117 HR 3246 IH: Connecting Youth to Jobs Act U.S. House of Representatives 2021-05-14 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3246IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 14, 2021Mr. García of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Bush, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Mr. Evans, Mr. Carson, Mr. Trone, and Mr. Kahele) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo award funds to States and local areas for subsidized employment programs for youth.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Connecting Youth to Jobs Act.

2.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are to—(1)offer employment to all young people who seek it, especially those who have been historically disadvantaged;(2)create subsidized employment opportunities for young people to address National, State, and local priorities, such as infrastructure enhancement, manufacturing, public works, community development, and the arts; and(3)support young people with services, including housing, healthcare, transportation, child care, and access to technology.

3.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Qualifying emergency

The term qualifying emergency means—(A)a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d);(B)an event for which the President declared a major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 5191); or(C)a national emergency declared by the President under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).(2)

Eligible youth

The term eligible youth means an individual who is not younger than age 14 and not older than age 24, without regard to immigration status or past or current involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system. (3)

ESEA terms

The terms local educational agency and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (4)

High-poverty area

The term high-poverty area means a census tract with a youth poverty rate of at least 20 percent during the most recent 5 consecutive years.(5)

Historically high youth unemployment levels

The term historically high youth unemployment levels means any local area with a youth unemployment rate of at least 10 percent, as measured over the most recent decennial censuses, or by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent 5-year period for which data are available.(6)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).(7)

Public education entity

The term public education entities includes—(A)a local educational agency;(B)a State educational agency; or(C)a public institution of higher education.(8)

Registered apprenticeship program

The term registered apprenticeship programs means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30, 2019 (or successor requirements, standards or rule).(9)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.(10)

Supportive services

The term supportive services means services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under this Act.(11)

Work-based learning

The term work-based learning has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302), except that such term includes work-based learning in virtual settings.(12)

WIOA terms

The terms in-demand industry sector or occupation, individual with a disability, in-school youth , local area, local board, out-of-school youth, outlying area, poverty line, recognized postsecondary credential, State, State board, and unit of general local government have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). (13)

Youth with a barrier to employment

The term youth with a barrier to employment means an eligible youth who—(A)is a homeless child or youth (as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a));(B)has been incarcerated or has past or current involvement with the criminal or juvenile justice systems;(C)is a current or former foster youth;(D)is an individual with a disability;(E)is pregnant or parenting;(F)is a school dropout (as defined by State law);(G)is from a family with an income level at or below 200 percent of the poverty line; or(H)is a member of another young-adult population, including racial groups, that is experiencing disparate levels of youth disconnection, as defined by the local workforce development board of the local area in which the youth resides.