Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Bill: 113-hr-803
Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
Introduced: 2013-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Appropriations
Assault and harassment offenses
Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Education
Department of Labor
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Higher education
Labor-management relations
Land use and conservation
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Manufacturing
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Oceania
Palau
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public participation and lobbying
Public-private cooperation
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sex offenses
Special education
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Violent crime
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: 
Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act or SKILLS Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for: (1) WIA title I, workforce investment systems for job training and employment services; and (2) WIA title II, adult education and family literacy education programs. 
 
Revises requirements to: (1) eliminate representatives of labor organizations from state workforce investment boards, and (2) specify that representatives of business on a board represent large and small businesses with immediate and long-term employment opportunities in in-demand industries and other occupations important to the state economy.
 
Requires a state board to assist the state governor by developing: (1) policies and programs that support a comprehensive statewide workforce development system, and (2) a statewide workforce and labor market information system.
 
Revises requirements for: (1) a state workforce development plan; (2) local workforce investment areas, boards, and plans; (3) one-stop delivery systems; and (4) the allotment of federal funds among states for employment and training activities.
 
Eliminates specific funding for adult and dislocated worker employment and training. Specifies state use of federal funds to set up a Workforce Investment Fund. 
 
Revises requirements for: (1) within state allocations of funds; and (2) the use of funds for state and local employment and training activities, including statewide rapid response, individuals with barriers to employment grants, and adults with barriers to employment grants. 
 
Converts the national emergency grants program into a national dislocated worker grants program. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to award national dislocated worker grants to spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces or full-time duty members of the National Guard (or members who recently separated from such duties) and are in need of employment and training assistance to obtain or retain employment.
 
Requires the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor to be the principal agency to administer WIA title I workforce investment systems for job training and employment services and title III (Job Corps).
 
Revises requirements for the state unified plan for adult education and literacy programs.
 
Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act to eliminate the U.S. Employment Service. Replaces the nationwide employment statistics system, which the Secretary is required to oversee, with a nationwide workforce and labor market information system. 
 
Repeals the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970 and specified other laws. 
 
Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require employment and training services to eligible members of households participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program be provided through the statewide workforce development system, including the One-Stop delivery system.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) with respect to employment and training services for refugees, and the Second Chance Act of 2007 and well as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 with respect to such services through the statewide workforce investment system for federal, state, and local prisoner reentry programs.
 
Amends INA also to require that 15% of importing employer fees deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant Petitioner Account be transferred to the Department of Education for gifted and talented grant programs (instead of 50% to job training programs).
 
Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA73) to: (1) redesignate the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration the Director, and (2) require an eligible state to use a certain percentage of the federal share of the cost of vocational rehabilitation services to award grants to create practical job and career readiness and training programs and provide job placements and career advancement.
 
Repeals the authority of the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Department of Education to make grants and contracts for: (1) vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers; (2) recreational programs for such individuals; and (3) in-service training of vocational rehabilitation personnel.
 
Repeals title VI (Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities) of the RA73.
 
Revises requirements and reauthorizes appropriations for vocational rehabilitation services under the RA73.

action_date: 2013-03-15
text: 
Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act or SKILLS Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for: (1) WIA title I, workforce investment systems for job training and employment services; and (2) WIA title II, adult education and family literacy education programs.
 

Title I: Amendments to the Workforce Investment Act of 2012 - Subtitle A: Workforce Investment Definitions
 - (Sec. 101) Defines &quot;accrued expenditures,&quot; &quot;administrative costs,&quot; &quot;at-risk youth,&quot; &quot;industry or sector partnership,&quot; &quot;industry-recognized credential,&quot; &quot;recognized postsecondary credential,&quot; and &quot;pay-for-performance contract strategy.&quot;
 
Revises other specified definitions.
 

Subtitle B: Statewide and Local Workforce Investment Systems
 - (Sec. 103) Revises requirements for membership on a state workforce investment board (state board).
 
Requires a state board to assist the state governor by developing: (1) policies and programs that support a comprehensive statewide workforce development system, and (2) a statewide workforce and labor market information system.
 
(Sec. 104) Revises requirements for a state workforce development plan.
 
Requires a plan to outline a three-year (currently five-year) strategy for the statewide workforce investment system.
 
Requires a plan, in addition to current specified contents, to describe: (1) strategies and services to more fully engage employers and meet their needs, as well as those to assist at-risk youth and out-of-school youth in acquiring education, skills, credentials, and employment experience; (2) how the state board will convene industry or sector partnerships that lead to collaborative planning, resource alignment, and training efforts across multiple firms for a range of workers currently or potentially employed by a targeted industry cluster; (3) how the state will use technology to facilitate access to services in remote areas; (4) state actions to foster communication, coordination, and partnerships with non-profit organizations that provide employment-related, training, and complementary services; and (5) the process and methodology for determining one-stop partner program contributions for the cost of the infrastructure of one-stop centers, as well as the formula for allocating such infrastructure funds to local areas.
 
Requires the state plan also to describe: (1) how the state will furnish employment, training, including training in advanced manufacturing, supportive, and placement services to veterans, including disabled and homeless veterans; and (2) the strategies and services that will be used to assist and expedite reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
 
 (Sec. 105) Revises requirements for the designation of local workforce investment areas. Repeals the requirement that the state governor designate such areas. Requires the state, through the state board, to establish a process to make such designations.
 
Requires a local or regional board, under such a process, to submit for state board approval an application for designation as a local area containing specified information. Eliminates automatic designations by a state governor upon the request of any area meeting certain criteria or on recommendation of a state board. 
 
Authorizes the state board to designate a state as a single state local area regardless of whether it was a single state service delivery area under the Job Training Partnership Act as of July 1, 1998.
 
Allows a state to require the local boards for a designated region to prepare a single regional plan that incorporates the elements of the local plan and is approved in lieu of separate local plans.
 
(Sec. 106) Revises requirements for local workforce investment boards.
 
Repeals the requirement that representatives of labor organizations be included on a board. Changes from mandatory to discretionary, at the option of the chief elected official in the local area, the inclusion on a board of representatives of community-based organizations and of specified representatives of the local secondary school system, a postsecondary educational institution, or entities providing adult education and literacy activities. Adds representatives of veterans service organizations as possible board members at the discretion of the chief elected official in the local area.
 
Requires a two-thirds majority of the board members to represent local area businesses.
 
Repeals the requirement that the governing body of the concentrated employment program involved act in consultation with the chief elected official in the local workforce investment area to appoint members of the local board.
 
