[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3234 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3234

 To provide at-risk and disconnected youth with subsidized summer and 
  year-round employment and to assist local community partnerships in 
 improving high school graduation and youth employment rates, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 18, 2018

   Mr. Kaine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide at-risk and disconnected youth with subsidized summer and 
  year-round employment and to assist local community partnerships in 
 improving high school graduation and youth employment rates, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Opening Doors for Youth Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The time between the early teens and mid-twenties 
        represents a critical developmental period in which individuals 
        can gain the education and training, entry-level work 
        experiences, work-readiness skills, and social networks needed 
        to smoothly transition into the labor market and build towards 
        future professional success.
            (2) Yet, nearly 5,000,000 young people ages 16 to 24 are 
        out of school and unemployed, leaving them disconnected from 
        the systems and institutions critical for developing the 
        building blocks of independence and self-sufficiency.
            (3) Communities of color experience the highest rates of 
        youth disconnection: 25.4 percent of Native American youth, 
        18.9 percent of Black youth, and 14.3 percent of Latino youth 
        between the ages of 16 and 24 were disconnected from school and 
        work in 2015.
            (4) Disconnected youth are also 3 times more likely than 
        other youth to have a disability, twice as likely to live below 
        the Federal poverty level, and significantly more likely to 
        live in racially segregated neighborhoods. Disconnected young 
        women and girls are 3 times more likely than other young women 
        and girls to have a child, and young people involved in the 
        juvenile justice system or aging out of the foster care system 
        are at a high risk of disconnection.
            (5) Disconnection from school and work can have significant 
        consequences for youth, including decreased earning power and 
        fewer future employment opportunities. According to a 2012 
        report entitled ``The Economic Value of Opportunity Youth'', 
        disconnected youth will, on average, earn $392,070 less than 
        the average worker over their lifetimes.
            (6) Failure to successfully connect young people to 
        employment and educational opportunities also results in a 
        significant loss in productivity for the overall economy, as 
        well as increases in government spending. According to a recent 
        report from Measure of America, in 2013, youth disconnection 
        resulted in $26,800,000,000 in public expenditures, including 
        spending on health care, public assistance, and incarceration.
            (7) Disconnected youth, commonly referred to as 
        ``opportunity youth'' because of their tremendous potential, 
        can add great social and economic value to our communities and 
        the economy, if given the appropriate supports and resources. 
        According to the Opportunity Index, an annual measurement of 
        opportunity in a geographic region, the number of opportunity 
        youth, along with educational attainment and poverty rates, are 
        strongly linked to overall opportunity in communities. When 
        young adults do well, communities do well.
            (8) Despite their talent and motivation, many opportunity 
        youth lack access to the training, education, and entry-level 
        jobs that can help them gain the work experience and 
        credentials needed to successfully transition into the labor 
        market.
            (9) Lack of access to entry-level jobs can limit a young 
        adult's ability to accrue early work experience and demonstrate 
        productivity and work readiness to potential employers. Labor 
        market shifts have also limited opportunities for young people 
        without a high school diploma or with limited postsecondary 
        credentials. According to a 2013 report from the Georgetown 
        University Center on Education and the Workforce, by the year 
        2020, an estimated 65 percent of all jobs in the United States 
        will require postsecondary education and training.
            (10) Summer and year-round youth employment programs that 
        connect young people with entry-level jobs give youth the work 
        experience and opportunity for skill development needed to 
        transition into the labor market and prevent points of 
        disconnection, such as involvement in the criminal and juvenile 
        justice systems.
            (11) Evidence suggests that summer youth employment 
        programs may help in-school youth remain connected to the 
        education system. A 2014 study of the New York City Summer 
        Youth Employment Program found that youth older than age 16 
        increased their school attendance by 4 or 5 additional days 
        after participating in a youth summer employment program. This 
        attendance increase represented 25 percent of the total days 
        students were permitted to miss school and still continue on to 
        the next grade.
            (12) Evidence shows that participation in summer youth 
        employment programs also reduces the rate of violent crimes 
        arrests. For example, a 2014 study of the One Summer Chicago 
        Plus program shows that the program reduced violent crime 
        arrests among at-risk youth by approximately 43 percent, with 
        crime reduction benefits lasting more than a year after the 
        program had ended. This reduction can have a significant impact 
        for young people, given the impact of a criminal record on 
        future employment prospects and wages.
            (13) Despite its benefits, summer youth employment declined 
        by more than 40 percent between 1999 and 2013, at a loss of 
        more than 3,000,000 summer jobs for young people in the United 
        States. A J.P. Morgan Chase study of 14 major cities in the 
        United States found that summer youth employment programs were 
        only able to provide opportunities for 46 percent of applicants 
        in 2014.
            (14) According to research by Measure of America, the 
        overwhelming number of youth disconnected from school and work 
        come from disconnected communities marked by high adult 
        unemployment, poverty, and racial segregation, as well as low 
        levels of adult education attainment. These communities often 
        lack the resources and supports needed to prevent and reverse 
        youth disconnection.
            (15) Many at-risk or opportunity youth, finding that 
        traditional pathways to educational attainment or employment 
        are ill-matched to their individual needs, struggle to remain 
        connected or reconnect to school and work.
