[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 17 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 17

 To consolidate certain Federal job training programs by developing a 
 system of vouchers to provide to dislocated workers and economically 
disadvantaged adults the opportunity to choose the type of job training 
   that most closely meets the needs of such workers and adults, by 
 establishing a one-stop career center system to provide high quality 
 job training and employment-related services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 21, 1997

   Mr. Daschle (for himself, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, Ms. 
  Mikulski, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Kerry, Ms. 
 Moseley-Braun, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and 
                            Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To consolidate certain Federal job training programs by developing a 
 system of vouchers to provide to dislocated workers and economically 
disadvantaged adults the opportunity to choose the type of job training 
   that most closely meets the needs of such workers and adults, by 
 establishing a one-stop career center system to provide high quality 
 job training and employment-related services, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Working Americans 
Opportunity Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
                     TITLE I--JOB TRAINING VOUCHERS

Sec. 101. Establishment.
Sec. 102. Individual choice.
Sec. 103. Eligibility.
Sec. 104. Obtaining a voucher.
Sec. 105. Oversight and accountability.
Sec. 106. Eligibility requirements for job training providers.
Sec. 107. Evaluation of voucher system.
Sec. 108. Apportionment of funds.
        TITLE II--CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Consolidation of programs.
TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT-RELATED INFORMATION AND SERVICES THROUGH ONE-STOP 
                             CAREER CENTERS

Sec. 301. One-stop career centers.
Sec. 302. Access to information.
Sec. 303. Direct loans to United States workers.
                      TITLE IV--REPORTS AND PLANS

