[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2489 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2489
To provide effective training and education programs for displaced
homemakers, single parents, and individuals entering nontraditional
employment.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 12, 2001
Ms. Hart (for herself, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr.
Owens, Mr. Lantos, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Woolsey, Mrs. Tauscher, Mrs.
Morella, Ms. Solis, Mr. Baldacci, Mr. Horn, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr.
George Miller of California, Ms. Waters, Mr. Watkins of Oklahoma, Mr.
English, Mr. Platts, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Payne, Ms. Harman, and Mr.
Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide effective training and education programs for displaced
homemakers, single parents, and individuals entering nontraditional
employment.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Homemaker Employment Assistance and
Lifeskills Act.''
SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND FINDINGS.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide assistance to
States for preparatory services, education and training programs,
support service assistance, and referral services to displaced
homemakers, single parents, and individuals pursuing nontraditional
occupations. Such assistance will create workforce pathways for
individuals in transition and help meet the employment needs of a high
skilled, information technology economy.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) A high quality, productive, and diverse workforce is
necessary to compete in the global economy.
(2) There are approximately 15,000,000 displaced homemakers
and single parents in the United States for whom the pathway to
employment and economic independence requires education and
training services.
(3) The education and training needs of displaced
homemakers, single parents, and individuals pursuing
nontraditional occupations are not sufficiently met through
existing systems.
(4) Displaced homemakers and single parents represent an
untapped resource to enter unfilled positions in the
information technology sector.
(5) Employment in information technology and nontraditional
careers offers wages and advancement opportunities to help
families achieve economic independence.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Except as otherwise specified in this Act, as used in this Act:
(1) Community-based organization.--The term ``community-
based organization'' means a public or private nonprofit
organization of demonstrated effectiveness that--
(A) is representative of a community or significant
segments of a community; and
(B) provides educational or related services to
individuals in the community.
(2) Displaced homemaker.--The term ``displaced homemaker''
means an individual who has been providing unpaid services to
family members in the home and who--
(A) has been dependent on the income of another
family member but is no longer supported by that
income; and
(B) is unemployed or underemployed and is
experiencing difficulty in obtaining or upgrading
employment.
(3) Eligible state agency.--The term ``eligible State
agency'' means a State board designated or created as the State
agency responsible for the administration of vocational and
technical education in the State.
(4) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient''
means a community-based organization, a local educational
agency, a postsecondary vocational institution, or other
entities that have demonstrated ability to meet the education
and training needs of displaced homemakers and single parents.
(5) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 14101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801).
(6) Nontraditional employment.--The term ``nontraditional
employment,'' refers to occupations or fields of work for which
individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of
the individuals employed in each such occupation or field of
work.
(7) Preparatory services.--The term ``preparatory
services'' means services, programs, or activities designed to
assist individuals who are not enrolled in education or
training programs in the selection of, or preparation for
participation in, an appropriate education or training program,
such as--
(A) services, programs, or activities related to
outreach in the recruitment of potential students;
(B) career counseling and personal counseling;
(C) vocational assessment and testing; and
(D) other appropriate services, programs, or
activities.
(8) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term
``postsecondary vocation institution'' has the same meaning
given such term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
(9) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
(10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(11) Single parent.--The term ``single parent'' means an
individual who is unmarried and--
(A) has a minor child or children for which the
parent has either custody or joint custody; or
(B) is pregnant.
(12) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive services''
means services such as transportation, child care, dependent
care, and needs based payment, that are necessary to enable an
individual to participate in education and training activities.
SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
The Secretary of Education is authorized to provide grants to
States to enable such States to develop or enhance programs described
in section 6.
SEC. 5. ALLOCATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall allot funds to the States
under this Act based on the ratio of the population between the ages of
16 and 64 of each State to the total population between the ages of 16
and 64 in all of the States.
(b) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds provided under this Act shall
be used to supplement not supplant other Federal, State, and local
public funds expended to provide services to displaced homemakers,
single parents, and students pursuing nontraditional occupations.
SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In General.--Each eligible State agency shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary a plan for a five-year period, together with
such annual revisions as the eligible State agency determines to be
necessary.
(b) Revisions; Review; and Accountability.--Each eligible State
agency shall--
(1) submit such annual revisions of the plan to the
Secretary as the eligible State agency determines to be
necessary;
(2) after the second year of the 5-year State plan, conduct
a review of activities assisted under this Act and submit any
revisions of the State plan that the eligible State agency
determines necessary to the Secretary; and
(3) submit an annual report of data compiled in accordance
with paragraph (7) of subsection (d).
(c) Plan Development.--The eligible State agency may develop the
State plan in consultation with experts, students in displaced
homemaker, single parent, and nontraditional training programs, and any
other individual the State considers necessary.