            (16) For some youth, individual barriers, such as unstable 
        housing, lack of access to affordable child care or 
        transportation, or involvement in the juvenile or criminal 
        justice system, make it difficult to take advantage of existing 
        employment and education pathways.
            (17) According to the 2016 report entitled ``Supportive 
        Services in Job Training and Education: A Research Review'', 
        studies suggest that education and training programs that offer 
        supportive services, such as child care, transportation, and 
        financial assistance, are associated with improved outcomes.
            (18) Community-based preventions and interventions can 
        address the distinct problems opportunity youth may face in the 
        local community and provide a connection to the education and 
        training, re-engagement, and supportive services needed to help 
        these young people succeed.
            (19) Previous Federal grant programs targeting communities 
        with high rates of poverty have been successful in building the 
        capacity of such communities to improve labor market 
        participation and education attainment rates for young people.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Of the amount made available under section 3, the 
Secretary of Labor shall allot (subject to subsection (b))--
            (1) 30 percent of such amount to carry out section 5;
            (2) 35 percent of such amount to carry out section 6; and
            (3) 35 percent of such amount to carry out section 7.
    (b) Reservation of Funds for Administrative and Other Purposes.--
The Secretary of Labor shall reserve--
            (1) not more than 5 percent of amounts available under each 
        of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) for the costs 
        of innovation and learning activities under section 10;
            (2) not more than 5 percent of amounts available under each 
        of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) for the costs 
        of Federal administration of this Act; and
            (3) not more than 2 percent of amounts available under each 
        of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) for the costs 
        of evaluations conducted under section 11.
    (c) Period of Availability.--The amount appropriated under this Act 
shall be available for obligation by the Secretary of Labor until the 
date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.

    (a) In General.--Of the amount available under section 4(a)(1) that 
is not reserved under section 4(b), the Secretary of Labor shall, for 
the purpose of carrying out summer employment programs under this 
section--
            (1) after making the reservations described in paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), make an allotment of the remainder of such amount 
        in accordance with section 127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to 
        each State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 of 
        such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112; 3113);
            (2) reserve not more than one-quarter of 1 percent of such 
        amount to provide assistance to the outlying areas; and
            (3) reserve not more than 1\1/2\ percent of such amount to, 
        on a competitive basis, make grants to, or enter into contracts 
        or cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes, tribal 
        organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled 
        organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
        to carry out summer employment programs consistent with the 
        requirements of this section as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Within State Allocations.--
            (1) In general.--The Governor of a State, in accordance 
        with the State plan developed under section 102 or 103 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 
        3113), shall allocate the amount that is allotted to the State 
        under subsection (a)(1) to local areas meeting the requirements 
        under subsection (c) in accordance with the allocation 
        described in section 128(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(2)(A)(i)) for 
        the purpose of developing and expanding summer employment 
        programs under this section.
            (2) Reallocation among local areas.--
                    (A) In general.--The Governor may, after 
                consultation with the State board, reallocate to 
                eligible local areas within the State amounts that are 
                made available to local areas from allocations made 
                under this section (referred to in this paragraph as a 
                ``local allocation'') and that are available for 
                reallocation in accordance with this paragraph.
                    (B) Amount.--The amount available for reallocation 
                for a program year is equal to the amount by which the 
                unobligated balance of the local allocation, at the end 
                of the program year prior to the program year for which 
                the determination under this paragraph is made, exceeds 
                20 percent of such allocation for the prior program 
                year.
                    (C) Reallocation.--In making reallocations to 
                eligible local areas of amounts available pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B) for a program year, the Governor shall 
                allocate to each eligible local area within the State 
                an amount based on the relative amount of the local 
                allocation for the program year for which the 
                determination is made, as compared to the total amount 
                of the local allocations for all eligible local areas 
                in the State for such program year.
                    (D) Eligible local area.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term ``eligible local area'' means a 
                local area that meets the requirements under subsection 
                (c) and does not have an amount available for 
                reallocation under subparagraph (B) for the program 
                year for which the determination under such 
                subparagraph is made.
            (3) Local reservation.--Of the amount allocated to a local 
        area under paragraph (1), not more than 7 percent of such 
        amount may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out 
        a summer youth employment program under this section, including 
        costs for participating in regional and national opportunities 
        for in-person peer learning under section 10(2).
    (c) Local Plans.--
            (1) In general.--In order for a local area to be eligible 
        for funds under this section, the local board of the local area 
        shall develop and submit to the Governor in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) a 4-year plan for the summer employment program. 
        Such plan shall, at a minimum--
                    (A) not conflict with the local plan submitted by 
                the local board under section 108 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), as 
                determined by the Governor; and
                    (B) contain the contents required under paragraph 
                (3).
            (2) Submission.--
                    (A) In general.--A plan required under this 
                subsection shall be submitted by the local area to the 
                Governor of such area at such time and in such manner 
                as the Governor may reasonably require.
                    (B) Combined plans.--If a local area is seeking 
                funds under this section and section 6, the plan 
                required under this subsection may be submitted in 
                combination with a plan under such section, in lieu of 
                the local area submitting 2 separate plans.
