[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4512 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4512

   To amend the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the 
   Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 11, 2024

 Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mr. Reed) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the 
   Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 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 ``Job Corps for the Next Generation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    Section 141 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3191) is amended by striking ``centers'' each place the term 
appears and inserting ``campuses''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 142 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3192) is amended--
            (1) in paragraphs (1), (7), (8), and (10), by striking 
        ``center'' each place the term appears and inserting 
        ``campus''; and
            (2) in the paragraph heading of paragraph (7), by striking 
        ``center'' and inserting ``campus''.

SEC. 4. INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR THE JOB CORPS.

    Section 144 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3194) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``21'' and inserting ``24'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) an individual who is age 16 or 17 shall be 
                eligible only upon an individual determination by the 
                director of a Job Corps campus that such individual 
                meets the criteria described in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
                of section 145(b)(1); and''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``either''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2)(A) a low-income individual, as defined in subsection 
        (h) of section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1070a-11), as determined using procedures similar to the 
        procedures described in subsection (e) of such section; or
            ``(B) a resident of a qualified opportunity zone, as 
        defined in section 1400Z-1(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986; and'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
                Certain Other Members of the Armed Forces'' after 
                ``Veterans''; and
                    (B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                inserting ``or a member of the Armed Forces eligible 
                for preseparation counseling through the Transition 
                Assistance Program under section 1142 of title 10, 
                United States Code,'' after ``a veteran''; and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(c) Special Rule for Homeless and Foster Youth.--
            ``(1) Homeless children and youth.--In determining whether 
        an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this 
        subtitle on the basis of being a homeless child or youth, as 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(C), the individual making the 
        determination shall use a process that complies with the 
        process requirements that apply to financial aid administrators 
        under section 479D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
            ``(2) Individuals in foster care.--In determining whether 
        an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this 
        subtitle on the basis of being an individual in foster care or 
        who was in foster care, as described in subsection (a)(3)(C), 
        the individual making the determination shall use a process 
        that complies with the process requirements that apply to 
        financial aid administrators under section 479D(b) of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965.''.

SEC. 5. RECRUITMENT, SCREENING, SELECTION, AND ASSIGNMENT OF ENROLLEES.

    Section 145 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3195) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``and the 
                results received within 45 days after the enrollees 
                enroll in the Job Corps'' and inserting ``after 
                enrollees first arrive at a Job Corps campus for the 
                purpose of assessing the need for substance abuse 
                intervention or behavioral counseling'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking the last 
                sentence; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) No wrong door.--The Secretary shall establish 
        standards and procedures under this subsection to assist 
        applicable one-stop centers and other entities with which the 
        Secretary has entered into agreements under paragraph (3) in 
        streamlining application processes, in order to allow an 
        applicant to express interest in and begin the application 
        processes for the Job Corps program and for the YouthBuild 
        program under section 171 and youth workforce investment 
        activities under chapter 2 of subtitle B.''; and
            (2) in subsections (b), (c), and (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``center'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campus''; and
                    (B) by striking ``centers'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campuses''.

SEC. 6. ENROLLMENT.

    Section 146(b)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3196(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``Center'' and inserting 
``Campus''.

SEC. 7. JOB CORPS CAMPUSES.

    Section 147 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3197) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``centers'' and 
        inserting ``campuses'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``center'' each 
                place the term appears and inserting ``campus'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``center'' each place the term appears and 
                        inserting ``campus''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Considerations.--
                            ``(i) Student outcomes.--In selecting an 
                        entity to operate a Job Corps campus, the 
                        Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) with respect to entities with 
                                previous experience in Job Corps campus 
                                operations or the provision of youth 
                                workforce activities under chapter 2 of 
                                subtitle B, consider a numeric metric 
                                of past achievement on the primary 
                                indicators of performance for eligible 
                                youth described in section 
                                116(b)(2)(A)(ii); and
                                    ``(II) with respect to entities 
                                without such previous experience in Job 
                                Corps campus operations or youth 
                                workforce activities, consider a 
                                comparable alternative metric, 
                                developed and published by the 
                                Secretary, that allows such entities to 
                                demonstrate their past effectiveness 
                                based on such primary indicators of 
                                performance for eligible youth.
                            ``(ii) Providers.--In selecting a service 
                        provider for a Job Corps campus, the Secretary 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) consider--
                                            ``(aa) with respect to 
                                        entities with previous 
                                        experience in providing 
                                        services to a Job Corps campus, 
                                        the metric described in clause 
                                        (i)(I); and
                                            ``(bb) with respect to 
                                        entities without such previous 
                                        experience, the metric 
                                        described in clause (i)(II); 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) in determining the type of 
                                contract, give a preference to cost-
                                type contracts with performance 
                                incentives.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``center'' each place the 
                        term appears and inserting ``campus'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                        ``high-skill, high-wage, or'' before ``in-
                        demand'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
                        ``including agreements to provide off-campus 
                        work-based learning opportunities aligned with 
                        the career and technical education provided to 
                        enrollees,'' after ``is located,'';
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), 
                        (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) as 
                        subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), and 
                        (L), respectively; and
                            (v) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                        following:
                    ``(E) A description of the demonstrated record of 
                effectiveness the entity and its partners have in 
                providing a safe learning and residential environment 
                for individuals eligible to enroll in the Job Corps.'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
                    (B) by striking ``center'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campus'';
                    (C) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) High performance.--An entity shall be considered to 
        be an operator of a high-performing campus if the Job Corps 
        campus operated by the entity was ranked among the top 25 
        percent of Job Corps campuses, excluding Civilian Conservation 
        Campuses described in subsection (d), for the 2 most recent 
        preceding program years.''; and
                    (D) by striking paragraph (3);
            (4) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``centers'' and inserting 
                ``campuses''; and
                    (B) by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``30 
                percent'';
            (5) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
                    (B) by striking ``centers'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campuses''; and
                    (C) by striking ``Centers'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``Campuses'';
            (6) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``centers'' and 
        inserting ``campuses'';
            (7) in subsection (f), by striking ``2-year period'' and 
        inserting ``4-year period''; and
            (8) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) by striking ``center'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campus''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or if a second 
                program year is not available'' and all that follows 
                through the end and inserting ``such campus has been 
                ranked in the lowest 10 percent of Job Corps 
                campuses.''.