Revises requirements for the functions of the local board. Requires the local board to conduct, and regularly update, a workforce research and regional labor market analysis and assist the governor in developing a statewide workforce and labor market information system.
 
Renames core services a local board may provide through a one-stop delivery system as work ready services.
 
(Sec. 107) Revises requirements for the comprehensive local plan and its contents, contracting its range from five years to three years.
 
(Sec. 108) Revises requirements for the roles and responsibilities of one-stop partners in one-stop delivery systems.
 
Removes from a one-stop delivery system any activities under the national system of public employment offices, welfare-to-work grants, and Older American community service employment program. Adds to the one-stop delivery system any activities of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant program under under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act. Requires each entity carrying out TANF activities to carry out the required one-stop partner activities, unless the state governor determines that they shall not.
 
 Removes from the list of human resource programs a one-stop partner may carry out any activities under a state employment and training program assisting members of households participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Adds to the list of human resource programs a one-stop partner may carry out, however, other specified employment and training programs.
 
Revises requirements for the provisions of a memorandum of understanding between the local board and a one-stop partner.
 
Prescribes requirements for one-stop delivery systems. Requires the state board to establish objective procedures and criteria for certifying one-stop centers at least once every three years for the purpose of awarding one-stop infrastructure funding.
 
 (Sec. 109) Revises requirements for identification of eligible providers of training services.
 
Requires a state governor to establish eligibility criteria and procedures for providers of training services in the state, taking into account specified factors.
 
(Sec. 110) Eliminates specific funding for adult and dislocated worker employment and training.
 
(Sec. 111) Revises requirements for reservations of federal appropriations for allotment to states. Specifies state use of federal funds to set up a Workforce Investment Fund. 
 
(Sec. 112) Revises requirements for within-state allocations of funds.
 
(Sec. 113) Revises requirements for the use of funds for state and local employment and training activities, including statewide rapid response and grants for individuals with barriers to employment.
 
Authorizes a local board to use funds allocated to a local area to carry out incumbent worker training programs to assist incumbent workers in obtaining the skills necessary to retain employment and avert layoffs.
 
Requires the state and local board, when providing employment and training activities, to give priority to placing participants in jobs in the private sector.
 
Requires a local board (or the state at the request of the local board) to employ one or more veteran employment specialists in a local area to: (1) conduct outreach to local area employers to assist veterans, including disabled veterans, in gaining employment; and (2) facilitate employment, training, supportive, and placement services furnished to veterans, including disabled and homeless veterans, in the local area. 
(Sec. 114) Revises requirements for the performance accountability system, including core indicators of performance. Eliminates customer satisfaction indicators.
 
Authorizes a state to establish an incentive system for local boards to implement pay-for-performance contract strategies for the delivery of employment and training services in a local area.
 
(Sec. 115) Authorizes appropriations for employment and training activities for FY2014-FY2020.
 

Subtitle C: Job Corps
 - (Sec. 116) Revises the principal purpose of the Job Corps to limit it to assisting at-risk youth to connect to the workforce by providing them with intensive academic, career and technical education, and service-learning opportunities to enable them to obtain regular secondary school diplomas and recognized postsecondary credentials leading to successful careers in in-demand industries that will result in opportunities for advancement. 
(Sec. 118) Raises the maximum age of individuals eligible for the Job Corps from 21 to 24. 
(Sec. 119) Eliminates from the sources with which implementation of standards and procedures for the recruitment, screening, and selection of eligible Job Corps applicants must be arranged community action agencies, business organizations, and labor organizations, and agencies and individuals that have contact with youth over substantial periods of time and are able to offer reliable information about the needs and problems of youth. Limits such arrangements to organizations that have a demonstrated record of effectiveness in placing at-risk youth into employment. 
Renders ineligible for enrollment in the Job Corps any individual who: (1) makes a false statement in connection with a criminal background check; (2) is registered or is required to be registered on a state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry; or (3) has been convicted of a felony consisting of homicide, child abuse or neglect, a crime against children, including child pornography, a crime involving rape or sexual assault, or physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense committed within the past five years. 
(Sec. 120) Prohibits the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) from renewing the agreement for an entity to operate a Job Corps center if the center is ranked in the bottom quintile of centers for any program year. Allows such an entity to submit a new application only if it has shown significant improvement in performance indicators over the last program year. 
Specifies elements of systemic or substantial material failure that disqualify an entity from operating a Job Corps center. 
(Sec. 121) Makes completing secondary education and receiving a regular secondary school diploma one of the purposes of targeted Job Corps activities. 
Requires any operator seeking to enroll additional enrollees in an advanced career training program each year to demonstrate beforehand that: (1) program participants have achieved a satisfactory rate of completion and placement in training-related jobs, and (2) the operator has met or exceeded specified performance indicators for the previous year. 
(Sec. 122) Repeals the authority of the Secretary to provide counseling and job placement to former Job Corps enrollees. 
(Sec. 123) Replaces readjustment allowances for Job Corps graduates and former enrollees with transition allowances to graduates only. Requires the transition allowance to be incentive-based to reflect a graduate's completion of academic, career and technical education or training, and attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential, including an industry-recognized credential. 
(Sec. 124) Repeals the authority of the Secretary to require the operator of a Job Corps center to submit additional information, to become part of the center's operating plan, in order to remain eligible to operate the center. 
Prohibits a Job Corps center operator from using more than 10% of funds allotted to it for administrative costs. 
(Sec. 125) Revises requirements for Job Corps center participation in the community. Eliminates the requirement that each center have a Business and Community Liaison. Requires instead that the director of each Job Corps center encourage and cooperate in activities to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between Job Corps centers in the state and nearby communities, which may include use of any local workforce development boards to provide a mechanism for joint discussion of common problems and for planning programs of mutual interest. 
(Sec. 126) Changes the industry council, appointed by the center director, each Job Corps center is required to have to a workforce council appointed by the state governor. Revises requirements for council composition and responsibilities. 
(Sec. 127) Repeals the authority of the Secretary to carry out experimental, research, or demonstration projects relating to the Job Corps program. Directs the Secretary instead to provide technical assistance and training for the Job Corps program to improve its quality. 
(Sec. 129) Directs the Secretary to establish procedures to ensure that each Job Corps center operator, and each service provider, maintains a performance accountability system meeting certain criteria (in addition to the financial management information system required by current law). Prescribes primary and secondary performance indicators.