            (3) Contents.--At a minimum, each plan required under this 
        subsection shall include--
                    (A) a description of how the local area will carry 
                out the activities described in subsection (d) for each 
                program year;
                    (B) a description of how the local area will 
                recruit eligible youth into the summer employment 
                program;
                    (C) the number of eligible youth expected to 
                participate in the program each program year;
                    (D) a description of the services, including 
                supportive services, that the program is expected to 
                provide to eligible youth;
                    (E) reasonable goals for performance 
                accountability, as measured by the primary indicators 
                of performance described in subsection (e)(1);
                    (F) an assurance that the program will be aligned 
                with the youth workforce investment activities provided 
                under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3161 et seq.);
                    (G) an assurance that the local area will adhere to 
                the labor standards described in section 8; and
                    (H) any other information as the Governor may 
                reasonably require.
    (d) Local Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Development activities.--A local area that 
                receives an amount allocated under this section and, at 
                the beginning of a program year, is not carrying out a 
                summer employment program that meets all requirements 
                under paragraph (2)--
                            (i) shall use such amount to--
                                    (I) plan, develop, and carry out a 
                                summer employment program that meets 
                                all such requirements; and
                                    (II) conduct outreach to eligible 
                                youth and employers; and
                            (ii) may--
                                    (I) use such amount to develop 
                                technology infrastructure, including 
                                data and management systems, to support 
                                such program; and
                                    (II) use not more than 25 percent 
                                of such amount to subsidize not more 
                                than 75 percent of the wages of each 
                                eligible youth participating in the 
                                program.
                    (B) Expansion activities.--A local area that 
                receives an amount allocated under this section and, at 
                the beginning of a program year, is carrying out a 
                summer employment program that meets all requirements 
                under paragraph (2)--
                            (i) shall use such amount to--
                                    (I) increase the number of summer 
                                employment opportunities offered 
                                through such program, including 
                                unsubsidized or partly subsidized 
                                opportunities and opportunities in the 
                                private sector;
                                    (II) conduct outreach to eligible 
                                youth and employers; and
                                    (III) subsidize not more than 50 
                                percent of the wages of each eligible 
                                youth participating in the program; and
                            (ii) may use such amount to enhance the 
                        activities required under paragraph (2)(B).
            (2) Program requirements.--
                    (A) Program design.--
                            (i) In general.--A summer employment 
                        program receiving funding under this section 
                        shall match each eligible youth participating 
                        in the program with an appropriate employer, 
                        based on factors including the needs of the 
                        employer and the age, skill, and informed 
                        aspirations of the eligible youth, for a high-
                        quality summer employment opportunity, which 
                        may not--
                                    (I) be less than 4 weeks; and
                                    (II) pay less than the greater of 
                                the applicable Federal, State, or local 
                                minimum wage.
                            (ii) Youth participant eligibility.--An 
                        individual, to be eligible to participate in a 
                        summer employment program under this section 
                        for a program year, shall, at the time the 
                        eligibility determination is made, be an out-
                        of-school youth or an in-school youth.
                    (B) Program elements.--Each summer employment 
                program receiving funding under this section shall 
                include--
                            (i) work-readiness training and educational 
                        programs for eligible youth to enhance their 
                        summer employment opportunity;
                            (ii) coaching and mentoring services for 
                        eligible youth participating in the program to 
                        enhance their summer employment opportunity and 
                        encourage completion of such opportunity 
                        through the program;
                            (iii) coaching and mentoring services for 
                        employers on how to successfully employ 
                        eligible youth participating in the program in 
                        meaningful work;
                            (iv) career and college planning services 
                        for eligible youth participating in the 
                        program;
                            (v) high-quality financial literacy 
                        education for eligible youth participating in 
                        the program, including education on the use of 
                        credit and financing higher education, and 
                        access to safe and affordable banking accounts 
                        with consumer protections;
                            (vi) providing supportive services to 
                        eligible youth, or connecting such youth to 
                        supportive services provided by another entity, 
                        to enable their participation in the program;
                            (vii) integrating services provided by the 
                        program with year-round employment programs, 
                        youth development programs, secondary school 
                        programs, youth workforce investment activities 
                        provided under chapter 2 of subtitle B of title 
                        I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                        Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et seq.), and skills 
                        training programs funded by the State or 
                        Federal Government;
                            (viii) referring at least 30 percent of 
                        eligible youth participating in the program 
                        from or to providers of youth services, adult 
                        employment and training services, vocational 
                        rehabilitation services, and adult education 
                        and literacy services under the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 
                        et seq.) or skills training programs funded by 
                        the State or Federal Government;
                            (ix) a rigorous evaluation of the program 
                        using research approaches appropriate to the 
                        level of development and maturity of the 
                        program, including random assignment or quasi-
                        experimental impact evaluations, implementation 
                        evaluations, pre-experimental studies, and 
                        feasibility studies; and
                            (x) commitment and support from mayors and 
                        county executives.
