Title: Emergency Economic and Workforce System Resiliency Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Emergency Economic and Workforce System Resiliency Act
This bill requires the Department of Labor to award to states (1) temporary five-year supplemental formula grants for emergency layoff aversion and workforce training activities to reduce and prevent unemployment and limit the impact of disruptions on labor markets, and (2) planning and implementation grants for innovative layoff aversion models. Grant recipients must designate a state grantee advisory council to oversee and assess the performance of activities carried out under such grants.
The bill requires the Departments of Commerce and Labor to jointly establish a federal interagency task force to (1) identify any challenges that a state or local area receiving funds under this bill has had to overcome; (2) collect and disseminate best practices and develop and recommend policies at the federal level to support ongoing efforts to limit the impact of market disruptions on workers, employers, and industry sectors or occupations, particularly with respect to specified groups; (3) establish a framework for a state receiving a grant under this bill to measure employer satisfaction for activities funded under it; and (4) establish the minimum standards of job quality that an employer is required to meet as a condition of receiving assistance under this bill.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5068 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5068

   To direct the Secretary of Labor to award formula and competitive 
     grants for layoff aversion activities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2020

 Ms. Klobuchar introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Labor to award formula and competitive 
     grants for layoff aversion activities, 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 ``Emergency Economic and Workforce 
System Resiliency Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms used in 
this Act have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
    (b) Additional Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Employee ownership trust.--The term ``employee 
        ownership trust'' means an indirect form of employee ownership 
        in which a trust holds a controlling stake in a business on 
        behalf of all its employees and provides an incentive for 
        owners to sell a controlling stake in their business.
            (2) Employee stock ownership plan.--The term ``employee 
        stock ownership plan'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 4975(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (3) 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.).
            (4) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
        ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
            (5) Worker cooperative.--The term ``worker cooperative'' 
        means a values-driven business--
                    (A) that puts worker and community benefit at the 
                core of its purpose; and
                    (B) in which--
                            (i) workers own the business and 
                        participate in its financial success on the 
                        basis of their labor contribution to the 
                        cooperative; and
                            (ii) workers have representation on and 
                        vote for the board of directors, adhering to 
                        the principle of one worker, one vote.

TITLE I--SUPPLEMENTAL FORMULA GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY LAYOFF AVERSION AND 
                     WORKFORCE TRAINING ACTIVITIES

