Title: ELEVATE Act of 2019
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Economic Ladders to End Volatility and Advance Training and Employment Act of 2019 or the ELEVATE Act of 2019
This bill establishes a federal program to help fund (1) state- and tribe-run job-assistance programs, and (2) assistance for self-employed individuals and workers who relocate for employment opportunities.
The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funds for programs that assist eligible individuals, such as those who face barriers to employment. Such programs shall provide employment services, training, and related services.
The bill also establishes criteria for using such funds for various purposes, including subsidized jobs. The bill also establishes various reporting and application requirements for states seeking funds for such programs.
The bill establishes an assistance program for self-employed individuals who meet various requirements and whose most recent contracts ended through no fault of their own. Such individuals shall be entitled to a weekly benefit equal to half of the average weekly earnings from their last employment, not to exceed the maximum available for unemployment benefits. An individual may not concurrently receive unemployment compensation and self-employment assistance.
Dislocated workers and long-term unemployed individuals shall be entitled to assistance for moving to a new area to earn family-sustaining employment. Such assistance may cover up to 90% of reasonable expenses, subject to a cap of $2,000 for an individual.
The bill establishes the Office of Reemployment Assistance in the Social Security Administration to administer the self-employment and relocation assistance programs.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 136 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 136

    To amend the Social Security Act to establish a new employment, 
training, and supportive services program for the long-term unemployed 
  and individuals with barriers to employment, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 15, 2019

Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Van Hollen, and 
  Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Social Security Act to establish a new employment, 
training, and supportive services program for the long-term unemployed 
  and individuals with barriers to employment, 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; AMENDMENT TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACT; TABLE OF 
              CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Economic Ladders 
to End Volatility and Advance Training and Employment Act of 2019'' or 
the ``ELEVATE Act of 2019''.
    (b) Amendments to Social Security Act.--Except as otherwise 
specifically provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed 
in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other 
provision of the Social Security Act.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; amendment to Social Security Act; table of 
                            contents.
Sec. 2. Employment, training, and supportive services program.
Sec. 3. Self-employment assistance benefits and relocation assistance 
                            benefits.
Sec. 4. Employee retention work opportunity credit.
Sec. 5. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 6. Effective date; regulations.

SEC. 2. EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after title XII the following:

    ``TITLE XIII--REEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER JOB-RELATED ASSISTANCE AND 
                                BENEFITS

    ``PART A--EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM

``SEC. 1301. PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS; ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this part is to provide funds to 
States to initiate and expand the provision of employment services, 
training and other services and activities, and supportive services for 
eligible individuals in order to--
            ``(1) promote subsidized employment programs for public, 
        private for-profit, private non-profit, and social enterprise 
        sector jobs;
            ``(2) expand the availability of jobs during economic 
        downturns or in areas with persistently high unemployment or 
        poverty;
            ``(3) provide economically and socially disadvantaged 
        individuals (such as the long-term unemployed, people with 
        criminal records, former foster youth, and other economically 
        and socially disadvantaged populations) with the ability to 
        gain job experience;
            ``(4) provide employers with new pathways into the 
        workforce development system enabling them to have a greater 
        role in the training and hiring of new workers and labor market 
        re-entrants; and
            ``(5) allow for sufficient State flexibility to design 
        programs targeted at community-specific workforce gaps and 
        employer needs.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this part:
            ``(1) Adult and dislocated worker employment and training 
        activities.--The term `adult and dislocated worker employment 
        and training activities' means adult and dislocated worker 
        employment and training activities funded under chapter 3 of 
        subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act.
            ``(2) Dislocated worker.--The term `dislocated worker' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act.
            ``(3) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' 
        means an individual who, on the basis of an assessment by the 
        State, has been determined to be unlikely to find unsubsidized 
        employment due to--
                    ``(A) being an individual with a barrier to 
                employment;
                    ``(B) being a dislocated worker; or
                    ``(C) local or national economic conditions.
            ``(4) Employment services.--The term `employment services' 
        means a subsidized job placement in the public, private for-
        profit, private non-profit, or social enterprise sector and 
        includes payment or reimbursement of employer subsidies for 
        wages, the employer share of payroll taxes, employer costs for 
        unemployment insurance, employer costs for workers' 
        compensation premiums, and costs attributable to supervision 
        and other administration directly related to the employment of 
        an eligible individual in the subsidized job placement.
            ``(5) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 419(4).
            ``(6) Individual with a barrier to employment.--The term 
        `individual with a barrier to employment' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act and includes an individual who is an offender 
        (as defined in such section).
            ``(7) Integrated education and training.--The term 
        `integrated education and training' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
        Act.
            ``(8) Payroll taxes.--The term `payroll taxes' means taxes 
        under section 3111, 3221, 3301, or 3321 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986, and any similar State or local tax imposed on 
        employers.
            ``(9) Supportive services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `supportive services' 
                has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
                    ``(B) Additional services.--Such term includes any 
                of the following:
                            ``(i) Stipends for an eligible individual 
                        provided with unpaid training services.
                            ``(ii) Legal services.
                            ``(iii) Other supplemental services 
                        necessary for an eligible individual to 
                        participate in the State program funded under 
                        this part.
            ``(10) State expenditures.--The term `State expenditures' 
        means all State or local funds that are expended by the State 
        or a local agency including State or local funds that are 
        matched or reimbursed by the Federal Government and State or 
        local funds that are not matched or reimbursed by the Federal 
        Government.
            ``(11) Tier-1 practice.--Subject to subsection (c), the 
        term `tier-1 practice' means a practice that--
                    ``(A) offers a new or potentially more effective 
                strategy for addressing widely shared challenges;
                    ``(B) has not been systematically studied but is 
                supported by a strong logic model; and
                    ``(C) is a departure from existing workforce 
                strategies.
            ``(12) Tier-2 practice.--Subject to subsection (c), the 
        term `tier-2 practice' means a practice that will expand 
        knowledge about the efficacy of a workforce strategy and 
        provide more information about the feasibility of implementing 
        proven workforce strategies in different contexts and is, with 
        respect to a State--
                    ``(A) a practice that has been implemented by a 
                State program and evaluated by a State or by a neutral 
                third-party and the evaluation results indicate some 
                potential for positive impacts on participant or 
                system-wide outcomes; or
                    ``(B) a practice that has not been previously 
                implemented by the State, but is supported by strong 
                evidence of positive change and has been evaluated 
                before using an outcome, quasi-experimental, or random 
                assignment design, and evaluation findings indicate 
                some statistically significant positive change.
            ``(13) Tier-3 practice.--Subject to subsection (c), the 
        term `tier-3 practice' means with respect to a State, a 
        practice that--
                    ``(A) previously has been implemented by a program 
                funded by a State; and
                    ``(B) previously has been evaluated using a random 
                assignment design and the evaluation findings indicate 
                some positive impacts on participant or system wide 
                outcomes.
            ``(14) Training and other services or activities.--The term 
        `training and other services or activities' means any of the 
        following services or activities if provided in conjunction 
        with a subsidized job placement and determined by the State as 
        necessary to significantly increase the likelihood that the job 
        placement will be successful for the employer and employee and 
        may improve the prospect of obtaining and retaining 
        unsubsidized jobs:
                    ``(A) Services provided through adult and 
                dislocated worker employment and training activities.
                    ``(B) Integrated education and training.
                    ``(C) Education directly related to employment.
                    ``(D) Vocational and employment services integrated 
                with trauma-informed substance use disorder treatment, 
                in collaboration with a substance use disorder 
                treatment provider.
                    ``(E) Casework and job coaching.
                    ``(F) Union-provided job training services.
    ``(c) Outcome Measures Required.--A practice shall not be 
considered to be a tier-1, tier-2, or tier-3 practice unless the 
practice is intended, studied, or evaluated for purposes of making 
meaningful improvements in validated measures of important outcomes for 
eligible individuals and their families, such as recidivism, health, 
employment, and economic well-being over the short and long-term.
    ``(d) Administration.--Subject to section 1302(d), the program 
under this part shall be administered by the Secretary through the 
Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families 
within the Department of Health and Human Services and in consultation 
with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education.
    ``(e) State Entitlement.--This part constitutes budget authority in 
advance of appropriations Acts and represents the obligation of the 
Federal Government to provide payments to States under section 1304(a).