Subtitle D: National Programs
 - (Sec. 130) Eliminates authority and requirements with respect to technical assistance to states that do not meet state performance measures with respect to employment and training activities for dislocated workers. 
Requires the Secretary to establish a system through which states may share information regarding best practices with regard to the operation of workforce investment activities. 
(Sec. 131) Requires the Secretary, through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, to conduct an independent evaluation of national programs and funded activities at least once every five years. 
Revises the requirement that such an evaluation cover the impact of the programs and activities on the community and participants involved to specify the impact of receiving services and not receiving services under such programs and activities on the community, businesses, and individuals. 
Adds quasi-experimental methods, impact analysis, and the use of administrative data to the list of research designs such evaluations must use. 
Reduces authorized appropriations by 10% for the fiscal year (and by an additional 10% for each subsequent fiscal year) in which the final results of an evaluation are not reported to Congress. 

Subtitle E: Administration
 - (Sec. 132) Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to investigate an allegation of a violation of the requirements of federal labor law made by participants and other interested or affected parties. 
Revises limitations of the use of funds to prohibit their use for specified activities that are not directly related to the entry into employment, retention in employment, or increases in earnings of (currently, training for) eligible individuals. 
Prohibits the use of funds by a recipient or subrecipient to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual, either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of Level II of the Federal Executive Pay Schedule. 
Directs the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor, headed by an Assistant Secretary appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to administer all workforce investment systems programs for job training and employment services and title III (Job Corps). Requires the Assistant Secretary to have substantial experience in workforce development and in workforce development management. 
(Sec. 134) Revises the requirement that funds made available to a state for administration of statewide workforce investment activities be allocable to the overall administration of workforce investment activities. Repeals the declaration that such funds need not be specifically allocable to: (1) the administration of adult employment and training activities; (2) the administration of dislocated worker employment and training activities; or (3) the administration of youth activities. 
(Sec. 135) Requires that each state, each local board, and each recipient (other than a subrecipient, subgrantee, or contractor of a recipient) receiving funds have the option to submit or disseminate electronically any reports, records, plans, or any other data required to be collected or disseminated. 
Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress all quarterly financial reports of local boards on programs and activities received from each state. 
(Sec. 136) Changes from July 1 to October 1 the start of a workforce investment systems program year. 
Repeals special rules for: (1) designation of service delivery areas for the delivery of workforce investment activities, and (2) state sanctioning of such areas for failure to meet performance measures for such activities. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to establish, in lieu of current requirements for waiver requests and for conditions on waivers, an expedited procedure for the purpose of extending to additional states the waiver of statutory or regulatory requirements that have been approved for a state pursuant to a request. 
Prohibits the Secretary from requiring or imposing new or additional requirements, not specified under this Act, on a state in exchange for providing a waiver to the state or a local area in it. 
(Sec. 138) Exempts certain funds received by a public or private nonprofit entity, such as those raised privately from philanthropic foundations, businesses, or other private entities, from consideration as income with respect to the requirement that a public or private nonprofit entity may retain income from any program it administers only if it is used to continue to carry out the program. 
Prohibits the use of funds to establish or operate stand-alone fee-for-service enterprises, except one-stop centers, that compete with private sector employment agencies. 
(Sec. 139) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) identify the number of federal government employees who work on or administer each of the workforce investment system programs authorized or repealed under this Act, (2) identify the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees who work on or administer any such programs that have been repealed or consolidated, and (3) reduce the federal government workforce by that number of FTE employees. 
Prohibits the use of funds for lobbying (with specified exceptions) and political activities (including voter registration activities). 

Subtitle F: State Unified Plan
 - (Sec. 140) Revises the kinds of programs and activities, including workforce investment system and adult education and literacy programs, that may be covered by a state unified plan. 
 Grants the Secretary of Education the authority to approve state unified plans. (Currently, such plans are approved by the appropriate Secretary of the federal agency who exercises administrative authority over such programs or activities.) Prescribes requirements for the Secretary's approval of such plans. 
Authorizes a state, in developing a state unified plan, to consolidate additional federal employment and training funds allotted to it into the Workforce Investment Fund to improve the administration of state and local employment and training programs. Prohibits consolidation of funds, however, allocated to the state under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Education
 - (Sec. 201) Revises the entire Adult Education and Family Literacy Education Act (while retaining most of it as is). 
Defines &quot;adult education and family literacy education programs&quot; as a sequence of academic instruction and educational services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual's ability to read, write, and speak English and perform mathematical computations leading to a level of proficiency equivalent to at least a secondary school completion. Targets these programs to individuals who are at least age 16 and are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law and who also: (1) lack sufficient mastery of basic reading, writing, speaking, and math skills to enable them to function effectively in society; (2) do not have a secondary school diploma or its equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or (3) are English learners. 
Changes the term &quot;individual of limited English proficiency&quot; to &quot;English learner.&quot; 
Extends the authorization of appropriations through FY2014-FY2020. 
Increases from 1.5% to 2% the mandatory reservation of funds for national activities involved in adult education, English language acquisition, and family literacy education programs. 
Replaces current requirements for a performance accountability system with a referral to specified other performance accountability requirements. 
Contracts from five years to three years the length of the mandatory state plan. Authorizes the eligible agency to submit the state plan as part of a state unified plan (as indicated in Sec. 140). Revises requirements for plan contents. Requires the Secretary to approve a state plan within 90 days after receiving it. Reduces from 90 days to 30 days the deadline for rejecting a plan for failing to meet requirements. Requires the Secretary, however, to provide technical assistance to assist the eligible agency to meet such requirements if its plan fails to receive approval. 
Revises requirements for local activities the eligible agency must require eligible providers receiving a grant or contract to establish or operate. Requires the eligible agency to require eligible providers to demonstrate measurable goals for participant outcomes and other specified program elements. 
Repeals the condition on an eligible agency's receipt of federal funds for any fiscal year that the Secretary find that the agency's fiscal effort per student or its aggregate expenditures for adult education and literacy activities, in the second preceding fiscal year, was not less than 90% of the fiscal effort per student or the agency's aggregate expenditures for adult education and literacy activities, in the third preceding fiscal year. 
Repeals the mandate for a National Institute for Literacy. 
Revises requirements for national activities (currently, national leadership activities), especially discretionary technical assistance, upon request, to eligible entities. 

Title III: Amendments to the Wagner-Peyser Act
 - (Sec. 301) Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act to replace the nationwide employment statistics system, which the Secretary is required to oversee, with a nationwide workforce and labor market information system.
 
