Title: Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
This bill requires the Department of Labor to provide temporary funding to states and local areas and grants to eligible entities to assist in carrying out subsidized public employment programs for youth with barriers to employment or who are recipients of public assistance but not receiving it. In the case of grants, priority must be given to eligible entities that serve particular youth with a barrier to employment, youth of color, opportunity youth or out-of-school youth, low-income youth, and youth impacted by the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems.
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate and report on the activities funded by this bill.
The bill excludes from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program income eligibility requirements income earned by a household member who is less than 22 years of age, is an elementary or secondary school student, and lives with a natural, adoptive, or stepparent.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8689 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8689

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 27, 2020

 Ms. Fudge (for herself and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the following bill; 
  which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in 
     addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


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

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Connecting Youth to Jobs Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    During periods which the national rate of youth unemployment is 
above the full youth employment rate and in excess of the overall 
national rate, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or 
during a qualifying emergency or economic recession (as determined by 
the Chairman of the Federal Reserve), it is the purpose of this Act to 
provide--
            (1) youth public subsidized employment to assist in State 
        and local improvement activities, including public works, the 
        arts, and community development; and
            (2) additional and continual funding that is targeted to 
        high poverty areas with historically high youth unemployment 
        rates, particularly high minority youth unemployment rates, for 
        the purpose of creating such employment opportunities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Qualifying emergency.--The term ``qualifying 
        emergency'' means--
                    (A) a public health emergency declared by the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to 
                section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
                247d);
                    (B) an event for which the President declared a 
                major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or 
                501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
                Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 
                5191); or
                    (C) a national emergency declared by the President 
                under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 
                U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
            (2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``local educational agency'' and 
        ``State educational agency'' have the meanings given the terms 
        in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) High-poverty area.--The term ``high-poverty area'' 
        means a census tract with a youth poverty rate of at least 20 
        percent during the most recent 5 consecutive years.
            (4) Historically high youth unemployment levels.--The term 
        ``historically high youth unemployment levels'' means any local 
        area with a youth unemployment rate of at least 10 percent, as 
        measured over the most recent decennial censuses, or by the 
        Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent 5-year period 
        for which data are available.
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (6) Public education entity.--The term ``public education 
        entities'' includes--
                    (A) a local educational agency;
                    (B) a State educational agency; or
                    (C) a public institution of higher education.
            (7) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship programs'' means an apprenticeship 
        program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly 
        known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act''; 50 Stat. 664, 
        chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, 
        standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such 
        requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30, 
        2019.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (9) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning'' 
        as the meaning given in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
        and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            (10) WIOA terms.--The terms ``in-demand industry sector or 
        occupation'', ``individual with a barrier to employment'', 
        ``in-school youth'', ``local area'', ``local board'', ``out-of-
        school youth'', ``outlying area'', ``recognized postsecondary 
        credential'', ``supportive services'', ``State'', ``State 
        board'', and ``unit of general local government'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