Sec. 401. Consolidation and streamlining.
Sec. 402. Report relating to income support.
                      TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 502. Effective date.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) increasing international competition, technological 
        advances, and structural changes in the economy of the United 
        States present new challenges to private firms and public 
        policymakers in creating a skilled workforce with the ability 
        to adapt to change and progress;
            (2) a substantial number of workers in the United States 
        lose jobs due to the constantly changing world and national 
        economies rather than cyclical downturns, with more than 
        2,000,000 full-time workers permanently displaced annually due 
        to plant closures, production cutbacks, and layoffs;
            (3) the current response of the Federal Government to 
        dislocation and structural employment is a patchwork of 
        categorical programs, with varying eligibility requirements and 
        different sets of services and benefits;
            (4) the lack of coherence among existing Federal job 
        training programs creates administrative and regulatory 
        obstacles that hamper the efforts of individuals who are 
        seeking new jobs or reemployment;
            (5) enacted in 1944, the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 
        1944 (commonly known as the ``G.I. Bill of Rights''), helped 
        millions of World War II veterans and, later, Korean and 
        Vietnam War veterans, finance college educations and assisted 
        in building the middle class of the United States;
            (6) restructuring the current job training system, with 
        respect to dislocated and disadvantaged workers, in a manner 
        that is conceptually similar to the G.I. Bill of Rights will 
help millions of workers in the United States to become more 
competitive in today's dynamic world economy, in which most of the 
workers--
                    (A) can expect to move to new jobs a number of 
                times, voluntarily or by layoff; and
                    (B) must upgrade their skills continuously;
            (7) success in this ever-changing environment depends, in 
        part, on an individual's effective management of the 
        individual's career based on personal choice and reliable 
        information;
            (8) there is insufficient job market information and 
        assistance regarding access to job training opportunities that 
        lead to good employment opportunities;
            (9) only a small fraction of individuals eligible for 
        current Federal job training are now served, and by removing 
        obstacles and layers of administrative costs, more funds will 
        be made available to individuals to enable such individuals to 
        receive the job training of their choice; and
            (10) while the Federal Government proceeds to create a new 
        marketplace for job training, the Federal Government must also 
        maintain a commitment to providing intensive services to assist 
        individuals who are economically disadvantaged adults.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) enhance the choices available to dislocated workers, 
        and economically disadvantaged adults, who want to upgrade 
        their work skills and learn new skills to compete in a changing 
        economy;
            (2) enable individuals to make choices that are best for 
        the careers of such individuals;
            (3) consolidate job training programs and provide a simple 
        voucher system that relies on individual choice and provides 
        high quality job market information;
            (4) allow an individual to tailor job training and 
        education to the personal needs of such individual so that such 
        individual may remain in long-term employment yet have the 
        means to be flexible when necessary; and
            (5) create a system that provides timely and reliable 
        information to individuals to use to assist such individuals in 
        making the best choices with respect to the use of vouchers for 
        job training.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Community-based organization.--The term ``community-
        based organization'' means a private nonprofit organization 
        that--
                    (A) is representative of a community or a 
                significant segment of a community; and
                    (B) provides job training and employment-related 
                services.
            (2) Dislocated worker.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``dislocated worker'' 
                means an individual who--
                            (i) has been terminated or laid off, or has 
                        received a notice of termination or layoff, 
                        from employment, is eligible for or has 
                        exhausted entitlement to unemployment 
                        compensation, and is unlikely to return to a 
                        previous industry or occupation;
                            (ii) has been terminated or laid off, or 
                        has received a notice of termination or layoff, 
                        from employment as a result of any permanent 
                        closure of, or any substantial layoff at, a 
                        plant, facility, or enterprise;
                            (iii) has been unemployed long-term and has 
                        limited opportunities for employment or 
                        reemployment in the same or a similar 
                        occupation in the area in which such individual 
resides, including an older individual who may have substantial 
barriers to employment by reason of age;
                            (iv) was self-employed (including a farmer, 
                        a rancher, and a fisher) and is unemployed as a 
                        result of general economic conditions in the 
                        community in which such individual resides or 
                        because of a natural disaster, subject to 
                        regulations prescribed by the Secretary; or
                            (v) is an employee of the Department of 
                        Defense or of a private defense contractor who 
                        has been terminated or laid off, or has 
                        received a notice of termination or layoff, 
                        from employment as a result of the closure or 
                        realignment of a military installation, or a 
                        reduction in defense spending as determined by 
                        the Secretary of Defense.
                    (B) Special rule for self-employed individuals.--
                The Secretary of Labor shall establish categories of 
                self-employed individuals and of economic conditions 
                and natural disasters to which subparagraph (A)(iv) 
                applies.
                    (C) Special rule for displaced homemakers.--The 
                term ``dislocated worker'' shall, for the purpose of 
                applying provisions related to job training and 
                employment-related services under titles I and III 
                within a State, include a displaced homemaker (as 
                defined by the Secretary of Labor in regulation), if 
                the State determines that such definition of the term 
                is appropriate and will not adversely affect the 
                delivery of services to other dislocated workers in the 
                State.
            (3) Economically disadvantaged adult.--The term 
        ``economically disadvantaged adult'' means an individual who is 
        age 18 or older and who had received an income, or is a member 
        of a family that had received a total family income, for the 6-
        month period prior to application for the activity involved 
        (exclusive of unemployment compensation, child support 
        payments, and welfare payments) that, in relation to family 
        size, does not exceed the higher of--
                    (A) the poverty line (as defined by the Office of 
                Management and Budget, and revised annually in 
                accordance with section 673(2) of the Community 
                Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)), for an 
                equivalent period; or
                    (B) 70 percent of the lower living standard income 
                level, for an equivalent period.
            (4) Job training provider.--The term ``job training 
        provider'' means a public agency, private nonprofit 
        organization, or private for-profit entity that delivers job 
        training.
            (5) Service delivery area.--The term ``service delivery 
        area'' means an area established under section 101 of the Job 
        Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1511).
            (6) State.--The term ``State'', used to refer to a 
        jurisdiction, means any of the several States of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic 
        of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
        and the Republic of Palau.
            (7) Workforce development entity.--The term ``workforce 
        development entity'' means a private industry council as 
        described in section 102 of the Job Training Partnership Act 
        (29 U.S.C. 1512), or such successor entity as may be 
        established by Federal statutory law specifically to serve as 
        such entity.