SEC. 101. FORMULA GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall award 5-year grants in 
accordance with subsection (b), to States to support efforts to--
            (1) reduce and prevent unemployment; and
            (2) limit the impact of disruptions (including economic-
        related, pandemic-related, automation-related, and trade-
        related disruptions and transitions due to business owner 
        retirement) on labor markets.
    (b) State Allotments.--
            (1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under section 
        105, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) reserve not more than \1/4\ of 1 percent of 
                such amount to provide assistance to the outlying areas 
                to carry out the activities described in section 103; 
                and
                    (B) make allotments to the States, for grants 
                described in subsection (a), based on the formula in 
                paragraph (2) to--
                            (i) make allocations under subsection (c); 
                        and
                            (ii) carry out the State activities 
                        described in subsection (d).
            (2) Allotment formula.--The Secretary shall make an 
        allotment in accordance with the formula in section 
        132(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
        Act (29 U.S.C. 3172(b)(1)(B)(ii)), to each State that submits 
        and obtains approval of a State plan under section 102.
    (c) Within State Allocations.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Governor of 
        a State shall use a portion of not less than 60 percent of the 
        allotment funds received under subsection (b)(2) to allocate 
        funds to each local area in the State in accordance with 
        section 133(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3173(b)(2)(A)(i)) to carry out the 
        activities under section 103, in accordance with the State plan 
        under section 102 and in consultation with the State board.
            (2) Administrative funds.--The Governor of a State may use 
        not more than 10 percent of the portion described in paragraph 
        (1) for administrative costs related to administering local 
        activities described in paragraph (1).
    (d) State Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Governor of 
        a State shall use the remaining amount of the allotment funds 
        received under subsection (b)(2) not allocated under subsection 
        (c) to carry out the activities under section 103 in accordance 
        with the State plan under section 102 and in consultation with 
        the State board.
            (2) Administrative funds.--The Governor of a State may use 
        not more than 10 percent of the remaining amount described in 
        paragraph (1) for administrative costs related to carrying out 
        State activities described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 102. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Application by state.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under section 101, a State shall submit a State Workforce 
        Economic Recovery plan (in this Act referred to as a ``State 
        plan''), developed by or in consultation with the State board 
        and approved by the Governor, to the Secretary at such time and 
        in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require, and 
        containing the information described in subsection (b).
            (2) Response by secretary.--Upon receipt of a State plan, 
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) approve the State plan; or
                    (B) provide the State--
                            (i) with an explanation as to how the State 
                        plan does not meet the goals and requirements 
                        of the grant program under this title; and
                            (ii) with an opportunity to submit an 
                        updated State plan or to appeal the decision of 
                        the Secretary.
            (3) State plan updates.--
                    (A) Required state plan updates.--Not later than 2 
                years after the date a State receives a grant under 
                section 101, a State shall--
                            (i) update the State plan to reflect 
                        changes in the labor market and other economic 
                        conditions affecting the implementation of the 
                        activities funded under the grant; and
                            (ii) submit to the Secretary such updated 
                        State plan.
                    (B) Authorized state plan updates.--In addition to 
                the updated State plan required in subparagraph (A), a 
                State may submit to the Secretary an updated State plan 
                at any point during the grant period.
    (b) Contents.--A State plan shall include each of the following:
            (1) A description of how the State plan is aligned with, 
        enhances, expands, or fills service gaps into the plan 
        submitted by the State under section 102 or 103 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 
        3113).
            (2) A State strategic vision, including--
                    (A) a summary of the goals of the State--
                            (i) for preparing an educated and skilled 
                        workforce for meeting the skilled workforce 
                        needs of employers (particularly in existing 
                        and emerging in-demand industry sectors and 
                        occupations), including information--
                                    (I) identifying median income for 
                                in-demand sectors and occupations in 
                                the State; and
                                    (II) on how the State will work to 
                                ensure worker access to jobs and 
                                industries with higher median wages, 
                                opportunities for workers to share in 
                                the ownership or profits of their 
                                companies, and high-quality work 
                                environments;
                            (ii) for ensuring equitable access to high-
                        quality jobs for all segments of the population 
                        of the State, including a plan for promoting 
                        quality career pathways that lead to high-
                        quality jobs for dislocated workers or 
                        incumbent workers; and
                            (iii) for offering retiring business owners 
                        or business owners planning to close their 
                        businesses, opportunities to plan that 
                        transition in order to ensure the continuity of 
                        high-quality jobs in the local economy; and
                    (B) the primary strategies that will be used to 
                achieve the State strategic vision and goals included 
                in such strategic vision, the proposed service delivery 
                infrastructure for achieving such goals, and the 
                timeline for achieving such goals.
            (3) A description of the problems the proposed activities 
        under section 103 aim to solve, and the reason for prioritizing 
        selected problems.
            (4) A description of how the State will align those 
        activities with, and leverage funds from, the workforce 
        development system and higher education system of the State, 
        public assistance programs of the State, and the economic 
        recovery efforts at the State and local levels.
            (5) A description of how the State will collaborate with 
        other relevant State and local government entities, nonprofit 
        entities, and other relevant groups identified by the State to 
        carry out activities under section 103, including the roles and 
        responsibilities of each entity that will participate in the 
        development, implementation, evaluation, or oversight of each 
        component of the State plan.
            (6) An employer engagement strategy that describes how 
        employers will be targeted and recruited to participate, and 
        any expectations for employer participation, such as cash or 
        in-kind contributions, wage release time for employees, 
        provision of on-site child care or financial support for child 
        care, employee participation incentives, work-based learning 
        opportunities, or loaned instructors.
            (7) A description of the data sources (commercial or 
        public) the State will use to identify growing, stable, and 
        declining--
                    (A) businesses; and
                    (B) industry sectors or occupations.
            (8) A description of how the State will prioritize 
        individuals with barriers to employment, underrepresented 
        individuals, youth, immigrants, formerly incarcerated adults, 
        and individuals experiencing pandemic-related job displacement.
            (9) A description--
                    (A) of how the State will prioritize access to 
                high-quality jobs by establishing the standards of job 
                quality that an employer is required to meet as a 
                condition of receiving funds under this title, which--
                            (i) include a defined livable wage for the 
                        State or by subregion of the State; and
                            (ii) if the minimum standards established 
                        by the Interagency Task Force under section 401 
                        have been established, are consistent with such 
                        minimum standards; and
                    (B) of such standards.
            (10) Any other required information as determined by the 
        Secretary.