                TITLE I--YOUTH PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

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

    (a) Funding Allotments and Allocations.--
            (1) State allotments.--For each fiscal year during a period 
        described in section 2, to assist States and outlying areas, 
        and to enable States and outlying areas to assist local areas, 
        in carrying out subsidized public employment programs described 
        in subsection (b) for eligible youth, from the funds 
        appropriated under section 103(1), the Secretary of Labor 
        shall--
                    (A) make an allotment in accordance with section 
                127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to each 
                State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 
                of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 3113); and
                    (B) award a grant to each outlying area that 
                complies with the requirements of title I of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3101 et seq.) to carry out subsidized youth public 
                employment programs for eligible individuals.
            (2) Within state allocations.--
                    (A) Statewide activities.--Each State shall reserve 
                25 percent of the allotment received under paragraph 
                (1)(A) to carry out statewide subsidized public 
                employment programs described in subsection (b).
                    (B) Allocations to local areas.--A Governor of a 
                State that receives an allotment under paragraph (1), 
                in coordination with relevant State and local 
                stakeholders, shall use any remaining amounts (after 
                reserving funds under subparagraph (A)), to allocate 
                funds to local areas, as long as not less than 65 
                percent of such remaining amount is allocated to--
                            (i) high-poverty local areas with the 
                        highest youth unemployment rate compared to 
                        other local areas in the State; and
                            (ii) local areas with historically high 
                        levels of youth unemployment within the State.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) Subsidized public employment programs.--
                    (A) In general.--Funds allotted to States for 
                statewide programs, and funds allocated to local areas 
                under subsection (a), shall be used to carry out 
                subsidized public employment programs described in 
                paragraph (3) that--
                            (i) lead to unsubsidized, full-time 
                        employment; or
                            (ii) provide the necessary skills and 
                        competency attainment of at least 1 recognized 
                        postsecondary credential to further the 
                        education or career of youth participants.
            (2) Funding allocations.--Of the funds described in 
        paragraph (1):
                    (A) Not less than 60 percent of the funds for 
                program year 2021 shall be used for wages and 
                employment benefits to individuals employed in 
                subsidized public employment programs funded under this 
                section.
                    (B) Not less than 30 percent of the funds for 
                program year 2021, and not less than 20 percent of such 
                funds for any program year thereafter, shall be used to 
                provide career services described in section 134(c)(2) 
                of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 
                training services, or youth workforce investment 
                activities.
                    (C) Any remaining funds may be used for 
                administrative and other allowable costs (such as 
                supplies, materials, equipment, and health and safety 
                resources) incurred by the State or local area, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Conditions.--Except as otherwise determined by the 
        Secretary, the following conditions shall apply to each 
        subsidized public employment program funded under this section:
                    (A) Only youth residing within the State or local 
                area providing funding for the program shall be 
                employed by such program, and the public services 
                provided under such program, to the extent feasible, 
                shall be designed to benefit the residents of such 
                State or local area.
                    (B) Priority in filling jobs available under such 
                program shall be given to--
                            (i) eligible youth who is an individual 
                        with a barrier to employment (including youth 
                        of color, opportunity youth or out-of-school 
                        youth, low-income youth, youth impacted by the 
                        juvenile or adult criminal justice systems, and 
                        underemployed youth); and
                            (ii) eligible youth who are recipients of 
                        public assistance (or from a family receiving 
                        such assistance) or who are eligible for public 
                        assistance (or from a family eligible for such 
                        public assistance) but not receiving such 
                        assistance.
                    (C) Each individual employed under such program 
                shall be a wage, which shall at least be the highest of 
                the following:
                            (i) $12 an hour.
                            (ii) The minimum wage under the applicable 
                        State or local minimum wage law.
                            (iii) The prevailing rates of pay for 
                        individuals employed in similar occupations by 
                        the same employer.
                            (iv) The minimum wage according to the 
                        amendments made to section 6 of the Fair Labor 
                        Standards Act of 1938, as proposed by H.R. 582 
                        (116th Congress).
                    (D) With respect to a wage determined under 
                subparagraph (C), the Secretary may promulgate 
                regulations to increase such wage after consideration 
                of industry, geographical region, skill requirements, 
                and individual proficiency.
                    (E) An individual may self-attest to meeting the 
                requirements to be an eligible youth, or to receive 
                priority consideration under subparagraph (B), and 
                verification of such eligibility may occur after the 
                individual is employed under the program.
                    (F) Earnings from such program shall not be 
                regarded as income and shall not be regarded as a 
                resource for the month of receipt and the following 12 
                months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of 
                the participant (or the participant's spouse or family) 
                for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of 
                benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or 
                under any State or local program financed in whole or 
                in part with Federal funds.
                    (G) Such program shall coordinate with the 
                workforce systems and activities promoted by the State 
                or local board to connect eligible youth to educational 
                or career opportunities.
                    (H) Such program shall establish or expand 
                diversity and inclusion opportunities and collect 
                disaggregated data on related efforts.
    (c) Eligibility.--To be an eligible youth, an individual shall be 
an in-school youth or an out-of-school youth.