                    (C) Priority.--In carrying out a summer employment 
                program receiving funding under this section, a local 
                area shall--
                            (i) give priority to summer employment 
                        opportunities--
                                    (I) in existing or emerging in-
                                demand industry sectors or occupations; 
                                or
                                    (II) that meet community needs in 
                                the public, private, or nonprofit 
                                sector; and
                            (ii) for any program year, use not less 
                        than 75 percent of the amount allotted under 
                        this section to provide summer employment 
                        opportunities for eligible youth that are in-
                        school youth.
    (e) Performance Accountability.--
            (1) Primary indicators of performance.--For activities 
        funded under this section, the primary indicators of 
        performance shall include--
                    (A) the performance metrics described in clauses 
                (i)(V) and (ii)(I) of section 116(b)(2)(A) of the 
                Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                3141(b)(2)(A)); and
                    (B) a work-readiness indicator established by the 
                Secretary of Labor.
            (2) Failure to meet local performance accountability 
        measures.--If a local area fails, for any program year, to meet 
        performance accountability goals identified in its local plan 
        under subsection (c)(3)(E), the Governor, or, upon request by 
        the Governor, the Secretary of Labor, shall provide the local 
        area with technical assistance, which may include assistance in 
        the development of a performance improvement plan.
    (f) Supplement and Not Supplant.--Any funds made available for 
summer employment programs under this section shall supplement and not 
supplant other State or local public funds expended for summer youth 
employment programs or other youth activities funded under section 129 
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164).
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--For each year that a local area receives 
        funds under this section to carry out a summer employment 
        program, the local area shall submit to the Secretary of Labor 
        and the Governor a report with--
                    (A) the number of eligible youth participating in 
                the program, including the number of such youth that 
                are in-school youth and that are out-of-school youth;
                    (B) the number of eligible youth participating in 
                the program who complete a summer employment 
                opportunity through the program;
                    (C) the expenditures made from the amounts 
                allocated under this section, including expenditures 
                made to provide eligible youth participating in such 
                program with supportive services;
                    (D) a description of how the local area has used 
                amounts allocated under this section to develop or 
                expand a summer youth employment program, including a 
                description of program activities and services provided 
                to eligible youth, including supportive services 
                provided and the number of eligible youth participating 
                in such program and accessing such services;
                    (E) the source and amount of funding for the wages 
                of each eligible youth participating in the program;
                    (F) information specifying the levels of 
                performance achieved with respect to the primary 
                indicators of performance for the program described in 
                subsection (e)(1);
                    (G) the average number of hours and weeks worked 
                and the average amount of wages earned by eligible 
                youth participating in the program;
                    (H) the percent of eligible youth participating in 
                the program that are placed in--
                            (i) an employment opportunity in the 
                        nonprofit sector;
                            (ii) an employment opportunity in the 
                        public sector; and
                            (iii) an employment opportunity in the 
                        private sector; and
                    (I) any other information that the Secretary of 
                Labor determines necessary to monitor the effectiveness 
                of the summer employment program.
            (2) Disaggregation.--The information required to be 
        reported under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (G) of paragraph (1) 
        shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and the 
        subpopulations described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of 
        section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii)).

SEC. 6. YEAR-ROUND EMPLOYMENT FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH.

    (a) In General.--Of the amount available under section 4(a)(2) that 
is not reserved under section 4(b), the Secretary of Labor shall, for 
the purpose of carrying out year-round employment programs under this 
section--
            (1) after making the reservation described in paragraph 
        (2), make an allotment of the remainder of such amount in 
        accordance with section 127(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3162(b)(1)(C)(ii)) to 
        each State that meets the requirements of section 102 or 103 of 
        such Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 3113); and
            (2) reserve not more than one-quarter of 1 percent of such 
        amount to provide assistance to the outlying areas.
    (b) Within State Allocations.--
            (1) In general.--The Governor of a State, in accordance 
        with the State plan developed under section 102 or 103 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112, 
        3113), shall allocate the amounts that are allotted to the 
        State under subsection (a)(1) to local areas meeting the 
        requirements under subsection (c) in accordance with the 
        allocation described section 128(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(2)(A)(i)) for 
        the purpose of developing and expanding year-round employment 
        programs under this section.
            (2) Reallocation among local areas.--
                    (A) In general.--The Governor may, after 
                consultation with the State board, reallocate to 
                eligible local areas within the State amounts that are 
                made available to local areas from allocations made 
                under this section (referred to in this paragraph as a 
                ``local allocation'') and that are available for 
                reallocation in accordance with this paragraph.
                    (B) Amount.--The amount available for reallocation 
                for a program year is equal to the amount by which the 
                unobligated balance of the local allocation, at the end 
                of the program year prior to the program year for which 
                the determination under this paragraph is made, exceeds 
                20 percent of such allocation for the prior program 
                year.
                    (C) Reallocation.--In making reallocations to 
                eligible local areas of amounts available pursuant to 
                subparagraph (B) for a program year, the Governor shall 
                allocate to each eligible local area within the State 
                an amount based on the relative amount of the local 
                allocation for the program year for which the 
                determination is made, as compared to the total amount 
                of the local allocations for all eligible local areas 
                in the State for such program year.