SEC. 8. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.

    Section 148 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3198) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
                    (B) by striking ``center'' each place the term 
                appears and inserting ``campus''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, on completion 
                of their enrollment'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``the eligible providers'' 
                        and inserting ``any eligible provider''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``if the training 
                        services are aligned with the career and 
                        technical education an enrollee has completed'' 
                        after ``under section 122''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``centers'' and 
                inserting ``campuses'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively;
            (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Job Corps Career Pathways and Apprenticeships.--
            ``(1) Career pathways for strategic national importance 
        positions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall work with 
                the heads of Federal agencies including, at a minimum, 
                the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense, 
                and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to create career 
                pathways for Job Corps enrollees into positions of 
                strategic national importance for which the relevant 
                Federal agencies or their suppliers are struggling with 
                hiring.
                    ``(B) Appointment.--The head of a Federal agency 
                establishing a career pathway described in subparagraph 
                (A) may appoint, without regard to the provisions of 
                subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
                Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title), 
                a Job Corps enrollee enrolled in a relevant career 
                pathway program directly to any such position for which 
                the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards.
            ``(2) Apprenticeships.--A Job Corps campus may serve as a 
        pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship education and training 
        provider, intermediary, partner, or sponsor.''; and
            (5) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``centers'' and inserting 
                ``campuses''; and
                    (B) by striking ``provide'' and inserting 
                ``encourage Job Corps operators to provide''.

SEC. 9. TRANSITION SUPPORT.

    Section 150 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3200) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``centers'' and 
        inserting ``campuses'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``3 months'' and 
        inserting ``12 months''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Period of Transition.--Notwithstanding the requirements of 
section 146(b), a Job Corps graduate may remain an enrollee and a 
resident of a Job Corps campus for not more than 1 month after 
graduation as such graduate transitions into independent living and 
employment, if such graduate received written approval from the 
director of the Job Corps campus to remain such a resident.''.

SEC. 10. OPERATIONS.

    Section 151 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3201) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campus''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Local Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the limitations of the budget 
        approved by the Secretary for a Job Corps campus and 
        notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the operator of a Job 
        Corps campus shall have the authority, without prior approval 
        from the Secretary, to--
                    ``(A) determine how and when learning is delivered 
                and what tools, such as a learning management system, 
                are employed for that purpose;
                    ``(B) determine the appropriate policy and 
                protocols with respect to enrollees leaving the campus 
                and employers and other guests visiting the campus, and 
                the need for fencing or other security measures around 
                the campus;
                    ``(C) hire staff and provide staff professional 
                development;
                    ``(D) set terms and enter into agreements with 
                Federal, State, or local educational partners, such as 
                secondary schools, institutions of higher education, 
                child development centers, units of Junior Reserves' 
                Officer Training Corps programs established under 
                section 2031 of title 10, United States Code, or 
                employers; and
                    ``(E) engage with and educate stakeholders about 
                Job Corps operations and activities.
            ``(2) Limitation of liability.--In the case of an agreement 
        described in paragraph (1)(D) that does not involve the Job 
        Corps operator providing monetary compensation to the entity 
        involved in such agreement from the funds made available under 
        this subtitle, such agreement shall not be considered a 
        subcontract (as defined in section 8701 of title 41, United 
        States Code).
    ``(e) Prior Notice.--Prior to making a change to the agreement 
described in section 147(a) or an operating plan described in this 
section, the Secretary shall solicit from the operators of the Job 
Corps campuses information on any operational costs the operators 
expect to result from such change.''.