SEC. 103. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) Approved Activities.--Subject to the limitations in subsection 
(b), a State may use, or ensure that a local area uses, the funds 
awarded under this title for any of the following activities:
            (1) Training and education opportunities.
            (2) Adult education.
            (3) Incumbent worker training.
            (4) Dislocated worker training.
            (5) On-the-job training.
            (6) Job search assistance.
            (7) Layoff aversion, in advance of the notice required 
        under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 
        U.S.C. 2101 et seq.), which may include assisting employers 
        with product diversification, market expansion, and improving 
        productivity.
            (8) Helping individuals who need assistance with starting 
        up, scaling up, or maintaining their businesses, through 
        entrepreneurial development and coaching, which may include the 
        provision of loans through local boards of up to $8,000 to help 
        with starting up a new business or maintaining a business in 
        financial distress.
            (9) Developing career pathway opportunities (including 
        through industry or sector partnerships) to in-demand, high-
        quality jobs in coordination with employers, community-based 
        organizations, and State higher education systems, and the 
        State registered apprenticeship agency.
            (10) Related instruction for a pre-apprenticeship, a 
        registered apprenticeship, or other work-based training in a 
        career pathway.
            (11) Funding existing or establishing new State or 
        nonprofit employee ownership resource centers that offer 
        education and technical assistance to retiring business owners, 
        new entrepreneurs, or worker groups for the purpose of using 
        broad-based employee share ownership through of employee stock 
        ownership plans, worker cooperatives, or employee ownership 
        trusts, to allow worker groups to buy out retiring business 
        owners.
            (12) Providing capital for revolving loan funds managed by 
        State or nonprofit entities that offer loans to--
                    (A) allow worker groups to buy out retiring 
                business owners;
                    (B) worker groups or entrepreneurs looking to save 
                a declining business through employee-ownership; or
                    (C) workers using broad-based employee share 
                ownership through of employee stock ownership plans, 
                worker cooperatives, or employee ownership trusts.
    (b) Limitations.--No State or local area may use funds awarded 
under this title to--
            (1) recruit businesses, employees, or customers from 
        another State;
            (2) assist employers whose jobs do not meet the standards 
        of job quality under section 102(b)(9); or
            (3) assist proprietary institutions of higher education (as 
        defined in section 102(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1002(b))).

SEC. 104. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND NATIONAL REPOSITORY.

    (a) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) States.--Each State that receives a grant under this 
        title shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that, to 
        the extent practicable, integrates reporting requirements under 
        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
        seq.) and includes--
                    (A) an evaluation--
                            (i) of the performance of the activities 
                        carried out by the State under the grant--
                                    (I) with respect to meeting the 
                                goals of the State plan; and
                                    (II) with respect to the indicators 
                                of performance under section 
                                116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce 
                                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                                U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)); and
                            (ii) if the satisfaction measurement 
                        framework as determined by the Interagency Task 
                        Force under section 401 has been established, 
                        of the satisfaction of each employer receiving 
                        assistance under this title on the basis of 
                        such satisfaction measurement framework; and
                    (B) information on whether an employer that 
                received assistance under the grant provided health 
                benefits, paid sick leave, and paid family and medical 
                leave to employees.
            (2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit a report to 
        Congress on an annual basis containing a summary of the reports 
        received under paragraph (1), including information on 
        promising emerging practices with respect to layoff aversion 
        and job creation.
    (b) National Repository.--The Secretary shall, jointly with the 
Interagency Task Force established under title IV, establish on a 
publicly accessible website, a national repository--
            (1) of data-driven, promising emerging practices with 
        respect to layoff aversion and job creation based on the 
        evaluations described in subsection (a)(1); and
            (2) of recommendations for replicating and scaling up such 
        practices.