``SEC. 1302. STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State is not eligible for payment under 
section 1304 unless the State has submitted to the Secretary a plan 
that describes--
            ``(1) the State's strategy for creating or expanding 
        programs that offers subsidized employment for eligible 
        individuals and moving such individuals into unsubsidized 
        employment;
            ``(2) how such strategy fits with the State's overall 
        strategy for, and assessment of, the State's workforce needs;
            ``(3) the employment services, training and other services 
        or activities, and supportive services to be provided under the 
        State program funded under this part;
            ``(4) which specific populations of eligible individuals 
        the State will serve, with a focus on how the State plans to 
        assess and serve the eligible individuals with serious or 
        multiple barriers to employment;
            ``(5) the strategies the State will use for outreach and 
        engagement with the populations specified under paragraph (4) 
        to ensure that such populations are aware of subsidized 
        employment opportunities in their community;
            ``(6) the strategies the State will use for outreach, 
        engagement, and ongoing collaboration with employers to promote 
        employers' use of the program and ensure they have the training 
        necessary to support eligible individuals;
            ``(7) the strategies the State will use, based on such 
        assessments, to create employability plans for eligible 
        individuals participating in the State program funded under 
        this part and, based on such plans, assign and provide eligible 
        individuals with employment services, training and other 
        services and activities, and supportive services;
            ``(8) how the State will coordinate the State program 
        funded under this part with other relevant systems and programs 
        based on the populations identified which may include criminal 
        justice, child support, juvenile justice, child welfare, 
        homeless services and other human services and workforce 
        development programs of the State, including programs supported 
        through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
            ``(9) how the State will ensure employers participating in 
        the program comply with the nondisplacement requirements of 
        section 1305(c); and
            ``(10) a plan for regular, rigorous evaluation of the State 
        program funded under this part, including how the State plans 
        to measure program outcomes and impacts.
    ``(b) Other Requirements.--The State shall include with the plan a 
certification that supportive services for eligible individuals will 
supplement, and not supplant, other assistance provided by the State.
    ``(c) Deadlines for Submission.--
            ``(1) Initial plan.--The initial State plan under this 
        section shall be submitted by the State agency or agencies 
        responsible for administering the State program under this part 
        to the Secretary and, as appropriate, to the Secretary of Labor 
        and the Secretary of Education, not later than 90 days prior to 
        the commencement of the State program funded under this part 
        and shall be for the period beginning on the first day of the 
        commencement of the State program funded under the part and 
        ending on the day that is the last day of the period covered by 
        the unified State plan or combined State plan submitted by the 
        State under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act that is in effect as of the date of submission.
            ``(2) Subsequent plans.--Each State plan submitted under 
        this section after the initial State plan shall be submitted at 
        the same time, in the same manner, and apply for the same 
        period, as a unified State plan or a combined State plan 
        submitted by the State under section 102 or 103 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
            ``(3) Approval.--Each State plan submitted under this 
        section by the State agency or agencies responsible for 
        administering the State program under this part, and any 
        amendments to the plan, shall be subject to the approval of the 
        Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor or the 
        Secretary of Education as appropriate.
    ``(d) State Agency.--At the option of the State, the program funded 
under this part shall be administered by the lead State agency 
responsible for administering the State program funded under part A of 
title IV, the lead State agencies responsible for administering the 
adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities of the 
State, or jointly by such agencies.

``SEC. 1303. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Authorized Uses.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a State shall 
        use funds paid under section 1304 to provide eligible 
        individuals with--
                    ``(A) employment services;
                    ``(B) training and other services and activities; 
                and
                    ``(C) supportive services while eligible 
                individuals are provided with employment services and 
                training and other services and activities.
            ``(2) Spending requirement.--Not less than 70 percent of 
        the total amount paid to a State for a fiscal year quarter 
        shall be for expenditures attributable to employment services 
        that are payment for or reimbursement of employer costs for 
        wages, the employer share of payroll taxes, employer costs for 
        unemployment insurance, employer costs for workers' 
        compensation premiums, or costs for employer-provided on-the-
        job training for subsidized job placements of eligible 
        individuals.
            ``(3) Training.--A State may use such funds for training 
        employers, agency personnel, and other individuals related to 
        the administration of the State program funded under this part 
        on issues related to providing eligible individuals with 
        employment services, training and other services and 
        activities, and supportive services.
            ``(4) Administrative costs.--Subject to section 1304(e), a 
        State may use such funds for the proper and efficient 
        administration of the State program funded under this part.
    ``(b) Evidence-Based Practices and Actual Job Placements 
Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), only State 
        expenditures for employment services, training and other 
        services and activities, and supportive services provided to 
        eligible individuals that meet the following conditions shall 
        be eligible for a Federal matching payment under section 1304:
                    ``(A) The employment services, training and other 
                services and activities, supportive services are 
                provided in accordance with practices that meet the 
                requirements for being considered a tier-1, tier-2, or 
                tier-3 practice.
                    ``(B) The State can demonstrate that the employment 
                services, training and other services and activities, 
                and supportive services provided for an eligible 
                individual directly resulted in employment (subsidized 
                or unsubsidized) for the eligible individual, or can 
                demonstrate good cause for why the job placement or 
                employment did not occur, which may include the failure 
                of an employer or an eligible individual to carry out 
                the employer's or individual's commitments to the State 
                program.
            ``(2) Tier-2 or tier-3 practices.--Beginning with the 21st 
        fiscal year quarter for which the State carries out the program 
        funded under this part, not less than 50 percent of the total 
        amount expended by the State for the quarter shall be for 
        employment services, training and other services and 
        activities, and supportive services provided in accordance with 
        practices that meet the requirements for being considered a 
        tier-2 or tier-3 practice.
            ``(3) Periods of economic downturn.--The Secretary may 
        waive any of the limitations on eligible expenditures under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) with respect to 1 or more State programs 
        funded under this part during any period of local or national 
        economic downturn (as defined by the Secretary).
    ``(c) Evaluations.--A State shall be eligible to receive a payment 
under section 1304 for expenditures attributable to evaluating the 
State program funded under this part if--
            ``(1) the State submits to the Secretary a description of 
        the proposed evaluation; and
            ``(2) the Secretary determines that the design and approach 
        of the proposed evaluation is rigorous, will measure program 
        outcomes and impacts, and is likely to yield information that 
        is credible and will be useful to the State.