                    (D) Eligible local area.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term ``eligible local area'' means a 
                local area that meets the requirements under subsection 
                (c) and does not have an amount available for 
                reallocation under subparagraph (B) for the program 
                year for which the determination under such 
                subparagraph is made.
            (3) Local reservation.--Of the amount allocated to a local 
        area under paragraph (1), not more than 7 percent of such 
        amount may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out 
        a year-round employment program under this section, including 
        costs for participating in regional and national opportunities 
        for in-person peer learning under section 10.
    (c) Local Plans.--
            (1) In general.--In order for a local area to be eligible 
        for funds under this section, the local board of the local area 
        shall develop and submit to the Governor in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) a 4-year plan for the year-round employment 
        program. Such plan shall, at a minimum--
                    (A) not conflict with the local plan submitted by 
                the local board under section 108 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), as 
                determined by the Governor; and
                    (B) contain the contents required under paragraph 
                (3).
            (2) Submission.--
                    (A) In general.--A plan required under this 
                subsection shall be submitted by the local area to the 
                Governor of such area at such time and in such manner 
                as the Governor may reasonably require.
                    (B) Combined plans.--If a local area is seeking 
                funds under this section and section 5, the plan 
                required under this subsection may be submitted in 
                combination with a plan under such section, in lieu of 
                the local area submitting 2 separate plans.
            (3) Contents.--At a minimum, each plan required under this 
        subsection shall include--
                    (A) a description of how the local area will carry 
                out the activities described in subsection (d) for each 
                program year;
                    (B) a description of how the local area will 
                recruit eligible youth to participate in the program;
                    (C) the number of eligible youth expected to 
                participate in the program each program year;
                    (D) a description of the services provided, 
                including supportive services, that the program is 
                expected to provide to eligible youth;
                    (E) reasonable goals for performance 
                accountability, as measured by the primary indicators 
                of performance described in subsection (e)(1);
                    (F) an assurance that the program will be aligned 
                with the youth investment activities provided under 
                chapter 2 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 et 
                seq.);
                    (G) an assurance that the local area will adhere to 
                the labor standards outlined in section 8; and
                    (H) any other information as the Governor may 
                reasonably require.
    (d) Local Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Development activities.--A local area that 
                receives an amount allocated under this section and, at 
                the beginning of a program year, is not carrying out a 
                year-round employment program that meets all of the 
                requirements under paragraph (2)--
                            (i) shall use such amount to--
                                    (I) plan, develop, and carry out a 
                                year-round employment program that 
                                meets all such requirements; and
                                    (II) conduct outreach to eligible 
                                youth and employers; and
                            (ii) may--
                                    (I) use such amount to develop 
                                technology infrastructure, including 
                                data and management systems, to support 
                                such program; and
                                    (II) use not more than 30 percent 
                                of such amount to subsidize the wages 
                                of each eligible youth participating in 
                                such program.
                    (B) Expansion activities.--A local area that 
                receives an amount allocated under this section and, at 
                the beginning of a program year, is carrying out a 
                year-round employment program that meets all 
                requirements under paragraph (2)--
                            (i) shall use such amount to--
                                    (I) increase the number of year-
                                round employment opportunities offered 
                                through such program, including 
                                unsubsidized or partly subsidized 
                                opportunities and opportunities in the 
                                private sector;
                                    (II) conduct outreach to eligible 
                                youth and employers; and
                                    (III) subsidize the wages of each 
                                eligible youth participating in such 
                                program; and
                            (ii) may use such amount to enhance the 
                        activities required under paragraph (2)(B).
            (2) Local elements.--
                    (A) Program design.--
                            (i) In general.--A year-round employment 
                        program receiving funding under this section 
                        shall match each eligible youth participating 
                        in the program with an appropriate employer, 
                        based on factors including the needs of the 
                        employer and the age, skill, and informed 
                        aspirations of the participant, for high-
                        quality year-round employment, which may not--
                                    (I) be less than 180 days and more 
                                than 1 year;
                                    (II) pay less than the greater of 
                                the applicable Federal, State, or local 
                                minimum wage; and
                                    (III) employ the eligible youth for 
                                less than 20 hours per week.
                            (ii) Employer share of wages.--A year-round 
                        employment program receiving funding under this 
                        section shall require not less than 25 percent 
                        of the wages of each eligible youth 
                        participating in the program to be paid by the 
                        employer, except this requirement may be waived 
                        for not more than 10 percent of eligible youth 
                        participating in the program that have a 
                        significant barrier to employment as defined by 
                        the local board of the local area carrying out 
                        the program.
                            (iii) Youth participant eligibility.--An 
                        individual, to be eligible to participate in a 
                        year-round employment program under this 
                        section for a program year, shall, at the time 
                        the eligibility determination is made, be an 
                        out-of-school youth or an in-school youth.