(d) Plan Contents.--The State plan shall include information that--
(1) describes the preparatory services and vocational and
technical education activities to be assisted that are designed
to assist single parents, displaced homemakers, and students
pursuing nontraditional training and employment;
(2) describes the process for soliciting competitive
applications and the criteria that will be used by the eligible
State agency in awarding eligible recipients funds under this
Act;
(3) describes how comprehensive professional development
will be provided;
(4) describes how the eligible State agency will--
(A) annually evaluate the effectiveness of such
programs; and
(B) coordinate such programs to ensure non-
duplication with other existing Federal programs;
(5) provides assurances that the eligible State agency will
comply with the requirements of this Act and the provisions of
the State plan, including the provision of a financial audit of
funds received under this Act which may be included as part of
an audit of other Federal or State programs;
(6) provides assurances that none of the funds expended
under this Act will be used to acquire equipment (including
computer software) in any instance in which such acquisition
results in a direct financial benefit to any organization
representing the interests of the purchasing entity, the
employees of the purchasing entity, or any affiliate of such an
organization;
(7) describes how the eligible State agency will measure
and report the progress of the students who are served pursuant
to this Act, including--
(A) single parent and displaced homemaker's
participation in and completion of a vocational and
technical education program;
(B) student participation in and completion of
vocational and technical education programs that lead
to nontraditional training and employment;
(C) single parent and displaced homemaker's
attainment of a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent;
(D) single parent and displaced homemaker's
placement in postsecondary education or advanced
training, placement in military service, or placement
in employment;
(E) student placement in nontraditional employment;
and
(8) describes how the eligible State agency will provide
eligible recipients with technical assistance;
(9) describes the methods proposed for the joint planning
and coordination of programs carried out under this Act with
other Federal programs.
(e) Plan Option.--The eligible State agency may fulfill the
requirements of subsection (d) by submitting a plan under section 123
of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998
(20 U.S.C. 2343).
(f) Plan Approval.--The Secretary shall consider a plan or revision
of a State plan approved, unless the Secretary determines, within 120
days of submission, that the State plan, or revision, respectively,
does not meet the requirements of this section.
SEC. 7. PROGRAMS FOR SINGLE PARENTS, DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS, AND
NONTRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
Except as provided in section 8(a), each State may use funds
provided under section 9 only to--
(1) provide, subsidize, reimburse, or pay for preparatory
services, necessary educational materials (including books and
supplies), career guidance and counseling services, support
services, or special services;
(2) provide information to displaced homemakers, single
parents, and students interested in pursuing nontraditional
occupations, to inform such individuals of vocational education
and training programs, related support services, and
counseling;
(3) provide programs, services, counseling, and activities
to prepare displaced homemakers and single parents to attain
marketable skills for employment that will lead to economic
self-sufficiency;
(4) provide programs, services, counseling, and activities
that will provide displaced homemakers and single parents with
the skills to enter information technology and nontraditional
careers;
(5) provide programs, services, counseling, and activities
to increase opportunities for students to enter and pursue
education and training in nontraditional careers, including
information technology and other high skill careers;
(6) provide programs, services, counseling, and activities
to ensure a fair and respectful learning environment for all
vocational students, particularly those preparing for
nontraditional employment; and
(7) develop replicable model programs that increase
participation and completion rates of individuals in
nontraditional employment.
SEC. 8. WITHIN STATE ALLOCATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Reservation for State Activities.--From the amounts allocated
under section 5, not more than 5 percent shall be reserved for State
administration.
(b) Matching Requirement.--Each eligible State agency receiving
funds made available under section 5(a), shall match, from non-Federal
sources and on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the funds received under
section 9.
(c) Administration.--Any State desiring to participate in a program
authorized by this Act shall assign not less than one individual within
the appropriate agency established to administer vocational education
programs within the State to assist in fulfilling the purposes of this
Act by--
(1) administering the program of vocational education
described in section 7;
(2) gathering, analyzing, and disseminating data on the
adequacy and effectiveness of vocational education programs in
the State as described in section 6;
(3) developing the State plan described in section 6;
(4) providing technical assistance and professional
development in expanding vocational opportunities for students
pursuing nontraditional occupations and single parents, and
displaced homemakers;
(5) managing the distribution of funds pursuant to section
6;
(6) monitoring the use of funds distributed to recipients
under such programs; and
(7) evaluating the effectiveness of programs and activities
supported by such funds.
(d) Competitive Awards.--The administrator assigned under
subsection (c) shall--
(1) on a competitive basis, provide grants to eligible
recipients; and
(2) ensure that each grant is for a program that is of
sufficient size, scope, and quality to be effective.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act,
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for
each of the four succeeding fiscal years.
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