SEC. 102. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

    (a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated under section 
103(2), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities for activities described in subsection (e).
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that serve eligible youth who 
are individuals with a barrier to employment, youth of color, 
opportunity youth or out-of-school youth, low-income youth, and youth 
impacted by the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems.
    (c) Requirements on Uses of Funds.--In awarding funds under this 
section the Secretary shall ensure the following:
            (1) Direct financial assistance.--Not less than 40 percent 
        of such funds are used to provide direct financial assistance 
        to eligible youth described in section 101(c) to support such 
        youth with financial needs with respect to entering, remaining 
        enrolled in, and completing a subsidized public employment 
        program described in section 101(b) (including related costs of 
        training, supplies, food and nutrition, housing, 
        transportation, child care, mental health and substance abuse 
        services, payment of fines, or other targeted costs determined 
        allowable by the Secretary).
            (2) In-demand industry sectors or occupations.--Not less 
        than 40 percent of such funds are used to connect eligible 
        youth described in section 101(c) to employers for in-demand 
        industry sectors or occupations, work-based learning 
        opportunities, registered apprenticeship programs, or to 
        reconnect to a public education entity.
            (3) Diversity and inclusion activities.-- Not less than 10 
        percent of such funds are used for promoting, creating, or 
        expanding diversity and inclusion activities for the purposes 
        of diversifying workforce systems.
    (d) Eligible Entity Defined.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity means an entity that 
        the Secretary determines to serve a high number or high 
        percentage of eligible youth who are employed in a subsidized 
        public employment programs described in section 101(b) and who 
        are from underrepresented populations.
            (2) Inclusions.--An eligible entity includes--
                    (A) a community-based organization;
                    (B) a State and unit of general local government in 
                a partnership with a community-based organization;
                    (C) a partnership among States and units of general 
                local government, community-based organizations, public 
                education entities, registered apprenticeships, and 
                employers from in-demand industry sectors or 
                occupations;
                    (D) a partnership among community-based 
                organizations and juvenile and adult correctional 
                facilities; or
                    (E) a labor organization or joint labor-management 
                organization.
    (e) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section--
            (1) shall use the grant to match eligible youth to 
        subsidized public employment programs funded under title I, and 
        provide hands-on work experience that does not supplant the 
        work of existing employees; and
            (2) may use a grant received under this section to carry 
        out 1 or more of the following:
                    (A) Establish or expand diversity and inclusion 
                opportunities and collect disaggregated data on related 
                efforts.
                    (B) Provide (directly or through partnerships) 
                technical assistance and supportive services to 
                eligible youth and their families to help navigate 
                supportive services and other Federal and State 
                assistance programs to support the recruitment, 
                retention, and completion of a program funded under 
                title I.
                    (C) Coordinate partnerships with programs funded 
                under title I to connect eligible youth to educational 
                or career opportunities, including to employers for in-
                demand industry sectors or occupations, work-based 
                learning opportunities, registered apprenticeship 
                programs, or to reconnect to a public education entity.
                    (D) Form comprehensive youth service delivery 
                systems to improve education and employment outcomes 
                for youth and to strategically connect local sectors, 
                systems, and resources by strategically coordinating 
                resources and public, private, and nonprofit funding to 
                create youth pathways to further the education, skills, 
                and access to jobs and successful careers, by--
                            (i) conducting and improving outreach to 
                        underrepresented youth and families with 
                        respect to the programs funded under section 
                        101;
                            (ii) making appropriate use of existing 
                        education, child welfare, social services, and 
                        workforce development data collection systems 
                        to facilitate the entity's ability to recruit 
                        youth participants; and
                            (iii) developing wide-ranging higher 
                        education or employment pathways for youth.
                    (E) Assist in the transition between subsidized 
                youth public employment programs and unsubsidized 
                employment or education.
                    (F) In the case of an eligible entity described in 
                subsection (d)(2)(D), assist in the transition from 
                incarceration with the goal of reducing rates of 
                recidivism and ensuring incarcerated youth and formerly 
                incarcerated youth have access to employment and 
                educational opportunities.

SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $30,000,000,000 to carry out section 101; and
            (2) $10,000,000,000 to carry out section 102, of which 5 
        percent may be used by the Secretary to the build capacity to 
        carry out such section.

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

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

SEC. 105. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

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

                          TITLE II--GAO REPORT

SEC. 201. GAO REPORT.

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

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

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

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