Title: Expanding Reentry Employment Assistance Act
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Expanding Reentry Employment Assistance Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Labor's Reentry Employment Opportunities program, which provides competitive grants to improve employment and training outcomes and reduce recidivism of justice-involved individuals.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7323 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7323

    To amend the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act to codify the 
    Department of Labor's Reentry Employment Opportunities grants, 
  authorizing a competitive grant program that aims to assist justice-
 involved adults and youth returning from incarceration with achieving 
  academic success, employment, reducing the involvement of youth in 
              crime and violence, and avoiding recidivism.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 31, 2022

Mr. Espaillat introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act to codify the 
    Department of Labor's Reentry Employment Opportunities grants, 
  authorizing a competitive grant program that aims to assist justice-
 involved adults and youth returning from incarceration with achieving 
  academic success, employment, reducing the involvement of youth in 
              crime and violence, and avoiding recidivism.

    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 ``Expanding Reentry Employment 
Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

    Subtitle D of title I (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.), as amended by this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 172, as added by the 
preceding section, the following:

``SEC. 173. REENTRY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            ``(1) to improve the employment, earnings, and skill 
        attainment, and reduce recidivism, of adults and youth who have 
        been involved with the justice system;
            ``(2) to prompt innovation and improvement in the reentry 
        of justice-involved individuals into the workforce so that 
        successful initiatives can be established or continued and 
        replicated; and
            ``(3) to further develop the evidence on how to improve 
        employment, earnings, and skill attainment, and reduce 
        recidivism of justice-involved individuals, through rigorous 
        evaluations of specific services provided, including how they 
        affect different populations and how they are best combined and 
        sequenced.
    ``(b) Reentry Employment Competitive Grants, Contracts, and 
Cooperative Agreements Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under 
        subsection (h)(1) and not reserved under subsection (h)(2), the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall, on a competitive basis, make grants 
                to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
                with, eligible entities to implement reentry projects 
                that serve eligible adults or eligible youth; and
                    ``(B) may use not more than 30 percent of such 
                amounts to award funds under subparagraph (A) to 
                eligible entities that are national or regional 
                intermediaries to--
                            ``(i) implement the reentry projects 
                        described in subparagraph (A); or
                            ``(ii) provide such funds to other eligible 
                        entities--
                                    ``(I) to implement such reentry 
                                projects; and
                                    ``(II) to monitor and support such 
                                entities.
            ``(2) Award periods.--The Secretary shall award funds under 
        this section for an initial period of not more than 4 years, 
        and may renew such awards for additional 4-year periods.
            ``(3) Priority.--In awarding funds under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities whose 
        applications submitted under subsection (c) demonstrate a 
        commitment to use such funds to implement reentry projects--
                    ``(A) that will serve high-crime or high-poverty 
                areas;
                    ``(B) that will enroll in such reentry projects 
                eligible youth or eligible adults--
                            ``(i) prior to the release of such 
                        individuals from incarceration in a 
                        correctional institution; or
                            ``(ii) not later than 90 days after such 
                        release;
                    ``(C) whose strategy and design are evidence-based;
                    ``(D) that establish partnerships with--
                            ``(i) businesses; or
                            ``(ii) institutions of higher education to 
                        provide project participants with programs of 
                        study leading to recognized postsecondary 
                        credentials in in-demand occupations;
                    ``(E) that provide training services that are 
                designed to meet the basic requirements of an employer 
                (including a group of employers) and are conducted with 
                a commitment by the employer to employ individuals upon 
                successful completion of the training; or
                    ``(F) that demonstrate a track record and ongoing 
                commitment of developing, implementing, and refining 
                reentry programs that include employment, education, 
                training, and support services for adults and youth 
                with current or prior justice system involvement.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) Form and procedure.--To be qualified to receive funds 
        under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an 
        application at such time, and in such manner, as determined by 
        the Secretary, and containing the information described in 
        paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Contents.--An application submitted by an eligible 
        entity under paragraph (1) shall contain the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the eligible entity, 
                including the experience of the eligible entity in 
                providing employment and training services for justice-
                involved individuals.
                    ``(B) A description of the needs that will be 
                addressed by the reentry project supported by the funds 
                received under this section, and the target participant 
                population and the geographic area to be served.