``SEC. 1304. PAYMENTS TO STATES.

    ``(a) Payments to States.--Subject to section 1303 and subsections 
(b) and (c) of this section, beginning with the first fiscal year 
quarter for which a State plan is approved under this part, and for 
each quarter thereafter, the Secretary shall pay each State, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to 
the Federal medical assistance percentage that applies for the fiscal 
year to the State under section 1905(b) (without regard to any 
adjustments to such percentage applicable under that section or any 
other provision of law) of the total amount expended by the State 
during the quarter to provide eligible individuals with employment 
services, training and other services and activities, and supportive 
services and, subject to subsection (e), for the proper and efficient 
administration of the program funded under this part.
    ``(b) Increased Federal Support During Economic Downturns.--
            ``(1) Increased fmap.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Beginning with any fiscal year 
                quarter for which the total unemployment in a State 
                (seasonally adjusted) for the period consisting of the 
                most recent 3 months for which data for all States are 
                published equals or exceeds the applicable percentage 
                specified in paragraph (2), the Federal medical 
                assistance percentage applicable to payments made under 
                subsection (a) to the State for the quarter shall be 
                increased by the applicable number of percentage points 
                specified in paragraph (2), except that in no case 
                shall the Federal medical assistance percentage 
                applicable to payments under subsection (a) for a State 
                for a quarter exceed 100 percent.
                    ``(B) Duration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        an increase in the Federal medical assistance 
                        percentage made in accordance with this 
                        subsection shall remain in effect with respect 
                        to payments made to a State under subsection 
                        (a) for at least 4 consecutive fiscal year 
                        quarters.
                            ``(ii) Additional increase in 
                        unemployment.--If during the period for which 
                        the Federal medical assistance percentage for a 
                        State is increased under this subsection, the 
                        total unemployment in the State (seasonally 
                        adjusted) for the period consisting of the most 
                        recent 3 months for which data for all States 
                        are published exceeds the applicable total 
                        unemployment rate that was the basis for such 
                        increase, the increase in the Federal medical 
                        assistance percentage shall be the applicable 
                        number of percentage points specified in 
                        paragraph (2) that corresponds to the most 
                        recent percentage of total unemployment in the 
                        State, beginning with the first fiscal year 
                        quarter for which such percentage of total 
                        unemployment occurs and continuing for 3 
                        succeeding fiscal year quarters.
            ``(2) Applicable percentage; applicable number of 
        percentage points.--For purposes of paragraph (1), if the total 
        unemployment in a State (seasonally adjusted) for the period 
        consisting of the most recent 3 months for which data for all 
        States are published is--
                    ``(A) equal to or greater than 6.5 percent but less 
                than 7 percent, the applicable number of percentage 
                points is 20;
                    ``(B) equal to or greater than 7 percent but less 
                than 7.5 percent, the applicable number of percentage 
                points is 30;
                    ``(C) equal to or greater than 7.5 percent but less 
                than 8 percent, the applicable number of percentage 
                points is 40; and
                    ``(D) equal to or greater than 8 percent, the 
                applicable number of percentage points is 50.
    ``(c) Maintenance of Effort.--As a condition of receiving payments 
under this section for a fiscal year--
            ``(1) the total amount of State expenditures for employment 
        services, training and other services and activities, and 
        supportive services provided through the adult and dislocated 
        worker employment and training activities of the State for the 
        fiscal year shall not be less than the amount of such 
        expenditures for fiscal year 2017; and
            ``(2) the total amount of State expenditures for work, 
        education, and training activities and work supports under the 
        State program funded under part A of title IV shall not be less 
        than the total amount of such State expenditures for the 
        preceding fiscal year.
    ``(d) Administration of Payments With Title IV-A.--Section 405 
shall apply to payments made to States under this part in the same 
manner as section 405 applies to payments made to States under State 
programs funded under part A of title IV.
    ``(e) Limitation.--Beginning with the fifth fiscal year quarter for 
which a State plan is approved under this part, and for each quarter 
thereafter, a State shall not receive a payment under this section for 
amounts expended by the State during the quarter for the proper and 
efficient administration of the program funded under this part that 
exceed the amount equal to 15 percent of the amount expended by the 
State during the quarter to provide eligible individuals with 
employment services, training and other services and activities, and 
supportive services.
    ``(f) Planning and Implementation Grants; Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to amounts available to make 
        payments to States under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
        make grants to States and Indian tribes (or intertribal 
        consortiums with a tribal family assistance plan approved under 
        section 412), for costs attributable to the planning and 
        implementation of a State or tribal program funded under this 
        part and shall provide technical assistance to States and 
        Indian tribes with respect to the planning and implementation 
        of such a program.
            ``(2) Requirements.--
                    ``(A) Community engagement.--As a condition of 
                receiving a grant under this subsection, a State or 
                Indian tribe shall engage local communities, including 
                focus groups of target populations of eligible 
                individuals and employers, in the planning and 
                implementation of the State or tribal program funded 
                under this part.
                    ``(B) 2-year limit.--No State or Indian tribe shall 
                receive a grant under this subsection for more than 8 
                quarters.
                    ``(C) No matching payment required.--No matching 
                payment shall apply to the grants made under this 
                subsection.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
        this subsection for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 
        2020, such sums as are necessary.