Eliminates the requirement for an annual plan to achieve cooperative management of the nationwide system.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to assist in the development of national electronic tools that may be used to: (1) facilitate the delivery of work ready services, and (2) provide workforce information to individuals through one-stop delivery systems and through other appropriate delivery systems. 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2014-FY2020. 

Title IV: Repeals and Conforming Amendments - 
(Sec. 401) Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to repeal authorities for training projects for the specialized training of persons employed or preparing for employment in carrying out programs related to the purposes of such Act. 
 
Repeals the Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission Act, the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970, and the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Act. 
Amends the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 to repeal the authorization for grants to states for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated individuals. 
Repeals the disabled veterans' outreach program and the mandate for local veterans' employment representatives. 
(Sec. 402) Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to repeal the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide training to individuals and organizations to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, or site preparation. 
(Sec. 403) Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that employment and training services to eligible members of households participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program be provided through the statewide workforce development system, including the one-stop delivery system. Deems a state workforce investment board to be the state agency designing and implementing the program providing such services. 
 Requires the state workforce investment board to provide payments or reimbursement to participants for: (1) the actual costs of transportation and other actual costs reasonably necessary and directly related to the individual participating in employment and training services; and (2) the actual costs of such dependent care expenses, which may, at board option, be arranged through providers by the purchase of service contracts or vouchers or by providing vouchers to the household. 
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to monitor the state workforce investment board administering employment and training services in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor to ensure that funds are being spent effectively and efficiently
.
 
Repeals the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct demonstration projects to test improved consistency or coordination between the supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training program and the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills program under title IV of the Social Security Act. 
(Sec. 404) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require employment and training services for refugees to be provided through the statewide workforce development system. 
(Sec. 405) Amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 as well as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require that all prisoner reentry program services be provided through statewide workforce investment systems. 

Title V: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - 
(Sec. 502) Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA73) to redesignate the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) the Director. 
(Sec. 503) Defines &quot;student with a disability&quot; as an individual with a disability who: (1) is between ages 16 and 21, (2) has been determined eligible for vocational rehabilitation assistance, and (3) is also eligible for and is receiving special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 
(Sec. 504) Requires the state vocational rehabilitation plan to assure that the designated state unit and the lead agency or implementing entity responsible for carrying out duties under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 have developed working relationships and coordinate their activities. 
Requires the state plan also to include an assessment of: (1) the transition services provided under RA73, and coordinated with transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as to those services meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities; and (2) describe the methods to be used to improve and expand vocational rehabilitation services for students with disabilities, including the coordination of services designed to facilitate student transition from receipt of educational services in school to receipt of vocational rehabilitation services or to postsecondary education or employment. 
Requires the state plan also to: (1) describe criteria the designated state agency will use to award collaboration with industry grants; and (2) provide satisfactory assurance that the state has developed and implemented strategies, and shall carry out programs or activities, to address the vocational rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities identified in the mandatory comprehensive triennial statewide assessment, especially vocational rehabilitation services for students with disabilities. 
(Sec. 505) Includes among vocational rehabilitation services establishment, development, or improvement of assistive technology demonstration, loan, reutilization, or financing programs in coordination with activities authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 to promote access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities and employers. 
(Sec. 506) Repeals the requirement that the RSA Commissioner (now Director) establish evaluation standards and performance indicators for the vocational rehabilitation program. Subjects such standards and indicators to specified requirements of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. 
(Sec. 507) Requires a state to use a certain percentage of the federal share of the cost of vocational rehabilitation services to award five-year grants to for-profit businesses, alone or in partnership with community rehabilitation program providers, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations, to create practical job and career readiness and training programs for individuals with disabilities, and provide job placements and career advancement for them. 
(Sec. 508) Requires each state to reserve at least 10% of its funds allotted for vocational rehabilitation services to carry out transition services. 
(Sec. 509) Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium to provide assistance under a client assistance program in informing and advising all clients and client applicants of all available benefits under RA73. 
(Sec. 510) Repeals the authority of the RSA Commissioner (now Director) to make grants and contracts for: (1) vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers, (2) recreational programs for such individuals, and (3) in-service training of vocational rehabilitation personnel.
 
Revises eligibility requirements for nonprofit organizations to receive grants to establish training and information programs to assist individuals with disabilities and others in meeting the vocational, independent living, and rehabilitation needs of the disabled. Reserves 20% or $500,000, whichever is less, for coordination of such programs.
 
(Sec. 511) Repeals title VI (Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities) of RA73.
 
(Sec. 512) Revises requirements for selection of a chairperson for the Statewide Independent Living Council to repeal the requirement that, in states in which the governor does not have veto power under state law, the appointing authority designate a voting member of the Council to serve as chairperson or require the Council to so designate such a voting member.
 
(Sec. 513) Revises requirements and reauthorizes appropriations for FY2014-FY2020 for vocational rehabilitation services under RA73.
 

Title VI: Studies by the Comptroller General -
 (Sec. 601) Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress on whether, before receiving workforce investment system training services, adults and dislocated workers have first exhausted funds received through the Federal Pell Grant program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
 
(Sec. 602) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress a determination of the amount of administrative costs savings at the federal and state levels as a result of workforce investment system programs repealed or consolidated under this Act.

action_date: 2014-07-22
text: 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise requirements and reauthorize appropriations for: (1) WIA title I, workforce development systems for job training and employment services; and (2) WIA title II, adult education and family literacy education programs. 
(Sec. 3) Defines &quot;core programs&quot; to mean: (1) youth workforce investment activities and adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities, (2) adult education and literacy activities, (3) employment services, and (4) vocational rehabilitation services. 
 

Title I: Workforce Development Activities - Subtitle A: System Alignment - Chapter 1: State Provisions - 
(Sec. 101) Revises member composition of state workforce development boards (currently state workforce investment boards) to require at least 20% of a board to be composed of representatives of the workforce within the state.
 
Requires a state board to assist the state governor in: (1) the review of statewide policies, statewide programs, and recommendations on actions to be taken by a state to align statewide workforce development programs that support a comprehensive and streamlined statewide workforce development system, and (2) the development of a statewide workforce and labor market information system. 
 
(Sec. 102) Requires states to have approved unified state plans with a four-year strategy for the core programs. 
 