                    ``(C) A description of the proposed employment and 
                training activities and supportive services, if 
                applicable, to be provided under such reentry project, 
                and how such activities and services will prepare 
                participants for employment in in-demand industry 
                sectors and occupations within the geographic area to 
                be served by such reentry project.
                    ``(D) The anticipated schedule for carrying out the 
                activities proposed under the reentry project.
                    ``(E) A description of--
                            ``(i) the partnerships the eligible entity 
                        will establish with agencies and entities 
                        within the criminal justice system, local 
                        boards and one-stops, community-based 
                        organizations, and employers (including local 
                        businesses) to provide participants of the 
                        reentry project with work-based learning, job 
                        placement, and recruitment (if applicable); and
                            ``(ii) how the eligible entity will 
                        coordinate its activities with other services 
                        and benefits available to justice-involved 
                        individuals in the geographic area to be served 
                        by the reentry project.
                    ``(F) A description of the manner in which 
                individuals will be recruited and selected for 
                participation for the reentry project.
                    ``(G) A detailed budget and a description of the 
                system of fiscal controls, and auditing and 
                accountability procedures, that will be used to ensure 
                fiscal soundness for the reentry project.
                    ``(H) A description of the expected levels of 
                performance to be achieved with respect to the 
                performance measures described in subsection (e).
                    ``(I) A description of the evidence-based practices 
                the eligible entity will use in administration of the 
                reentry project.
                    ``(J) An assurance that the eligible entity will 
                collect, disaggregate by race, ethnicity, gender and 
                other participant characteristics, and report to the 
                Secretary the data required with respect to the reentry 
                project carried out by the eligible entity for purposes 
                of the evaluation under subsection (f).
                    ``(K) Any other information required by the 
                Secretary.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives funds 
        under this section shall use such funds to implement a reentry 
        project for eligible adults, eligible youth, or both that 
        provides one or more of the following services:
                    ``(A) Supportive services.
                    ``(B) For participants who are eligible youth, one 
                or more of the program elements listed in subparagraphs 
                (A) through (N) of section 129(c)(2).
                    ``(C) One or more of the individualized career 
                services listed in subclause (I) through (IX) of 
                section 134(c)(2)(A)(xii).
                    ``(D) Follow-up services after placement in 
                unsubsidized employment as described in section 
                134(c)(2)(A)(xiii).
                    ``(E) One or more of the training services listed 
                in clauses (i) through (x)(i) in section 134(c)(3)(D), 
                including subsidized employment opportunities through 
                transitional jobs.
                    ``(F) Apprenticeship programs.
                    ``(G) Education in digital literacy skills.
                    ``(H) Mentoring.
                    ``(I) Provision of or referral to evidence-based 
                mental health treatment by licensed practitioners.
                    ``(J) Assistance in obtaining employment as a 
                result of the establishment and development by the 
                eligible entity of relationships and networks with 
                large and small employers.
                    ``(K) Assistance with driver's license 
                reinstatement and fees for driver's licenses and other 
                necessary documents for employment.
                    ``(L) Provision of or referral to substance abuse 
                treatment services, provided that funds awarded under 
                this section are only used to provide such services to 
                participants who are unable to obtain such services 
                through other programs providing such services.
                    ``(M) Assistance in obtaining employment as a 
                result of the coordination by the eligible entity with 
                employers to develop customized training programs and 
                on-the-job training.
            ``(2) Administrative cost limit.--An eligible entity may 
        not use more than 10 percent of the funds received under this 
        section for administrative costs, including for costs related 
        to collecting information, analysis, and coordination for 
        purposes of subsection (e) or (f).
    ``(e) Levels of Performance.--
            ``(1) Establishment of levels.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 
                expected levels of performance for reentry projects 
                funded this section for--
                            ``(i) each of the primary indicators of 
                        performance for adults and youth described in 
                        section 116(b); and
                            ``(ii) the additional performance 
                        indicators described in paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Updates.--The levels established under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be updated for each 4-year award 
                period.