                    (B) Program elements.--A year-round program 
                receiving funding under this section shall include--
                            (i) work-readiness training and educational 
                        programs for eligible youth to enhance their 
                        year-round employment opportunity;
                            (ii) coaching and mentoring services for 
                        eligible youth participating in the program to 
                        enhance their year-round employment opportunity 
                        and encourage completion of such opportunity 
                        through the program;
                            (iii) coaching and mentoring services for 
                        employers on how to successfully employ each 
                        eligible youth participating in the program in 
                        meaningful work;
                            (iv) career and college planning services 
                        for eligible youth participating in the 
                        program;
                            (v) high-quality financial literacy 
                        education for eligible youth participating in 
                        the program, including education on the use of 
                        credit and financing higher education, and 
                        access to safe and affordable banking accounts 
                        with consumer protections;
                            (vi) providing supportive services to 
                        eligible youth, or connecting such youth to 
                        supportive services provided by another entity, 
                        to enable participation in the program;
                            (vii) integration of services provided by 
                        the program with youth development programs, 
                        secondary school programs, youth workforce 
                        investment activities under chapter 2 of 
                        subtitle B of title I of the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3161 
                        et seq.), and skills training programs funded 
                        by the State or Federal Government;
                            (viii) referring at least 30 percent of 
                        eligible youth participating in the program 
                        from or to providers of youth services, adult 
                        employment and training services, vocational 
                        rehabilitation services, and adult education 
                        and literacy services under the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 
                        et seq.), or skills training programs funded by 
                        the State or Federal Government;
                            (ix) a rigorous evaluation of such program 
                        using research approaches appropriate to the 
                        level of development and maturity of the 
                        program, including random assignment or quasi-
                        experimental impact evaluations, implementation 
                        evaluations, pre-experimental studies, and 
                        feasibility studies; and
                            (x) commitment and support from mayors or 
                        county executives.
                    (C) Priority.--In carrying out a year-round 
                employment program receiving funding under this 
                section, a local area shall give priority to year-round 
                employment opportunities--
                            (i) in existing or emerging in-demand 
                        industry sectors or occupations; or
                            (ii) that meet community needs in the 
                        public, private, or nonprofit sector.
    (e) Performance Accountability.--
            (1) In general.--For activities funded under this section, 
        the primary indicators of performance shall include--
                    (A) the performance metrics described in clauses 
                (i)(III), (i)(V), (ii)(I), and (ii)(II) of section 
                116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)); and
                    (B) a work-readiness indicator established by the 
                Secretary of Labor.
            (2) Failure to meet local performance accountability 
        measures.--If a local area fails, for any program year, to meet 
        performance accountability goals identified in its plan under 
        subsection (c)(3)(E), the Governor, or, upon request by the 
        Governor, the Secretary of Labor, shall provide the local area 
        with technical assistance, which may include assistance in the 
        development of a performance improvement plan.
    (f) Supplement and Not Supplant.--Any funds made available for 
year-round employment programs under this section shall supplement and 
not supplant other State or local public funds expended for year-round 
youth employment programs or other youth activities funded under 
section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3164).
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--For each year that a local area receives 
        funds under this section for a year-round employment program, 
        the local area shall submit to the Secretary of Labor and the 
        Governor a report with--
                    (A) the number of eligible youth participating in 
                the program;
                    (B) the number of eligible youth participating in 
                the program who complete a year-round employment 
                opportunity through the program;
                    (C) the expenditures made from the amounts 
                allocated under this section, including expenditures 
                made to provide eligible youth participating in the 
                program with supportive services;
                    (D) a description of how the local area has used 
                amounts allocated under this section to develop or 
                expand a year-round employment program, including a 
                description of the program activities and services, 
                including the supportive services provided and the 
                number of eligible youth participating in the program 
                and accessing such services;
                    (E) the source and amount of funding for the wages 
                of each eligible youth participating in the program;
                    (F) information specifying the levels of 
                performance achieved with respect to the primary 
                indicators of performance described in subsection 
                (e)(1) for the program;
                    (G) the average number of hours and weeks worked 
                and the average amount of wages earned by eligible 
                youth participating in the program;
                    (H) the percent of eligible youth participating in 
                the program that are placed in--
                            (i) an employment opportunity in the 
                        nonprofit sector;
                            (ii) an employment opportunity in the 
                        public sector; and
                            (iii) an employment opportunity in the 
                        private sector;
                    (I) the number of eligible youth participating in 
                the program who are asked by the employer to remain 
                employed by the employer after the end of the year-
                round employment and the number of youth participants 
                remaining employed by the employer for not less than 90 
                days after the end of the year-round employment; and
                    (J) any other information that the Secretary of 
                Labor determines necessary to monitor the effectiveness 
                of the program.
            (2) Disaggregation.--The information required to be 
        reported under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (G) of paragraph (1) 
        shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and each 
        subpopulation described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of 
        section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii)).

SEC. 7. CONNECTING-FOR-OPPORTUNITIES COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Of the amount available under section 4(a)(3) that 
is not reserved under section 4(b), the Secretary of Labor shall, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Education, award grants on a 
competitive basis to assist local community partnerships in improving 
high school graduation and youth employment rates.
    (b) Local Community Partnerships.--
            (1) Mandatory partners.--A local community partnership 
        awarded a grant under this section shall, at a minimum, include 
        in the partnership--
                    (A) a unit of general local government;
                    (B) a local educational agency;
                    (C) an institution of higher education;
                    (D) a local board;
                    (E) a community-based organization with experience 
                or expertise in working with youth;
                    (F) a public agency serving youth under the 
                jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system or criminal 
                justice system;
                    (G) a State or local child welfare agency; and
                    (H) an agency administering programs under part A 
                of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 
                et seq.).