``SEC. 1305. OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Assessment and Employability Plan.--The State shall establish 
procedures to--
            ``(1) assess, within 30 days of determining that an 
        individual is an eligible individual, the eligible individual's 
        job skills, education, past work experience, and potential 
        barriers to employment; and
            ``(2) create, based on such assessment, an individualized 
        employability plan for each eligible individual participating 
        in the program that--
                    ``(A) specifies--
                            ``(i) the initial plan for the eligible 
                        individual, including whether the eligible 
                        individual is to immediately begin working in a 
                        subsidized job or needs training and other 
                        services and activities or supportive services 
                        before that placement can occur; and
                            ``(ii) the employment services that will be 
                        provided to the eligible individual, as well as 
                        the training and other services and activities, 
                        and supportive services that will be provided 
                        to the eligible individual while the eligible 
                        individual is working in a subsidized job; and
                    ``(B) provides that, near the end of the 
                individual's initial placement in a subsidized job, an 
                assessment will be made regarding whether the eligible 
                individual will be converted to a permanent employee, 
                and if not, the job search assistance and additional 
                employment services, training and other services and 
                activities, and supportive services that will be 
                provided to the eligible individual with the goal of 
                obtaining and retaining unsubsidized employment.
    ``(b) Employment Standards and Criteria for Subsidized Jobs.--
            ``(1) General requirements.--Any subsidized job placement 
        for an eligible individual participating in the State program 
        funded under this part shall satisfy the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) Employment services that are payment for or 
                reimbursement of employer costs may only be used by an 
                employer in the public, private for-profit, private 
                non-profit, or social enterprise sector for such costs 
                that are attributable to the hiring of, compensation 
                for, or on-the-job training of, the eligible 
                individual.
                    ``(B) An employer in the public, private for-
                profit, private non-profit, or social enterprise sector 
                shall not be paid a subsidy that exceeds 120 percent of 
                wage costs.
                    ``(C) An eligible individual in a subsidized job 
                placement shall be paid not less than the prevailing 
                minimum wage in the relevant jurisdiction and shall be 
                covered by all relevant labor and employment laws.
                    ``(D) Subject to paragraph (4), a subsidized job 
                placement for an eligible individual shall not exceed 6 
                months unless the placement is extended for not more 
                than 6 additional months for purposes of improving the 
                work experience, training and other services and 
                activities, and supportive services needs of an 
                eligible individual with less prior work experience, 
                more skill development and training needs, or greater 
                employment barriers.
                    ``(E) Employers participating in the State program 
                agree to make a good faith effort to hire an eligible 
                individual placed in a subsidized job in their 
                employment if the individual has demonstrated 
                satisfactory performance and the employer has a 
                relevant job opening available and to maintain a record 
                of the share of subsidized workers hired on a permanent 
                basis.
            ``(2) Additional placements.--If, after completing a 
        subsidized job placement, an eligible individual is unemployed 
        for at least 6 weeks (regardless of whether such weeks are 
        consecutive), the eligible individual may apply for a new 
        subsidized job placement but the immediately subsequent 
        placement may only be with a different public or private sector 
        employer.
            ``(3) State variation permitted.--Employer subsidies for a 
        subsidized job placement may vary within a State and among 
        States carrying out programs under this part provided that all 
        eligible individuals employed in subsidized jobs shall be paid 
        not less than the prevailing minimum wage in the relevant 
        jurisdiction and shall be covered by all relevant labor and 
        employment laws.
            ``(4) Exceptions.--With respect to any period for which the 
        total unemployment in a State (seasonally adjusted) for the 
        period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which data 
        for all States are published equals or exceeds 7.5 percent, the 
        Secretary may waive the limit on the duration of a subsidized 
        job placement under paragraph (1)(D).
    ``(c) Nondisplacement.--A public or private sector employer shall 
not use an eligible individual subsidized job placement to--
            ``(1) displace or replace an employee, position, or 
        volunteer, or to partially displace or replace an employee, 
        position, or volunteer, such as through a reduction in hours, 
        wages, or employment benefits; or
            ``(2) displace or replace an employee participating in a 
        strike, collective bargaining or union activities, or union 
        organizing.

``SEC. 1306. REPORTS; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; RESEARCH; AUDIT 
              REQUIREMENT.

    ``(a) Quarterly Reports.--
            ``(1) State reports.--A State shall submit with each 
        quarterly report required under section 411(a)(1) a report on 
        the State program funded under this part that contains such 
        data and information as the Secretary shall require.
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--The Secretary shall submit with 
        each annual report to Congress required under section 411(b) a 
        report on the State programs funded under this part, including 
        demonstration projects conducted under section 1309.
    ``(b) Ongoing Performance Assessment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall study and submit 
        annual reports to Congress that--
                    ``(A) measure the performances of the State 
                programs funded under this part, including 
                demonstration projects conducted under section 1309;
                    ``(B) include information about the categories of 
                individuals and employers served by such programs and 
                projects; and
                    ``(C) describe the activities eligible individuals 
                engaged in during the year.
            ``(2) Timing of submissions.--The Secretary shall submit 
        the reports required by paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) in the case of the first such report, 2 years 
                after the date on which the first State program funded 
                under this part is established; and
                    ``(B) in the case of subsequent reports, annually 
                thereafter.
    ``(c) Alignment With Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
Programs.--The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Labor 
on aligning performance measures and regulations for the State programs 
funded under this part with the performance measures and regulations 
applicable to the core programs of States funded under the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act.
    ``(d) Individual Eligibility Assessment Guidance.--The Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall study and issue 
guidance to States on best practices for assessing whether an 
individual satisfies the criteria for being an eligible individual 
under section 1301(b)(3)(B) as being unlikely to find unsubsidized 
employment due to individual barriers, local economic conditions, or 
national economic conditions.
    ``(e) New Performance Measures.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall create new 
        performance measures that address income gains and poverty 
        reduction for eligible individuals participating in the State 
        program funded under this part and the families of such 
        individuals. Such performance measures shall be in addition to 
        the performance accountability measures under section 116(b) of 
        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the adult and 
        dislocated worker employment and training activities of the 
        State and aligned with the State program funded under this 
        part.
            ``(2) Program access.--The Secretary shall create a measure 
        of program access to determine the extent to which States are 
        serving individuals with the most significant barriers to 
        employment and the portion of State caseloads that are made up 
        of such workers.
    ``(f) Coordination of Data Collection.--The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, and, as appropriate, the 
Secretary of Treasury and the Secretary of Education, shall determine 
the data States shall collect and report regarding the State program 
funded under this part and the extent to which that data collection and 
reporting, and required evaluations, can be coordinated with the data 
collection, reporting, and evaluations required for the State program 
funded under part A of title IV and the performance accountability 
measures under section 116(b) of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act for the adult and dislocated worker employment and 
training activities of the State.
    ``(g) Funding.--The Secretary shall use funding made available 
under section 413(h)(1) for research, technical assistance, and 
evaluation to conduct the performance assessments required under 
subsection (b).
    ``(h) Inspector General Audit.--The Inspector General of the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall biennially audit a sample 
of the State programs funded under this part to ensure compliance with 
program requirements, including compliance with the nondisplacement 
requirements of section 1305(c), and to identify and protect against 
any waste, fraud, or abuse in such programs.

``SEC. 1307. DIRECT FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY 
              INDIAN TRIBES.

