(1) prompt innovation and improvement in the reentry of 
        ex-offenders into the workforce so that successful initiatives 
        can be continued and replicated; and
            ``(2) allow for the dissemination of information regarding 
        best practices in preparing ex-offenders for sustained 
        participation in the workforce.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Apprenticeship opportunities.--The term 
        `apprenticeship opportunities' includes registered 
        apprenticeship, industry-recognized apprenticeship, and 
        preapprenticeship programs.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private non-profit organization under 
                section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(B) a local workforce development board;
                    ``(C) a State or local government; or
                    ``(D) an Indian or Native American entity eligible 
                for grants under section 166.
            ``(3) Eligible participant.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible participant' 
                means an individual--
                            ``(i) who is not less than age 18;
                            ``(ii) who has been convicted as an adult 
                        and imprisoned under Federal or State law;
                            ``(iii) whose most recent offense has not 
                        been a violent or sex-based offense; or
                            ``(iv) who has not been released from 
                        prison or jail for more than 180 days before 
                        the date on which the individual begins 
                        participation.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Up to 10 percent of all 
                participants may be individuals who do not meet the 
                requirements of clause (iv) of subparagraph (A).
            ``(4) Evidence-based.--The term `evidence-based' means a 
        program or practice that--
                    ``(A) is demonstrated effective when implemented 
                with fidelity;
                    ``(B) is based on a clearly articulated and 
                empirically supported theory;
                    ``(C) has measurable outcomes relevant to workforce 
                outcomes for reentering offenders; and
                    ``(D) has been scientifically tested and proven 
                effective through randomized control studies or 
                comparison group studies.
            ``(5) Promising.--The term `promising' refers to a program 
        or practice that--
                    ``(A) is demonstrated to be effective based on 
                positive outcomes relevant to workforce engagement for 
                reentering offenders from 1 or more objective, 
                independent, and scientifically valid evaluation; and
                    ``(B) includes ongoing efforts to examine the 
                effects of such program or practice.
    ``(c) Program Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the activities under 
        this section, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, 
        award grants for a period of not more than 5 years to eligible 
        entities to enable such entities to provide job training, job 
        placement services, and mentoring.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants, the Secretary shall 
        give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) establish partnerships with business or 
                educational institutions to provide a program of study 
                leading to postsecondary credentials in in-demand 
                occupations; or
                    ``(B) provide customized training that is designed 
                to meet the specific requirements of an employer 
                (including a group of employers) and is conducted with 
                a commitment by the employer to employ an individual 
                upon successful completion of the training.
            ``(3) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a grant to an 
        eligible entity under this section for a period no longer than 
        5 additional years if the eligible entity--
                    ``(A) demonstrates success in helping eligible 
                participants reenter the workforce according to the 
                performance indicators under (g)(1); and
                    ``(B) provides an assurance that the entity will 
                provide a non-Federal contribution, including cash and 
                in-kind donations, in an amount not less than 100 
                percent of the total funds awarded in the renewal 
                grant.
    ``(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary, which shall include the following:
            ``(1) A detailed description of the program including the 
        core services they will provide, how the eligible entity will 
        recruit and select eligible participants for the program, how 
        many participants they plan on serving each year, and the 
        length of participation in the program.
            ``(2) A description of evidence-based or promising 
        practices the eligible entity will use in the administration of 
        the program.
            ``(3) A description of partnerships with local businesses 
        to provide apprenticeship opportunities, work-based learning, 
        and job placement and recruitment (if applicable).
            ``(4) An assurance that the eligible entity will coordinate 
        activities with workforce development programs and other 
        services provided under this title, including utilizing the 
        one-stop delivery system of the local workforce development 
        areas to provide appropriate services and recruit eligible 
        individuals to ensure the maximum number of eligible 
        individuals will have the opportunity to participate in the 
        program.
            ``(5) An assurance that the eligible entity will provide a 
        50-percent match, as described in subsection (e).
            ``(6) A plan to coordinate with other programs and 
        entities, including those that may be provided by such other 
        programs and entities, to provide substance abuse treatment 
        services, mental health treatment services, housing services, 
        and transportation services.
            ``(7) An assurance that the eligible entity will provide 
        the data necessary for the indicators of performance in 
        subsection (g).
            ``(8) A plan to continue the program with non-Federal funds 
        after grant period.