Requires unified state plans to include: (1) a strategy, based on certain analyses, for aligning the core programs, as well as other state resources, to achieve the state's vision and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce (including youth and individuals with barriers to employment) and meeting the skilled workforce needs of employers; (2) a description of state operating systems and policies for supporting that strategy; and (3) certain requirements and state assurances with respect to statewide and local workforce investment system and adult education and family literacy education programs.
 
(Sec. 103) Allows a state to develop for approval a combined state plan for the core programs and one or more of the programs and activities from a specified list.
 

Chapter 2: Local Provisions 
- (Sec. 106) Converts local workforce investment areas into local workforce development areas, and revises requirements for their designation by the state governor.
 
Requires a state, when developing a state plan, to identify regions composed of one local area or two or more local areas which are interstate areas contained within two or more states aligned with them.
 
Requires local boards and chief elected officials in planning regions composed of two or more local areas aligned with the region or interstate areas within two or more states to engage in a regional planning process that results in: (1) the preparation of a regional plan; (2) the establishment of regional service strategies, including use of cooperative service delivery agreements; (3) the development and implementation of sector initiatives for in-demand industry sectors or occupations; and (4) the collection and analysis of regional labor market data.
 
Requires local boards and chief elected officials within a planning region to have an approved regional plan that incorporates local plans for each of the local areas in the planning area.
 
Requires, in cases where a state is designated as a single state local area, that a local plan be approved as part of the state plan.
 
(Sec. 107) Revises requirements for local workforce development (currently, investment) boards, requiring at least 20% of a board to be composed of representatives of the local area workforce.
 
Requires a local board to conduct, and regularly update, a workforce research and regional labor market analysis and assist the state governor in developing a statewide workforce and labor market information system. 
 
(Sec. 108) Revises requirements for the comprehensive local plan and its contents, contracting its range from five years to four years. 
 

Chapter 3: Board Provisions 
- (Sec. 111) Requires states to use certain allocations of funds for state and local workforce development boards. Authorizes state use of non-federal funds for such boards. 
 

Chapter 4: Performance Accountability
 - (Sec. 116) Establishes state and local performance accountability measures for core programs.
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor (Secretary in this title) and the Secretary of Education to provide technical assistance for the development of performance improvement plans for states and local areas that fail to meet state and local performance accountability measures.
 

Subtitle B: Workforce Investment Activities and Providers - Chapter 1: Workforce Investment Activities and Providers
 - (Sec. 121) Revises requirements for the roles and responsibilities of one-stop partners in one-stop delivery systems.
 
Adds to mandatory programs and activities of the one-stop delivery system the grants program for mentoring and other transitional services to reintegrate offenders into the community under the Second Chance Act of 2007, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) (including the welfare-to-work grants program currently covered). Requires each entity carrying out TANF activities to carry out the required one-stop partner activities, unless the state governor determines that they shall not.
 
Authorizes additional one-stop partners, with the approval of the local board and chief elected official, to carry out specified employment and training programs and other workforce development programs. 
 
Revises requirements for a memorandum of understanding between the local board and a one-stop partner. 
 
Revises eligibility requirements for one-stop operators.
 
Prescribes requirements for one-stop delivery systems. Requires the state board to establish objective criteria and procedures for assessing, at least triennially, the continuous improvement of one-stop centers and the one-stop delivery system. 
 
Prescribes requirements for one-stop infrastructure funding. 
 
(Sec. 122) Revises requirements for identification of eligible providers of training services. 
 
Requires a state governor to establish eligibility criteria and information requirements (as well as procedures required by current law) for providers of training services in local areas of the state, taking into account specified factors. 
 
(Sec. 123) Requires local boards to award competitive grants or contracts to providers of youth workforce investment activities identified based on criteria in the state plan, including quality criteria a state governor shall establish for a training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential), while taking into consideration the ability of those providers to meet certain performance accountability measures. 
 

Chapter 2: Youth Workforce Investment Activities 
- (Sec. 127) Prescribes requirements for allotment of funds for state and local youth workforce investment activities, including within-state allocations of funds.
 
(Sec. 129) Prescribes youth workforce investment program eligibility requirements.
 

Chapter 3: Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Activities
 - (Sec. 132) Prescribes requirements for the allotment of federal funds among states for adult and dislocated worker employment and training, including within-state allocations. 
 
(Sec. 134) Prescribes requirements for the use of funds for state and local employment and training activities, including statewide rapid response, incumbent worker training programs, and transitional jobs. 
 

Chapter 4: General Workforce Investment Provisions
 - (Sec. 136) Authorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for the youth workforce investment and the adult and dislocated employment and training programs. 
 

Subtitle C: Job Corps
 - (Sec. 141) Revises the purposes of the Job Corps to specify assisting eligible youth to connect to the labor force by providing them with intensive social, academic, career and technical education, and service-learning opportunities, in primarily residential centers, to enable them to obtain secondary school diplomas or recognized postsecondary credentials leading to successful careers in in-demand industries or the Armed Forces that will result in economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement, or enrollment in postsecondary education, including an apprenticeship program. 
 
(Sec. 144) Revises Job Corps program eligibility requirements.
 
Renames area vocational schools as area career and technical education schools.
 
Prescribes a special rule to make veterans of the Armed Forces eligible for the Job Corps if certain requirements are met.
 
(Sec. 145) Requires standards and procedures for the recruitment, screening, and selection of eligible Job Corps applicants to be arranged, in addition to current types of agencies, through child welfare agencies responsible for children in foster care and children eligible for assistance under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program under SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance).
 
Adds to the factors the Secretary must analyze, in developing and implementing a plan for assigning enrollees to Job Corps centers, the performance of the centers, based on certain expected performance indicators.
 
Revises the requirement that an enrollee be assigned to the Job Corps center closest to the enrollee's home. Requires the Job Corps center closest to home to offer the type of career and technical education and training selected by that individual.
 
(Sec. 146) Allows an individual to be enrolled in the Job Corps for more than the regular two years if: (1) an individual with a disability would reasonably be expected to meet Job Corps graduate standards if allowed to participate for one additional year; or (2) an individual is participating in national service under a Civilian Conservation Center program, and so would be granted a Job Corps enrollment extension equal to the period of national service. 
 
(Sec. 147) Revises factors the Secretary must consider in selecting an entity (including Civilian Conservation Centers) to operate a Job Corps center.
 
Prescribes requirements for an entity to operate as a high-performing Job Corps center.
 
Authorizes Job Corps enrollees in Civilian Conservation Centers to provide assistance during natural disasters.
 
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to designate a Job Corps National Liaison.
 