            ``(2) Additional indicators of performance.--In addition to 
        the indicators described in paragraph (1)(A)(i), the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall establish an indicator of performance 
                for projects funded under this section with respect 
                participant recidivism; and
                    ``(B) may establish other performance indicators 
                for such projects as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            ``(3) Agreement on performance levels.--In establishing and 
        updating performance levels under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall reach agreement on such levels with the eligible entities 
        receiving awards under this section that will be subject to 
        such levels, based on factors including--
                    ``(A) the expected performance levels of each such 
                eligible entity described in the application submitted 
                under subsection (c)(2)(H);
                    ``(B) local economic conditions of the geographic 
                area to be served by each such eligible entity, 
                including differences in unemployment rates and job 
                losses or gains in particular industries; and
                    ``(C) the characteristics of the participants of 
                the projects when the participants enter the project 
                involved, including--
                            ``(i) criminal records and indicators of 
                        poor work history;
                            ``(ii) lack of work experience;
                            ``(iii) lack of educational or occupational 
                        skills attainment;
                            ``(iv) low levels of literacy or English 
                        proficiency;
                            ``(v) disability status;
                            ``(vi) homelessness; and
                            ``(vii) receipt of public assistance.
            ``(4) Failure to meet performance levels.--In the case of 
        an eligible entity that fails to meet the performance levels 
        established under paragraph (1) for the reentry project 
        involved for any award year, the Secretary shall provide 
        technical assistance to the eligible entity, including the 
        development of a performance improvement plan.
    ``(f) Evaluation of Reentry Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the first 
        award of funds under this section is made, the Secretary 
        (acting through the Chief Evaluation Officer) shall meet the 
        following requirements:
                    ``(A) Design and conduct of evaluation.--Design and 
                conduct an evaluation to evaluate the effectiveness of 
                the reentry projects funded under this section, which 
                meets the requirements of paragraph (2), and includes 
                an evaluation of each of the following:
                            ``(i) The effectiveness of such projects in 
                        assisting individuals with finding employment 
                        and maintaining employment at the second 
                        quarter and fourth quarter after unsubsidized 
                        employment is obtained.
                            ``(ii) The effectiveness of such projects 
                        in assisting individuals with earning 
                        recognized postsecondary credentials.
                            ``(iii) The effectiveness of such projects 
                        in relation to their cost, including the extent 
                        to which the projects improve reentry outcomes, 
                        including in wages earned, benefits provided by 
                        employers, career advancement, measurable 
                        skills gains, credentials earned, housing, 
                        health, and recidivism of participants in 
                        comparison to comparably situated individuals 
                        who did not participate in such projects.
                            ``(iv) The effectiveness of specific 
                        services and interventions provided and of the 
                        overall project design.
                            ``(v) If applicable, the extent to which 
                        such projects meet the needs of various 
                        demographic groups, including people of 
                        different geographic locations, ages, races, 
                        national origins, sex, and criminal records, 
                        and individuals with disabilities.
                            ``(vi) If applicable, the appropriate 
                        sequencing, combination, or concurrent 
                        structure, of services for each subpopulation 
                        of individuals who are participants of such 
                        projects, such as the order, combination, or 
                        concurrent structure and services in which 
                        transitional jobs and occupational skills 
                        training are provided, to ensure that such 
                        participants are prepared to fully benefit from 
                        employment and training services provided under 
                        the project.
                            ``(vii) Limitations or barriers to 
                        education and employment as a result of 
                        occupational or educational licensing 
                        restrictions, access to financial aid, and 
                        access to housing.
                            ``(viii) The quality and effectiveness of 
                        technical assistance provided by the Secretary 
                        for implementing such projects.
                            ``(ix) Other elements that the Chief 
                        Evaluation Officer may determine to be 
                        appropriate.
                    ``(B) Data accessibility.--Make available, on the 
                publicly accessible website of the Department of Labor, 
                data collected during the course of evaluation under 
                this subsection, in an aggregated format that does not 
                provide personally identifiable information.
            ``(2) Design requirements.--An evaluation under this 
        subsection--
                    ``(A) shall--
                            ``(i) be designed by the Secretary (acting 
                        through the Chief Evaluation Officer) in 
                        conjunction with the eligible entities carrying 
                        out the reentry projects being evaluated;
                            ``(ii) include analysis of participant 
                        feedback and outcome and process measures; and
                            ``(iii) use designs that employ the most 
                        rigorous analytical and statistical methods 
                        that are reasonably feasible, such as the use 
                        of control groups; and
                    ``(B) may not--
                            ``(i) collect personally identifiable 
                        information, except to the extent such 
                        information is necessary to conduct the 
                        evaluation; or
                            ``(ii) reveal or share personally 
                        identifiable information.