    ``(a) In General.--An Indian tribe or intertribal consortium with a 
tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412 (or any Indian 
tribe that is a member of such a consortium) that proposes to establish 
a program under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary 
to directly receive payments for expenditures made to carry out the 
program (in this section referred to as a `tribal program 
application').
    ``(b) Tribal Program Application Requirements.--Subject to 
subsection (c), a tribal program application shall include a plan that 
meets the requirements of section 1302 in the same manner as such 
requirements apply to a State.
    ``(c) Program Requirements.--The program requirements specified in 
this part shall apply to an Indian tribe or intertribal consortium with 
a tribal program application and plan approved under this section in 
the same manner as such requirements apply to a State except to the 
extent that an Indian tribe or intertribal consortium requests, and the 
Secretary approves, a waiver or modification of any such requirements.
    ``(d) Payments.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall pay an Indian tribe or intertribal consortium with a 
        tribal program application and plan approved under this section 
        in the same manner as States are paid under section 1304.
            ``(2) Application of tribal fmap.--The Federal medical 
        assistance percentage that would apply under subsection (d) of 
        section 479B if an Indian tribe or tribal consortium operated a 
        program under that section (in this subsection referred to as 
        the `tribal FMAP'), shall apply to payments made to the Indian 
        tribe or tribal consortium for expenditures attributable to 
        carrying out a program under this part, unless the tribal FMAP 
        is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage that 
        applies to the State in which the Indian tribe or tribal 
        consortium is located in which case the State Federal medical 
        assistance percentage shall apply. In the case of an Indian 
        tribe or tribal consortium that is located in more than 1 
        State, the State in which the Indian tribe or tribal consortium 
        is located that has the highest Federal medical assistance 
        percentage shall apply to the preceding sentence.

``SEC. 1308. DIRECT FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY 
              LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish procedures under 
which a local government, or a consortium of local governments within a 
State, may submit an application to the Secretary to establish a 
program under this part and directly receive payments for expenditures 
made to carry out the program (in this section referred to as a `local 
government program application'), if the State in which the local 
government or consortium is located does not elect to establish a State 
program under this part.
    ``(b) Local Government Program Application Requirements.--Subject 
to subsection (c), a local government program application shall include 
a plan that meets the requirements of section 1302 in the same manner 
as such requirements apply to a State.
    ``(c) Program Requirements.--The program requirements specified in 
this part shall apply to a local government or consortium with a local 
government program application and plan approved under this section in 
the same manner as such requirements apply to a State except to the 
extent that a local government or consortium requests, and the 
Secretary approves, a waiver or modification of any such requirements.
    ``(d) Payments.--The Secretary shall pay a local government or 
consortium with a local government program application and plan 
approved under this section in the same manner as the State in which 
the local government or consortium is located would have been paid 
under section 1304 if the State had established a State program under 
this part.

``SEC. 1309. PRO-WORKER EMPLOYERS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Authority To Approve Demonstration Projects.--The Secretary 
may authorize States to conduct demonstration projects pursuant to this 
section which the Secretary finds are likely to promote 1 or more of 
the purposes described in section 1301(a) through subsidized employment 
for eligible individuals working for certified pro-worker employers.
    ``(b) Conditions for State Eligibility.--A State may be authorized 
to conduct such demonstration project only if the State satisfies the 
following conditions:
            ``(1) The State submits an application to the Secretary, at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing the information 
        specified in paragraph (2) and such other information as the 
        Secretary requires.
            ``(2) The State includes the following information in the 
        application submitted to the Secretary:
                    ``(A) The criteria for being an eligible individual 
                if the State elects to include individuals not 
                described in section 1301(b)(3).
                    ``(B) A description of the scientific or quasi-
                scientific design for the demonstration project that 
                includes a randomized controlled trial or another valid 
                control group.
                    ``(C) The outcome measures for evaluating the 
                impact of the demonstration project that shall include, 
                at a minimum, the following:
                            ``(i) The percentage of eligible 
                        individuals who are in unsubsidized employment 
                        during the second quarter after exiting from 
                        the demonstration project.
                            ``(ii) The percentage of eligible 
                        individuals who are in unsubsidized employment 
                        during the fourth quarter after exiting from 
                        the demonstration project.
                            ``(iii) The median earnings of eligible 
                        individuals who are in unsubsidized employment 
                        during the second quarter after exiting from 
                        the demonstration project.
                            ``(iv) Other measures of employment and 
                        earnings as specified by the Secretary which, 
                        to the greatest extent practicable, shall be 
                        based on the information required for State 
                        performance reports under section 116(d)(2) of 
                        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                        (29 U.S.C. 3141(d)(2)).
    ``(c) Waiver Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may waive compliance with 
        any requirement of this part or part A of title IV which (if 
        applied) would prevent a State from carrying out a 
        demonstration project under this section or prevent the State 
        from effectively achieving the purpose of such a project.
            ``(2) Cost and budget neutrality.--The Secretary shall not 
        impose cost or budget neutrality requirement as a condition for 
        approving a demonstration project under this section.
    ``(d) Payment to States.--
            ``(1) Treatment as program expenditures.--The Secretary 
        shall consider the expenditures of any State to conduct a 
        demonstration project under this section to be expenditures 
        under this part.
            ``(2) Enhanced fmap.--The enhanced FMAP described in the 
        first sentence of section 2105(b) that is applicable to a State 
        for a fiscal year shall apply to payments made to the State for 
        a fiscal year quarter for expenditures to conduct a 
        demonstration project under this section in lieu of the Federal 
        medical assistance percentage applicable to payments made under 
        section 1304(a) to the State for the quarter. If the State is 
        eligible for an increase in the Federal medical assistance 
        percentage applicable to payments under section 1304(a) in 
        accordance with subsection (b) of section 1304, the enhanced 
        FMAP applicable to the State for the fiscal year shall be used 
        to determine the amount of the increase.
    ``(e) Duration of Demonstration.--A demonstration project under 
this section may be conducted for such period of years as the Secretary 
and a State shall agree, but for not more than 5 years, unless in the 
judgment of the Secretary, the demonstration project should be allowed 
to continue.
    ``(f) Indian Tribes and Local Governments.--An Indian tribe or 
intertribal consortium approved for payments under section 1307 and a 
local government or a consortium of local governments within a State 
approved for payments under section 1308 may be considered a State for 
purposes of conducting a demonstration project under this section.
    ``(g) Pro-Worker Employer Standard.--
            ``(1) Establishment of standard.--Not later than 2 years 
        after the date of enactment of this part, the Secretary and the 
        Secretary of Labor, jointly shall establish a standard for 
        employers to meet in order to be a certified pro-worker 
        employer for purposes of a demonstration project under this 
        section. At a minimum, the standard shall require that an 
        employer does the following:
                    ``(A) Offer predictably.--The employer has 
                scheduling practices with predictable work hours.
                    ``(B) Provide family-friendly benefits.--The 
                employer offers paid family and medical leave programs, 
                paid sick days, health insurance, child care, paid time 
                off, and other benefits that contribute to work-life 
                balance, and provides similar or portable benefits to 
                freelance, independent contractors, consultants, 
                outsourced and non-permanent workers, or other 
                contingent workers.
                    ``(C) Ensure adequate pay.--The employer pays 
                employees a living wage that enables the employees to 
                meet their basic needs and has policies to ensure fair 
                compensation for freelance, independent contractors, 
                consultants, outsourced and non-permanent workers, or 
                other contingent workers by adopting clear contractual 
                language and committing to on-time payments.
                    ``(D) Invest in employee growth and development.--
                The employer provides in-house or through employee 
                stipends and other financial assistance, access to 
                education and training opportunities and promotes 
                career pathways for entry-level workers which 
                demonstrably improve income and job responsibilities.
                    ``(E) Reward workers when company does well.--The 
                employer has profit-sharing practices or other 
                mechanisms that ensure workers benefit when the company 
                grows or increases profits.
            ``(2) Process for certification.--The Secretary of Labor, 
        in consultation with the Secretary shall establish a process by 
        which an employer may apply for and be issued a certification 
        as a pro-worker employer. The process may allow for 
        applications for certification to be considered and issued by a 
        State, the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary, or an entity 
        under a contract or other arrangement with the Secretary of 
        Labor.
    ``(h) Reports and Performance Assessments.--The Secretary shall 
report on and assess the demonstration projects conducted under this 
section as part of the reports and ongoing performance assessments 
required under section 1306.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Certified pro-worker employer.--The term `certified 
        pro-worker employer' means an employer who has applied for and 
        been issued a certification as having met the pro-worker 
        employer standard established under subsection (g).
            ``(2) Eligible individuals.--The term `eligible 
        individuals' has the meaning given that term in section 
        1301(b)(3) and includes individuals who meet such other 
        criteria and a State conducting a demonstration project under 
        this section specifies and the Secretary approves.''.
    (b) Study Regarding Incentives for ELEVATE Program Performance.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
        Sciences to evaluate State programs carried out under part A of 
        title XIII of the Social Security Act (as added by subsection 
        (a)), including demonstration projects conducted under section 
        1309 of that Act (as so added). The evaluation shall analyze 
        the relationships between engagement, impacts, and outcome 
        measures. The evaluation shall also examine the issue of 
        program performance and include recommendations to Congress as 
        to whether and how program performance could be tied to fiscal 
        incentives.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 7 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
        results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), 
        together with recommendations for such legislation and 
        administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.