                     TITLE I--JOB TRAINING VOUCHERS

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Secretary of Labor shall, pursuant to the requirements of this 
title, establish a job training system that provides vouchers to 
individuals for the purpose of enabling the individuals to obtain job 
training.

SEC. 102. INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.

    (a) In General.--Upon notification of approval of an application 
submitted under section 104, an individual may receive a voucher for a 
2-year period, beginning on the date on which the application is 
approved.
    (b) Use of Vouchers for Job Training.--
            (1) In general.--An individual who is a recipient of a 
        voucher under subsection (a) may use such voucher to pay for 
        job training obtained from a job training provider that meets 
        the requirements of section 106.
            (2) Authorized job training.--The job training described in 
        paragraph (1) may include training through--
                    (A) associate degree and nondegree programs at--
                            (i) two- and four-year colleges;
                            (ii) vocational and technical education 
                        schools;
                            (iii) private for-profit and not-for-profit 
                        training organizations;
                            (iv) public agencies and schools; and
                            (v) community-based organizations;
                    (B) employer work-based training programs; and
                    (C) in the case of individuals who are economically 
                disadvantaged adults, preemployment training programs.

SEC. 103. ELIGIBILITY.

    An individual shall be eligible to receive a voucher under this 
title if such individual is--
            (1) a dislocated worker; or
            (2) an economically disadvantaged adult.

SEC. 104. OBTAINING A VOUCHER.

    (a) Application.--An individual who desires to receive a voucher 
under this title shall submit an application to the State at such time, 
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the State may 
reasonably require.
    (b) Assistance to Applicants.--
            (1) One-stop career centers.--Each one-stop career center 
        established under section 301 shall--
                    (A) provide applications for vouchers under this 
                title to interested individuals, assist such 
                individuals in completing such applications, and 
                collect completed applications for determination of 
                eligibility;
                    (B) provide performance-based information to the 
                applicants relating to job training providers eligible 
                to receive payment by vouchers in accordance with 
                section 106;
                    (C) provide information to the applicants on--
                            (i) the local economy and availability of 
                        employment;
                            (ii) profiles of local industries; and
                            (iii) details of local labor market demand; 
                        and
                    (D) carry out such other duties relating to the 
                voucher system as may be specified in regulations 
                issued by the Secretary of Labor.
            (2) Conflict of interest standards.--The Secretary of Labor 
        shall issue regulations establishing procedures to ensure that 
        a one-stop career center that is operated by an entity that is 
        concurrently an eligible job training provider under the 
        voucher system provides information to the applicants relating 
        to the other eligible job training providers in the service 
        delivery area in an objective and equitable manner.

SEC. 105. OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall issue regulations 
that--
            (1) specify the--
                    (A) voucher application requirements;
                    (B) form of the vouchers;
                    (C) use of the vouchers;
                    (D) method of redemption of the vouchers;
                    (E) most expeditious and effective process of 
                distribution (consistent with the findings and purposes 
                of this Act) of the vouchers to eligible individuals; 
                and
                    (F) the arrangements necessary to phase in the 
                voucher system in each State in a timely manner;
            (2) specify the duties and responsibilities of job training 
        providers under a voucher system under this title;
            (3) specify the Federal and State responsibilities in 
        oversight of job training providers, including the enforcement 
        responsibilities and the determination of administrative costs 
        with respect to the voucher system under this title; and
            (4) specify the manner in which economically disadvantaged 
        adults will receive adequate counseling and support services 
        necessary to take full advantage of voucher assistance under 
        this title.
    (b) Public Comment.--In issuing regulations under subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Labor shall provide an opportunity for comment from 
the public, including the business community, labor organizations, and 
community-based organizations.

SEC. 106. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR JOB TRAINING PROVIDERS.