    ``(e) Matching Requirement.--In order to receive a grant from the 
Secretary under this section, each eligible entity shall provide a non-
Federal contribution, including cash and in-kind donations, in an 
amount not less than 50 percent of the total funds awarded.
    ``(f) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A grant awarded under this section may 
        be used to--
                    ``(A) provide workforce development and job 
                placement services to eligible participants, including 
                occupational skills education, on-the-job training, 
                apprenticeship opportunities, work experience, job 
                referrals, basic skills remediation, educational 
                services, work readiness activities, and post-placement 
                support, in coordination with the one-stop partners and 
                one-stop operators that provide services at any center 
                operated under a one-stop deliver system established 
                under section 121;
                    ``(B) mentor eligible participants, including the 
                provision of support, guidance, and assistance in the 
                community and the workplace to address the challenges 
                faced by ex-offenders;
                    ``(C) provide outreach to State or Federal 
                correctional facilities to increase awareness, identify 
                and recruit eligible participants, provide screening 
                and assessment of eligible participants and align 
                educational offerings with existing services available 
                to individuals who are presently incarcerated; or
                    ``(D) coordinate with employers to develop 
                customized training programs and agreements around the 
                hiring of eligible participants.
            ``(2) Limitations.--
                    ``(A) Certain services excluded.--Funds provided 
                under this section may not be used to provide substance 
                abuse treatment services, mental health treatment 
                services, or housing services, except that such a grant 
                may be used to coordinate with other programs and 
                entities to provide substance abuse treatment services, 
                mental health treatment services, or housing services 
                to eligible participants.
                    ``(B) Administrative cost limit.--A grantee may not 
                use more than 10 percent of the funds received under a 
                grant for administrative costs.
                    ``(C) Limit on amount paid as stipends to 
                participants.--A grantee may not use more than 15 
                percent of the funds received under such grant to 
                provide stipends to program participants while 
                completing an educational or skill development program.
    ``(g) Performance Outcomes and Accountability.--
            ``(1) Indicators of performance.--Each eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall report each year to 
        the Secretary of Labor on the following indicators of 
        performance:
                    ``(A) The percentage of program participants who 
                are in unsubsidized employment during the second 
                quarter after exit from the program.
                    ``(B) The percentage of program participants who 
                are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth 
                quarter after exit from the program.
                    ``(C) The median earnings of program participants 
                who are in unsubsidized employment during the second 
                quarter after exit from the program.
                    ``(D) The percentage of program participants who 
                obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a 
                secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, 
                during participation in or within one year after exit 
                from the program.
            ``(2) Independent evaluation.--Not later than five years 
        after the date of enactment of this section and from amounts 
        made available under section 173(d), the Secretary shall 
        provide for and report to Congress on an independent evaluation 
        of the grant program established under this section that 
        includes an assessment of the effectiveness of the grant 
        program and the effectiveness of individual grantees included 
        in the evaluation in reducing recidivism and assisting 
        individuals in--
                    ``(A) earning credentials;
                    ``(B) finding and maintaining employment; and
                    ``(C) increasing their earnings.
            ``(3) Report.--The Secretary shall release an annual report 
        on--
                    ``(A) the number of individuals who participated in 
                programs assisted under this section;
                    ``(B) the percentage of individuals participating 
                in a program assisted under this section that 
                successfully completed the program; and
                    ``(C) the performance of grantees as measured by 
                the performance indicators set forth in paragraph (1).
            ``(4) Disseminating best practices.--Using the findings of 
        the independent evaluation under paragraph (2) the Secretary 
        shall disseminate information to State and local government, 
        local workforce development boards, and relevant stakeholders 
        regarding best practices in providing workforce development 
        opportunities for ex-offenders and reducing recidivism.
    ``(h) Administrative Activities.--The Secretary may use up to 2 
percent of the funds annually appropriated to carry out the activities 
of this section including disseminating best practices and providing 
technical assistance to grantees and partnering businesses regarding 
the availability of applicable tax credits including the Work 
Opportunity Tax Credit.
    ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to authorize any new appropriations to carry out the purpose 
of this section.''.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZED FUNDS.

    Section 173(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (as 
redesignated by section 2(1)) is amended by striking ``section 169'' 
and inserting ``sections 169 and 172''.
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