(Sec. 148) Revises activities provided by a Job Corps center to enrollees to include English language acquisition programs, career and technical education and training, work-based learning, driver's education, and counseling, which may include information about financial literacy.
 
Makes enrolling in and completing suitable career and technical education and training programs and apprenticeship programs one of the purposes of targeted Job Corps activities.
 
Eliminates the requirement that the total amount of benefits for which an enrollee shall be eligible be reduced by the amount of any scholarship or other educational grant assistance received for advanced career training.
 
Specifies that the continued services provided graduates for up to 12 months after graduation shall be job placement and support services.
 
(Sec. 150) Replaces readjustment allowances for Job Corps graduates and former enrollees with transition allowances for graduates only. Requires the transition allowance to be incentive-based to reflect a graduate's completion of academic, career, and technical education or training, and attainment of a recognized post-secondary credential.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to arrange for three months of employment services to former Job Corps enrollees.
 
(Sec. 152) Expands the reasons for dismissal of Job Corps enrollees who have violated Job Corps standards of conduct to include that retention of an enrollee will threaten the safety of the staff, students, or the local community. 
 
(Sec. 153) Revises requirements for Job Corps center participation in the community. Eliminates the requirement that each center have a Business and Community Liaison. Requires instead that the director of each Job Corps center ensure the establishment and development of mutually beneficial business and community relationships and networks, including the use of local boards, in order to enhance center effectiveness. 
 
(Sec. 154) Revises composition requirements for the workforce council, appointed by the center director, for each Job Corps center. 
 
Allows councils to include employers from outside the local area who are likely to hire a significant number of enrollees from the center. Prescribes a special rule for single state local areas to require the council to include a representative of the state board.
 
(Sec. 156) Revises experimental, research, and demonstration projects requirements.
 
Authorizes the waiver of any requirements of this subtitle that would prevent the Secretary from carrying out such projects, subject to written notice to Congress at least 90 days before issuing the waiver.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to reserve a specified percentage of program funds to provide, directly or through grants, contracts, or other agreements or arrangements, technical assistance to improve Job Corps program quality.
 
(Sec. 159) Revises performance indicators for Job Corps centers, the Job Corps program, and recruitment service providers serving the Job Corps program. Requires such indicators to measure the number of enrollees who remain committed to the program for 90 days after enrollment.
 
Prescribes also performance indicators for career transition service providers serving the Job Corps program.
 
Directs the Secretary, with respect to a Civilian Conservation Center that fails to meet expected performance levels relating to specified primary performance indicators after three program years, to select, competitively, an entity to operate that Center in accordance with specified requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure the annual review by an appropriate federal, state, or local entity of the physical condition and health-related activities of each Job Corps center.
 
Directs the Secretary to require that an entity that has contracted to provide work-based learning activities for any Job Corps enrollee to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, or, as appropriate, corresponding state Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requirements.
 
(Sec. 161) Directs the Secretary to submit periodically to Congress financial reports on the Job Corps program.
 
Directs the Secretary to arrange for a third-party review of the Job Corps program every five years.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish written criteria that shall be used in closing a Job Corps center.
 
(Sec. 162) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for the Job Corps program. 
 

Subtitle D: National Programs
 - (Sec. 166) Revises the principal purpose of Native American programs to add equipping Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals with entrepreneurial skills necessary to obtain employment.
 
Requires the award of competitive grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations for certain workforce development activities and supplemental services to be made quadrennially instead of biennially.
 
Revises program plan requirements, requiring a four-year, instead of a two-year, strategy.
 
Requires the Secretary to develop a set of performance indicators and standards applicable to the Native American programs in addition to the primary indicators of performance for core programs.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to certain entities for the unique populations who reside in Alaska or Hawaii, including public and private nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, American Indian tribal colleges or universities, institutions of higher education, or consortia of them, to improve job training and workforce investment activities.
 
Repeals the Secretary's current authority to provide assistance to American Samoans who reside in Hawaii for the co-location of federally funded and state-funded workforce investment activities.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020.
 
(Sec. 167) Revises requirements for migrant and seasonal farmworker programs.
 
Requires competitive grants to, or contracts with, eligible entities for workforce investment activities (including youth workforce investment activities) and related assistance for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers to be made quadrennially instead of biennially.
 
Revises program plan requirements, requiring a four-year, instead of a two-year, strategy.
 
Requires the Secretary and an eligible entity, for incorporation in the program plan, to reach agreement on the levels of performance for each of the primary indicators of performance, taking into account economic conditions, characteristics of the individuals served, and other appropriate factors, using a specified statistical adjustment model. 
Requires the Secretary to reserve at least 1% of program funds for discretionary purposes, such as providing technical assistance to eligible entities.

(Sec. 168) Revises requirements for technical assistance for states and recipients of financial assistance under the Native American, migrant and seasonal farmworker, and veterans' workforce investment programs.

Directs the Secretary to establish a system through which states may share information regarding promising and proven practices with regard to the operation of workforce investment activities.
 
(Sec. 169) Revises requirements for demonstration, pilot, multiservice, research, and multistate workforce investment projects and the evaluation of workforce investment programs (effectively consolidating them). 
 
Requires the independent evaluation, at least quadrennially, of workforce investment programs and activities.
 
Directs the Secretary to publish biennially in the Federal Register a five-year plan for the Department of Labor's research, studies, and multistate project priorities for employment and training. 
 
Authorizes studies on:
 
 
the net impact and best practices of programs, services, and activities carried out under this Act, 
resources available to assist disconnected youth, 
the effectiveness of the workforce development system in meeting business needs, 
the number and percentage of individuals who receive employment and training activities and who enter nontraditional occupations, 
performance indicators, 
job training for recipients of public housing assistance, 
improvement of the employment prospects for older individuals, 
prior learning,
 
career pathways for low-wage health care or early education and child care providers, and 
 
equivalent pay.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to use up to 10% of certain funds for any adult and dislocated worker employment and training program year to carry out demonstration and pilot projects, multiservice projects, and multistate projects relating to the employment and training needs of dislocated workers. 
 
(Sec. 170) Converts the national emergency grants program into a national dislocated worker grants program. 
 
Retains disaster relief employment assistance requirements, but without health insurance coverage assistance currently addressed for individuals employed under national emergency grants.
 
(Sec. 171) Revises requirements, and reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020, for the Youthbuild grants program. 
 