    (a) Eligibility Requirements.--A job training provider shall be 
eligible to receive payment by vouchers under this title if such 
provider--
            (1) is--
                    (A) eligible to participate in programs under title 
                IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 
                et seq.); or
                    (B) determined to be eligible under the procedure 
                described in subsection (b); and
            (2) provides the performance-based information required 
        pursuant to subsection (c).
    (b) Alternative Eligibility Procedure.--
            (1) In general.--The State shall establish an alternative 
        eligibility procedure for job training providers desiring to 
        receive payment by vouchers under this title, but that are not 
        eligible to participate in programs under title IV of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965.
            (2) Procedure requirements.--In establishing the procedure 
        described in paragraph (1), the State shall establish minimum 
        acceptable levels of performance for job training providers 
        based on factors and guidelines developed by the Secretary of 
        Labor in consultation with the Secretary of Education. Such 
        factors shall be comparable in rigor and scope to the 
        provisions of part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.) that are used to determine the 
        eligibility of an institution of higher education to 
        participate in programs under such title and are appropriate to 
        the type of job training provider seeking eligibility under 
        this subsection and the nature of the job training to be 
        provided.
            (3) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the 
        participation of an institution of higher education in any of 
        the programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        is terminated, such institution shall not be eligible to 
        receive funds under this title for a period of 2 years 
        beginning on the date of such termination.
    (c) Performance-Based Information.--
            (1) Contents.--The Secretary of Labor shall identify 
        performance-based information that is to be submitted by job 
        training providers desiring to receive payment by vouchers 
        under this title. Such information may include information 
        relating to--
                    (A) the percentage of students completing the 
                programs conducted by a job training provider;
                    (B) the rates of licensure of graduates of the 
                programs conducted by such job training provider;
                    (C) the percentage of graduates of the programs 
                conducted by such job training provider that meet 
                industry-specific skill standards;
                    (D) the rates of placement and retention in 
                employment, and earnings of, the graduates of the 
programs conducted by such job training provider;
                    (E) the percentage of graduates of the programs 
                conducted by such job training provider who obtained 
                employment in an occupation related to such programs 
                conducted by such provider; and
                    (F) the warranties or guarantees provided by such 
                job training provider relating to the skill levels or 
                employment to be attained by graduates of the programs 
                conducted by such provider.
            (2) Additions.--The State may, pursuant to the approval of 
        the Secretary of Labor, prescribe additional performance-based 
        information that shall be submitted by job training providers 
        pursuant to this subsection.
    (d) Administration.--
            (1) State agency.--The Governor shall designate a State 
        agency to collect, verify, and disseminate the performance-
        based information submitted pursuant to subsection (c).
            (2) Application.--A job training provider desiring to be 
        eligible to receive funds under this title shall submit the 
        information required under subsection (c) to the State agency 
        designated under paragraph (1) at such time and in such form as 
        such State agency may require.
            (3) List of eligible providers.--The State agency 
        designated under paragraph (1) shall compile a list of eligible 
        job training providers, accompanied by the performance-based 
        information submitted, and disseminate such list and 
        information to the one-stop career centers established under 
        section 301, and other appropriate entities within the State.
            (4) Accuracy of information.--
                    (A) In general.--If the State agency determines 
                that a job training provider submitted inaccurate 
                performance-based information under this subsection, 
                such provider shall be disqualified from receiving 
                funds under this title for a period of 2 years 
                beginning on the date of such determination, unless 
                such provider can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of 
                the State agency designated pursuant to paragraph (1), 
                that the information was provided in good faith.
                    (B) Appeal.--The State shall establish a procedure 
                for a job training provider to appeal a determination 
                by a State agency that results in a disqualification 
                under subparagraph (A). Such procedure shall provide an 
                opportunity for a hearing and include appropriate time 
                limits to ensure prompt resolution of the appeal.
            (5) Assistance in developing information.--The State agency 
        designated under paragraph (1) may provide technical assistance 
        to a job training provider in developing the performance-based 
        information required under subsection (c). Such assistance may 
        include facilitating the utilization of State administrative 
        records, such as unemployment compensation wage records, and 
        conducting other appropriate coordination activities.
            (6) Consultation.--The Secretary of Labor shall consult 
        with the Secretary of Education regarding the eligibility of 
        institutions of higher education to participate in programs 
        under this title.

