Job guarantee pilot program

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means an entity that— (A)is a political subdivision of a State, Tribal entity, or a combination of contiguous political subdivisions or Tribal entities; (B)has an unemployment rate that is not less than 150 percent of the national unemployment rate, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (except in the case of Tribal entities which may submit their own employment data where no such Federal data is available for such entities) based on the most recent data available at the time the Secretary solicits applications for grants under this section; and (C)submits an application in accordance with subsection (d). (2)

Job guarantee program

The term job guarantee program means a program that meets the requirements of subsection (c). (3)

Rural area

The term rural area means an area that is located outside of a metropolitan statistical area. (4)

Tribal entity

The term Tribal entity means an Indian tribe or tribal organization as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor. (b)

Establishment

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to provide competitive grants to eligible entities to establish programs to ensure that any individual within the area served by the entity who applies for a job through the program will be provided with employment as provided for in this section. (2)

Termination

A job guarantee program established under a grant under this section shall terminate on the earlier of— (A)the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the grant; or (B)the date of any revocation of the grantee as an eligible entity. (c)

Job guarantee programs

A job guarantee program meets the requirements of this subsection if the jobs provided under such program— (1)are available to all individuals who— (A)are 18 years of age or older; and (B)reside in the area served under the program;

except that participants in the program may be disciplined, released, or suspended from further participation in jobs under this program if they are found to be negligent, or generally disruptive to the workplace involved under procedures established by the Secretary that provide for an opportunity for a review of such determinations;

(2)are, with respect to individual participants, included as part of an established bargaining unit and covered by any applicable collective bargaining agreement in effect if similarly situated employees part of such unit and represented by an exclusive bargaining representative; (3)are available for the duration of the pilot program; (4)provide a wage of not less than the greater of— (A)the hourly wage provided for under the provisions of S. 1242 (115th Congress, as introduced); (B)the prevailing wage in the area involved for a similar job as required by chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code, and other related laws; or (C)the applicable wage under an applicable collective bargaining agreement as provided for under paragraph (2); (5)provide for coverage of the worker under a health insurance program that is comparable to that offered to Federal employees under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program; and (6)provide, at a minimum— (A)paid family leave consistent with the provisions of S. 337 (115th Congress, as introduced) and applicable State law; and (B)paid sick leave consistent with the provision of S. 636 (115th Congress, as introduced) and applicable State law. (d)

Applications

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include— (1)a description of the geographic area and population that the entity intends to serve under the job guarantee program established under the grant, including the area unemployment rate, poverty rate, vacancy rate, crime rate, household income, home-ownership rate, labor force participation, and educational attainment; (2)to extent practicable, a description of the jobs that will be performed under the job guarantee program; (3)the need in the area for jobs to be performed, including for jobs designated as a priority by the Secretary; (4)a description of State, local, or philanthropic funding, including through coordination and in-kind or non-financial support, if any, that will be provided to assist in carrying out the job guarantee program; (5)an assurance that the eligible entity will establish— (A)a public internet website, in conjunction with the Secretary, to post all available jobs under the job guarantee program; and (B)a process for individuals to apply for such jobs; (6)a comprehensive plan to describe how the funding under the program will leverage existing or anticipated local, State, and Federal funding; (7)an assurance that necessary administrative data systems and information technology infrastructure are available, or will be available, to provide for full participation in the evaluation under subsection (k); and (8)an assurance that the entity will enter into an allocation agreement with the Secretary under subsection (j)(2)(A). (e)

Selection

The Secretary shall award grants under this section to not more than 15 eligible entities. In awarding such grants, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than— (1)4 such entities serve predominantly rural areas under the grant; (2)6 such entities serve predominantly urban areas under the grant; (3)1 such entity serve in each of the 6 regions served by the Regional Offices of the Employment and Training Administration; and (4)1 such entity shall be a Tribal entity. (f)

Amount of grant

(1)

Establishment of fund

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a separate account to be known as the Job Guarantee Program Trust Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund), consisting of— (A)amounts deposited in the Fund under subsection (l); and (B)any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund. (2)

Use of amounts

The Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to make payments to grantees under grants under this section in accordance with paragraph (3). (3)