SEC. 11. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

    Section 152 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``centers'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campuses'';
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking the last sentence and 
        inserting ``As part of the operating plan required under 
        section 151(a), the director of each Job Corps campus shall 
        develop and implement a behavior management plan consistent 
        with the standards of conduct and subject to the approval of 
        the Secretary.'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (b) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(2) Disciplinary policy.--The standards of conduct 
        required under subsection (a) shall include a disciplinary 
        policy that requires the automatic dismissal of an enrollee 
        that has committed an act of violence or illegal activity.''; 
        and
            (4) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Appeal Process; Law Enforcement Agreements.--
            ``(1) Enrollee appeals.--A disciplinary measure taken by a 
        director under this section shall be subject to expeditious 
        appeal in accordance with procedures established by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(2) Director appeals.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
                appeals process under which the director of a Job Corps 
                campus may submit a request that an enrollee who has 
                engaged in an activity that is a violation of the 
                guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b)(2) 
                remain enrolled in the program, but be subject to other 
                disciplinary actions.
                    ``(B) Contents.--A request under subparagraph (A) 
                shall include--
                            ``(i) a signed certification from the 
                        director attesting that, in the belief of the 
                        director, the continued enrollment of such 
                        enrollee would not impact the safety or 
                        learning environment of the campus; and
                            ``(ii) the behavioral records of such 
                        enrollee.
                    ``(C) Timeline.--The Secretary shall review such 
                appeal and either approve or deny the appeal by not 
                later than 30 days after receiving such appeal.
            ``(3) Law enforcement agreements.--The director of each Job 
        Corps campus shall, to the extent practicable, enter into an 
        agreement with the relevant local law enforcement agency with 
        jurisdiction regarding procedures for the reporting and 
        investigation of potentially illegal activity on the Job Corps 
        campus.''.

SEC. 12. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.

    Section 153 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3203) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading of subsection (c), by 
        striking ``New Centers'' and inserting ``New Campuses'';
            (2) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campus''; and
            (3) in subsection (a), by striking ``centers'' and 
        inserting ``campuses''.

SEC. 13. WORKFORCE COUNCILS.

    Section 154 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3204) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campus''; and
            (2) in the subsection heading of subsection (d), by 
        striking ``New Centers'' and inserting ``New Campuses''.

SEC. 14. ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

    Section 155 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``center'' and inserting ``campus''; and
            (2) by striking ``centers'' and inserting ``campuses''.

SEC. 15. EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 156(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3206(b)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``section 162'' and inserting ``section 161'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``centers'' and inserting 
        ``campuses''; and
            (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``center'' and inserting 
        ``campus''.

SEC. 16. SPECIAL PROVISIONS.

    Section 158 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3208) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campus''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Donations'' and inserting ``Leveraging External 
                Resources'';
                    (B) by striking ``may accept on behalf of the Job 
                Corps or individual Job Corps centers charitable 
                donations of cash'' and inserting ``, on behalf of the 
                Job Corps, the Secretary of Agriculture, on behalf of 
                the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Campuses, or a Job 
                Corps campus operator may accept grants, charitable 
                donations of cash,'';
                    (C) by striking ``such donations'' and inserting 
                ``such grants, donations, or other assistance''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following: 
                ``Notwithstanding sections 501(b) and 522 of title 40, 
                United States Code, any property acquired by a Job 
                Corps campus shall be directly transferred, on a 
                nonreimbursable basis, to the Secretary.''.

SEC. 17. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION.

    Section 159 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3209) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and 
        inserting ``campus'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``centers'' and 
        inserting ``campuses'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Wage records.--The Secretary shall make arrangements 
        with a State or other appropriate entity to facilitate the use 
        of State wage records to evaluate the performance of Job Corps 
        campuses on the employment and earnings indicators described in 
        clause (i)(III), and subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii), of 
        section 116(b)(2)(A) for the purposes of the report required 
        under paragraph (4).'';
            (4) in subsection (d)(1)(I), by striking ``zero-tolerance 
        policy'' and inserting ``disciplinary policy'';
            (5) in subsection (f), by striking paragraph (4);
            (6) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading of paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Center'' and inserting ``Campus''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``comply'' and 
                inserting ``attest to compliance'';
            (7) in subsection (i), by striking ``Centers'' and 
        inserting ``Campuses''; and
            (8) in the subsection heading of subsection (j), by 
        striking ``Center'' and inserting ``Campus''.

SEC. 18. JOB CORPS OVERSIGHT AND REPORTING.

    Subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by striking section 161.

SEC. 19. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 162 as section 161; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (1) through (6) of section 161, 
        as so redesignated, and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $1,809,857,925 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(2) $1,873,202,952 for fiscal year 2026;
            ``(3) $1,938,765,056 for fiscal year 2027;
            ``(4) $2,006,621,833 for fiscal year 2028;
            ``(5) $2,076,853,597 for fiscal year 2029; and
            ``(6) $2,149,543,473 for fiscal year 2030.''.

SEC. 20. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 147 and 
        inserting the following:

``Sec. 147. Job Corps campuses.'';
            (2) by striking the item relating to section 161; and
            (3) by redesignating the item relating to section 162 as 
        the item relating to section 161.
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