            (2) Optional partners.--A local community partnership 
        awarded a grant under this section may, in addition to the 
        required partners under paragraph (1), include in the 
        partnership--
                    (A) one-stop centers;
                    (B) employers or employer associations;
                    (C) representatives of labor organizations;
                    (D) entities that carry out programs that receive 
                funding under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.);
                    (E) public agencies or community-based 
                organizations with expertise in providing counseling 
                services, including trauma-informed and gender-
                responsive counseling;
                    (F) public housing agencies, collaborative 
                applicants, as defined in section 401 of the McKinney-
                Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360), or 
                private nonprofit organizations that serve homeless 
                youth and households or foster youth; and
                    (G) other appropriate State and local agencies.
    (c) Application.--A local community partnership desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Labor an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, each 
application shall include a comprehensive plan that--
            (1) demonstrates sufficient need for the grant in the local 
        population, which need may be demonstrated with indicators 
        including--
                    (A) a high rate of high school dropouts and youth 
                unemployment; and
                    (B) a high percentage or number of low-income 
                individuals in the local population;
            (2) demonstrates the capacity of each local community 
        partnership to carry out the activities described in subsection 
        (d);
            (3) does not conflict with the local plan submitted by the 
        local board under section 108 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3123), the local plan for career and 
        technical education programs authorized under the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
        2301 et seq.) (if not part of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act local plan), and the State plan for programs 
        under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        601 et seq.); and
            (4) includes an assurance that the local community 
        partnership will adhere to the labor standards outlined in 
        section 8.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A local community partnership receiving a grant 
under this section shall use the grant funds--
            (1) to target and serve individuals not younger than age 14 
        or older than age 24;
            (2) to make appropriate use of education, child welfare, 
        social services, and workforce development data collection 
        systems to facilitate the local community partnership's ability 
        to target and serve the individuals described in paragraph (1);
            (3) to develop wide-ranging pathways to higher education 
        and employment, including--
                    (A) using not less than 50 percent of the grant 
                funds to help individuals described in paragraph (1) 
                complete their secondary school education through 
                various alternative means, including through high-
                quality, flexible programs that utilize evidence-based 
                interventions and provide differentiated services (or 
                pathways) to students--
                            (i) who are returning to education after 
                        exiting secondary school without a regular high 
                        school diploma; or
                            (ii) who, based on their grade or age, are 
                        significantly off track to accumulate 
                        sufficient academic credits to meet high school 
                        graduation requirements, as established by the 
                        State;
                    (B) creating career pathways, focused on paid work-
                based learning consisting of on-the-job training and 
                classroom instruction, that--
                            (i) will lead to credential attainment; and
                            (ii) includes, to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, learning through registered 
                        apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship 
                        programs;
                    (C) connecting individuals described in paragraph 
                (1) with professionals who can provide such individuals 
                with pre-employment and employment counseling and 
                assist such individuals in--
                            (i) finding and securing employment or 
                        work-based learning opportunities that pay not 
                        less than the greater of the applicable 
                        Federal, State, or local minimum wage;
                            (ii) identifying and assessing eligibility 
                        for training programs and funding for such 
                        programs;
                            (iii) completing necessary paperwork for 
                        applying for and enrolling in such programs; 
                        and
                            (iv) identifying additional services, if 
                        needed;
                    (D) connecting individuals described in paragraph 
                (1) with providers of--
                            (i) youth services, adult employment and 
                        training services, vocational rehabilitation 
                        services, and adult education and literacy 
                        services, under the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
                            (ii) career planning services; and
                            (iii) federally and State funded programs 
                        that provide skills training; and
                    (E) ensuring that such individuals successfully 
                transition into pre-apprenticeship programs, registered 
                apprenticeship programs, or programs leading to 
                recognized postsecondary credentials in in-demand 
                industry sectors or occupations;
            (4) to provide a comprehensive system aimed at preventing 
        the individuals described in paragraph (1) from disconnecting 
        from education, training, and employment, and aimed at re-
        engaging any such individual who has been so disconnected, by--
                    (A) providing school-based dropout prevention and 
                community-based dropout recovery services, including 
                establishing or improving school district early warning 
                systems that--
                            (i) connect such systems to data gathering 
                        and reporting systems established under the 
                        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                        U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) for the purpose of 
                        identifying the individuals described in 
                        paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) engage any such identified individual 
                        using targeted, evidence-based interventions to 
                        address the specific needs and issues of the 
                        individual, including chronic absenteeism; and
                    (B) providing the individuals described in 
                paragraph (1) with access to re-engagement services for 
                training programs and employment opportunities and 
                using providers of youth services under the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) 
                to conduct intake and refer such individuals and their 
                families to the appropriate re-engagement service; and
            (5) to provide a comprehensive system of support for the 
        individuals described in paragraph (1), including--
                    (A) connecting such individuals with professionals 
                who can--
                            (i) provide case management and counseling 
                        services; and
                            (ii) assist such individuals in--
                                    (I) developing achievable short-
                                term goals and long-term goals; and
                                    (II) overcoming any social, 
                                administrative, or financial barrier 
                                that may hinder the achievement of such 
                                goals; and
                    (B) providing or connecting participants with 
                available supportive services.