            ``(3) Publication and reporting of evaluation findings.--
        The Secretary (acting through the Chief Evaluation Officer) 
        shall--
                    ``(A) in accordance with the timeline determined to 
                be appropriate by the Chief Evaluation Officer, publish 
                an interim report on such evaluation;
                    ``(B) not later than 90 days after the date on 
                which any evaluation is completed under this 
                subsection, publish and make publicly available such 
                evaluation; and
                    ``(C) not later than 60 days after the completion 
                date described in subparagraph (B), submit to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on such 
                evaluation.
    ``(g) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) Contents.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall post, using transparent, linked, open, and interoperable 
        data formats, on its publicly accessible website an annual 
        report on--
                    ``(A) the number of individuals who participated in 
                projects assisted under this section for the preceding 
                year;
                    ``(B) the percentage of such individuals who 
                successfully completed the requirements of such 
                projects; and
                    ``(C) the performance of eligible entities on such 
                projects as measured by the performance indicators set 
                forth in subsection (e).
            ``(2) Disaggregation.--The information provided under 
        subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1) with respect to 
        a year shall be disaggregated by each project assisted under 
        this section for such year.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations; Reservations.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
                    ``(A) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                    ``(B) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    ``(C) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                    ``(D) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                    ``(E) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
                    ``(F) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
            ``(2) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds appropriated 
        under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary--
                    ``(A) may reserve not more than 5 percent for the 
                administration of grants, contracts, and cooperative 
                agreements awarded under this section, of which not 
                more than 2 percent may be reserved for the provision 
                of--
                            ``(i) technical assistance to eligible 
                        entities that receive funds under this section; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) outreach and technical assistance to 
                        eligible entities desiring to receive such 
                        funds, including assistance with application 
                        development and submission; and
                    ``(B) shall reserve not less than 1 percent and not 
                more than 2.5 percent for the evaluation activities 
                under subsection (f) or to support eligible entities 
                with any required data collection, analysis, and 
                coordination related to such evaluation activities.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Chief evaluation officer.--The term `Chief Evaluation 
        Officer' means the head of the independent evaluation office 
        located organizationally in the Office of the Assistant 
        Secretary for Policy of the Department of Labor.
            ``(2) Community supervision.--The term `community 
        supervision' means mandatory oversight (including probation and 
        parole) of a formerly incarcerated person--
                    ``(A) who was convicted of a crime by a judge or 
                parole board; and
                    ``(B) who is living outside a secure facility.
            ``(3) Correctional institution.--The term `correctional 
        institution' has the meaning given the term in section 225(e).
            ``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a private nonprofit organization under 
                section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
                including a community-based or faith-based 
                organization;
                    ``(B) a local board;
                    ``(C) a State or local government;
                    ``(D) an Indian or Native American entity eligible 
                for grants under section 166;
                    ``(E) a labor organization or joint labor-
                management organization; or
                    ``(F) a consortium of the entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (E).
            ``(5) Eligible adult.--The term `eligible adult' means a 
        justice-involved individual who--
                    ``(A) is age 25 or older; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an individual that was 
                previously incarcerated, was released from 
                incarceration not more than 3 years prior to enrollment 
                in a project funded under this section.
            ``(6) Eligible youth.--The term `eligible youth' means a 
        justice-involved individual who is not younger than age 14 or 
        older than age 24.
            ``(7) High-crime.--The term `high-crime', when used with 
        respect to a geographic area, means an area with crime rates 
        that are higher than the rate for the overall city (for urban 
        areas) or of non-metropolitan area in the State (for rural 
        areas), as such terms are used by the Bureau of Labor 
        Statistics.
            ``(8) High-poverty.--The term `high-poverty', when used 
        with respect to a geographic area, means an area with a poverty 
        rate of at least 25 percent as determined based on the most 
        recently available data from the American Community Survey 
        conducted by the Bureau of the Census.''.
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