SEC. 3. SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE 
              BENEFITS.

    (a) Establishment.--Title XIII, as added by section 2(a), is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

      ``PART B--SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS

``SEC. 1321. SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.

    ``(a) In General.--Every individual who--
            ``(1) is determined to be an eligible self-employment 
        assistance individual (as defined in section 1325); and
            ``(2) has filed an application for self-employment 
        assistance under this title,
shall be entitled to a self-employment assistance benefit for each week 
beginning with the first week in which such individual meets the 
criteria specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) and ending with the 
benefit termination week (as defined in section 1325) determined with 
respect to the individual.
    ``(b) Amount.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the self-
        employment assistance benefit for an individual shall be the 
        amount equal to \1/2\ of the average weekly earnings from the 
        individual's most recent employment.
            ``(2) Maximum limit.--The self-employment assistance 
        benefit for any individual shall not exceed the amount equal to 
        the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit in the State 
        in which the individual resides.

``SEC. 1322. RELOCATION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.

    ``(a) In General.--Every individual who--
            ``(1) is determined to be an eligible relocation assistance 
        individual (as defined in section 1325);
            ``(2) has filed an application for relocation assistance 
        under this title,
shall be entitled to a relocation assistance benefit.
    ``(b) Amount.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        relocation assistance benefit for an individual shall be a 
        lump-sum amount sufficient to enable the individual to move to 
        a new area to earn family-sustaining wages in employment and 
        may include up to 90 percent of the reasonable and necessary 
        expenses incurred in relocating the individual, the 
        individual's family, and household effects, including 
        subsistence and transportation expenses.
            ``(2) Maximum limit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The relocation assistance 
                benefit for any individual shall not exceed $2,000.
                    ``(B) Annual adjustment.--The dollar amount 
                specified in subparagraph (A) shall be increased, 
                beginning with 2020, from year to year based on the 
                percentage increase in the consumer price index for all 
                urban consumers (all items; United States city 
                average), rounded up to the nearest $10.
            ``(3) Adjustment for family size.--An eligible relocation 
        assistance individual who is relocating with a family may be 
        paid a relocation assistance benefit greater than the benefit 
        limit applicable to a year. The size of an individual's family 
        shall be taken into account in determining the amount of such 
        benefit.
    ``(c) Limitation.--An individual may not be paid a relocation 
assistance benefit more than 1 time during any 5-year period.

``SEC. 1323. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Administration.--Self-employment assistance benefits and 
relocation assistance benefits shall be administered by the Director, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Labor.
    ``(b) Other Eligibility Criteria; Application.--The Director, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall establish--
            ``(1) such additional criteria as appropriate for an 
        individual to be eligible for a self-employment assistance 
        benefit or a relocation assistance benefit under this title and 
        for determining the amount of such benefit;
            ``(2) application procedures, including with respect to the 
        filing of applications, the furnishing of information and other 
        material, and the reporting of events and changes in 
        circumstances, as may be necessary for the effective and 
        efficient administration of this title, and which shall include 
        permitting applications for a self-employment assistance 
        benefit or relocation assistance benefit to be submitted--
                    ``(A) online;
                    ``(B) at field offices of the Social Security 
                Administration;
                    ``(C) through a one-stop center, as defined in 
                section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act; or
                    ``(D) at offices of the Small Business 
                Administration; and
            ``(3) audit procedures and other program integrity 
        activities related to the provision of self-employment 
        assistance benefits and relocation assistance benefits.
    ``(c) Direct Payments.--A self-employment assistance benefit or a 
relocation assistance benefit shall be paid directly to an individual 
and may be included with other benefits or assistance payable to, or on 
behalf of, the individual under this Act.
    ``(d) Entitlement Redeterminations.--An individual's entitlement to 
a self-employment assistance benefit or a relocation assistance benefit 
under this title, and the amount of such benefit, may be redetermined 
at such time or times as the Director determines to be appropriate.
    ``(e) Regulations and Administrative Arrangements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor, may promulgate such regulations, and make 
        such administrative and other arrangements, as may be necessary 
        or appropriate to carry out this title.
            ``(2) Suspension and termination of assistance.--
        Regulations promulgated by the Director may provide for the 
        suspension and termination of entitlement to a benefit under 
        this title as the Director determines is appropriate.
            ``(3) Overpayments and underpayments; penalties for 
        fraud.--Regulations promulgated by the Director shall apply the 
        provisions of sections 808 and 811 to self-employment 
        assistance benefits and relocation assistance benefits payable 
        under this title in the same manner as such provisions apply to 
        benefits payable under title VIII.
    ``(f) Evaluations.--Not later than January 1, 2025, and 
periodically thereafter, the Director, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Labor, shall evaluate and report to Congress on the 
effectiveness of the self-employment assistance benefits, relocation 
assistance benefits, and other activities carried out under this title.