(Sec. 172) Reauthorizes appropriations and makes certain reservations of funds for FY2015-FY2020 for the Native American and migrant and seasonal farmworker workforce investment programs.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for: (1) technical assistance, and (2) Department of Labor evaluations and research of workforce investment programs.
 
Continues the use of any unobligated funds for the veterans' workforce investment program until all such funds are expended.
 

Subtitle E: Administration 
- (Sec. 181) Revises certain administrative requirements with respect to this Act.
 
(Sec. 189) Repeals the requirement that funds obligated for any program year for a demonstration, pilot, multiservice, research, and multistate projects remain available until expended.Allows a contract or arrangement entered for evaluations, research projects, studies and reports, and multistate projects, including a long-term, nonseverable services contract, to be funded on an incremental basis with annual appropriations or other available funds.
 
Repeals the requirement that the authority provided under waivers granted a state with respect to Department of Labor training and employment services in title I of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, including a waiver of the related requirements for statewide and local workforce investment systems as well as certain administrative requirements, continue in effect and apply for the duration of the initial waiver.
 
Requires the Secretary, with respect to an approved waiver of statutory or regulatory requirements for a state or local area, to expedite that waiver for another state or local area if the waiver is in accordance with the approved state or local plan.
 
(Sec. 190) Permits a state to request, and the Secretary to approve, a workforce flexibility plan under which the state is authorized to waive specified statutory or regulatory requirements.,
 
(Sec. 191) Declares that nothing in this title shall be interpreted to preclude the enactment of state legislation providing for the implementation of the activities assisted under this title. 
 
Grants the consent of Congress to states to enter into interstate compacts and agreements to facilitate compliance with this title, subject to the Secretary's approval.
 
(Sec. 192) Declares that any federal equity acquired in real property through grants to states for unemployment compensation or with respect to the U.S. Employment Service is transferred to the states that used the grants for the acquisition of such equity.
 
(Sec. 194) Prohibits the use of funds under this title to establish or operate stand-alone fee-for-service enterprises, except one-stop centers, that compete with private sector employment agencies that fully meet the identified need. 
 
Prohibits the use of funds by a recipient or subrecipient to pay the salary and bonuses of an individual (except certain vendors), either as direct costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of Level II of the Federal Executive Pay Schedule.
 
(Sec. 195) Prohibits the use of funds for lobbying activities, with specified exceptions.
 

Title II: Adult Education and Literacy 
- Adult Education and Family Literacy Act - Revises the entire Adult Education and Family Literacy Education Act (while retaining most of it as is). 
 
(Sec. 203) Redefines "adult education" to mean academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual's ability to: (1) read, write, and speak English and perform mathematics necessary for attaining a secondary school diploma or its equivalent; (2) transition to postsecondary education and training; and (3) obtain employment.
 
Targets individuals who are at least 16 and are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law and who also: (1) lack basic skills, (2) do not have a secondary school diploma or its equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education, or (3) are English learners.
 
Changes the term "individual of limited English proficiency" to "English learner."
 
(Sec. 206) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020. 
 

Subtitle A: Federal Provisions
 - (Sec. 211) Increases the mandatory reservation of funds from 1.5% to 2.0% for national leadership activities and specified additional assistance. Requires the Secretary of Education (Secretary in this title) to reserve 12% of those funds for integrated English literacy and civics education.
 
Removes the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia from the special rule for the award of competitive grants under this title.
 
(Sec. 212) Subjects these programs and activities to the performance accountability requirements of subtitle A of title I of this Act. 
 

Subtitle B: State Provisions
 - (Sec. 221) Revises requirements for state administration, unified or combined plans, state leadership and other activities, including corrections education and education for other institutionalized individuals, as well as distribution of local funds. 
 

Subtitle C: Local Provisions
 - (Sec. 231) Revises requirements for grants and contracts for eligible providers on the local level, as well as grant and contract applications, and local administrative cost limits.
 

Subtitle D: General Provisions
 - (Sec. 242) Revises requirements for the program of national leadership activities the Secretary is required to carry on to enhance the quality and outcomes of adult education and literacy activities and programs nationwide. 
 
(Sec. 243) Directs the Secretary to award grants to states for integrated English literacy and civics education, in combination with integrated education and training activities.
 

Title III: Amendments to the Wagner-Peyser Act
 - (Sec. 301) Amends the Wagner-Peyser Act to rename public employment offices as public employment service offices, and requires them to be co-located with one-stop centers. 
 
(Sec. 303) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary in this title) to assist the states in the development of national electronic tools that may be used to improve access to workforce information for individuals through one-stop delivery systems established under title I of this Act and other appropriate delivery systems. 
 
(Sec. 305) Authorizes use of a state's allotment of public employment services funds to provide: (1) unemployment insurance claimants with referrals to, and application assistance for, training and education resources and programs, including student assistance under specified federal law; and (2) the extra costs of models for enhancing professional development and career advancement opportunities of state agency staff who provide public labor exchange services as part of the one-stop customer service system.
 
(Sec. 308) Replaces the nationwide employment statistics system, which the Secretary is required to oversee, with a nationwide workforce and labor market information system.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a Workforce Information Advisory Council. 
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020.
 

Title IV: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Subtitle A: Introductory Provisions 
- (Sec. 403) Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA73) to require the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), in the Department of Education, to be the principal agency to administer vocational rehabilitation services programs under titles I, III, and VI, and chapter 2 of title VII of that Act. (Currently, these are administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration [RSA] of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the Department of Education.)
 

Subtitle B: Vocational Rehabilitation Services
 - (Sec. 411) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for vocational rehabilitation service grants to states for individuals with disabilities.
 
States that gainful employment of persons with disabilities in integrated settings shall be competitive integrated employment. 
 
(Sec. 412) Revises requirements for: (1) state plans for vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities, (2) eligibility for this assistance and individualized plans for employment, (3) monitoring and review of vocational rehabilitation programs, (4) training and technical assistance to employers of individuals with disabilities, and (5) state allotments for all such assistance and program operations.
 
(Sec. 421) Requires a reservation of certain appropriations to make a grant to the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium to provide client assistance services.
 
(Sec. 422) Requires: (1) states to make certain funds available to designated state units for pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities transitioning to employment from education or training, and (2) each local office of a state unit to coordinate with local workforce development boards, one-stop centers, employers, and schools in providing such services.
 
(Sec. 423) Revises American Indian vocational rehabilitation services grant program eligibility requirements to require governing bodies of Indian tribes to apply to the RSA Commissioner with a proposal for its training and technical assistance needs, as well as such additional information as the Commissioner may require.
 

