Summer and year-round youth jobs

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)a $1,500,000,000 investment in summer and year-round employment for youth, through the program supported under this section, can create up to 450,000 temporary jobs and meaningful work experiences for economically disadvantaged youth and stimulate local economies; (2)there is a serious and growing need for employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth (including young adults), as demonstrated by statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics stating that, in November 2009— (A)the unemployment rate increased to 10 percent, as compared to 6.8 percent in November 2008; (B)the unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds rose to 26.7 percent, as compared to 20.4 percent in November 2008; and (C)the unemployment rate for African-American 16- to 19-year-olds increased to 49.4 percent, as compared to 32.2 percent in November 2008; (3)research from Northwestern University has shown that every $1 a youth earns has an accelerator effect of $3 on the local economy; (4)summer and year-round jobs for youth help supplement the income of families living in poverty; (5)summer and year-round jobs for youth provide valuable work experience for economically disadvantaged youth; (6)often, a summer or year-round job provided under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is an economically disadvantaged youth's introduction to the world of work; (7)according to the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, early work experience is a very powerful predictor of success and earnings in the labor market, and early work experience raises earnings over a lifetime by 10 to 20 percent; (8)participation in a youth jobs program can contribute to a reduction in criminal and high-risk behavior for youth; and (9)(A)youth jobs programs benefit both youth and communities when designed around principles that promote mutually beneficial programs; (B)youth benefit from jobs that provide them with work readiness skills and that help them make the connection between responsibility on the job and success in adulthood; and (C)communities benefit when youth are engaged productively, providing much-needed services that meet real community needs. (b)

References

(1)

Certificate; credential

In subsection (d), references to the terms certificate and credential have the meanings prescribed by the Secretary of Labor. (2)

Youth-related references

In this Act, and in the provisions referred to in subsections (c) and (d) for purposes of this Act— (A)a reference to a youth refers to an individual who is not younger than age 14 and not older than age 24, and meets any other requirements for that type of youth; and (B)a reference to a youth activity refers to an activity covered in subsection (d)(1) that is carried out for a youth described in subparagraph (A). (c)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor for youth activities under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), $1,500,000,000, which shall be available for the period of January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, under the conditions described in subsection (d). (d)

Conditions

(1)

Use of funds

The funds made available under subsection (c) shall be used for youth jobs and training programs, to provide opportunities referred to in subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (F) of section 129(c)(2) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2854(c)(2)) and, as appropriate, opportunities referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (G) of such section, except that no such funds shall be spent on unpaid work experiences and the opportunities may include learning described in paragraph (3)(B). (2)

Limitation

Such funds shall be distributed in accordance with sections 127 and 128 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2852, 2853), except that no portion of such funds shall be reserved to carry out 128(a) or 169 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2853(a), 2914). (3)

Priority

In using funds made available under subsection (c), a local area (as defined in section 101 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2801))— (A)shall give priority to providing— (i)work experiences in viable, emerging, or demand industries, or work experiences in the public or nonprofit sector that fulfill a community need; and (ii)job referral services for youth to work experiences described in clause (i) in the private sector, for which the employer involved agrees to pay the wages and benefits, consistent with Federal and State child labor laws; and (B)may give priority to providing— (i)work experiences combined with linkages to academic and occupational learning, so that the experiences and learning provide opportunities for youth to earn a short-term certificate or credential that has value in the labor market; and (ii)work experiences combined with learning that are designed to encourage and maximize the likelihood of a participant’s return to, or completion of, a program of study leading to a recognized secondary or postsecondary degree, certificate, or credential. (4)

Measure of effectiveness

The effectiveness of the activities carried out with such funds shall be measured, under section 136 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2871), only with performance measures based on the core indicators of performance described in section 136(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2871(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I)), applied to all youth served through the activities.