    (e) Priority in Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary of Labor shall give priority to applications submitted by 
local community partnerships that include a comprehensive plan that--
            (1) serves and targets communities with a high percentage 
        of low-income individuals and high rates of high school 
        dropouts and youth unemployment; and
            (2) allows the individuals described in paragraph (1) to 
        earn academic credit through various means, including high-
        quality career and technical education, dual enrollment 
        programs, or work-based learning.
    (f) Geographic Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
consideration is given to geographic distribution (such as urban and 
rural areas) in awarding grants under this section.
    (g) Performance Accountability.--For activities funded under this 
section, the primary indicators of performance shall include--
            (1) the performance metrics described in clauses (i)(III), 
        (i)(IV), (i)(V), (ii)(I), and (ii)(II) of section 116(b)(2)(A) 
        of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
        3141(b)(2)(A));
            (2) the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and the 
        extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate in a State that 
        chooses to use such a graduation rate; and
            (3) the rate of attaining a recognized equivalent of a 
        diploma, such as a general equivalency diploma.
    (h) Reports.--For each year that a local community partnership 
administers a program under this section, the local community 
partnership shall submit to the Secretary of Labor and, if applicable, 
the State a report on--
            (1) the number of youth participants in the program, 
        including the number of in-school and out-of-school youth, 
        disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and status as a 
        subpopulation described in any of subclauses (I) through (VII) 
        of section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3164(a)(1)(B)(iii));
            (2) the expenditures made from the amounts allocated under 
        this section, including any expenditures made to provide youth 
        participants with supportive services;
            (3) a description of program activities and services 
        provided, including supportive services provided and the number 
        of youth participants accessing such services;
            (4) information specifying the levels of performance 
        achieved with respect to the primary indicators of performance 
        described in subsection (g) for the program, disaggregated as 
        described in paragraph (1); and
            (5) any other information that the Secretary of Labor 
        determines necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the 
        program.

SEC. 8. LABOR STANDARDS.

    Any activity funded under this Act shall be subject to--
            (1) the requirements and restrictions, including the labor 
        standards, that apply to activities under title I of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et 
        seq.) as provided under section 181 of the Workforce Innovation 
        and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3241);
            (2) the requirements for nondiscrimination that apply to 
        activities under such title as provided under section 188 of 
        such Act (29 U.S.C. 3248); and
            (3) any other applicable Federal law.

SEC. 9. PRIVACY.

    Nothing in this Act--
            (1) shall be construed to supersede the privacy protections 
        afforded parents and students under section 444 of the General 
        Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g); or
            (2) shall be construed to permit the development of a 
        national database of personally identifiable information on 
        individuals receiving services under this Act.

SEC. 10. INNOVATION AND LEARNING.

    Out of the amount reserved under section 4(b)(1), the Secretary of 
Labor shall--
            (1) provide technical assistance to ensure providers have 
        sufficient organizational capacity, staff training, and 
        expertise to effectively implement the programs under this Act;
            (2) create regional and national opportunities for in-
        person peer learning; and
            (3) provide on a competitive basis subgrants to States and 
        local areas to--
                    (A) conduct pilot programs and demonstration 
                programs using emerging and evidence-based best 
                practices and models for youth employment programs; and
                    (B) evaluate such programs using designs that 
                employ the most rigorous analytical and statistical 
                methods that are reasonably feasible.

SEC. 11. EVALUATION AND REPORTS.

    (a) Evaluation.--Not earlier than 1 year, or later than 2 years, 
after the date described in section 4(c), the Secretary of Labor shall 
conduct an evaluation of the programs administered under this Act.
    (b) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 5 years after the date 
described in section 4(c), the Secretary of Labor shall transmit to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate, a final report on the results of the evaluation 
conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``extended-year adjusted cohort 
        graduation rate'', ``evidence-based'', ``four-year adjusted 
        cohort graduation rate'', ``local educational agency'', and 
        ``secondary school'' have the meanings given such terms in 
        section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Indian terms.--The terms ``Alaska Native entity'', 
        ``Indian'', ``Indian tribe'', ``National Hawaiian 
        organization'', and ``tribal organization'' have the meanings 
        given such terms in section 166 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221).
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term 
        ``registered apprenticeship program'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 171(b) of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3226(b)).
            (5) Other wioa terms.--The terms ``administrative costs'', 
        ``career and technical education'', ``career pathway'', 
        ``career planning'', ``community-based organization'', 
        ``Governor'', ``in-demand industry sector or occupation'', 
        ``in-school youth'', ``local area'', ``local board'', ``low-
        income individual'', ``one-stop center'', ``on-the-job 
        training'', ``outlying area'', ``out-of-school youth'', 
        ``school dropout'', ``State'', ``State board'', ``supportive 
        services'', ``unemployed individual'', and ``unit of general 
        local government'' have the meanings given such terms in 
        section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
        U.S.C. 3102).
                                 <all>