SEC. 107. EVALUATION OF VOUCHER SYSTEM.

    The Secretary of Labor shall annually--
            (1) monitor the effectiveness of the voucher system;
            (2) evaluate the benefit of such system to voucher 
        recipients under this title and the taxpayer; and
            (3) submit information obtained from such evaluation to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress.

SEC. 108. APPORTIONMENT OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor shall, without in any way 
reducing the commitment of, or the level of effort by, the Federal 
Government to improve the job training, employment, and earnings of all 
workers and jobseekers (particularly in hard-to-serve communities), 
apportion sums appropriated under section 501 to each State for each 
fiscal year in accordance with subsections (b) and (c), to enable 
States and service delivery areas in the States to carry out this title 
and title III.
    (b) Allocation by Category.--
            (1) Funding for dislocated workers.--From the sums 
        appropriated pursuant to section 501 for each fiscal year, the 
        Secretary of Labor shall determine the portion of the sums to 
        be made available for providing job training and employment-
        related services for dislocated workers under this title and 
        title III, which shall be not less than the total amount made 
        available to the States for such purpose for fiscal year 1997. 
        The Secretary shall apportion such portion among the States, 
        based on consideration of factors described in subsection (c), 
        as appropriate.
            (2) Funding for economically disadvantaged adults.--From 
        the sums appropriated pursuant to section 501 for each fiscal 
        year, the Secretary of Labor shall determine the portion of the 
        sums to be made available for providing job training and 
        employment-related services for economically disadvantaged 
        adults under this title and title III. The Secretary shall 
        apportion such total amount among the States, based on 
        consideration of factors described in subsection (c), as 
        appropriate.
    (c) Consideration of Factors for Apportionment to States.--The 
apportionment of the portions described in subsection (b) by the 
Secretary to each State shall be based on the following factors:
            (1) The relative number of unemployed individuals who 
        reside in each State as compared to the total number of 
        unemployed individuals in all the States.
            (2) The relative excess number of unemployed individuals 
        who reside in each State as compared to the total excess number 
        of unemployed individuals in all the States.
            (3) The relative number of individuals who have been 
        unemployed for 15 weeks or more and who reside in each State as 
        compared to the total number of such individuals in all the 
        States.
            (4) The relative number of economically disadvantaged 
        adults who reside in each State as compared to the total number 
        of such adults in all the States.
    (d) State Reserve.--
            (1) Dislocated worker funds.--From the amount apportioned 
        to each State from the portion described in subsection (b)(1), 
        the State may reserve to carry out State activities, including 
        rapid response assistance (as described in section 314(b) of 
        the Job Training Partnership Act, as in existence on the date 
        of enactment of this Act (29 U.S.C. 1661c(b))) and State 
        administration, an amount that is not greater than the 
        proportion of funds reserved for State activities under title 
        III of the Job Training Partnership Act, as in existence on 
        such date (29 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.) for fiscal year 1997.
            (2) Economically disadvantaged adults.--From the amount 
        apportioned to each State from the portion described in 
        subsection (b)(2), the State may reserve to carry out State 
        activities, including State administration, an amount that is 
        not greater than the proportion of funds reserved for State 
        activities under part A of title II of the Job Training 
        Partnership Act, as in existence on the date of enactment of 
        this Act (29 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) for fiscal year 1997.
    (e) Consideration of Factors for Apportionment to Service Delivery 
Areas.--The apportionment of amounts received by each State under 
subsection (c), and not reserved under subsection (d), to service 
delivery areas within such State shall be based on the following 
factors:
            (1) The relative number of unemployed individuals who 
        reside in each service delivery area within the State as 
        compared to the total number of unemployed individuals in all 
        such service delivery areas.
            (2) The relative excess number of unemployed individuals 
        who reside in each service delivery area within the State as 
        compared to the total excess number of unemployed individuals 
        in all such service delivery areas.
            (3) The relative number of individuals who have been 
        unemployed for 15 weeks or more and who reside in each service 
        delivery area within the State as compared to the total number 
        of such individuals in all such service delivery areas.
            (4) The relative number of economically disadvantaged 
        adults who reside in each service delivery area within the 
        State as compared to the total number of such adults in all 
        such service delivery areas.
    (f) Funds for Vouchers.--Not less than 75 percent of funds 
apportioned to a service delivery area under subsection (e) and used 
for job training under this Act by the service delivery area shall be 
made available in the form of vouchers to individuals in such area who 
are eligible under section 103.
    (g) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``excess 
number of unemployed individuals'' means the number that represents 
unemployed individuals in excess of 4.5 percent of the civilian labor 
force in a State or service delivery area, as appropriate.