``SEC. 1324. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Special Rules.--A self-employment assistance benefit or a 
relocation assistance benefit--
            ``(1) except as provided in subsection (b), shall be paid 
        in addition to any other benefit or assistance for which the 
        individual is entitled to or eligible for under this Act or any 
        other provision of law; and
            ``(2) shall not be subject to Federal tax.
    ``(b) No Concurrent Receipt of Self-Employment Assistance Benefit 
and Unemployment Compensation.--An individual may not receive a self-
employment assistance benefit for any week if the individual receives 
unemployment compensation under any State or Federal law (including 
under the Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 and 
including unemployment compensation paid as self-employment assistance) 
for such week.
    ``(c) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available to carry out 
this title shall be used to supplement the level of Federal funds that, 
in the absence of such availability, would be expended to provide a 
self-employment assistance benefit or reemployment assistance benefit 
to individuals and in no case to supplant such Federal funds.

``SEC. 1325. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Benefit termination week.--The term `benefit 
        termination week' means, with respect to an individual, the 
        first week that occurs after the first week of any 10-year 
        period in which the individual is paid a self-employment 
        assistance benefit and is--
                    ``(A) the week during which the individual is 
                determined to have sufficient earnings from employment, 
                as determined in accordance with criteria established 
                under section 1323;
                    ``(B) the week during which the individual is 
                determined to no longer have a viable business plan or 
                has stopped carrying out that plan; or
                    ``(C) the 26th week for which the individual has 
                been paid such benefit.
            ``(2) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Office of Reemployment Assistance established under section 
        714.
            ``(3) Eligible self-employment assistance individual.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible self-
                employment assistance individual' means an individual--
                            ``(i) who--
                                    ``(I) is eligible for unemployment 
                                compensation under any State of Federal 
                                law (including under the Federal-State 
                                Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 
                                and including unemployment compensation 
                                paid as self-employment assistance);
                                    ``(II) has become unemployed 
                                through no fault of his or her own 
                                during the most recent 12-week period 
                                and is not eligible for any 
                                unemployment compensation described in 
                                clause (i); or
                                    ``(III) in the case of a self-
                                employed individual or an independent 
                                contractor, whose hiring contract or 
                                other arrangement has ended during the 
                                most recent 12-week period and--
                                            ``(aa) whose most recent 
                                        Federal income tax return shows 
                                        an average profit of at least 
                                        $4,600; or
                                            ``(bb) who attests to an 
                                        average of $1,500 in quarterly 
                                        profits for the most recently 
                                        ended taxable year, more than 
                                        50 percent of which come from 
                                        income from self-employment; 
                                        and
                            ``(ii) has a viable business plan, as 
                        determined by the Department of Labor of the 
                        State in which the individual resides, a local 
                        workforce development board in such State, or 
                        the Small Business Administration, is working 
                        on that business at least 20 hours per week, 
                        and is--
                                    ``(I) fully unemployed; or
                                    ``(II) partially unemployed and 
                                earning not less than \1/2\ of the 
                                average weekly earnings from the 
                                individual's most recent employment or 
                                \1/2\ of the amount of their weekly 
                                self-employment assistance benefit, 
                                whichever is greater.
                    ``(B) Annual adjustment.--The dollar amounts 
                specified in subclause (III) of subparagraph (A)(i) 
                shall be increased, beginning with 2020, from year to 
                year based on the percentage increase in the consumer 
                price index for all urban consumers (all items; United 
                States city average), rounded up to the nearest $10.
            ``(4) Eligible relocation assistance individual.--The term 
        `eligible relocation assistance individual' means an 
        individual--
                    ``(A) who is--
                            ``(i) a dislocated worker, as defined in 
                        section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act;
                            ``(ii) a long-term unemployed individual, 
                        as determined in accordance with criteria 
                        established under section 1323; or
                            ``(iii) an underemployed individual, as so 
                        determined;
                    ``(B) who has filed an application for relocation 
                assistance before relocating within the United States; 
                and
                    ``(C) with respect to whom a determination has been 
                made that the individual--
                            ``(i) has obtained suitable employment 
                        affording a reasonable expectation of long-term 
                        duration in the area in which the individual 
                        wishes to relocate, has obtained a bona fide 
                        offer of such employment, or has a reasonable 
                        expectation of obtaining such employment; and
                            ``(ii) cannot reasonably be expected to 
                        secure comparable employment in the commuting 
                        area in which the individual resides.
            ``(5) Local workforce development board.--The term `local 
        workforce development board' means a local workforce 
        development board established under section 107 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

``SEC. 1326. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``For the purpose of carrying out this part, there are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 
beginning with fiscal year 2020.''.
    (b) Establishment of Office of Reemployment Assistance.--Title VII 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 901 et seg.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 714. OFFICE OF REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Commissioner, in consultation with the 
Secretary, shall establish in the Social Security Administration an 
Office of Reemployment Assistance. The Office shall be headed by a 
Director who shall be appointed by the Commissioner, in consultation 
with the Secretary.
    ``(b) Duties.--The Director shall--
            ``(1) administer self-employment assistance benefits under 
        part B of title XIII;
            ``(2) administer relocation assistance benefits under part 
        B of title XIII;
            ``(3) advise the Commissioner and the Secretary on the 
        effects of current policies and proposed statutory, regulatory, 
        administrative, and budgetary changes affecting self-employment 
        assistance benefits and relocation assistance benefits under 
        part B of title XIII;
            ``(4) establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collecting 
        and disseminating information on--
                    ``(A) issues relating to self-employment assistance 
                benefits and relocation assistance benefits;
                    ``(B) research findings relating to such benefits 
                and reemployment programs; and
                    ``(C) innovative reemployment programs and 
                activities;
            ``(5) coordinate the activities within the Administration 
        and the Department of Labor that relate to the provision of 
        self-employment assistance benefits and relocation assistance 
        benefits under part B of title XIII;
            ``(6) provide information to the Commissioner, Secretary, 
        and others in the Administration and Department of Labor with 
        respect to the activities of other Federal departments and 
        agencies that relate to self-employment assistance benefits and 
        relocation assistance benefits and reemployment programs and 
        activities; and
            ``(7) administer grants, cooperative agreements, and 
        contracts to provide technical assistance and other activities 
        as necessary to support activities related to the provision of 
        self-employment assistance benefits, relocation assistance 
        benefits, and reemployment programs and activities.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Administration.--The term `Administration' means the 
        Social Security Administration.
            ``(2) Commissioner.--The term `Commissioner' means the 
        Commissioner of Social Security.
            ``(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Office of Reemployment Assistance established under this 
        section.
            ``(4) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of 
        Reemployment Assistance established under this section.
            ``(5) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 
2020.''.

