I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6568 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 5, 2012 Mr. Dold introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Labor to conduct a study and report back to Congress on the feasibility of creating pilot programs to evaluate reforming Federal job training programs for long-term unemployed workers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Back to Work Blueprint Act.

2.

Study on reform of Federal job training programs

(a)

Study

The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a series of pilot programs under the Workplace Investment Act of 1998 (in this Act referred to as WIA) in an effort to partly reform certain Federal job training programs for long-term unemployed workers. (b)

Description of the pilot program To be studied

The study shall examine the feasibility of establishing up to 10 pilot programs at WIA one-stop centers in geographically distinct regions of the United States. The pilot program would consist of the following: (1)Each participating one-stop center would issue certificates to qualifying unemployed individuals who— (A)have been unemployed and actively seeking work for six or more consecutive months; and (B)are determined to be reasonably employable by job counselors at the participating one-stop center. (2)Each issued certificate would be valid for a reimbursement amount of $7,000 to be paid to qualifying employers from a reserve account established at the participating one-stop center. (3)Each certificate would be presented to a participating employer who agrees to hire the individual and provide any necessary training to the individual. Each certificate could be redeemed by the employer only— (A)upon the completion of 6 months of consecutive employment of the individual; and (B)once the employee has received at least $15,000 in compensation from the employer for consecutive employment for a period of less than 10 months. (4)Each certificate would expire— (A)6 months after the certificate is issued if no qualifying employment has been found for the individual to whom it was issued; (B)if the individual’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to the completion of the 6-month period described in paragraph (3)(A); or (C)one year after the date the 6-month period of qualifying employment begins if no qualifying employer has redeemed the certificate in accordance with paragraph (3). (5)Each one-stop center would be required to conduct quantitative assessments of the efficacy of the program by tracking the job placement and retention of individuals participating in the program and comparing the job placement and retention results to other WIA-funded programs available through the one-stop center. (c)

Report to Congress

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall transmit to Congress a report on the findings of the study, including an identification of any legislative changes that would be necessary to implement the pilot programs outlined in subsection (b).