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
years.

   TITLE II--COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE LAYOFF AVERSION MODELS

SEC. 201. COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award planning grants 
        under subsection (b) and implementation grants under subsection 
        (c), on a competitive basis and in accordance with paragraph 
        (2), to States for innovative layoff aversion models.
            (2) Grant cycles.--
                    (A) In general.--In awarding grants under this 
                title, the Secretary shall award--
                            (i) a first cycle of grants that shall 
                        include--
                                    (I) planning grants under 
                                subsection (b), that shall be used 
                                during the 18-month period beginning on 
                                the date on which the grant is awarded; 
                                and
                                    (II) implementation grants under 
                                subsection (c), that shall be used 
                                during the 5-year period beginning on 
                                the date on which the grant is awarded; 
                                and
                            (ii) a second cycle of grants that shall be 
                        new implementation grants under subsection 
                        (c)--
                                    (I) to States that used planning 
                                grants in accordance with subparagraph 
                                (A)(i)(I); and
                                    (II) that shall be used during the 
                                3.5-year period beginning on the date 
                                on which the grant is awarded.
                    (B) Amount available for grant cycles.--From the 
                amount appropriated under subsection (e), the Secretary 
                shall allocate--
                            (i) not more than 70 percent to be used to 
                        award the first round of grants under 
                        subparagraph (A)(i); and
                            (ii) any remaining funds to be used to 
                        award the second round of grants under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii).
    (b) Planning Grants.--
            (1) Applications.--
                    (A) In general.--To receive a planning grant under 
                this title, a State shall submit an application to the 
                Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the 
                Secretary may require, and containing the information 
                described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Contents.--Each application shall include each 
                of the following:
                            (i) A description of the need for a 
                        planning grant, and whether the State plans to 
                        submit an application for an implementation 
                        grant.
                            (ii) A description of the planning 
                        activities the State will carry out with a 
                        planning grant.
                            (iii) A description of each entity with 
                        which the State will coordinate to carry out 
                        such activities.
                            (iv) A description of the commercial or 
                        public data sources that the State plans to use 
                        to--
                                    (I) investigate declining, 
                                stagnant, and in-demand industry 
                                sectors or occupations and employers in 
                                the State;
                                    (II) determine the needs of 
                                underserved and underrepresented 
                                populations to obtain and retain high-
                                quality jobs; and
                                    (III) identify strategies and 
                                approaches to job creation and layoff 
                                aversion.
                            (v) A list of individuals and 
                        organizations, including roles and 
                        responsibilities, of each member of the State 
                        grantee advisory council established under 
                        title III.
                            (vi) A description of potential State 
                        administrative policies or other conditions 
                        that may support or impede implementation of 
                        new approaches to job creation and layoff 
                        aversion.
            (2) Grant amount.--A planning grant awarded under this 
        title may be made in an amount that is not less than $75,000, 
        and not more than $350,000.
            (3) Uses of funds.--For a period that is not greater than 
        18 months after the date of receipt of a planning grant under 
        this subsection, a State receiving a planning grant shall use 
        such grant to carry out at least one of the following purposes:
                    (A) To research, develop a proof of concept, or 
                pilot layoff aversion and job creation strategies prior 
                to submission of an implementation grant application 
                under subsection (c), if the State plans to apply for 
                such a grant.
                    (B) To help support the modification or removal of 
                State administrative policy barriers to implementation 
                of job creation and layoff aversion interventions.
    (c) Implementation Grants.--
            (1) Application process.--
                    (A) In general.--To receive an implementation grant 
                under this title, a State shall submit an application 
                to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
                Secretary may require, and containing the information 
                described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Contents.--Subject to subparagraph (C), each 
                application shall include each of the following:
                            (i) A description of the layoff aversion 
                        interventions that will be carried out 
                        including not less than one layoff aversion 
                        intervention aimed at a particular industry 
                        sector or occupation or segment of the 
                        workforce, or that is workforce development 
                        system-wide, and the plan for deploying such 
                        interventions.
                            (ii) A description of the projected 
                        performance goals for such interventions, and a 
                        timeline for achieving such goals.
                            (iii) An analysis of the need for the 
                        grant, the particular problems that will be 
                        addressed through such interventions, and the 
                        reasons for prioritizing such interventions.
                            (iv) A description of efforts already 
                        underway in the State that have been previously 
                        implemented to create jobs or avert layoffs, 
                        and a description of the successful elements 
                        and lessons learned that have informed each 
                        type of intervention that will be funded under 
                        the grant.
                            (v) An identification of the State agency 
                        for fiscal and contract administration, and 
                        description of the management capacity of such 
                        agency.
                            (vi) A description of how the State will 
                        collaborate with partners that consist of 
                        relevant State and local government agencies, 
                        nonprofit entities, business and employer 
                        partners, and any other groups determined 
                        relevant by the State, which may include--
                                    (I) small business development 
                                entities;
                                    (II) economic development entities;
                                    (III) job training entities;
                                    (IV) unemployment compensation 
                                entities;
                                    (V) institutions of higher 
                                education (including 2-year public 
                                institutions of higher education);
                                    (VI) labor unions;
                                    (VII) business associations;
                                    (VIII) community-based 
                                organizations; and
                                    (IX) American Job Centers 