        TITLE II--CONSOLIDATION OF FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
consolidation and streamlining of Federal job training programs should 
be accomplished without in any way reducing the commitment of, or the 
level of effort provided by, the Federal Government to improve the job 
training, employment, and earnings of all workers and jobseekers 
(particularly in hard-to-serve communities).
    (b) Repeals of Federal Job Training Programs.--The following 
provisions are repealed:
            (1) Section 6(d)(4) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        2015(d)(4)).
            (2) Section 106(b)(7) of the Job Training Partnership Act 
        (29 U.S.C. 1516(b)(7)).
            (3) Section 123 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1533).
            (4) Section 204(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1604(d)).
            (5) Part A of title II of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1601 et 
        seq.).
            (6) Section 302(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1652(c)).
            (7) Part A of title III of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1661 et 
        seq.).
            (8) Section 325 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662d).
            (9) Section 325A of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662d-1).
            (10) Section 326 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1662e).
            (11) Sections 301 through 303 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1651 
        et seq.).
            (12) The Displaced Homemakers Self-Sufficiency Assistance 
        Act (29 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
            (13) Subtitle C of title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11441 et seq.).
            (14) Subchapter I of chapter 421 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            (15) Title II of Public Law 95-250 (92 Stat. 172).

TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT-RELATED INFORMATION AND SERVICES THROUGH ONE-STOP 
                             CAREER CENTERS

SEC. 301. ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS.

    (a) Establishment.--Each service delivery area receiving funds 
under this Act shall develop and implement a network of one-stop career 
centers for the area to provide access for jobseekers, workers, and 
businesses to a comprehensive array of high quality job training 
described in section 102(b)(2) and employment-related services 
(including provision of information) described in subsections (f) and 
(g).
    (b) Procedures.--Each workforce development entity for a service 
delivery area, in conjunction with the appropriate local chief elected 
official for the area, shall negotiate with the State a method for 
establishing one-stop career centers (including designating one-stop 
career center operators) for the area, consistent with criteria 
established by the Secretary of Labor.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--Each entity within the service delivery 
area that provides the services specified in subsection (f) or (g) 
shall be eligible to be designated as a one-stop career center 
operator.
    (d) Performance Standards.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish 
a performance standard system for assessing the performance of each 
one-stop career center operator.
    (e) Period of Selection.--Each one-stop career center operator 
shall be designated for 2-year period. Every 2 years, the workforce 
development entity for a service delivery area shall reevaluate the 
designation of one-stop career center operators for the area, based on 
performance under the standards established under subsection (d).
    (f) Employment-Related Services to Individuals.--Each one-stop 
career center for a service delivery area may make available--
            (1) outreach to make individuals aware of, and encourage 
        the use of, services available from workforce development 
programs operating in the service delivery area;
            (2) intake and orientation to the information and services 
        available through the one-stop career center;
            (3) assistance in filing initial claims for unemployment 
        compensation;
            (4) initial assessments (including appropriate testing) of 
        the skill levels and service needs of individuals, including 
        basic skills, occupational skills, work experience, 
        employability, interest, aptitude, and supportive service 
        needs;
            (5) job search assistance, including resume and interview 
        preparation and workshops;
            (6) information relating to the supply, demand, price, and 
        quality of job training available in each service delivery area 
        in the State involved, including performance-based information 
        provided pursuant to section 106(c);
            (7) job market information, including--
                    (A) data on the local economy and availability of 
                employment;
                    (B) profiles of local industries;
                    (C) details of local labor market demand; and
                    (D) local demographic and socioeconomic 
                characteristics;
            (8) referral to appropriate job training and employment 
        services, and to other services described in this subsection, 
        in the service delivery area;
            (9) supportive services, including child care;
            (10) job development; and
            (11) counseling.
    (g) Employment-Related Services to Employers.--Each one-stop career 
center for a service delivery area may provide to employers, at the 
request of the employers--
            (1) information relating to supply, demand, price, and 
        quality of job training available in each service delivery area 
        in the State;
            (2) customized screening and referral of individuals for 
        employment;
            (3) customized assessment of skills of the workers of the 
        employer;
            (4) an analysis of the skill needs of the employer; and
            (5) other specialized employment and training services.