Payments

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall determine the annual amount of a grant under this section based on a formula to be developed by the Secretary. (B)

Payments

The Secretary shall make payments to grantees under this section in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary. The Secretary shall not make subsequent payments to a grantee after the initial payment until the grantee certifies to the Secretary that the grantee has expended, transferred, or obligated not less than 80 percent of the most recent payment made under this subsection. (g)

Limitations

An eligible entity may not use amounts received under a grant under this section to— (1)employ individuals who will replace, or lead to the displacement of, existing employees, positions, or individuals who would otherwise perform similar employment; (2)perform functions otherwise prohibited by Federal, State, or local laws; and (3)carry out other prohibited activities, as determined by the Secretary. (h)

Federal provision of jobs in pilot sites

(1)

Guidance

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary awards the first grant under this section, the Secretary shall— (A)provide guidance to the heads of appropriate Federal agencies to notify such agencies of job guarantee programs established under such grants; and (B)request that such agencies notify the Secretary, within 30 days of the date on which the guidance is received under paragraph (1), of the number and types of jobs that such agency would make available through each of the programs. (2)

Application of provisions

The requirements of subsection (c) relating to wages and benefits provided to participants in jobs provided under job guarantee programs, and the limitations in subsection (g), shall apply to Federal agencies and jobs provided under this subsection, except that a Federal agency shall employ each individual under this subsection for up to 3 years. (3)

Listing of jobs on website

The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that jobs identified under paragraph (1)(B) are listed on the appropriate public internet website as provided for under subsection (d)(5)(A). (4)

Reimbursement

At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall transfer from the Fund to each Federal agency that employs individuals under a job guarantee program under this section, an amount necessary to reimburse such agency for the cost of employing each such individual during such fiscal year. (i)

Training

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall develop procedures to support up to 8 weeks of paid training (through publicly or privately financed training programs) to participants in job guarantee programs under this section, including a new period of training, not to exceed 8 weeks, prior to commencing any new job under the program. (2)

Specific populations

With respect to certain populations, as determined by the Secretary to include the long-term unemployed and formerly incarcerated individuals, the 8-week training period may include specific job-related training and counseling and other general skills training to prepare such individuals to reenter the workforce. (j)

Priorities and audits

(1)

Priorities

Prior to awarding the initial grants under this section, the Secretary shall issue a list of national job priorities relating to jobs to be carried out under job guarantee programs, that shall include child care, care for seniors and individuals with disabilities, infrastructure activities. (2)

Audits

(A)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, shall carry out annual audits of the use of grant funds provided to eligible entities under this section. (B)

Allocation agreements and misuse of funds

(i)

Allocation agreements

An eligible entity shall enter into an allocation agreement with the Secretary that shall provide that the Secretary shall recoup any amounts paid to the entity under a grant under this section if the results of an audit under subparagraph (A) include a finding that there was an intentional or reckless misuse of such funds by such entity. (ii)

Loss of eligibility

An eligible entity that is determined to have falsified or otherwise misstated data in any report submitted to the Secretary with the intent to deceive or mislead the Secretary shall be ineligible to receive additional funds under this section. (k)

Evaluation

The Chief Evaluation Officer at the Department of Labor shall provide for the conduct of an evaluation of the pilot program, using a rigorous design and evaluation methods to assess the implementation of the programs and their impact on— (1)employment; (2)private sector employment, including wages and benefits; (3)poverty rate; (4)safety net and other Federal spending in the area served by the program; (5)child health and educational outcomes; (6)health and well-being of those with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs; (7)incarceration rates; and (8)other economic development and individual outcome indicators, as determined by the Secretary. (l)

Expansion of work opportunity credit To include participants in job guarantee programs

(1)

In general

Subsection (d) of section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (A)in paragraph (1)— (i)in subparagraph (I), by striking or at the end; (ii)in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting , or; and (iii)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(K)a qualified participant in a job guarantee program.

; and

(B)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(16)

Qualified participant in a job guarantee program

The term qualified participant in a job guarantee program means any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as having participated in a job guarantee program under section 2 of the Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2018 for not less than 3 months during the 6-month period ending on the hiring date.

(2)

Effective date

The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 2018. (m)

Appropriations

From funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.