                                established under section 121 of the 
                                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                                Act (29 U.S.C. 3151) and one-stop 
                                centers.
                            (vii) A description of the roles and 
                        responsibilities of each partner described in 
                        clause (vi).
                            (viii) A description of how the State will 
                        leverage State, local, and private resources 
                        from partnering entities, including the 
                        partners described in clause (vi).
                            (ix) A description of how the State will 
                        identify and prioritize employers or industry 
                        sectors with the most significant risks for 
                        decline, and individual workers at risk of 
                        layoffs.
                            (x) A list of in-demand industry sectors or 
                        occupations that will be the target of the 
                        interventions, the corresponding recognized 
                        postsecondary credentials necessary for workers 
                        to obtain jobs in such sectors or occupations, 
                        and a description of how underrepresented 
                        populations and individuals with education and 
                        employment barriers will be supported to 
                        succeed in such sectors or occupations.
                            (xi) A description of the recognized 
                        postsecondary credentials necessary for workers 
                        to obtain in-demand high-quality jobs within 
                        targeted sectors or occupations, the 
                        corresponding education and training resources 
                        currently available to be leveraged, new 
                        corresponding education and training resources 
                        that must be developed, the quality of the 
                        education and training to be offered that leads 
                        to each recognized postsecondary credential, 
                        and the role of employers in helping to create 
                        the appropriate and adequate pipeline of 
                        workers with those credentials.
                            (xii) A list of individuals and 
                        organizations, including roles and 
                        responsibilities, of each member of the State 
                        advisory council established under title III.
                            (xiii) A description--
                                    (I) of how the State will 
                                prioritize access to high-quality jobs 
                                by establishing the standards of job 
                                quality that an employer is required to 
                                meet as a condition of receiving funds 
                                under this title, which, if the minimum 
                                standards established by the 
                                Interagency Task Force under section 
                                401 have been established, are 
                                consistent with such minimum standards; 
                                and
                                    (II) of such standards.
                            (xiv) Any other information required by the 
                        Secretary.
                    (C) Simplified application process.--The Secretary 
                shall establish a simplified application process for 
                States that received a planning grant under this title 
                and are seeking to apply for an implementation grant.
            (2) Grant amount.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an 
                implementation grant awarded under this title may be 
                made in an amount that is not less than $5,000,000, and 
                not more than $20,000,000.
                    (B) Additional funds.--A State that is awarded an 
                implementation grant under this title for piloting 1 or 
                more of the following models may receive an amount that 
                is not more than $5,000,000 in additional funds:
                            (i) Establishing a State or local public 
                        holding company that invests and acquires 
                        ownership in distressed businesses to allow 
                        them to continue operating or reopen later.
                            (ii) Piloting a model that seeks to improve 
                        individual economic security through every 
                        stage of career life, particularly for workers 
                        who are left out of traditional unemployment 
                        insurance, benefits, or worker training and 
                        retraining programs such as independent 
                        contractors, gig workers, business owners, and 
                        individuals who are caring for dependents or 
                        otherwise not working outside of the home. Such 
                        model may include efforts to provide broader 
                        lifelong access to income support, access to 
                        pensions or retirement savings accounts, health 
                        care benefits, paid family leave, paid medical 
                        leave, and other fringe benefits.
                            (iii) Establishing joint sector-based or 
                        labor-management governance boards with shared 
                        oversight over a worker support fund. Such a 
                        worker support fund may be used to provide--
                                    (I) ongoing training and retraining 
                                opportunities;
                                    (II) income support during 
                                unemployment;
                                    (III) health insurance or other 
                                health and wellness benefits;
                                    (IV) flexible compensation during 
                                alternative or flexible work schedules;
                                    (V) paid sick leave or paid family 
                                leave; or
                                    (VI) other benefits as determined 
                                by the joint sector-based or labor-
                                management governance board.
            (3) Priority.--In awarding implementation grants under this 
        title, the Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Task 
        Force established under title IV, shall prioritize each of the 
        following types of States:
                    (A) States that demonstrate the greatest need.
                    (B) States that have the most thorough plans for 
                deploying interventions.
                    (C) States that prioritize individuals with 
                barriers to employment, underrepresented individuals, 
                immigrants, youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, 
                or individuals experiencing pandemic-related job 
                displacement.
                    (D) States that are committed to forging career 
                pathways with employers that provide high-quality 
                jobs--
                            (i) as defined by the State under section 
                        102(b)(9); or
                            (ii) in a case in which the State does not 
                        submit a State plan under title I, as defined 
                        in accordance with the requirements of section 
                        102(b)(9).
                    (E) States that have the most thorough, actionable, 
                and achievable plans for deploying interventions, and 
                present reliable and relevant evidence for the 
                interventions chosen.
    (d) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) States.--Each State receiving a grant under subsections 
        (b) or (c) shall submit annual performance reports to the 
        Secretary that demonstrate how the State's grant-funded 
        activities are performing with respect to indicators of 
        performance under section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)), and 
        the employer satisfaction measures established by the 
        Interagency Task Force established under title IV.
            (2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, a 
        report--
                    (A) on an annual basis, containing a summary of the 
                reports submitted under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) at the conclusion of each implementation grant 
                period, containing the results of a rigorous, 
                independent evaluation of the grants awarded under this 
                title.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this title, $250,000,000 for fiscal year 
2021.