SEC. 302. ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that accurate, timely, and relevant 
data regarding employment, job training, job skills, and job training 
opportunities are useful for individuals making choices about the 
careers of such individuals.
    (b) Authority.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to make 
arrangements to develop and provide through one-stop career centers and 
other appropriate mechanisms relevant job market information to 
interested individuals, including voucher recipients under title I, 
jobseekers, employers, and workers.

SEC. 303. DIRECT LOANS TO UNITED STATES WORKERS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that the William D. Ford Federal 
Direct Loan Program authorized by part D of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.), is a valuable 
financing tool for United States workers who desire to take advantage 
of training and education programs, consistent with the goals of such 
workers, to learn new skills for careers that may bring higher salaries 
and improved quality of life.
    (b) Awareness.--The Department of Education shall endeavor to make 
known the value and availability of direct loans through the William D. 
Ford Federal Direct Loan Program authorized by part D of title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 through cooperative arrangements with 
one-stop career centers, training and educational training programs, 
State agencies, and other Federal agencies.

                      TITLE IV--REPORTS AND PLANS

SEC. 401. CONSOLIDATION AND STREAMLINING.

    (a) Report on Consolidating Noncovered Federal Job Training 
Programs.--Not later than January 1, 1998, and each year thereafter, 
the Secretary of Labor shall prepare and submit to Congress a report 
that describes how additional Federal job training programs not covered 
by this Act can be consolidated into a more integrated and accountable 
workforce development system that better meets the needs of jobseekers, 
workers, and business.
    (b) Plan on Use of Common Definitions, Measures, Standards, and 
Cycles.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Labor shall develop a plan that, wherever 
practicable, requires the Federal job training programs to use common 
definitions, common outcome measures, common eligibility standards, and 
common funding cycles in order to make such training programs more 
accessible.

SEC. 402. REPORT RELATING TO INCOME SUPPORT.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) many dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged 
        adults are unable to enroll in long-term job training because 
        such workers and adults lack income support after unemployment 
        compensation is exhausted;
            (2) evidence suggests that long-term job training is among 
        the most effective adjustment service in assisting dislocated 
        workers and economically disadvantaged adults to obtain 
        employment and enhance wages; and
            (3) there is a need to identify options relating to how 
        income support may be provided to enable dislocated workers and 
        economically disadvantaged adults to participate in long-term 
        job training.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall prepare and submit to Congress a 
report that--
            (1) examines the need for income support to enable 
        dislocated workers and economically disadvantaged adults to 
        participate in long-term job training;
            (2) identifies options relating to how such income support 
        may be provided to such workers and adults; and
            (3) contains such recommendations as the Secretary of Labor 
        determines are appropriate.

                      TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out titles I and III such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 1998 through 2002.
    (b) Program Year.--Appropriations for any fiscal year for 
activities carried out under this Act shall be available for obligation 
only on the basis of a program year. The program year shall begin on 
July 1 in the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made.

SEC. 502. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1998.
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