SEC. 4. EMPLOYEE RETENTION WORK OPPORTUNITY CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Employee Retention Credit.--
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of the work opportunity 
        credit determined under subsection (a) for the taxable year 
        shall be increased by an amount equal to 40 percent of the 
        qualified second-year wages for such year with respect to 
        ELEVATE employees.
            ``(2) Qualified second-year wages.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, 
                the term `qualified second-year wages' means qualified 
                wages (determined as if ELEVATE employees were members 
                of a targeted group)--
                            ``(i) which are paid to an ELEVATE 
                        employee, and
                            ``(ii) which are attributable to service 
                        rendered during the 1-year period beginning on 
                        the day after the last day of the 1-year period 
                        with respect to such employee determined under 
                        subsection (b)(2).
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The amount of the qualified 
                second-year wages which may be taken into account with 
                respect to any individual shall not exceed $6,000 per 
                year.
            ``(3) ELEVATE employee.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the term `ELEVATE employee' means an individual who is hired by 
        the employer through the subsidized employment program under 
        part A of title XIII of the Social Security Act and who has 
        been employed by the same employer for a consecutive 24 months 
        as of the last day of the preceding taxable year.''.
    (b) GAO Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the employee retention credit under section 51(l) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and, not later than 6 months after 
the last day of the second taxable year beginning after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, shall report to the Committee on Finance of the 
Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives--
            (1) whether such retention credit had a meaningful impact 
        on retention as compared with other currently existing and 
        previous subsidized employment programs; and
            (2) whether such retention credit was easily understood by 
        employers and had an impact on hiring decisions in addition to 
        any subsidy received under title XIII of the Social Security 
        Act.
    (c) Extension of Work Opportunity Credit.--Paragraph (4) of section 
51(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2019'' and inserting ``December 31, 2021''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 5. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) TANF.--
            (1) State plan.--Section 402 (42 U.S.C. 602) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by inserting 
                        ``or employment services, training and other 
                        services and activities, and supportive 
                        services provided under the State program 
                        funded under part A of title XIII'' before the 
                        period; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (iv), by inserting 
                                ``, unless the parent or caretaker is 
                                participating in the State program 
                                funded under part A of title XIII'' 
                                before the period; and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(VI) The document shall indicate 
                                whether the State elects to carry out a 
                                State program to provide employment 
                                services, training and other services 
                                and activities, and supportive services 
                                under part A of title XIII.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) State Option To Submit Plan That Aligns With the State Plan 
Under Title XIII-A.--A State may elect to submit the State plan 
required under this section at the same time and in the same manner, 
and to apply for the same period, as the State plan required under 
section 1302.''.
            (2) Participation in the state employment, training, and 
        supportive services program under title xiii-a deemed to be 
        meeting work participation requirements.--Section 407(c)(2) (42 
        U.S.C. 607(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(E) Participation in the state employment, 
                training, and supportive services program under title 
                xiii-a deemed to be meeting work participation 
                requirements.--For purposes of determining monthly 
                participation rates under paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and 
                (2)(B) of subsection (b), the following individuals are 
                deemed to be engaged in work for a month:
                            ``(i) Recipients.--Any recipient who is 
                        participating in the State employment, 
                        training, and supportive services program under 
                        part A of title XIII (for any number of hours 
                        per week during the month) and is receiving 
                        assistance under the State program funded under 
                        this part or under any State program funded 
                        with qualified State expenditures (as defined 
                        in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).
                            ``(ii) Individuals who would otherwise be 
                        recipients.--Any individual who is 
                        participating in the State employment, 
                        training, and supportive services program under 
                        part A of title XIII (for any number of hours 
                        per week during the month) and would be a 
                        recipient of assistance under the State program 
                        funded under this part or under any State 
                        program funded with qualified State 
                        expenditures (as defined in section 
                        409(a)(7)(B)(i)) but for the individual's 
                        participation in the State employment, training 
                        and supportive services program under part A of 
                        title XIII.''.
            (3) Tribal programs.--Section 412(b) (42 U.S.C. 612(b)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Option to submit plan that aligns with the state plan 
        under title xiii-a.--Subsection (d) of section 402 shall apply 
        to a tribal family assistance plan in the same manner as that 
        section applies to a plan under that section.''.
            (4) Administration.--Section 416 (42 U.S.C. 616) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and part D shall be administered 
                by an Assistant Secretary for Family Support within the 
                Department of Health and Human Services'' and inserting 
                ``, part D, and part A of title XIII shall be 
                administered by the Assistant Secretary for the 
                Administration for Children and Families within the 
                Department of Health and Human Services (and in the 
                case of part A of title XIII, in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education)''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``by law,'' and all that follows 
                through the period and inserting ``by law.''.
    (b) Title VII.--Section 701(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 901(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting a comma after ``title II''; and
            (2) by inserting , ``and the benefits program established 
        under part B of title XIII'' before the period.
    (c) Title XI.--Section 1101(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1301(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``title XX'' and inserting ``titles 
XIII and XX''.
    (d) Internal Revenue Code.--
            (1) Work opportunity credit.--Section 51(c)(2)(B) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``section 
        482(e)'' and inserting ``part A of title XIII''.
            (2) Disclosure of returns and return information.--
        Subparagraph (D) of section 6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subclause 
                (IV) of clause (viii);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of clause 
                (ix) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (ix) the following 
                new clause:
                            ``(x) any benefits or assistance under part 
                        B of title XIII of the Social Security Act.''.
    (e) Table of Contents for Title XIII.--Title XIII, as added by 
section 2(a) and amended by section 3(a), is amended by inserting the 
following before part A:

    ``TITLE XIII--REEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER JOB-RELATED ASSISTANCE AND 
                                BENEFITS

    ``Part A--Employment, Training, and Supportive Services Program

``Sec. 1301. Purpose; definitions; administration.
``Sec. 1302. State plan requirements.
``Sec. 1303. Use of funds.
``Sec. 1304. Payments to States.
``Sec. 1305. Other program requirements.
``Sec. 1306. Reports; technical assistance; research; audit 
                            requirement.
``Sec. 1307. Direct funding and administration for programs operated by 
                            Indian tribes.
``Sec. 1308. Direct funding and administration for programs operated by 
                            local governments.
``Sec. 1309. Pro-worker employers demonstration projects.
      ``Part B--Self-Employment and Relocation Assistance Benefits

``Sec. 1321. Self-employment assistance benefits.
``Sec. 1322. Relocation assistance benefits.
``Sec. 1323. Administrative provisions.
``Sec. 1324. Miscellaneous provisions.
``Sec. 1325. Definitions.
``Sec. 1326. Authorization of appropriations.''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE; REGULATIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in section 4(d), the 
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2019.
    (b) Regulations.--
            (1) Employment, training, and supportive services 
        program.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of 
        Education, shall--
                    (A) not later than 6 months after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act, issue proposed regulations for 
                the purpose of implementing part A of title XIII of the 
                Social Security Act (as added by section 2 of this 
                Act), including regulations establishing uniform data 
                collection requirements; and
                    (B) not later than 1 year after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, publish final regulations for 
                such purpose.
            (2) Self-employment and relocation assistance benefits.--
        The Commissioner of Social Security, through the Director of 
        the Office of Reemployment Assistance (as established under 
        section 3(b) of this Act) and in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor, shall--
                    (A) not later than 6 months after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, issue proposed regulations for 
                the purpose of implementing part B of title XIII of the 
                Social Security Act (as added by section 3 of this 
                Act), including regulations establishing uniform data 
                collection requirements; and
                    (B) not later than 1 year after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act, publish final regulations for 
                such purpose.
                                 <all>