               TITLE III--STATE GRANTEE ADVISORY COUNCIL

SEC. 301. STATE GRANTEE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--Each State that receives a grant under title I or 
title II shall designate a State grantee advisory council.
    (b) Membership and Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The State board shall serve as the State 
        grantee advisory council and shall oversee and assess the 
        performance of the activities carried out under the grant 
        received under title I or II.
            (2) Other entities.--The Governor shall appoint a 
        representative of each of the following types of entities to 
        serve as a member of the State grantee advisory council, if the 
        entity involved is not represented on the State board:
                    (A) The State workforce development system.
                    (B) The State unemployment compensation agency.
                    (C) The State higher education system, including 
                the system covering 2-year public institutions of 
                higher education.
                    (D) The State, local, or regional chamber of 
                commerce.
                    (E) Employer organizations.
                    (F) Labor organizations or joint labor-management 
                organizations.
                    (G) Community-based organizations.
                    (H) An established State-based employee ownership 
                center that offers education and technical assistance 
                to retiring business owners, worker groups, 
                entrepreneurs, or declining businesses, for the purpose 
                of using broad-based employee share ownership through 
                employee stock ownership plans, worker cooperatives, or 
                employee ownership trusts, to allow worker groups to 
                buy out businesses.
                    (I) Any other member relevant to the activities 
                carried out by the State under the grant awarded under 
                title I or II.