Subtitle C: Research and Training 
- (Sec. 432) Reauthorizes programs and activities under this subtitle for FY2015-FY2020.
 
Renames the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
 
(Sec. 433) Establishes the NIDILRR within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) of HHS (effectively transferring it to HHS from the Department of Education). 
 
Requires the NIDILRR Director to be responsible for: (1) coordinating all federal programs and policies for research on independent living of individuals with disabilities, and (2) identifying independent living and rehabilitation programs and policies that promote the independence of such individuals and achievement of long-term independent living and employment goals.
 
(Sec. 434) Requires the Interagency Committee on Disability Research to develop a comprehensive government wide strategic plan for disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research.
 
(Sec. 435) Revises requirements with regard to research and other activities.
 
(Sec. 436) Shifts the Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Advisory Council from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services.
 

Subtitle D: Professional Development and Special Projects and Demonstration
 - (Sec. 442) Requires the RSA Commissioner, in the award of competitive grants for rehabilitative services demonstration programs, to give priority consideration to initiatives focused on improving transition of youths with significant disabilities from school to employment, particularly competitive integrated employment.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020.
 
 (Sec. 443) Eliminates: (1) vocational rehabilitation services grants to individuals with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers, and (2) recreational programs for individuals with disabilities. 
 

Subtitle E: National Council on Disability
 - (Sec. 451) Revises requirements for the number of members of the National Council on Disability.
 
(Sec. 453) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020. 
 

Subtitle F: Rights and Advocacy
 - (Sec. 456) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for: (1) the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), and (2) grants to support state systems to protect the legal and human rights of certain individuals with disabilities.
 
Repeals the requirement that selections for all positions in the Interagency Committee on Employees who are Individuals with Disabilities give special consideration to qualified individuals with disabilities.
 
(Sec. 458) Prohibits an entity (including a contractor or subcontractor) which holds a special wage certificate from compensating a disabled individual who is age 24 or younger at a wage less than the federal minimum wage (a subminimum wage) unless one of specified conditions are met.
 

Subtitle G: Employment Opportunities for Individuals With Disabilities
 - (Sec. 461) Eliminates grants for Projects With Industry creating and expanding job and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
 
Authorizes allotments to assist states in developing collaborative programs to provide supported employment services for individuals (including youth) with the most significant disabilities to enable them to achieve supported employment in competitive integrated employment.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020.
 

Subtitle H: Independent Living Services and Centers for Independent Living - Chapter 1: Individuals With Significant Disabilities
 - 
Subchapter A: General Provisions
 - (Sec. 472) Establishes within the HHS ACL an Independent Living Administration (ILA).
 
(Sec. 473) States that a center for independent living is an agency for individuals with significant disabilities (regardless of age or income). 
 
(Sec. 474) Revises requirements for a state plan for independent living services for individuals with significant disabilities.
 
(Sec. 475) Revises the composition and functions of State Independent Living Councils (SILCs). 
 
(Sec. 475A) Transfers to the ACL Administrator the responsibilities of the RSA Commissioner to make allotments to states for independent living services to individuals with significant disabilities. 
 

Subchapter B: Independent Living Services
 - (Sec. 476) Directs the ACL Administrator to make specified fund allocations for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with certain entities to provide training and technical assistance for developing, conducting, administering, and evaluating SILCs.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020.
 

Subchapter C: Centers for Independent Living -
 (Sec. 481) Revises requirements and reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020 for the centers for independent living grant program. 
 

Chapter 2: Independent Living Services For Older Individuals Who Are Blind
 - (Sec. 486) Directs the RSA Commissioner to reserve specified percentages of funds for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with an eligible entity to provide training and technical assistance for developing, conducting, administering, and evaluating independent living service programs for older individuals who are blind.
 
(Sec. 488) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2020. 
 

Subtitle I: General Provisions
 - (Sec. 491) Transfers all functions of: (1) the RSA Commissioner under title VII (independent living services for individuals with disabilities) of RA73 to the ACL, (2) the RSA Commissioner under the Assistive Technology Act of 1988 (assistive technology to individuals with disabilities) to the ACL, and (3) the NIDRR to the NIDILRR.
 

Title V: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Workforce Investment 
- (Sec. 501) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) supersede specified privacy protections afforded parents and students under the General Education Provisions Act, or (2) permit development of a national database of personally identifiable information on individuals receiving job training and employment and vocational rehabilitation services. 
 
(Sec. 502) Prohibits an entity from using funds made available under the Act unless it agrees to comply with Buy American requirements.
 
Sec. 505) Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report on the data capability of existing federal and state databases and data exchange agreements.
 

Subtitle B: Amendments to Other Laws
 - (Sec. 511) Repeals the WIA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Became Public Law No: 113-128.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Became Public Law No: 113-128.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-07-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-07-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 6 (Roll no. 378). (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H5887-5962)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 6 (Roll no. 378).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H5887-5962)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6009-6010)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 803.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Mr. Kline moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H5887-5971)
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 3. Record Vote Number: 214.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 3. Record Vote Number: 214.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3964-3991)
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-03-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 75).
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 75).
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 184 - 233 (Roll no. 74).
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H1528)
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the George Miller (CA) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to ensure that nothing in the underlying bill repeals, denies, or weakens the wages, employment protections, employment or training opportunities for seniors, disabled veterans, women in nontraditional occupations, youth, or people with disabilities. The Motion would also raise the minimum wage, in increments over the course of two years, to $10.10 and increase the minimum wage for tipped employees to 70% of the minimum wage.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: Mr. Miller, George moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce. (consideration: CR H1527-1529; text: CR H1527-1528)
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1444-1469)
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1527)
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 803.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Tierney substitute amendment No. 6.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garrett amendment No. 5.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Black amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Young (AK) amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gallego amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 113, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 803.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 113 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 803 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The resolution makes in order as original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 113-4. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in this report.
action_date: 2013-03-15
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 113. (consideration: CR H1435-1530)
action_date: 2013-03-14
text: Rule H. Res. 113 passed House.
action_date: 2013-03-13
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 113 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 803 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The resolution makes in order as original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 113-4. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in this report.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Committee on Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 113-14, Part I.
action_date: 2013-03-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 113-14, Part I.
action_date: 2013-03-06
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 Yeas and 18 not voting.
action_date: 2013-03-06
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-03-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1317)
action_date: 2013-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2013-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
action_date: 2013-02-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 113-128