                    TITLE IV--INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE

SEC. 401. PURPOSES.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Federal 
Government, and not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Labor (in this 
title collectively referred to as the ``Secretaries'') shall jointly 
assemble, a Federal interagency task force (referred to in this Act as 
the ``Interagency Task Force'').
    (b) Duties.--The Interagency Task Force shall--
            (1) identify any challenges that a State or local area 
        receiving funds under this Act has had to overcome;
            (2) collect and disseminate best practices and develop and 
        recommend policies at the Federal level, to support ongoing 
        efforts to limit the impact of market disruptions on workers, 
        employers, and industry sectors or occupations, particularly 
        with respect to groups specified in section 102(b)(8);
            (3) establish a framework for a State receiving a grant 
        under this Act to measure employer satisfaction with respect to 
        activities funded under this Act; and
            (4) establish the minimum standards of job quality that an 
        employer is required to meet as a condition of receiving 
        assistance under this Act--
                    (A) by taking into consideration--
                            (i) standards concerning whether an 
                        employer provides wages at a rate not less than 
                        the rate specified in the minimum living wage 
                        standards for States and localities 
                        recommended, subject to subparagraph (B), by 
                        research centers at public or private nonprofit 
                        institutions of higher education or think 
                        tanks;
                            (ii) standards concerning whether an 
                        employer provides access to ongoing training 
                        and advancement opportunities;
                            (iii) standards concerning whether an 
                        employer provides paid sick days, paid family 
                        leave, or paid medical leave or short-term 
                        disability leave; and
                            (iv) standards concerning whether an 
                        employer provides adequate hours and 
                        predictable schedules; and
                    (B) by using, for the minimum living wage 
                standards, a market-based approach that utilizes 
                geographically specific expenditure data related to the 
                expected minimum food, child care, health insurance, 
                housing, transportation, and other basic needs costs, 
                of a household.

SEC. 402. COMPOSITION.

    The Interagency Task Force shall be composed of the following 
individuals:
            (1) The Secretary of Labor.
            (2) The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic 
        Development.
            (3) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
            (4) The Director of the Community Development Financial 
        Institutions Fund of the Department of the Treasury.
            (5) The Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and 
        Adult Education of the Department of Education.
            (6) The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education of 
        the Department of Education.
            (7) A representative from the Employment and Training 
        Administration of the Department of Labor.

SEC. 403. MEETINGS.

    The Interagency Task Force shall meet at least on an annual basis 
until the date on which the Interagency Task Force is terminated under 
section 405, to evaluate the activities being carried out by each State 
receiving a grant under this Act and impact of those activities on 
employers, incumbent workers, and jobseekers, including the 
effectiveness of such activities--
            (1) in keeping workers employed in high-quality jobs;
            (2) in helping workers transition smoothly to high-quality, 
        in-demand jobs during economic disruption;
            (3) in improving business resiliency during economic 
        disruption; and
            (4) in expanding the number of jobs available in high-
        quality, in-demand industry sectors and occupations.

SEC. 404. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date on which the funds provided 
under the grants awarded under this Act are expended by the States 
receiving grants under this Act, the Interagency Task Force shall 
submit a report to Congress detailing recommendations for a Federal 
program based on the most promising practices carried out with the 
funds awarded under titles I and II.

SEC. 405. SUNSET.

    The Interagency Task Force shall terminate after submitting the 
report under section 404.
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